| The Detroit News
Matthew Stafford returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday and the Detroit Lions quarterback will be making the trip with the team to Nashville ahead of Sunday’s game with the Tennessee Titans. He’s officially been listed as questionable for the contest with his rib injury.
Interim coach Darrell Bevell suggested Stafford’s game status is largely going to be up to his quarterback.
“He’s breathing really well,” Bevell said. “He’s better. He’s moving better, he’s feeling better. How far that’s going to be, we’ll have to see. Like I said, you really can’t judge this because the guy is tough as nails.
“I’ve had it before,” Bevell said. “(Brett) Favre was out like 10 straight weeks, he was going to be out again and he walks in the day of the game and says, ‘I’m going.’ Guys like that, you give it to them and they go. I feel like he’s in that same category. (Stafford) could walk in Sunday and say, ‘I don’t care what anyone is saying, I’m going.’ So I’m going to let him going.”
Bevell clarified the comment later in his daily video conference, nothing the team wouldn’t run Stafford out there, no matter what he says, if they didn’t feel he was capable of protecting himself.
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Center Frank Ragnow, meanwhile, was ruled out due to fractured cartilage in his throat. He also did not practice this week and was visiting a specialist on Friday.
Ragnow hasn’t missed an offensive snap for the Lions this season, impressively finishing out last Sunday’s game against the Packers despite suffering the throat injury in the opening quarter.
In addition to Ragnow, the Lions ruled out four other players for the game — offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby (ankle), wide receiver Kenny Golladay (hip), defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand (ankle) cornerback Darryl Roberts (hip). Defensive tackle John Penisini (shoulder) is also questionable.
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