On Sunday, Amon-Ra St. Brown will be back in action for the Detroit Lions . The superstar wide receiver missed Detroit’s Week 5 tilt against the Carolina Panthers with an abdomen injury.
However, St. Brown’s return comes with another playmaker’s questionable status leading into Sunday’s tilt. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta is questionable for Sunday with a calf injury. LaPorta did not practice on Thursday but was spotted back on the practice field on Friday.
Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown Provides Elite Option for QB Jared Goff
Amon-Ra St. Brown will significantly boost an already electric Detroit Lions offense on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The USC product has 26 receptions for 331 yards and two touchdowns in four games this season. St. Brown blew up last season, hauling in 106 passes for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. He earned his first career Pro Bowl nod.
Fellow wideout Josh Reynolds filled in as quarterback Jared Goff’s top receiver last week in the wake of St. Brown’s absence. Reynolds had a lovely afternoon against the Carolina Panthers, going for 76 yards and a touchdown on four catches. He will likely return to the WR2 role amid St. Brown’s return.
Sam LaPorta’s Status in Question for Sunday
Despite his rookie status, Sam LaPorta has become one of the best tight ends in football. The 22-year-old has 25 receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns in five games. He has the third most receptions by a tight end in their first five games in NFL history. LaPorta has filled the TE role nicely after the Detroit Lions traded star T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings last year. If LaPorta can’t go, fellow tight end Brock Wright will draw the start in his place. Wright has five catches for 33 yards this season.
Additionally, Wright went for 216 yards and four touchdowns on 18 receptions in 2022. The Detroit Lions also have James Mitchell on the squad. However, he has yet to record a reception this season.