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The Detroit Lions had a tense moment during their Week 3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals when rising star tight end Sam LaPorta suffered an ankle injury. The incident occurred during a touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs in the second quarter, where LaPorta’s ankle was rolled up on by a Cardinals defender while he was blocking. After limping to the sidelines, LaPorta was taken to the locker room on a cart, which initially sparked concerns that his injury might be serious.
Seeing a player leave on a cart is often a bad sign, leading to fears of a significant injury. However, LaPorta returned to the game and managed to finish it, despite briefly exiting again in the second half. This provided some relief for Lions fans.
On Monday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided an update on LaPorta’s condition, and it was more optimistic than originally feared. According to Fowler, LaPorta has a low-ankle sprain, which is much better news than a high-ankle sprain. A high-ankle sprain would have likely sidelined him for several weeks, but with a low-ankle sprain, his recovery outlook is more favorable.
Despite his return to the game, LaPorta’s role was limited after the injury. Before being hurt, he was on track for an impressive performance, with two catches for 36 yards in the first half. It’s still uncertain if LaPorta will be ready to play in Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks, but the Lions’ Monday night game gives him an extra day to recover.
The Lions’ first injury report will be released on Thursday, and it’s expected to be quite detailed as LaPorta wasn’t the only player injured during Sunday’s game. His status will be closely watched as the week progresses.