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NEW ORLEANS — He won’t allow himself to go there. Not right now, at least. There’s too much at stake, too much to play for, too much that can knock him off his trajectory if he begins to look ahead or make this about himself. Not that he would anyway.
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But Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta is aware of the year he’s having, playing in this league, playing this position, this quickly. After a nine-catch, 140-yard outing — propelling the Lions to a 33-28 win over the New Orleans Saints — it’s hard not to be.
Even then …
“After the season,” LaPorta said, when asked when he’ll begin to appreciate what he’s doing. “You don’t wanna get caught up in all that. It just kinda muddies your vision, clouds your vision for the team and the success that we hope to have moving forward.”
If the Lions — now 9-3, with a three-game lead in the NFC North — are to have that success he hopes is coming, LaPorta is going to be directly involved. That sounds like a given now, but it wasn’t always so. Think about where he came from. Once ranked as the nation’s 1,170th-best prospect and the No. 55 tight end in his high school class, LaPorta’s 247Sports profile pic shows an unassuming teenager with curly hair, pimples and little facial hair to show for. Who would’ve thought a three-star prospect out of Highland, Ill., would develop into one of the best in the world at what he does?
For starters, Iowa did. That’s the school that took a chance on him, put him through the wringer and molded him — and so many others — into the tight end he’s become. The Lions did, too. They were the team that drafted LaPorta, ranked 59th on the consensus big board, at No. 34. They took him ahead of more heralded prospects like Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer and deemed him NFL-ready from the jump, throwing him into the fire as a rookie.
He’s emerged from it by putting together one of the greatest debut seasons ever.
LaPorta won’t allow himself to go there, but that doesn’t mean we have to abide by those rules. What he’s doing is not normal. Tight end is historically a difficult position for young players, mainly because of what’s asked of them. They have to learn the route tree of a receiver. They have to know the responsibilities of a run blocker and a pass protector. The good ones rarely get a breather because they’re so involved. LaPorta has reached that status in his first season, and has become an indispensable piece of this offense. And Sunday’s performance only added to the excellence of his rookie year.
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It started early. LaPorta’s first reception of the day? A touchdown, on a beautiful route, to give the Lions a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. The play was a perfect example of LaPorta’s chemistry with quarterback Jared Goff. In motion to begin the play, LaPorta ran a slant and found the soft spot in the defense — behind the linebacker and in front of the safety. That allowed for a pitch-and-catch touchdown for Detroit’s second score of the day. Goff and LaPorta have connected for six touchdowns this season, the second-most ever by a Lions rookie tight end, with five games still to go.
Sammy's scoring touchdowns‼️#DETvsNO 📺 FOX
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 3, 2023
That was just the start. LaPorta was there every time the Lions needed him Sunday. On one play in particular, LaPorta demonstrated a trait the Lions coveted when they drafted him — yards after the catch. He doesn’t move like a typical tight end. He doesn’t often go down on first contact. His teammates see it every day in practice.
“He’s just efficient,” Lions left guard Jonah Jackson said. “Consistent, catches the ball when it comes to him. He catches and he can get a little YAC, he can keep it moving. He’s special. He’s still young — I think he’s only, what, like 22? It’s just crazy. We have a lot of freak shows that are under 25 and it’s just nuts.”
Sam LaPorta wide open for a 48-yard gain to go over 100 yards for the day!#DETvsNO |📺 FOX
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 3, 2023
Jackson isn’t wrong. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs led the team in rushing with 60 yards, averaging 7.5 yards per rush. Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell led the team in tackles with nine, including two for a loss. Rookie defensive back Brian Branch intercepted a pass that led directly to LaPorta’s touchdown. Not to mention 22-year-old Jameson Williams and 24-year-old Amon-Ra St. Brown scoring touchdowns of their own.
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But LaPorta was the star, coming through time after time for an offense that needed every bit of his 140 yards. That included a gotta-have-it drive to put the game away.
Facing third-and-8, up 33-28 after the Saints came marching back from a 24-7 deficit, Detroit’s offense was in need of a play. A first down was needed to eventually close out the win, on the road, in a tough place to play.
You’ll never guess who the Lions went to.
SAM. I. AM.#DETvsNO |📺 FOX
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 3, 2023
How many rookie tight ends can make a play of that difficulty? You need to have the route running ability to plant your foot and create separation. You need the concentration and hands to make a contested catch, in that moment. And you need to have the trust of a veteran quarterback to make a tight-window throw in crunch time.
LaPorta has it all.
“He’s a rookie, obviously, but he doesn’t carry himself like that,” defensive lineman Alim McNeill said. “He carries himself like a pro and he plays like one as well. He’s real fiery. I love it. But I’d say his mentality is what separates him from a lot of people. He’s a dog, and that’s what he does. You saw it today.”
“He’s as comfortable as anyone I’ve played with and for a rookie, it’s pretty tremendous,” Goff said. “Rarely has a (missed assignment) and rarely has a rookie mistake. Very rarely. Such a reliable guy and a guy that I count on in those crunch times.”
Clutch, productive, reliable — after the game, LaPorta’s teammates had a hard time characterizing the season he’s putting together, so perhaps the numbers will help. LaPorta is the sixth rookie tight end in NFL history to record a game with 140 yards or more and a touchdown, and the first since Pete Mitchell in 1995. His seven games with five or more receptions are tied for the second-most by a rookie tight end in NFL history. Only six players in NFL history have logged at least 60 receptions, 675 yards and six touchdowns through their first 12 games. The other five are wide receivers.
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Most notably, LaPorta is on pace for 91 receptions, 962 yards and nine touchdowns. If he reaches those numbers, it would be the most receptions by a rookie tight end, the third-most receiving yards by a rookie tight end and would tie him for the third-most receiving touchdowns by a rookie tight end in league history.
LaPorta himself has a hard time finding the words to describe what he’s doing. He is, perhaps, a bit uncomfortable talking about himself, which is why he so often deflects when asked about the pace he’s on. It’s something that’ll come easier after the season.
But after a game he starred in, for a Lions team that continues to find ways to win, he allowed for a little bit of time to put things into perspective.
“I think I’m surrounded by a lot of great people, great teammates, great coaches, great support with my family and friends,” he said. “They just — they tell me to do what I love. I love playing football. It’s not a chore, it doesn’t really feel like a job. You’re just out there with your buddies running around. Yeah, it’s great that we’re having success. It definitely helps. It makes you want to work harder when you’re having success and adding value to the team.”
LaPorta certainly is, and the Lions are happy to have him.
(Photo: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
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