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If you\u2019re looking at Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta\u2019s<\/strong> stat line this season and thinking he\u2019s taken a step back, Dan Campbell<\/strong> wants you to look again.<\/p>\n Sure, the box scores don\u2019t scream \u201cPro Bowl\u201d right now, but Campbell insists the second-year tight end is making a bigger<\/em> impact than ever, just in ways that don\u2019t show up in your fantasy feed.<\/p>\n On\u00a097.1 The Ticket<\/strong>, Campbell couldn\u2019t wait to mention LaPorta when asked which Lions have shown the most growth this season.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a number of guys that have taken big steps. One of the guys, the first one I think of is Sam LaPorta,\u201d Campbell said as quoted by PFT. \u201cI think Sam has taken another step forward. Sometimes what not everybody sees about Sam, he\u2019s got to do everything. He\u2019s got to pass protect, he\u2019s got to run block and certainly as a receiver he\u2019s got value. The guy can do it all. Where he\u2019s taken his biggest jump is in the run game and pass protection, and continues to be a threat in the pass game. I love where he\u2019s at right now.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s classic Campbell, praising the grinder who embraces the dirty work.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s put the numbers in perspective.<\/p>\n On paper, that\u2019s a decline. But according to Campbell, what LaPorta\u2019s doing without the ball is every bit as valuable as what he does with it.<\/p>\n LaPorta is logging a higher percentage of offensive snaps<\/em> than ever before. That\u2019s because he\u2019s now trusted as a full-service tight end, not just a pass-catching threat, but a guy who can seal the edge, chip elite pass rushers, and hold up in protection when the Lions need an extra blocker.<\/p>\n In Campbell\u2019s offense, built around Jahmyr Gibbs<\/strong>, David Montgomery<\/strong>, and a bully-ball offensive line, that versatility is pure gold.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to forget LaPorta was already one of the most productive rookie tight ends in NFL history. But as Campbell keeps reminding everyone, this team values more than highlight reels.<\/p>\n LaPorta has learned to thrive in the trenches, a place where few tight ends his age excel. Campbell knows it, and you can hear the pride in his voice when he talks about it.<\/p>\n This is the same coach who once spent ten hours sitting through an offensive line clinic just to understand the nuances of blocking. So when Dan Campbell says your blocking is elite, you can bet it\u2019s not lip service.<\/p>\n LaPorta\u2019s stat sheet might not be exploding, but his impact is. His blocking has helped the Lions\u2019 run game rank among the NFL\u2019s best, and his ability to protect Jared Goff has been quietly vital to Detroit\u2019s success.<\/p>\n And if you know anything about Campbell, you know he values players who make the tough plays that don\u2019t show up in the box score.<\/p>\n So yeah, fantasy owners might grumble. But inside Allen Park<\/strong>, Sam LaPorta\u2019s stock has never been higher.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dan Campbell says Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is more valuable than ever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detroit-lions"],"yoast_head":"\nStats Don\u2019t Tell the Full Story<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Becoming the Complete Tight End<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/detroitsportsnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-48.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nThe Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n