Dan Campbell: Sam LaPorta's contract comments aren't a distraction for us

Published October 23, 2026 03:41 PM Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is in the market for a new contract and he said this week that “it sucks” that one hasn’t come together with the team as he plays out the final year of his rookie deal. LaPorta added that he’s confident he’ll “go get paid somewhere else” if he doesn’t reach a deal with the Lions at some point and those comments were a topic of conversation for head coach Dan Campbell at a Friday press conference. Campbell acknowledged that “you never want anything to happen during the season because we’re talking about this now and we’re two days from Green Bay,” but said that he has no doubt that LaPorta is “locked in” on this year and that there won’t be any negative impact on the team. “I know what it may appear like. I know Sam. We all know Sam,” Campbell said. “Honestly, I don’t even think twice about those comments because I know what he’s about. We’re all good here and we’re not going to let this be a distraction. He’s not, we’re not, we’re all good.”LaPorta has 27 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns through five games and he’ll be right about getting paid somewhere if he continues to produce at that level through the end of the 2026 season.