Report: Lions rookie TE Sam LaPorta ‘trending in the right direction to play’ vs. Rams

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta intends to play Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams after suffering a knee injury last week.

Somehow, some way, LaPorta is trending in the right direction, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It looked like the star rookie tight end would miss the Wild Card game against the Rams this week with what looked like a gruesome injury.

However, he plans to wear a brace and get back out on the field.

“Lions Pro Bowl rookie TE Sam LaPorta, who suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended knee, is trending in the right direction to play vs the Rams, per me and Tom Pelissero,” Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “Very limited in practice, LaPorta will likely wear a brace. But he intends to be out there with his team.”

LaPorta broke the NFL record for most receptions by a rookie tight end last week, prior to his injury. Drafted in the second round out of Iowa, LaPorta was an instant replacement for TJ Hockenson, who plays for the rival Minnesota Vikings.

The Lions host the Rams Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.