Lions’ Stafford Will Start Vs. Rams

Good news, Lions fans: the Detroit Free-Press reports quarterback Matthew Stafford was back on the practice field again on Thursday, and looks likely to play in this weekend’s game against the Rams. His most talented target, Calvin Johnson, will also be back on the field Sunday.

Of course, none of you Lions fans will see any of this if you live in the Detroit area.

Matt Stafford’s return from knee injury took a big step forward on Tuesday afternoon when the No. 1 pick practiced with the rest of the team. The Detroit media was only allowed to see the beginning portion of the practice and filed this report.

We’ll keep tracking Stafford’s status throughout the week, but it wasn’t all good news for the rookie QB. His main target, Calvin Johnson, did not practice.

From the Detroit Free Press:

The man who has been starting in his place, Daunte Culpepper, also didn’t practice with a hamstring injury.

On Monday, Stafford and the team played it off, saying they aren’t concerned:

Given all of that dismissing of surgery talk, the team still doesn’t know when Stafford may be back at practice.

For the record, Culpepper faired well against the Steelers in a game Detroit could have very well won. However, Coach Schwartz says the decision to play (or not to play) Stafford has nothing to do with their bye in Week 7. Right.

According to Mlive.com, Matthew Stafford returned to practice today, but is still unlikely to see the field this upcoming Sunday vs. the Steelers:

So, Stafford sits means Culpepper starts right? And they’re playing the ruthless Steelers defense? Smells like a recipe for victory number two in Detroit this weekend!

Either the Detroit Lions are being extremely coy about Matt Stafford’s status for this weekend’s game, or even the Lions, themselves, aren’t sure what to make of Stafford’s injury. The Associated Press reports:

So, then: Stafford’s not been cleared to run, and the Lions aren’t sure whether he has a dislocated kneecap. On the bright side, for Lions fans, he won’t need surgery. Still, by the looks of things, Stafford’s not well, and given Detroit’s opponent this weekend (the Pittsburgh Steelers), you have to think the Lions will hold him out of any game action until they have a better handle on his status. Stay tuned for more.

Injured Lions QB Matthew Stafford was held of Wednesday’s practice because of his right knee. And that’s about the only updates Detroit is providing, with coach Jim Schwartz saying, “We’ll see on Sunday.”

For what it’s worth, the Steelers are preparing to face Stafford, and not Culpepper.

As the dust settles in Chicago this afternoon, reactions to Stafford’s injury are beginning to emerge from Lions camp. From the Detroit Free-Press:

So while Stafford’s mood would suggest there’s nothing dire in this injury news, it seems Schwartz confirmed that the injury was at least serious enough to keep him sidelined for the rest of today’s game. We’ll probably have to wait on test results to emerge before we can get a more definitive prognosis, but for now, it looks like a knee sprain, and Stafford’s status for next week would appear to be questionable, at best.