TE · DET · 25 yrs · exp 3 · Iowa
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Latest: Oct 29, 2026 · 5,287
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The Green Bay Packers had their three-game win streak snapped on Sunday, as Jared Goff and the rival Detroit Lions defeated them, 20-17. The Packers were penalized eight times for 81 yards, with many calls questioned by the team and commentators
Sam LaPorta says he wants to stay with the Lions despite contract talks
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is in the market for a new contract and he said this week that “ it sucks ” that one hasn’t come together with the team as he plays out the final year of his rookie deal. LaPorta added that he’s confident he’ll “go get paid somewhere else” if he doesn’t reach a deal with the Lions at some point and those comments were a topic of conversation for head coach Dan Campbell at a Friday press conference. Campbell acknowledged that “you never want anything to happen during the season because we’re talking about this now and we’re two days from Green Bay,” but said that he has no doubt that LaPorta is “locked in” on this year and that there won’t be any negative impact on the team. “I know what it may appear like . I know Sam. We all know Sam,” Campbell said. “Honestly, I don’t even think twice about those comments because I know what he’s about. We’re all good here and we’re not going to let this be a distraction. He’s not, we’re not, we’re all good.” LaPorta has 27 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns through five games and he’ll be right about getting paid somewhere if he continues to produce at that level through the end of the 2026 season
Thus far, there is only one division in the NFL with all four teams making the playoffs if the season ended today: the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings lead the way with a 5-0 record, which would make them the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC bracket at the moment. Then, the rest of the division makes up the three wild card teams, seeds five through seven in the following order: the Green Bay Packers (4-2), the Chicago Bears (4-2) and the Detroit Lions (3-2). Every inter-division game between those four squads holds high-stakes ramifications on the conference's playoff picture, with both division and conference tiebreakers up for grabs. That makes the Packers' Week 7 trip to Ford Field to face the Lions one of the league's most important matchups of the week. So, where could this showdown between two high-flying offenses, led by Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love and Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, be decided? Let's take a closer look. Wide receiver Christian Watson and wide receiver Matthew Golden are the first duo in Packers history with 500-plus receiving yards each in the first six games of a season. Along with Love, they wouldn't seem to have too much of an issue with the Lions' leaky defense, which is allowing the third-most points per game (29.6) this season. Detroit is also allowing the highest rate of opponent touchdowns per drive (37%), and its defensive passing expected points added (EPA) per game (-19.0) is the second worst by any team through the first five games of a season, ahead of only the 2005 San Francisco 49ers , who went 4-12. That's why the matchup between Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown , wide receiver Jameson Williams and tight Sam LaPorta against the Packers defense will likely decide Sunday afternoon's game. It's a battle that could tilt either way. Goff is off to a historically great start to the season as just the second quarterback in NFL history with 1,400-plus passing yards (1,485) and no turnovers through the first five games of a season, along with Drew Brees in 2018. However, Goff will be challenged by a Packers defense that is allowing the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (193.3) in the entire league and is playing its best ball right now. Green Bay's offense, hitting its stride with a patched-up offensive line, has allowed its defense to play with more energy since it doesn't have to be on the field as often, and it's paying off. The Packers lead the NFL in scoring defense (11.3) and takeaways (9) during the team's three-game winning streak since Week 4. Where they will really pose a challenge to Goff is on tight-window throws (less than one yard of target separations). Per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Goff is throwing into a tight window on just under a fifth of his throws, 19.4%, which is the fifth-highest rate in the league this season and his highest since his rookie year with the Rams in 2016, when he threw when an NFL-high 25.9% of his throws were into tight windows. What's interesting about Goff's willingness to squeeze the football into tight windows this season hasn't really changed when the Lions are tied or leading (19.6%) or trailing (19.2%). Goff has completed 13 of his 37 tight-window throws for 115 yards and two touchdowns, with St. Brown making up the bulk of that production. The duo has connected on five of 16 tight-window throws for 34 yards and both of Goff's tight-window throw touchdown passes this season. Green Bay's defense is tied for the most tight-window interceptions so far, with three, so it would be more than happy for Goff to try them when a tight window opportunity arises. W-L 1-2 3-0 PPG 18.7 23.7 PPG allowed 30.33 11.3* Turnovers 4 3 Takeaways 2 9* Rush YPG allowed 138.7 90.0 Pass YPG allowed 202.0 184.7 TD-INT allowed 5-2 2-7 Passer rating allowed 97.2 56.5 * Leads NFL There's also a chance Goff may be attempting a higher volume of tight window throws on Sunday because Lions three-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs [... truncated ...]
Sam LaPorta expresses his dissatisfaction with the Lions regarding his contract situation, stating that he will seek a new contract elsewhere if not resolved
Tight end Sam LaPorta signals he may leave Detroit if a contract isn’t reached, citing frustration over lack of a deal after a season‑ending back injury
Sam LaPorta expresses disappointment with the Lions for not extending his contract yet
Ranking of Detroit Lions starters by PFF grade after Week 5
The Lions weren’t able to beat the Panthers last weekend, but the club looked like an offensive juggernaut in Sunday’s victory over the Cardinals. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 271 yards with three touchdowns while Jahmyr Gibbs had over 200 yards from scrimmage in the victory. Detroit went three-and-out on its first three possessions. But once the game flipped to the second quarter, the Lions scored on their next seven possessions — six of which were touchdowns. Though the Cardinals took an early 7-0 lead on their first possession, Detroit scored 31 straight points to take a commanding lead. Gibbs started the onslaught with 1-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams each had touchdown receptions in the second quarter while Jake Bates had a 46-yard field goal to put Detroit up 24-7 at halftime. Then in the third quarter, Jameson Williams caught a 39-yard touchdown. Quarterback Jared Goff took in a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Gibbs put the cherry on top with his 3-yard TD midway through the fourth. That touchdown gave Gibbs the all-time lead in touchdowns for a player under 25 , surpassing Hall of Famer — and former Lion — Barry Sanders. Goff finished 19-of-30 for 271 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Gibbs had 25 carries for 151 yards with two touchdowns, plus five receptions for 56 yards. It was Detroit’s fourth consecutive game without a turnover. The team has only one on the season. The Cardinals finished with decent numbers, but many of them were put up after the game was well out of reach. Jacoby Brissett finished 29-of-47 for 292 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He was sacked five times. Jeremiyah Love had just 22 yards on 12 carries
Lions lead Cardinals 24-7 at halftime, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff contributing to the lead
Jahmyr Gibbs tied Barry Sanders for most touchdowns by a player under 25 with 57 touchdowns
Sam LaPorta's contract talks with the Lions are stalled, but not necessarily off the table
Lions head coach Dan Campbell says the report that tight end Sam LaPorta and the team have broken off contract talks is not an issue. Asked about the report today, Campbell downplayed it and said LaPorta had his best game of the season on Sunday after the report came out. “That’s the last thing on my mind right now,” Campbell said. “There’s always gonna be two sides, and you work through these things. Just because there’s a report of that doesn’t mean that’s some big issue, big deal. I love LaPorta. We love LaPorta. He’s a heck of a football player and I thought he played his best game the other day. His work ethic, his production speaks for itself.” The 25-year-old LaPorta, whom the Lions drafted in the second round in 2023, is in the final year of his rookie contract. Through four games this season, he is averaging career highs in catches per game (5.5) and yards per game (57.0). He should become one of the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends next year, either with the Lions or some other team
The chances of tight end Sam LaPorta hitting free agency next year are reportedly looking a little better. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that LaPorta and the Lions have broken off talks on a contract extension. The 2023 second-round pick is in the final year of his rookie deal. LaPorta and the Lions could revisit talks later in the season or early in the offseason. The team could also use the franchise tag to hold onto LaPorta, so it’s not a sure thing that he’ll be talking to other teams come March. LaPorta has 14 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown so far this season
Contract extension talks between the Lions and tight end Sam LaPorta have reportedly stalled, increasing the possibility of him reaching free agency next year
Lions end extension talks with TE Sam LaPorta, leaving his future uncertain
Baltimore Ravens veteran tight end Mark Andrews looks to be one of the prime beneficiaries of an early injury bug to hit the Ravens' wide receiving room before the team's home opener in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. Star wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) carries a doubtful tag into the weekend after logging just one limited practice on Friday. Moreover, promising rookie receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) was placed on IR after surgery Wednesday for a fractured wrist. These absences allow Andrews, who is coming off a down year, and others to lead the Ravens' passing attack, something Andrews has done to great effect in years past. In Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, Andrews brought in four of his six targets for 49 yards, had the second-most routes run (21), and posted a 28.6% target share. Andrews does face a tougher matchup in Week 2. Last week, the Saints defense kept star Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta to just five catches and 48 yards, and the unit ranked top-12 against the tight end position in 2025. Nonetheless, Andrews has enjoyed a deep rapport with quarterback Lamar Jackson since being drafted together in 2018, and he could serve as a trusted safety valve and short-yardage receiver with little competition, making him potentially valuable in PPR formats this weekend. Primarily due to the injury situation, Andrews is a mid-to-low-end TE1 heading into Week 2. Still, fantasy managers should keep their eyes open for tight ends with more rest-of-season value for the weeks ahead
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff did not have his most efficient day in his team's Week 1 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, completing 26 of 39 pass attempts for 206 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. However, Goff remains at the helm of a Lions offense that has multiple dangerous pass-catchers in wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, as well as tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Fantasy managers may also have reason to believe that Goff and the Lions will be in lots of pass-heavy game scripts going forward. Detroit's defense remains without both starting safeties and allowed Saints quarterback Tyler Shough to throw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1. As long as Goff continues to throw 35-plus pass attempts per game, he should be in position to produce for fantasy managers
Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown gives Lions 7-0 lead over Saints
The Detroit Lions suddenly have as much financial flexibility as nearly any team in the NFL . In the final hours leading up to their 2026 season opener, they reconstructed the contracts of two of their biggest stars: Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell . The salary cap savings could open the door for important contract extensions or the addition of help at positions of need. Of the two reworked deals, St. Brown's contract is the larger. The Lions converted $26 million of his salary into a signing bonus, which creates $20.8 million in cap space. Detroit also converted $18.6 million of Sewell's salary into a signing bonus, creating $14.8 million in cap savings. Here are their remaining contracts, per Spotrac : The restructuring does nothing to impact the size of St. Brown's or Sewell's total earnings but rather spreads it out during and beyond the life of their contracts. They still get paid, and the team has more money to spend against the salary cap. Detroit, in fact, now owns the second-most cap space in the NFL for 2026, behind only the San Francisco 49ers . They are also scheduled to rank sixth in 2027 cap space. 49ers $48.97 million Lions $39.02 million Titans $33.99 million Falcons $33.42 million Chargers $30.08 million Financial gymnastics do not always mean additional moves are in the works, but they can indicate future plans. Even if the Lions do not intend to spend heavily in the immediate future, they can do so while already boasting an elite offensive roster and a handful of standout young defensive assets. A couple of expiring contracts and an obvious need in the defensive backfield, however, suggest that Detroit could soon put its cap space to use. The Lions have decisions to make with the 2023 second-round picks, both of whom developed into stars over the first three years of their careers. Both should be expected to sign contract extensions, even though negotiations will ensue into the regular season. LaPorta has a chance to become the highest-paid tight end in the NFL if and when he inks his next deal. The tight end market has stalled with young standouts falling short of resetting the market, but LaPorta is the kind of talent who could leapfrog George Kittle and Trey McBride as the top earners at the position. A pair of fellow 2023 draftees landed second contracts on Saturday when Tucker Kraft and Michael Mayer became two of the five highest-paid tight ends . LaPorta and Kraft are represented by the same agent. Branch, a fellow one-time Pro Bowler, is also in line to crack the upper echelon of earners at his position. The Lions could be more hesitant to extend the star safety, though, considering he sustained a torn Achilles in Week 14 of the 2025 season. Branch opened 2026 on the PUP list and may not be available until the final stages of the campaign, and there is the obvious question of whether he will be the same player after such a significant injury. The salary cap savings Detroit made through its contract restructuring freed up enough money to pay both players. In addition to Branch's injury, their other starting safety is also set to miss the start of the season as Kerby Joseph deals with an ongoing knee issue. Compounding the problems on the back end of a defense that struggled mightily in 2025 is the departure of cornerback Terrion Arnold . Allegations of kidnapping and armed robbery led to Arnold's release and created a glaring hole in the Lions' secondary. The defensive backfield is thin and light on starting-caliber talent. Since there are a couple of standouts waiting to return at safety, the more pressing need is at cornerback. The Lions now have the cash to spend on a difference-maker, whether that be during the season by way of a trade or at the end of the year on the free agency market. This should be a top priority for a team that needs to shore up its pass defense in order to achieve its postseason goals. St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs fuel a [... truncated ...]
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