Sam LaPorta active for Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, Fla. — Detroit Lions rookie Sam LaPorta is active for today's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after missing practice time this week with a calf injury.
LaPorta said Friday he strained his calf in practice Wednesday but expected to play. He sat out practice Thursday, but returned on a limited basis Friday.
A second-round pick out of Iowa, LaPorta is second on the Lions with 25 catches for 289 yards and three receiving touchdowns. If he catches five passes today, he'll join Keith Jackson, Jordan Reed and Kyle Pitts as the only tight ends in NFL history to record at least 30 receptions through their first six career games.
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Running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring), defensive back Brian Branch (ankle), guard Jonah Jackson (ankle), tight end James Mitchell (hamstring) and rookies Brodric Martin and Steven Gilmore also are inactive for the Lions, who are getting Amon-Ra St. Brown back from an abdominal injury.
The Lions (4-1) ruled Gibbs, Branch, Jackson and Mitchel out on Friday.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers inactives: Sam LaPorta to play
