Sam LaPorta quickly leaving Lions rookie tight end records behind, coming for overall franchise records

Sam LaPorta has been everything the Detroit Lions hoped he'd be and more as a rookie. He continues adding to his franchise records for catches and receiving yards by a rookie tight end, and with the first touchdown of Saturday night's game against the Denver Broncos he tied the franchise record for touchdowns by a rookie tight end (seven).

To halftime of Saturday night's game, LaPorta has 69 receptions for 745 yards and those seven touchdowns this season. He has already surpassed T.J. Hockenson's best season as a Lion (67 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns in 2020).

Now, LaPorta is quickly coming for some overall franchise records for a Lions' tight end, rookie or not.

Sam LaPorta set to own all the records for a Lions tight end in a season

The single-season record for touchdowns by a Lions tight end in eight, by Jim Gibbons in 1964. So LaPorta needs one to tie it.

Update: LaPorta has tied the single-season record for touchdowns by a Lions' tight end. And put his catches at 70 and his yards at 748 for the season.

Update, No. 2: LaPorta made it three touchdowns on Saturday night, giving him the single season record of nine by himself.

Brandon Pettigrew is a bane of many Lions' fans existence when they think of first-round draft pick tight ends (alongside Eric Ebron, and maybe even Hockenson for some). But he did have a few productive seasons, and in 2011 he set the Lions' single season tight end records for receptions (83) and receiving yards (777).

So with 13 catches and 20 more yards, LaPorta will own all the single season records for a Detroit Lions' tight end by himself. Rookie, veteran, Hall of Famer, first-round pick, everybody. And he's got, as of this writing, over three games to get it done.

The only question may be where LaPorta sets the Lions' single season tight end marks at by the end of his rookie season, and if he pushes toward re-setting them in the future.