A contract extension for Lions tight end Sam LaPorta may not be off the table, but it doesn’t sound like the two sides are close to an agreement.
LaPorta is in the final year of his rookie deal and a report last weekend indicated that talks about a new deal have broken off. On Wednesday, LaPorta took some issue with that assessment while sharing his understanding of where things stand at this point.
“I don’t know if it’s truly off the table, but I think there’s certainly a stalemate right now,” LaPorta said, via Tim Twentyman of the team’s website. “I’m really giving the reins to my agent, Jack Bechta. He’s been handling it with the front office. All the advice he’s given me so far is that we just haven’t come to terms yet.”
Head coach Dan Campbell called LaPorta’s contract talks “the last thing on my mind right now” during his Wednesday press conference and LaPorta’s play hasn’t appeared to be negatively impacted by the negotiations. He has 22 catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns through four weeks, which puts him on pace for his most productive season since joining the team.