Sam LaPorta took part in the Detroit Lions' walkthrough Wednesday afternoon, but it's still too early to say if the rookie tight end will play in Sunday's playoff opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

"I don’t know if we’re quite there yet," Lions coach Dan Campbell said before practice Wednesday. "I think the best way to say it, because I know it’ll come up every day but he’s improving. He was out there at walk-through and I don’t foresee us knowing anything or feeling like we have a real good picture until probably Friday afternoon."

LaPorta suffered a bone bruise in his left knee in the first half of last week's win over the Minnesota Vikings.

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Campbell initially expressed doubt LaPorta would be healthy enough to play this week, but the Lions have grown more optimistic about LaPorta's chances in recent days.

LaPorta finished second on the team with 86 catches and 889 receiving yards this season and tied for the team lead with 10 receiving touchdowns. He broke Keith Jackson's 35-year-old NFL record for most catches by a rookie tight end.

The Lions have two healthy tight ends on their 53-man roster, James Mitchell and Brock Wright, who returned to practice Wednesday after a three-game absence with a hip injury. Practice squad fullback Jason Cabinda and swing offensive tackle Dan Skipper also can function as a tight end in the Lions offense.

Campbell said the plan is "every day we’re going to do more with" LaPorta before deciding whether he can go Sunday.

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"If we don’t feel like he can help us then there’s no need to have him, let’s just say that," Campbell said.

Along with LaPorta, the Lions practiced Wednesday without punt returner Kalif Raymond and starting offensive linemen Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow. Raymond suffered a knee injury last week and is doubtful to play Sunday, while Decker and Ragnow have taken regular veteran rest days in recent weeks.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Sam LaPorta misses practice, takes part in walkthrough