Detroit Lions Training Camp Medical Preview: TE's LaPorta & Wright

One of the major health questions for the Detroit Lions entering training camp involves star TE, Sam LaPorta, who is recovering from herniated disc surgery in November of 2025. How well will he recover, and how reliable will he be? The answers will determine how impactful the TE room will be in 2026.

>Here are the medical recaps of two of the key players in the Lions TE room, as taken from Lions 2026 Training Camp Medical Preview: Tight End.

>(Age at start of season in parentheses.) Click on player name for full medical report if available.

Sam LaPorta (25)Medical concern level: 9/10

>LaPorta’s herniated disc injury was due to accumulated trauma over time and placed #4 on last season’s Top 10 Injury List.

>While there is little concern he’ll be available for Week 1, there is much more concern whether he’ll still be available in Week 17.

>Once LaPorta starts taking football contact, his spine will start getting aggravated again. Will the aggravation be minor enough to play through? Or will the aggravation be severe enough to cause performance and durability issues?

>OUTLOOK: LaPorta might start on the PUP list and will likely gradually ramp up during training camp to be ready for Week 1. There is a good chance he’ll be on load management during practice throughout the season to avoid aggravation of the spine. In games, his snap counts and blocking duties may be reduced to prevent recurrent hyperextensions of his back.

Brock Wright (27)Medical concern level: 2/10

>His season-ending trachea injury from last year shouldn’t be a problem for 2026. He also has a history of a forearm fracture and hip injury in 2023 which are of low concern now.

>OUTLOOK: Wright is entering his sixth year with the Lions and has become very familiar and reliable. He may take on an increased role given the health concerns of LaPorta.

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>This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions Training Camp Medical Preview: TE's LaPorta & Wright