Lions’ TE Sam LaPorta did not practice today due to a calf injury.

Related Players: Brock Wright

This would be such a bummer if he were to miss Week 6, as the TE position is short on exciting options. We'll keep an eye on his progress through the end of the week.

Sam LaPorta has been taking first-team reps since Day 1 and doesn't look out of place at all. He's still got a lot to learn, but all indications are that he's a quick study and his receiving skills are really advanced for a young tight end. He's going to play a big role in this offense starting Week 1.

Related Players: Brock Wright, James Mitchell

You love to see it. For a team that set a tight end TD record despite trading away T.J. Hockenson halfway through the season, fantasy managers are expectedly excited for the rookie's fantasy prospects. Detroit TEs went for 784 yards on 93 targets last year. La Porta is firmly on streaming radars right out of the gate.

We knew it was only a matter of time before he emerged as TE1. The question was whether that would occur during the season or at some point before then. But at this rate, LaPorta looks like TE1. He’s quite obviously the most talented player at the position, and he received plenty of first-team reps Sunday. He might’ve already passed Brock Wright. The only thing holding him back would be the Lions trying to ease him into NFL action. But he looks ready to roll.

It's perfectly natural to be trepidatious about rookie tight ends performing in fantasy right away, but we've been proven wrong more in recent years, with specialized tight ends coming in and taking a much larger workload than they historically do. With no Jameson Williams for much of the year, it's very possible that LaPorta can carve out a role in the offense right away.

As of now, he's a back-end TE2 option, but streaming weeks are certainly in the cards if he's taking a majority of the tight end snaps.

The Lions will be patient with Sam LaPorta, but he’s already shown enough physical tools to warrant immediate snaps. If the mental side catches up, he could be the starting tight end in Week 1.

Related Players: Brock Wright, James Mitchell

Rookie tight ends notoriously take a long time to get up to speed, but if LaPorta is starting in Week 1, he finds himself in a great offensive environment. Lions tight ends set the receiving touchdown record last season, despite trading away TE1 T.J. Hockenson.

Trade! The Lions are sending TE T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

Related players: Brock Wright, Rashod Berry, James Mitchell, Irv Smith

Minnesota sends a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 third-round pick to Detroit for Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick. Smith is expected to miss 8-10 weeks with an ankle injury, so Hockenson slides right in as the Vikings TE1. Wright should now become the Lions TE1. Hockenson will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Lions RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and TE T.J. Hockensen (hand) did not practice Wednesday.

Related Players: Craig Reynolds, Jamaal Williams, Brock Wright

Could be another long week for the Lions offense, but at least Reynolds and Wright showed signs of life in place of their respective starters.

Lions RB Jamaal Williams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will miss Week 14's game in Denver. RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) is also out, while TE T.J. Hockensen (hand) is doubtful.

Related Players: Jermar Jefferson, Brock Wright

So your Lions starters at RB and TE will be Jermar Jefferson and Brock Wright, respectively. Remember when Mike Glennon was the worst fantasy option Week 14?