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.

Lions QB Stafford is questionable for Sunday game

The Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was held out of practice Thursday with his knee injury. The absence made his status for this Sunday’s game against the Packers at Green Bay questionable.


After suffering a knee injury in the Lions Oct. 4 loss to the Chicago Bears, the No. 1 overall draft pick has missed last weekend’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And Thursday’s practice was the third practice he has missed in four days. He took part in individual drills Wednesday and said that he would see how the knee feels after the practice. Missing Thursday’s practice may indicate that the quarterback’s knee does not feel enough to play again.

Therefore, quarterback Daunte Culpepper may continue to take over the starting job for Sunday’s game. Culpepper started last weekend’s game against the Steelers and had 282 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception in the Lions’ 28-20 loss.

Stafford’s status is still uncertain for Sunday’s game against Steelers

The Detroit Lions Coach Jim Schwartz seemingly still waits for good news on quarterback Matt Stafford’s injury. With only two days left before the Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was still not ready to announce the starting quarterback for the game.


What seemed to good news was that the rookie quarterback finally put back on his No. 9 Lions jersey and took part in team practices, on limited basis, after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday. But the Coach refused to tell how much work the first overall pick in April’s draft had done in team drills, and Stafford declined to speak to the media. So, I guess the quarterback’s performance might not be good enough.

That means a bigger chance to veteran Daunte Culpepper, who will be Stafford’s replacement and start against the Steelers if the rookie will not be able to play. To be or not to be the starter, he may have known already, but we will not know until Sunday as Schwartz has said that he would announce the starter by then.

Lions QB Stafford did not practice Wednesday with knee injury

Although the knee injury has kept the Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford out of practice Wednesday, coach Jim Schwartz still insisted that it was not necessary to rule Stafford out for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.


When Schwartz was told that the Steelers had said they expected to face Stafford, the coach replied, `We’ll see on Sunday.’ And during the practice, Daunte Culpepper took snaps with the first-string offense, while Stafford was watching in his red No. 9 lions jersey. He looked as good as he was in the preseason.

The No. 1 pick in the NFL draft twisted his right knee on a sack in Sunday’s loss at Chicago. After the game, he told reporters that he hurt the same knee in high school. He won the starting job at quarterback over Culpepper as the latter went to have a surgery on his foot after the team’s third exhibition game.

Lions WR Johnson battling jammed thumb

The Detroit Lions star WR Calvin Johnson did not practice Monday because he was battling a jammed thumb.


Although Coach Jim Schwartz said Monday X-rays showed there is no significant injury in Johnson's thumb, Johnson was still wearing cast on his right hand and he told reporters that it was for precautionary purpose. In fact Johnson was pulled out of practice by Schwartz when his thumb was jammed.

Schwartz told reporters that he had to pull Johnson out of practice for caution even though the player did not want stop yet. He said that sometimes it was best to take the player out and ask him to have a rest.