LaPorta 'trending the right way' to play this week

Detroit's offense exploded for 52 points last week in a win over Jacksonville with a franchise-record 645 yards and 38 first downs. The Lions scored a touchdown on their first seven possessions of the game and were thoroughly dominant in both phases. It was so impressive some might forget Detroit was without Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta last week after he sat out with a shoulder injury.

It looks like LaPorta could be back in the fold this week as the Lions travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts.

"I think it's trending the right way," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday when asked about his second-year tight end.

LaPorta was injured in the first half of the Houston game Week 10 and didn't practice all last week. Campbell said he's still questionable this early in the week, and the next two days of practice will be important, but it was a good sign he started this week taking part in Wednesday's walkthrough.

LaPorta has caught 25 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns this season. He leads all tight ends in the league with a 14.6-yard average per reception. His 17 first-down catches are the fourth most among tight ends.

Without him last week, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra stepped up and filled the void both in the pass and run game.

"I thought Brock (Wright) carried the load for us, man, played a lot of reps, lot of snaps, and he really had to do a lot of different jobs," Campbell said. "We all know he does the dirty work, the run game, the protection, which, he was outstanding in protection, but then the number of routes he had to run that you don't even notice, and they're clear-outs, and then he's blocking downfield, so he really bailed us out and helped us out a ton there.

"And then (Shane) Zylstra, too, Zylstra's been kind of a staple for us going on four weeks or whatever that is and just quietly goes about his business and does the job. So, it's been a good group and (tight ends coach) Steve (Heiden)'s doing a good job with them."

Last week showed the Lions have great depth at tight end and have multiple playmakers there including LaPorta.