Latest news with #SamLaPorta
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lions training camp medical preview: Tight ends
Tight end may be the least medically-concerning position on the team. Last season, the Lions kept three TE's on the initial 53-man roster (Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Parker Hesse). Here is the list of TE's starting with the players with the biggest medical question marks entering the season. Ages are at the start of the season. #1: Kenny Yeboah - 26yo Last season with the Jets, he only played nine games due to a possible core muscle injury. In previous seasons, he's had hamstring and calf issues. He was limited at June OTA which raises eyebrows as core muscle injuries sometimes end up needing surgery. In good news, Yeboah was not placed on PUP at the start of camp which means he's healthy. Projection: There is a chance he starts on PUP if there's a disturbance in his health this offseason. If he stays off PUP, he has a good chance to make 53-man roster, as the Lions gave him $482k in guaranteed money for this year. #2: Sam LaPorta - 24yo LaPorta recently revealed that he had ankle surgery in the 2024 offseason. The 2025 offseason has been better as he got married and was blessed by the new Pope. Medically, the 2025 offseason has been surgery-free despite some minor injuries over the course of last season. He had a hamstring in camp, a right low ankle sprain in Week 3, and a left AC joint in Week 10. The AC cost him his only missed game of the season. Projection: LaPorta hits the ground running and solidifies himself as an elite TE. #3: Brock Wright - 26yo Last year was a fully healthy one for Wright with no missed games. The year prior, he had a forearm fracture and a hip injury which don't seem to be a concern now. Projection: Wright has been a solid player for the Lions the past four years and continues to be that. #4: Shane Zylstra - 28yo Zylstra had a possible neck issue last season which ended up being nothing serious. Otherwise, he was healthy throughout the year. He does have a history of an MCL sprain and patella fracture, but those aren't concerns now. Projection: If it comes down to Yeboah vs Zylstra for the third spot, Zylstra may lose out due to the lack of guarantees in his contract. #5: Zach Horton - 22yo Horton is an undrafted rookie from Indiana who started every game in his final college season. Projection: Practice squad would be an excellent outcome. #6: Luke Deal - 24yo Deal is an undrafted rookie who was reliable throughout his Auburn college career. Projection: Maybe Deal can surprise and earn himself a roster spot.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kerby Joseph lands in top 75 of NFL Players list
As the NFL continues its unveiling of the Top 100 Players of 2025, one of the best safeties in the league had his name revealed Friday. Lions safety Kerby Joseph, who is already getting accolades as one of the best safeties by media, coaches and scouts, earned his flowers from his peers, appearing on the list at No. 71. Joseph, who signed a four-year, $86 million contract extension this offseason, led the league with nine interceptions in 2024, earning All-Pro honors. The contract extension made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL, based on the average value of his extension at $21.5 million. The previous high was $21.025 million per year for Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Joseph was not ranked in the top 100 last season. He is the second Lion to appear on the list. Tight end Sam LaPorta came in at No. 94. Joseph is also the second safety revealed thus far. At No. 92 was Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates. This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Kerby Joseph: Lions safety ranks in top 75 in the NFL's Top 100
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV Blesses Commanders Rival Ahead Of 2025 Season
Pope Leo XIV Blesses Commanders Rival Ahead Of 2025 Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last year in the playoffs, the Detroit Lions needed all the help they could get against the upstart Washington Commanders, who buzz-sawed coach Dan Campbell's favored team in a 45-31 shellacking. Advertisement The Lions are coming back into 2025 with some extra juice, though, as they figure to once again join Washington as a Super Bowl contender. The Lions have The Vatican on their side. Pope Leo XIV - seriously - has blessed an NFL player ahead of the 2025 regular season. And really ... playfully ... Washington fans shouldn't be as upset about this as Chicago Bears fans surely are. The first-ever American pope just happens to be from Chicago ... and has long been well-known for his fandom of the Bears and the White Sox and all things Windy City. As it happens, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and his new bride, Callahan Dellinger LaPorta, scheduled a vacation in Rome ... Advertisement And yes, they got blessed by the Pope, as the young NFL tight end demonstrated for all to see as took to Instagram to show off the photo on Wednesday. "Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride. A special moment we'll never forget,'' he wrote. Bears fans can be mock-unhappy about this ... but Chicago has spent a great deal of time in the NFC North basement and doesn't figure to be a match for the powerful Lions anyway. And the Commanders? As they and the Lions prepare to give chase to upsetting defending champion Philadelphia toward a Super Bowl run, they'll take any "blessing'' they can get. Advertisement Perhaps Dan Quinn should book himself a quick trip to The Vatican? Related: Commanders Trade Terry McLaurin for T.J. Watt in Blockbuster Prediction Related: What is Commanders' Biggest 'Red Flag' In 2025? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Pope Leo slammed for blessing Lions star Sam LaPorta... despite being a Chicago Bears fan
Pope Leo felt the wrath of Chicago Bears fans after blessing Sam LaPorta and his wife - despite the tight end playing for their NFL rivals, the Detroit Lions. LaPorta and his partner Callahan recently visited the Vatican - just days after tying the knot - to meet the first ever American-born leader of the Catholic church, Pope Leo XIV. They were given a blessing by the new pope, who is a native of Chicago and a fan of both the Bears and the White Sox. 'Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride. A special moment we'll never forget,' LaPorta wrote on Instagram alongside pictures of the ceremony. Leo was gifted a personalized Bear's jersey by vice president JD Vance back in May but many Lions fans celebrated his divine intervention ahead of the 2025 season. 'Record-breaking season incoming,' one posted on social media, echoing the excitement of many supporters. LaPorta is considered one of the finest tight ends in the NFL heading into the 2025 season But Bears fans were less happy with the pope. 'Why would he bless a division rival?' one asked. 'Chicago gotta be p***ed,' another said. 'Is the pope from Chicago? Not sure I like this,' a third added. The Lions and Bears are rivals in the NFC North. The Bears have a 105-80-5 regular-season record against the Lions but in recent years it is a rivalry that has been dominated by Detroit. The Lions have won five of their past six meetings and Dan Campbell's team won the NFC North last season, while the 5-12 Bears finished bottom of the division. Pope Leo grew up rooting for the White Sox and earlier this month he wore a team cap as he greeted another pair of newlyweds at the Vatican.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions Fans Predict Big Season For Sam LaPorta After 'Special' Announcement Tuesday
Lions Fans Predict Big Season For Sam LaPorta After 'Special' Announcement Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Detroit Lions' offense remained strong until the final seconds ticked off of the clock at Ford Field during their playoff loss to the Commanders and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson walked off of the field for the last time. Advertisement Johnson is now in Chicago as the Bears' head coach, but Lions fans have big expectations for the team in 2025-26 with John Morton taking over as the team's primary offensive play caller and plenty of star power in Motown. On Tuesday, Lions TE Sam LaPorta turned heads with a "special" announcement from a world famous location as fans began predicting big things for the former Iowa star. Sam LaPorta (R) hits sleds with Brock Wright at Lions practice in May 2025. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride," LaPorta wrote on Instagram with a picture of he and his wife Callahan Dellinger LaPorta next to Pope Leo XIV. "A special moment we'll never forget #catholic #popeleoxiv #catholicismrocks," he added before fans reacted. Advertisement View the original article to see embedded media. "LaPorta is now blessed by the Pope. Record setting season incoming," lionsmemes wrote under the photo. "I've seen enough the Pope has blessed our sweet TE1 and now he will be All-Pro," another fan added. "My tight end got blessed by the pope he going for 1500 yards," another said with a crying emoji. "Incredible!!! Congratulations and God bless you both!!!" another fan said. "A few incredible people from Illinois!!!" another added. Former Iowa tight end Luke Lachey added three pairs of praying hands emojis while former Michigan and current Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker also chimed in. Advertisement "Unreal bro, God bless you both," Schoonmaker said to the Lions tight end. Related: Lions Cornerback Hyped up by Kerby Joseph Ahead of 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
