Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta avoided a season-ending left knee injury on Sunday, but his availability for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week is in peril.
"The best way I can put it is, it's probably not as bad as it looked. But it's not good news," Lions coach Dan Campbell said Sunday. "I know it looked awful. It's not as bad as that. It doesn't mean it looks good to have him here in the immediate, to have him for a game."
LaPorta broke the NFL rookie tight end record for receptions with his 82nd catch, also his 10th touchdown of the season, a 2-yard score with 8:06 left in the first quarter.
On the first play after the two-minute warning in the second quarter, LaPorta caught was split wide, left of the formation and caught a short pass from Jared Goff. Vikings safety closed quickly on the in-cutting route and tackled LaPorta high. As LaPorta went to the turf, he appeared to reach for his left knee, buckling under the weight of Metellus on his back and to the turf.
He went to the locker room on a cart.
LaPorta ended the regular season with 86 receptions for 889 yards.
He was one of four Lions to score 10 touchdowns this season.
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