The Detroit Lions are fighting for a top-two seed in the NFC. However, the offense took a blow in the Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings when rookie stud Sam LaPorta suffered a knee injury.

It didn't look good, but he was able to walk to the blue medical tent on his own will, per NFL Network's James Palmer.

“Lions Sam LaPorta looked to have suffered a knee injury. He was down on the field before limping off slowly with the training staff. Looked like he hyperextended his knee while making the catch.”

The bad news, though, is that Sam LaPorta's knee injury was serious enough for him to be carted off the field after visiting the blue medical tent, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. He was initially ruled as questionable to return but then was quickly ruled out after that.

Dan Campbell addressed the injury after the game in rather cryptic fashion.

“It’s not as bad as it looked, but it’s not good news. We’ll know more tomorrow,” Campbell said, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit had already clinched the NFC North heading into this game. However, Campbell thought earning the 2-seed was important enough to play his starters. There is virtually no difference between No. 2 and No. 3, so Sam LaPorta's injury could have been avoided had the Lions just rested their starters.

LaPorta will be closely monitored by the medical staff and get more tests done. He emerged as a top pass option for Jared Goff as a rookie. The Lions tight end appears to have all of the potential in the world after breaking the rookie tight end record for most receptions in a season. If the injury turns out to be serious, it'll be a brutal blow for Detroit in the playoffs and potentially next season as well.