| Detroit Free Press
Breaking down where Detroit Lions go after deflating loss to Colts
Free Press sports writers Dave Birkett, Shawn Windsor assess the damage after the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Filmed Nov. 2, 2020.
Matthew Stafford is on track to return for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings after passing his latest COVID-19 test, but Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia had little to say Thursday about how the organization intends to make it happen.
Kelly Stafford wrote in an Instagram story Thursday that all coronavirus tests “came back negative” for her and her family.
The Lions placed Matthew Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday for the second time this season after Stafford had close contact with a COVID-positive case.
Because the contact occurred Monday, according to ESPN, Stafford will finish his mandatory five-day isolation period in time to catch a private flight to Minnesota for this weekend’s game.
Patricia declined to acknowledge that possibility Thursday, insisting that “just commenting on (Stafford’s) availability for the game would fall under the category of commenting on his health status.”
Per NFL rules, Stafford and linebacker Jarrad Davis, who went on the reserve/COVID list Tuesday, are allowed to take part in virtual meetings while they are away from the team.
The Lions have held virtual meetings on Mondays and at various other points throughout the season, and Patricia said the absence of in-person meetings should not negatively impact Stafford or the offense’s preparation for the game.
“Obviously, these situations where we’ve had players that haven’t been at practice that are preparing to get ready to go play in the game, we handle them the same,” Patricia said. “We’re going to do what we do and obviously push forward to get ready to go from a game plan standpoint, and we’re always ready in all scenarios. That’s the great thing. I think everybody prepares really well and everyone’s getting ready to go play football. So that’s what we do. That doesn’t really change for us.”
The Lions have started quarterbacks on limited practice time in the past.
Last year, David Blough made his first career start during a short week, on Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears, after Jeff Driskel tore his hamstring four days earlier.
Driskel made his first Lions start a few weeks earlier after practicing sparingly and in a backup role all week, when Stafford was diagnosed with fractured bones in his back after a Friday practice.
And Stafford missed a Wednesday practice in 2017 because of a hand injury, and was limited the rest of the week, then went out and threw for 381 yards in a Sunday win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
[ Lions go ahead with business as usual after Davis’ COVID case; here’s why ]
“I mean, I think every situation that we have is individually based,” Patricia said, when asked how comfortable he’d be starting a quarterback who missed an entire week of practice. “Based on the player, whether or not there’s a guy that’s able to practice through the course of the week and then play in the games, certainly depends on what their situation is as far as being ready to go.”
In that regard, Stafford is known for his meticulous preparation.
He’s typically the first Lions player in the team’s Allen Park practice facility, and he’s been known to text his coaches with suggestions or questions about the game plan at all hours of the night.
“He’s a wizard, man,” backup Chase Daniel said earlier this season. “It’s impressive. His recall of plays, how he (has) photographic memory. All that stuff that you want in a quarterback, it’s impressive and it makes you want to work harder.”
Daniel likely will start against the Vikings if Stafford cannot play, or tests positive for COVID-19 and must remain on the reserve/COVID list.
The Lions signed Daniel to a three-year free agent contract this offseason to strenghten a backup quarterback spot that was problematic last year.
Blough, who the Lions signed off their practice last month, also is on the roster.
“We always game plan every single week for those guys to be ready to go,” Patricia said, declining to name a starter if Stafford cannot play. “I would say that the offense is really built around all the quarterbacks that we have and it kind of fits what they do.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.