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Sam LaPorta was instrumental to the Lions’ 42-17 rout of the Broncos on Saturday night. And Detroit fans know the tight end has been instrumental to Dan Campbell’s offense all year. But it turns out, after LaPorta’s three-touchdown game against Denver, he’s also one of the most accomplished rookie tight ends in NFL history.
Not only did the 22-year-old Iowa product become just the eighth rookie tight end in NFL history with three different TD catches in a single game — and the first since Joseph Fauria, another Lions TE, did it in 2013. But his rookie-year numbers are now on par with some of the best ever recorded at the pro level by first-year players at the position. Here’s a look at the top 10 in terms of yards:
Other rookie TEs, like Patriots great Rob Gronkowski, have logged more TDs (10), but LaPorta is already fast approaching the top five all-time rookie TEs in receiving yardage, and his usage doesn’t figure to slow in the final weeks of the 2023 season, with Detroit still in contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. It’s safe to say Motown is satisfied with landing him in the second round this past spring.
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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/lions-sam-laporta-having-one-of-the-best-rookie-te-seasons-in-nfl-history-after-three-td-night/
Author : Cody Benjamin
Publish date : 2023-12-17 05:00:52
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