Tag: back

Lions TE Sam LaPorta (back) likely out for season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta underwent a surgical procedure on his back and is unlikely to return this season, head coach Dan Campbell announced Friday.

LaPorta missed three days of practice last week due to a back injury and did not play in Detroit’s 16-9 loss Sunday to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was placed on injured reserve, a guarantee of missing at least four weeks.

That was wishful thinking, apparently.

“He did have a procedure, and he’s gonna be out for a while. A while,” Campbell said. “I think we would be fortunate to have a chance to get him back for the rest of the season at some point. I think that’s very, very slim.

“The good news is the procedure went really well (for the) long term.”

LaPorta, 24, is a key part of the offense for the Lions (6-4). A second-team All-Pro as a rookie in 2023, he has 489 yards on 40 catches this season with three touchdowns.

In his brief career, LaPorta has 186 catches for 2,104 yards and 20 scores in 42 games (39 starts).

The Lions host the New York Giants (2-9) on Sunday, then will have a quick turnaround before their annual Thanksgiving Day home game. They will play the Green Bay Packers that day in a key NFC North showdown.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons speaks during an introductory press conference on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers made a trade with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 28 to acquire Parsons in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first round picks. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Reports: Micah Parsons dealing with joint sprain in back ahead of Packers debut

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Micah Parsons’ Green Bay Packers debut is suddenly in question as he deals with a facet joint sprain in his back, several reports said Monday.

The Packers acquired Parsons in a blockbuster deal with the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday and gave him the richest contract for a non-quarterback in NFL history, worth $47 million a year.

But before the deal, the Cowboys had placed Parsons on a five-day plan of a corticosteroid to help back inflammation and had him on a physical therapy program. Parsons may need an epidural injection to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, according to reports from ESPN, NFL Network and The Athletic.

Monday was Parsons’ first official day at Packers practice. He did not participate in practice with Dallas throughout training camp as he engineered a hold-in.

At his introductory press conference Friday, Parsons said, “Physically, I’m great.”

A two-time All-Pro pass rusher and a Pro Bowl selection in each of his four seasons, Parsons has racked up 52.5 sacks through the first 63 games of his career. He was the 12th overall pick by the Cowboys in the 2021 draft but did not want to play 2025 on his fifth-year option, claiming that owner Jerry Jones tried to go around his agent.

–Field Level Media

Jun 3, 2025; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rams have ‘no update’ on ailing QB Matthew Stafford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tuesday marked another day on the sidelines for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose back problem continued to keep him out of duty at training camp.

Stafford, 37, was expected to participate in his first training camp practice on Monday but came out in street clothes. It was no different Tuesday, as Jimmy Garoppolo worked with the first team again and Stafford stayed out of the mix.

“No, no update on Matthew,” assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant said, per Pro Football Talk, “but what I will tell you is it’s very tough for not only him and for the organization. I would say is that he’s trying his best.”

Pleasant went on to say that the Rams were “Matthew’s team” but that he was pleased with how the offensive coaching staff was “catering an offense” toward Garoppolo in recent days.

The developments create further uncertainty about Stafford’s readiness to play in Week 1. Garoppolo is taking the majority of first-team reps as the Rams prepare to open the regular season Sept. 7 against the visiting Houston Texans.

Stafford led the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI and is entering his 17th NFL season. A concussion and spinal cord contusion limited him to nine games in 2022, but he only sat out two games in 2023 and one last year.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws the football during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots say QB Mac Jones suffered back injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots revealed after their season-opening loss to the host Miami Dolphins that quarterback Mac Jones would not be available to the media due to a back injury.

Reporters in Miami Gardens, Fla. saw Jones head into the stadium’s X-ray room. NFL Network later reported that Jones’ X-rays were negative and he’d undergo further testing.

New England did not say when Jones suffered the injury. He did not miss a snap of the 20-7 defeat.

Jones completed 21 of 30 passes for 213 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was also sacked twice and lost a fumble on one sack that the Dolphins returned for a touchdown.

The loss was the first game of Jones’ second season in the NFL after starting all 17 games of his rookie campaign in 2021.

–Field Level Media