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The Detroit Lions got great news on the injury front heading into training camp.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, star tight end Sam LaPorta is fully cleared for Lions training camp. LaPorta, 25, underwent a microdiscectomy last November to repair a fully herniated disk. Per Fowler, surgery repaired the issue. DetroitLions.com senior writer Tim Twentyman also noted that LaPorta is expected to be a full go by the start of training camp in his Tuesday tight ends preview.
The fourth-year pro's potential status for training camp and beyond has been one of the major offseason storylines in Detroit. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said during Detroit's June minicamp that LaPorta was "trending the right way" to be available for camp. This news confirms there's been no setbacks.
With LaPorta fully cleared and ready to go for camp, conversations will now turn toward when or if the Lions can ink a long-term contract extension with the Iowa product.
LaPorta was limited to just nine games played last season, catching 40 passes for 489 yards and three scores. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end enjoyed a record-setting rookie season in 2023, reeling in 86 grabs for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. LaPorta would follow that up with 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024.
In his career thus far, LaPorta has hauled in 186 catches for 2,104 yards and 20 touchdowns.
LaPorta is naturally beloved in the Motor City, but his first three seasons in the league have made an impression across the NFL. In a recent ESPN survey of NFL executives, coaches and scouts, LaPorta was ranked as the No. 4 tight end in all of football.
It speaks to the great respect LaPorta has generated that he was able to garner that ranking even while navigating this offseason rehab.
The Lions have a first-year offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing that helped morph Trey McBride into a top NFL tight end during their time together in Arizona. Petzing has another premier tight end to operate with in Detroit and it's great news for the Lions that they can hit the ground running together immediately in training camp.
Lions rookies are set to report to training camp this weekend on Saturday, July 25, while LaPorta and the rest of Detroit's veterans will report the following Tuesday on July 28.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions' Sam LaPorta fully cleared for training camp
