For the second time in three weeks, Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta has won NFL Rookie of the Week.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta just keeps racking up the accolades. On Thursday, he was named NFL Rookie of the Week, the second time he’s won the award in the past three weeks .
Against the Denver Broncos , LaPorta tallied five catches for 56 yards and three touchdowns. This week, he bested teammate Jahmyr Gibbs (11 rushes, 100 yards, 2 TDs), Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell (248 yards, 4 TDs), Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice (91 yards, 1 TD), Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba (48 yards, GW TD), and Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (111 yards, 2 TDs) for the fan-voted award.
LaPorta’s rookie season has already been one for the record books. Last week, he reached nine total touchdowns on the season, setting a new franchise record for tight ends or any Lions rookies and just three short of tying Dick Butkus’ rookie record for tight ends. Additionally, he moved past Calvin Johnson last week for the third-most receiving yards in a season by a Lions rookie (758).
And while the receiving stats are outstanding, coach Dan Campbell continues to praise LaPorta’s abilities in every facet of the game.
“It’s not easy all that he’s been able to do to grasp and produce this fast in all the areas, honestly,” Campbell said this week. “I mean, I just go back to this, his run blocking and pass blocking has improved significantly on top of what everybody sees, the catches, the routes, the run after catch.”
Through 15 weeks, LaPorta currently ranks fourth among NFL tight ends in receiving yards, first in touchdowns, and all while logging the third-most blocking snaps of any tight end in the league. He is truly the rare all-around rookie tight end.