"The Lions announced that Shaun Hill would start at quarterback Sunday in Dallas, no shocker there.

But they also announced that running back Kevin Smith will have thumb surgery Thursday and will be out indefinitely.

"We won't put a timetable on it," coach Jim Schwartz said. "But he's definitely out this week."Aaron Brown will be active and could get some work on Sunday.

As for quarterback Matthew Stafford, Schwartz said the rehab process has started and he was doing well.

"The fact that we are able to stick with the plan that we formulated last week is encouraging," Schwartz said of Dr. James Andrews' opinion that surgery wasn't needed at this time. "When you get concurrence among orthopedics regarding a shoulder injury then you have a comfort level where the player is at and you can go ahead with the rehabilitation."

And make no mistake, the plan is to get him back this season.

"He's our quarterback," Schwartz said. "He's played three games and we've had the lead in all three games. He is an important part of what we do and any time you are a competitor and there are games to be played, you want to play. I know Matt's mindset and if can play the last half of the last game of the season, he wants to do it and you have to respect that."

Schwartz reiterated that there was no timetable for Stafford. If it plays out the way his first shoulder injury did after Week 1, he might make it back for the final two games."