Why Lions don't need to see LaPorta, Branch play before finalizing extensions

He started all 17 games last season and had a career-high 14½ sacks.

Both Branch and LaPorta underwent season-ending surgeries last year; their status for the start of training camp is unknown.

Branch tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg Dec. 4 in a win over the Dallas Cowboys, while LaPorta underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in November.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) makes a catch against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.

Both players were 2023 second-round picks entering the final season of their rookie contracts – and both are among the NFL's best at their positions when healthy.

The Lions also hope to sign 2023 first-rounders Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell to long-term extensions this offseason.

"You talk about free agency and trades, every team says they want to draft well, develop their guys and re-sign them, and we’re one of the only teams that is doing that," Wood said. "And generally, we’ve re-signed guys a little early, which means we’ve got them done and got that behind us and generally got it at a decent pay scale, relative to what it might have been had you waited a year to get it done."

The Lions have signed cornerstone players Hutchinson, Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill, Jameson Williams and Kerby Joseph to long-term extensions in the past two years, with the deals for Goff, Sewell, St. Brown and Joseph coming around NFL draft week.

Wood declined to say Thursday if the team could finalize any extensions before the draft next week, but he indicated the saga of Joseph's health – the safety is dealing with a degenerative condition in his knee that general manager Brad Holmes said the team wasn't aware of until last fall – won't give the Lions pause about re-signing Branch or LaPorta.

"Obviously with Sam and Brian, they’re coming back from injuries so you want to make sure they’re healthy," Wood said. "Jack and Gibbs are first-round players so we have the option of a fifth-round option year for them. So we’re taking all that into account. We have a plan and unfortunately I don’t intend to announce it here."

Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him atdbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him onBluesky,XandInstagramat @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions don't need to see Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch healthy