Detroit's offense exploded for 52 points last week in a win over Jacksonville with a franchise-record 645 yards and 38 first downs. The Lions scored a touchdown on their first seven possessions of the game and were thoroughly dominant in both phases. It was so impressive some might forget Detroit was without Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta last week after he sat out with a shoulder injury.
It looks like LaPorta could be back in the fold this week as the Lions travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts.
"I think it's trending the right way," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday when asked about his second-year tight end.
LaPorta was injured in the first half of the Houston game Week 10 and didn't practice all last week. Campbell said he's still questionable this early in the week, and the next two days of practice will be important, but it was a good sign he started this week taking part in Wednesday's walkthrough.
LaPorta has caught 25 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns this season. He leads all tight ends in the league with a 14.6-yard average per reception. His 17 first-down catches are the fourth most among tight ends.
Without him last week, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra stepped up and filled the void both in the pass and run game.
"I thought Brock (Wright) carried the load for us, man, played a lot of reps, lot of snaps, and he really had to do a lot of different jobs," Campbell said. "We all know he does the dirty work, the run game, the protection, which, he was outstanding in protection, but then the number of routes he had to run that you don't even notice, and they're clear-outs, and then he's blocking downfield, so he really bailed us out and helped us out a ton there.
"And then (Shane) Zylstra, too, Zylstra's been kind of a staple for us going on four weeks or whatever that is and just quietly goes about his business and does the job. So, it's been a good group and (tight ends coach) Steve (Heiden)'s doing a good job with them."
Last week showed the Lions have great depth at tight end and have multiple playmakers there including LaPorta.
MARTIN ACTIVATED
The Lions activated defensive lineman Brodric Martin from Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return on Wednesday and his return adds depth to the interior of Detroit's defensive line.
"We'll see," Lions run game coordinator and defensive line coach Terrell Williams said Wednesday when asked how much Martin can help them down the stretch.
"He's been practicing the last couple weeks. And he's done a good job. I think he was scout team player of the week this past week."
Martin has missed the entire season up to this point after suffering a knee injury in Detroit's final preseason game. He worked hard this offseason to transform his body and get into great shape after being mostly inactive last year as a rookie out of Western Kentucky.
Williams said Martin will have to earn a spot in the rotation on gameday through continued hard work and production in practice.
DYNAMIC TRIO
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have a chance Sunday to join a pretty exclusive club.
St. Brown (nine scrimmage touchdowns in 2024, 10 scrimmage touchdowns in 2023), Gibbs (nine in 2024, 11 in 2023) and Montgomery (10 in 2024, 13 in 2023) can become just the second trio of teammates in NFL history to each record 10-or-more scrimmage touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
If St. Brown and Gibbs can find the end zone in Indianapolis, they'll join Minnesota's trio of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and running back Leroy Hoard (1998-99) accomplishing the feat.
EXTRA POINTS
- Detroit has rushed for a touchdown in 24 consecutive games, the longest such streak in NFL history.
- The team signed safety Kaevon Merriweather to the practice squad and released safety Erick Hallett from the practice squad.
