TE LaPorta has ‘outside shot’ to play in Lions’ playoff game vs. Rams
What a difference a day makes.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell sounded an optimistic tone Monday that rookie tight end Sam LaPorta will be available for this week’s playoff opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
LaPorta left Sunday’s regular season-ending win over the Minnesota Vikings with a left knee injury that Campbell initially feared could keep the Lions’ second-leading receiver out one or more games.
Campbell did not offer a specific diagnosis on LaPorta’s knee on Monday, but said the next 48 hours will be key to his availability for the weekend.
“LaPorta’s got an outside shot now, so we’ll see,” Campbell said. “In 48 hours, we’re going to know a lot with him, but he’s got an outside shot.”
Campbell said he does not think the Lions will do anything to bolster their passing attack ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the Rams, their first home playoff game in 30 years.
The Lions have two other tight ends on their 53-man roster, Brock Wright and James Mitchell, though Wright has missed the past three games with a hip injury; the two have combined for 15 catches for 119 yards this season.
Both Wright and wide receiver Jameson Williams, who missed Sunday’s game with a sprained ankle, are expected to practice Wednesday, Campbell said.
Practice squad tight end Anthony Firkser and practice squad fullback Jason Cabinda also have appeared in games for the Lions this season, and swing tackle Dan Skipper played 18 snaps as a sixth lineman Sunday.
Zach Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles who played last season under current Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden with the Arizona Cardinals, is the top tight end in free agency, if the Lions decide to go that route.
“I think we’ll be all right,” Campbell said. “I mean, look, I know (general manager) Brad (Holmes has) his eyes open. He’s constantly looking to see if there’s somewhere that’ll help us.”
Campbell said punt returner Kalif Raymond has slightly longer odds than LaPorta to play this week because of the left knee injury he suffered in Sunday’s second half. Donovan Peoples-Jones, who the Lions acquired at the trade deadline from the Cleveland Browns, could handle punt returns and play an expanded role at receiver if Raymond can’t go.
“I think Leaf’s kind of in that boat, maybe a little bit farther away than LaPorta, but it’s very much we’re talking in days, not weeks, I think here, which is a good thing,” Campbell said. “Brock is doing much better. Jamo’s doing much better, so we’re in a pretty good spot now.”
Campbell: Lions’ Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn ‘two of the best’ coaching candidates around
The Detroit Lions will have two of the most in-demand candidates for head coaching jobs this hiring cycle, and Dan Campbell believes both are ready for promotions.
But until the Lions’ playoff run ends, there’s a fine line Campbell wants coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to walk between their current and potentially future jobs.
“They know this, it’s all about us right now, and it’s about the team, and they’re very much invested in this team,” Campbell said Monday. “Their opportunities will come. You can’t do anything this week. So, it’s just that. Stay focused on what it is right now, and that time will come if you interview with these organizations.”
The Washington Commanders officially requested permission to interview both Johnson and Glenn for their vacant head coaching job after firing Ron Rivera on Monday. NFL Network reported the Los Angeles Chargers also requested permission to interview both coordinators, and the Carolina Panthers have asked to speak with Johnson.
Currently, there are five head coach vacancies in the NFL — the Commanders, Chargers, Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons — and another one or two jobs could open this week.
Johnson interviewed for three jobs last season and was the favorite to get the Panthers job when he pulled his name from consideration.
Glenn has interviewed with the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals in the past two seasons.
Johnson, who has run the Lions’ offense the past two seasons, is considered one of the most innovative young offensive minds in the NFL and is a favorite to get a job this cycle. Glenn, in his third season as Lions defensive coordinator, earns high marks for leadership and topped a recent NFL Players Association survey of the game’s top defensive coordinators.
Asked last month how he navigates talk about future jobs in-season, Glenn said, “The most important thing you have to do when you become a winner is you focus at the job at hand and what’s in front of you, and everything else is going to take care of itself.”
“I believe in, you do the things you have to do, the byproducts will be there for you,” Glenn said. “And if that’s becoming a head coach, man, listen, I’m grateful and I’m with it. But I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, man, I’m enjoying my time being the coordinator here in Detroit. And I want to see this thing through, I want to see what we can do.”
The Lions open the postseason Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Rams in their first home playoff game in 30 years.
NFL rules prohibit teams from holding virtual interviews with candidates whose teams are playing in the opening round of the playoffs until Jan. 15. In-person interviews of candidates currently employed by NFL teams begin Jan. 22.
Campbell said he hopes both Johnson and Glenn land head coaching jobs, though he doesn’t want to have to replace either.
“Of course, I want that for them, but it’s about us right now and, look, both of those guys are worthy — more than worthy, to be head coach candidates,” Campbell said. “I don’t care where you’re at. They are two of the best that you’re going to find, I believe that. But until then, they’re with us. And I don’t want to lose either one of them, but that’s the way it goes.”