Lions QB Jared Goff lauds TE Sam LaPorta after rookie's career day: 'He's a clutch player'

When Jared Goff needed a big play in Sunday's shootout in New Orleans, the Detroit Lions quarterback turned to rookie sensation Sam LaPorta.

The young tight end generated a career-high 140 receiving yards on nine catches with a touchdown in the 33-28 win over the Saints. It marked the most receiving yards in a game by a Lions rookie tight end in franchise history. LaPorta became the second rookie TE since 1970 to have 140-plus receiving yards and one or more receiving TDs in a game, joining the Jaguars' Pete Mitchell (161 yards, 1 TD) in Week 12, 1995.

"Yeah, (I'm) as comfortable (with him) as anyone I've played with," Goff said via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News. "And for a rookie, that's pretty tremendous. I'd compare it directly to what Saint (Amon-Ra St. Brown) was doing as a rookie, as far as on the field and off the field and the type of pro he is, knowing his assignments. He rarely has a (missed assignment), rarely has that type of rookie mistake. Very rarely. He's such a reliable guy and a guy that I count on in those crunch times. I know he's a clutch player."

LaPorta's ability to find the right lane against zones or box out a defender is uncanny for a rookie. Most tight ends struggle in their first season with those areas of the passing game, but not so for the Iowa product. The TE's blocking isn't too shabby, either. 

Time and time again on Sunday, LaPorta came up with the big play at the big moment for the Lions. He scored a 13-yard TD in the first quarter and added explosive plays of 29 and 48 yards to set up scores. Then late, with Detroit attempting to thwart a comeback bid, Goff found LaPorta for a massive third-down conversion to help salt away the clock.

LaPorta's play even garnered praise from Sunday's