The Detroit Lions have a tight end problem. Any team that loses a key contributor of the caliber of Sam LaPorta is going to have that. Still, Detroit's options don't provide a clear replacement for what LaPorta brought in the passing game and in run blocking.
Brock Wright has been the only tight end with counting stats besides LaPorta, but he's a grit-and-grind guy, not a gaudy totals guy. Wright has a trachea issue and could be out for an extended period, though. Shane Zylstra's practice window is now open, which should help alleviate the problem somewhat. Still, there's an immediate need at the position that Ross Dwelley, Anthony Firkser, and Zach Horton are not filling.
Is former Western Michigan Broncos star Giovanni Ricci the answer? He was signed to the practice squad, so he better not be. But having squandered the NFL deadline, which to be fair, happened before LaPorta's injury, the Lions are now in a tough spot.
And it may cost them in the long run.
Lions May Lack Firepower to Contend in NFC This Year
The Green Bay Packers have twice proven they are a better team than Detroit is, having most recently notched a 31-24 win over the Lions on Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field. At 7-5 and third place in the NFC North, Detroit is quickly fading from the contender conversation and moving into "potentially tough out in the playoffs" territory.
Though Jared Goff is having another great season, and the RB room and WR room have seen standout performances from Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams, the defense has been uneven, and not having reliable tight ends as a safety valve could stall drives in the postseason against top defenses.
While the obvious preference would be for a healthy LaPorta to rejoin the lineup, the lack of any true second option at the position being such a noticeable issue at this stage of the season is something that fans in the Motor City did not want to encounter during the 2025 campaign. In turn, it has forced the coaching staff to lean even more heavily on the players already asked to carry the bulk of the load.
Things could get even worse if Dan Campbell continues to overwork Gibbs. David Montgomery is not what he once was, but he's capable of giving Gibbs a breather. Losing Gibbs would be the death knell to any postseason hopes. Campbell is playing with fire and would be fully incinerated if Gibbs were to sustain any injuries.
Losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn proved to be a bigger deal than was advertised. After a disappointing 2024/2025 postseason run, where they lost their only game by double-digits to the Washington Commanders, it appears the Lions could be headed for either a repeat or worse, a return to no playoffs at all.