Sam LaPorta was instrumental to the Lions’ 42-17 rout of the Broncos on Saturday night. And Detroit fans know the tight end has been instrumental to Dan Campbell’s offense all year. But it turns out, after LaPorta’s three-touchdown game against Denver, he’s also one of the most accomplished rookie tight ends in NFL history.
Not only did the 22-year-old Iowa product become just the eighth rookie tight end in NFL history with three different TD catches in a single game — and the first since Joseph Fauria, another Lions TE, did it in 2013. But his rookie-year numbers are now on par with some of the best ever recorded at the pro level by first-year players at the position. Here’s a look at the top 10 in terms of yards:
Other rookie TEs, like Patriots great Rob Gronkowski, have logged more TDs (10), but LaPorta is already fast approaching the top five all-time rookie TEs in receiving yardage, and his usage doesn’t figure to slow in the final weeks of the 2023 season, with Detroit still in contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. It’s safe to say Motown is satisfied with landing him in the second round this past spring.
Sam LaPorta, the tight end for the Detroit Lions, had a standout performance in the team’s 42-17 victory over the Denver Broncos. Not only did LaPorta score three touchdowns in the game, but he also became just the eighth rookie tight end in NFL history to accomplish this feat. His impressive rookie-year numbers have placed him among the top rookie tight ends in terms of receiving yardage. Despite being a second-round pick, LaPorta’s impact on the Lions’ offense has been significant, and he is expected to continue to contribute as the team competes for the NFC’s top seed.
