Sports

Will Sam LaPorta play Week 1? Lions provide update on TE’s hip injury

USA TODAY

Aug. 20, 2026, 2:56 p.m. ET

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is managing a hip injury that is throwing into question his status for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Thursday, Aug. 20, that LaPorta had been hit on the hip in a recent practice, which led to the injury and his absence from recent sessions.

“It flared up a little bit, it’s a little aggravated, but we feel good long-term about him,” Campbell said when discussing LaPorta’s hip injury. “We’ll rest him for a little bit here and letting it calm down.”

Will Sam LaPorta play Week 1?

Despite Campbell’s optimism, he wouldn’t guarantee that LaPorta would be ready for the start of the season.

“I don’t know,” Campbell said in response to a question about LaPorta’s Week 1 status. “I feel like we’ll be OK, but I don’t know.”

LaPorta is coming off a 2025 NFL season during which he played in a career-low nine games because of a back injury. He underwent surgery to repair that malady and missed the final eight contests of the campaign because of it.

LaPorta, 25, is expected to be a big part of Detroit’s passing offense after averaging 75 catches, 852 yards and eight touchdowns per 17 games played across his first three NFL seasons.

Who is Sam LaPorta’s backup?

Brock Wright is currently listed as the backup to LaPorta. The 27-year-old has been with the Lions since signing as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2021. He has generated 70 catches for 632 yards and 11 touchdowns across his five NFL seasons to date but is better known for his skills as a blocker.

The Lions also signed eight-year veteran Tyler Conklin during the offseason. The 31-year-old logged just seven catches for the Los Angeles Chargers last season but averaged 58 catches for 554 yards and 2.5 touchdowns across his previous four campaigns.

Lions TE depth chart

The Lions currently have six tight ends on their 90-man roster. Below is a look at the pecking order within the unit, according to the team’s unofficial depth chart: