The Detroit Lions had a big scare last Sunday when rookie phenom Sam LaPorta went down with a knee injury and had to be carted off the field. The obvious first impression was that LaPorta might have a really bad injury that could cause him to miss a lot of time. The answers are now up in the air, but leaning towards a positive sign.
On Sunday night the MRI came out and it said that he had an hyperextended knee with some bone bruising. Then on Monday Campbell said that LaPorta might have an outside shot to play on Sunday and they would know a lot more in the next 48 hours.
Here we are about 48 hours later and the update on LaPorta is:
“I don’t know if we’re quite there yet. I think the best way to say it, because I know it’ll come up every day, he’s improving.” Campbell said. “He was out there for walkthrough. I don’t foresee us knowing anything, or feeling like we could have a real good picture until probably Friday afternoon. So, you know, but every day we’re gonna do more with him, but he’s improving.”
That’s good news. Maybe not the good news you wanted to hear right away. I’m sure that would have been something to the effect of “he’s going to play.” But right now we know that he’s not ruled out of this game and that things are pointing in the right direction. He’s out there and working with the team and he’s improving. The Lions have not ruled him out. We’ll see what happens on Friday.
As for whether or not the Lions might try to push hard for this to happen, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“I just don’t feel like if he can’t help us, then there’s no need to have him. Let’s just say that.”
That’s Campbell essentially saying that if at the end of the week the Lions feel like LaPorta can go out there and play and be his best, than the they’re not going to force it to happen and risk him potentially further injuring himself. Just hang in there. We’ll know much more on Friday when game designations come out.