In the Detroit Lions' regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, the team faced the unfortunate setback of losing two players to knee injuries. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta and reserve receiver Kalif Raymond both sustained injuries that forced them out of the game. While Coach Dan Campbell acknowledges that the news is not as severe as it initially appeared, it is still concerning for both players.

Campbell defended his decision to play starters in the game, despite the debate surrounding it. The Lions had already secured a playoff spot, but the possibility of climbing to the second seed was only contingent upon them winning and the Cowboys and Eagles losing, with their games scheduled later in the day. The timing of the Lions' game made it impossible to know the potential outcome before their own match.

The team tried to minimize the load on their star players by giving playing time to some of their depth, but unfortunately, injuries still occurred. Campbell expressed his concern for their players' safety, emphasizing that they never want anyone to get hurt, especially during such a crucial game. However, due to the limited availability of players, the Lions had to make strategic decisions in order to remain competitive.

In addition to LaPorta and Raymond, minor injuries were reported for stars Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Branch. Campbell stated that as far as he knew, both players were doing well and their injuries were not severe.

The injury that drew the most attention was that of LaPorta, who has been an integral part of the Lions' offense throughout the season. He finished the regular season as the team's second-leading receiver in both catches and yards and tied for the lead in touchdown receptions. According to Ian Rapoport, LaPorta is expected to miss some time due to a hyperextended knee and bone bruise. However, the Lions will have to wait a few days before knowing the full extent of his playoff availability, as per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

As the Lions prepare for the playoffs, they will need to assess the impact of these injuries and make necessary adjustments to their game plan. The hope is that the injuries are not significant and the players can recover in time to contribute to the team's postseason run.