Lions keep silent on QB Stafford’s playing status

Since rookie quarterback Matt Stafford left the Detroit Lions game against the Cincinnati Bengals with aggravation of his separated non-throwing shoulder, Coach Jim Schwartz has been silent on whether the quarterback would be available for this Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.


He just did what he usually did with Lions’ injury information.

“I’ve got a pretty good idea of his status, but I don’t feel any need to tell Baltimore that information,” Schwartz said. “They play Monday night this week, so they are already facing a short week and the difficulties that brings. I’d rather not help their game-planning process by letting them know which quarterback we expect to play.”

But we can just guess that it is very unlikely Stafford will wear back his Lions jersey and play. Originally injuring the shoulder at the end of the 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago, Stafford had had little time to take care of it. He returned to field after briefly resting the shoulder and threw a winning touchdown, and only four days later he played still in Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay Packers. I guess the throw in the 23-13 loss to the Bengals should be the last straw and the shoulder is protesting for its own health. It needs rest, and Stafford needs even more to heal the injury.