'A tough deal': Lions' Sam LaPorta departs from record-setting day with knee injury

Detroit — Sam LaPorta was enjoying a record-setting day in more ways than one during the Detroit Lions' season finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in Detroit.

With his 82nd catch of the season — and first of the game — LaPorta on Sunday officially set the new record for most receptions by a rookie tight end with 8:06 left in the opening quarter of Detroit’s regular-season finale. With the Lions facing second-and-goal from the Minnesota 2-yard-line, LaPorta got open in the flat and easily hauled in a play-action pass for the opening score, his 10th of the season.

But there was nothing enjoyable about the scene after LaPorta hauled in his fifth catch of the day at Ford Field, just before halftime. LaPorta was tended to by the training staff with a knee injury and was officially ruled out of the game early in the second half.

According to Lions head coach Dan Campbell and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the injury is not as bad as it could have been. Rapoport reported not long after the game ended that an MRI for LaPorta showed a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise. His outlook for playoffs is uncertain, though it's quite certain the injury will keep him down at least a week or two.

"The best way I can put it is it's probably — it's not as bad as it looked, but it's not good news," Campbell said.

"It's kind of — we'll know more tomorrow, but I know it looked awful. It's not as bad as it (could be), but it doesn't mean it looks good in the immediate (future) here to have him for a game."

Campbell said the same applies to Lions receiver and punt returner Kalif Raymond, who exited the game with a knee injury in the fourth quarter after hauling in a nine-yard reception. The Lions were one of a few playoff-bound teams around the league this weekend to not pull their starters. The 2-seed was still up for grabs, with Philadelphia and Dallas not playing until the later window.

"It's just a tough deal. It's tough," Campbell said. "I know this, you're either really kind of all in or all out. We were going. We needed to do that."

With four first-half receptions, LaPorta (85 receptions) also passed Brandon Pettigrew’s 2011 record of 83 catches, the most in franchise history by a tight end over a single season.

On the Lions' final drive of the half, LaPorta caught a quick pass and saw his knee bend sideways while attempting to fight through a tackle by Vikings defender Josh Metellus. He eventually walked off the field under his own power but went straight to the medical tent and was carted back to the locker room.

LaPorta entered the season finale tied with Keith Jackson for the most catches (81) by a tight end in his rookie season. His 10th touchdown of the season tied him with Rob Gronkowski for the second-most by a rookie tight end in NFL history. Mike Ditka leads the pack with 12.

LaPorta was a second-round pick out of Iowa (No. 34 overall) in this past year’s NFL Draft. He entered Sunday’s season finale with 81 catches for 860 yards and nine touchdowns.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi