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Matthew Stafford News & Rumors

Stafford confident but avoids bold predictions in ESPN interview
February 11
Detroit News
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't take the bait Friday when ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor Chris McKendry asked him for a 2012 season prediction. "One and done in the playoffs or are you going farther?" asked McKendry, who appeared to be fishing for a bold prediction. "Hopefully, we're going farther," Stafford said, grinning. "It's no fun to go one and done, that's for sure." The Lions finished the 2011 regular season with a 10-6 record before a playoff loss to the Saints in New Orleans. Stafford's in-studio ESPN appearance occurred less than a week after he visited Indianapolis for the Super Bowl and received the Associated Press's NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Stafford"
Lions QB Matthew Stafford's national popularity skyrocketing
February 10
Detroit Free Press
 
"Life has changed quite a bit for quarterback Matthew Stafford the past 12 months. Coming off a breakout 5,000-yard season and the Lions' first playoff appearance in 12 years, Stafford rarely gets asked questions about his shoulder anymore, which is a good thing. And he's much more in demand, which has its ups and downs. Stafford spent a few days at the Super Bowl last week, conducting radio and TV interviews on behalf of DirecTV, signing autographs for Courtyard hotels and walking red-carpet events with the help of Van Heusen menswear."
Lions finish ninth in NFL power poll -- thanks to No. 9
February 9
Detroit Free Press
 
"Fittingly, the Lions finished No. 9 in the final power poll conducted by the NFL's website. Of course, the Lions' own No. 9, quarterback Matthew Stafford, deserves a lion's share of credit for that ranking in the poll released Tuesday. A panel of nine NFL.com and NFL Network analysts and contributors voted in the poll. The Super Bowl champion New York Giants finished first."
Lions' Matthew Stafford, Louis Delmas, Gosder Cherilus get raises
February 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"At least three Detroit Lions will receive a bump in base pay next year, after triggering contract escalators, according to NFL Players Association records. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is the biggest winner, with his base salary rising $1 million, to $11.5 million. Stafford's 2013 salary also increased $500,000, to $12 million. According to Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog and Football Outsiders, Stafford's contract called for the bump in pay because he ranked in the top five in at least one predetermined passing category. Safety Louis Delmas, a 2009 draft pick like Stafford, triggered an unknown escalator that increases his base pay to just over $937,000, from $822,000, and right"
Matthew Stafford OK without comeback player of year award
February 4
Detroit Free Press
 
"It'd be nice to win comeback player of the year when the award is announced tonight, but Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford won't be too heartbroken if the voting doesn't go his way. "If I win it, it's great," Stafford said Friday between appearances on radio row at the Super Bowl. "If I don't, I'm not going to be all torn about it. Hopefully don't have a chance to win it ever again. Hopefully I'm not coming back from anything." Stafford played 16 regular-season games this season for the first time, bouncing back from 2011 shoulder surgery to become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards. He led the Lions to 10 wins and the playoffs, and set franchise single-season"
Stafford: 'We're close' to reaching Super Bowl
February 4
Detroit News
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is a finalist for the NFL's comeback player of the year award and he's not entirely sure how to feel about that. "If I win it, great, if I don't, I am not going to be all torn up about it," he said Friday, as he made some 30 stops along radio row at the site of Sunday's Super Bowl. "Hopefully, I don't have a chance to win it ever again. I hope I am not coming back from anything." The NFL awards show is Saturday night, but if he had his druthers, Stafford would rather trade places with Tom Brady or Eli Manning. "Yeah, you want to be playing in the game and not be busy walking around radio row, that's for sure," he said. "But we took a good step forward"
Lions backup QBs might change with Matthew Stafford healthy
January 18
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions were one of 14 teams that carried three quarterbacks all season, and one of five -- the Colts, Jets, 49ers and Panthers were the others, according to Stats LLC -- who never dressed their third quarterback on game day. But general manager Martin Mayhew said he liked having three QBs on his roster and was still evaluating whether to carry that many next season. "You make those decisions probably in August, when we start putting our roster together trying to find the best 53," Mayhew said last week. "If that third quarterback is one of the best 53, then we'll probably keep three.""
Lions' Matthew Stafford wins comeback-player-of-the-year award
January 17
Detroit Free Press
 
"Matthew Stafford finished his first two NFL seasons on injured reserve. In his third, he led the Detroit Lions to the playoffs for the first time in 12 years and became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards. Stafford was rewarded for his bounce-back year today by being named Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers Association comeback player of the year. He's also a favorite for the Associated Press award, the one officially recognized by the NFL and handed out on Super Bowl eve."
Lions' Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford earn Pro Football Weekly honors
January 17
Detroit News
 
"Lions receiver Calvin Johnson has been named to the All-NFL Team by Pro Football Weekly and the Professional Football Writers of America. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was named Comeback Player of the Year. Johnson was named to the Pro Bowl after catching 96 passes for 1,681 yards and 16 TDs. Stafford, limited to just 13 games during his first two seasons, started all 16 games in 2011. He completed 421 of 663 passes for 5,038 yards and 41 TDs. Johnson and Stafford led the Lions to 10 regular-season wins and their first playoff appearance since 1999."
Matthew Stafford set to receive $1 million bonus for 2011 performance
January 14
Detroit News
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford reportedly will receive a $1 million bonus for his record-setting efforts during the 2011 season. According to macsfootbalblog.com, Stafford is due a $1 million bonus because he met at least one of five incentives listed on his contract. Stafford had to finish among the NFL's top five in passing yards, passing touchdowns or passer rating, and ended up meeting all three marks."
Matthew Stafford vows Lions will be back in playoffs
January 9
Detroit News
 
"They're done. That was obvious by the points and the yards and the noise in the Superdome on Saturday night. But they're not done. That's also obvious. There was embarrassment, annoyance and even a bit of denial in the Lions' dressing room after they were shoved out of the playoffs by the Saints, 45-28. But there also was healthy resolve, and open declarations they'd be back. And this time, I think those sentiments are real, because the talent is real, which makes the opportunity real. Endings sometimes are disguised as beginnings. What happened to the Lions in their first playoff game in 12 years could — should — actually be the start of something. Maybe they arrived in the playoffs a"
With QB Matthew Stafford, Lions finally have an answer
January 6
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Mitch Albom
"We've got a quarterback. No matter what happens Saturday night in New Orleans, no matter what unfolds in this first Lions playoff season since the last millennium, Detroit fans can say that sentence and take comfort in it. We've got a quarterback. It is no small deal. Until Matthew Stafford came of age this season, the guy behind center for Detroit was a phantom. He changed faces, numbers, body types and 40-yard dash speed, but he remained invisible, a shadow, a wispy symbol of a team that was, in the end, going nowhere."
Lions' Matthew Stafford knows only winning will make him like his boyhood idols
January 4
Detroit Free Press
 
"Like most football-mad boys growing up in Dallas, Matthew Stafford was a Troy Aikman fan. And like most young quarterbacks of his generation, Stafford watched Aikman, John Elway and Brett Favre religiously, mimicking their moves and memorizing their plays. "I loved them all," Stafford said. "They were all good." More than good, Aikman, Elway and Favre all won Super Bowls, something Stafford can take a step toward Saturday when he leads the Lions into their first playoff game in 12 years against the New Orleans Saints."
Matthew Stafford earns a fan in former Lions QB Scott Mitchell
January 4
Detroit News
 
"The voice at the other end of the line paused for a count and then barked with mock force, "Son of a … " Scott Mitchell had just been told he no longer owns the most productive season for a quarterback in Lions history. "Eventually, those things happen," Mitchell said. "I wish I had more records, but it really says a lot about that player. Those were some high marks that we set." In 1995, Mitchell threw for 4,338 yards and 32 touchdowns. "That player," also known as Matthew Stafford, trumped those and most of the other significant season passing marks this year — yards (5,038), touchdowns (41), completions (421), 300-yard games (eight), games with a rating of at least 100 (10) and"
Matthew Stafford knows he'll be judged by playoffs
December 31
Detroit News
 columnist Mike O'Hara
"Matthew Stafford can read the opportunity on the wall as well as he has read and dissected defenses in a breakout season that established him as the Lions' franchise quarterback. Making the playoffs for the first time since 1999 was a big step for Stafford and the Lions, but Stafford knows full well there are bigger steps ahead. The Lions' 10-5 record going into Sunday's final regular-season game at Green Bay validates the value of what the Lions have accomplished as a team more than any individual honors can. "Yeah, and I think we have more to do, too," Stafford said. "As far as the regular season, after this Sunday, whether we're 10-6 or 11-5, that's a good rebound from where we were a"
Lions' Matthew Stafford knows he'll be judged by playoffs
December 30
Detroit News
 
"Matthew Stafford can read the opportunity on the wall as well as he has read and dissected defenses in a breakout season that established him as the Lions' franchise quarterback. Making the playoffs for the first time since 1999 was a big step for Stafford and the Lions, but Stafford knows full well there are bigger steps ahead. The Lions' 10-5 record going into Sunday's final regular-season game at Green Bay validates the value of what the Lions have accomplished as a team more than any individual honors can."
Matthew Stafford acts like a pro about Pro Bowl snub
December 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"He smiled wide and long, but Matthew Stafford wasn't taking the bait. How disrespectful is it that the Lions only had one player selected to the Pro Bowl despite having the fourth-best record in the NFC? "I think we're just -- we're still proving ourselves," Stafford said. "We're all excited for Calvin (Johnson). He deserves it. He's a great player. No doubt. But I think this will be some motivation for some guys, for sure." While Stafford wouldn't acknowledge as much, the third-year quarterback is one of several Lions who fall into that category with a week left in the regular season and the playoffs on the horizon. Stafford joined defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and safety Louis Delmas as"
4,518 yards, 36 TDs not enough for Lions' Matthew Stafford to make Pro Bowl
December 28
Detroit Free Press
 
"The list of Pro Bowl-worthy quarterbacks in the NFC is long. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are the front-runners for the NFL MVP award and both deserve a trip to Hawaii. Rodgers led the Packers to 13 straight victories to start the year and the No. 1 seed in the conference, and Brees has the Saints 12-3 and just broke Dan Marino's single-season yardage record. No one can sanely argue either's selection for the team. Behind Rodgers and Brees, there were four worthy candidates for one Pro Bowl spot: the Giants' Eli Manning, the Cowboys' Tony Romo, Panthers rookie Cam Newton and the Lions' Matthew Stafford. Manning got the third and final nod, while Stafford was selected an alternate and could"
Matthew Stafford makes his case for Pro Bowl with statistics, late-game heroics
December 20
Detroit Free Press
 
"Matthew Stafford will learn a week from today whether he'll be the first Lions quarterback voted to the Pro Bowl since Greg Landry in 1971. Just 23 years old and in his third NFL season, Stafford has quite the case. He ranks among the NFL leaders in passing yards (4,145) and touchdowns (33). He broke Scott Mitchell's single-season Lions record for scoring passes (32) on Sunday and should surpass Mitchell's yardage mark (4,338) this week against the Chargers. And most importantly, he has the Lions (9-5) on the verge of their first playoff appearance in 12 years thanks to an uncanny knack for the comeback."
QB Matthew Stafford proves he can stay healthy, is on pace for Lions' records
December 11
Detroit News
 
"Start with a subplot. Who had Matthew Stafford getting to Game 13 without missing a start? Outside of the coaching staff and Stafford himself, probably not too many. Stafford, who started just 13 games in his first two seasons combined, will make his 13th straight start against the Vikings on Sunday. "I never had any concerns of myself," Stafford said Wednesday when asked if he felt he'd beaten the "fragile" tag. "You guys can answer that question. I am just where I expected to be — healthy and ready to go this week." He's fought through an ankle injury and a fractured index finger on his throwing hand. He's also fought through a few erratic weeks. Through it all, he's on a pace to record"
Lions' Matthew Stafford goes bare-handed, but flags trump his effort
December 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"No gloves, no problem. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford got rid of the gauntlets on his hands for the first time in four games and had tremendous success generating offense in Sunday's 31-17 loss at New Orleans. As the gloves came off and the yards piled up. Stafford ditched the gloves and the splint on his fractured right index finger that he broke when he was hit by Von Miller on Oct. 30 in a game against Denver. On Sunday, Stafford was 31-for-44 for 408 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He broke the 400-yard passing mark for the second time in his career."
Lions QB Matthew Stafford takes the gloves off
December 1
Detroit News
 
"Matthew Stafford got that grin on his face, the one that means he's getting ready to bust your chops about something. He was asked if he took some time after the Packers loss to look at his recent spate of interceptions to find out if there was a common thread that might point to what was going on. "Yeah, I put 'em on my big screen at home and put it on repeat and just watched them over and over," he said, allowing the sarcasm to flood the room. Throwing nine interceptions the last three games is no joke, especially after he threw four the first eight games, and Stafford isn't taking it as such. But it's not something that's going to alter his mentality."
Fox finally comes to grips with Matthew Stafford's glove
November 21
Detroit Free Press
 
"Geez, what's the big deal about a passing quarterback like Matthew Stafford wearing gloves? Nobody complains about Tim Tebow wearing shoes. Oh, the red flags went up when Stafford -- still wearing those gloves -- threw interceptions on the Lions' first two series Sunday. But he kind of shot those down with a 77.7% completion rate, 335 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a 121.9 completion rating and, of course, a comeback 49-35 win over Carolina at windless Ford Field. Early on, though, the glove he's wearing to protect the fractured index finger on his throwing hand again was a story line for Fox, which kept getting shots of Stafford fiddling with it. (Maybe they brought along their top"
Lions' QB Stafford relates to rookie in Panthers' Newton
November 19
Charlotte Observer
 
"Before there was Cam Newton, there was Matthew Stafford. In 2009, Stafford was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, a Georgia quarterback ordained by the Detroit Lions as the player around whom a franchise would be remodeled. He joined a team that had gone winless the previous season and, now in his third season, Stafford and the Lions are 6-3 in the midst of what feels like a renaissance for one of the league's venerable franchises. For Stafford, who was named the Lions' starting quarterback before the regular-season opener in 2009, there's been a stop-and-start quality due to injuries, the latest of which is a broken finger on his throwing hand suffered two weeks ago. Preparing to"
Lions' Nick Fairley, Matthew Stafford and Rob Sims, Bears' D.J. Moore fined
November 19
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and guard Rob Sims were fined $7,500 apiece for their roles in Sunday's skirmish with the Chicago Bears. Separately, Lions rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley was fined $15,000 for roughing the passer when he drove Bears quarterback Jay Cutler into the ground. Stafford tossed Bears cornerback D.J. Moore to the ground while trying to fend off a block after his third interception of the game early in the fourth quarter. Moore retaliated by hitting Stafford while he knelt on the ground, and Sims jumped in the pile as players from both benches spilled onto the field. Stafford said he's not sure whether he'll appeal the fine, which was assessed for"
Lions' Matthew Stafford just one of several ailing QBs
November 17
Detroit Free Press
 
"Matthew Stafford's right index finger has been under the microscope -- and X-ray machine -- since his four-interception meltdown in Sunday's blowout loss to the Bears. And while some have dismissed the fractured finger as another strike against an injury-prone quarterback, Stafford isn't the only passer playing hurt in the always dangerous NFL. Last week, Houston Matt Schaub suffered a Lisfranc injury that could end his season, Kansas City's Matt Cassel required surgery on his throwing hand, Philadelphia's Michael Vick suffered two broken ribs and is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Giants, and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger suffered a broken right thumb."
Matthew Stafford shoulders the load for Lions
November 17
Detroit News
 columnist John Niyo
"Matthew Stafford still was waiting for notice from the proper authorities about a possible fine for stirring up trouble late in last Sunday's loss at Chicago. And while the FedEx packages from the league office typically arrive Wednesday, Stafford said he'd heard from a more reliable source — Ndamukong Suh — that he might have to wait a bit longer to learn his fate. "Suh told me they come on Thursday or Friday," Stafford joked. "He knows best." Stafford already had been cleared by one legislative body, though, after his head-first takedown of Bears cornerback D.J. Moore during an interception return — and Moore's retaliatory hit after the whistle — sparked a brief fracas late in the 37-13"
Matthew Stafford throws well at Lions practice
November 17
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford returned to practice today, three days after throwing four interceptions in a loss to the Chicago Bears, and showed little residual effects from his fractured right index finger. Stafford took his usual first-team reps at quarterback and appeared to throw the ball with ease, but he did use his healthy left hand instead of his right to make handoffs out of the shotgun formation."
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford expects to wear gloves in two more games
November 16
Michigan Live
 
"Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford practiced with gloves on Wednesday and expects to wear them again the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Stafford practiced with gloves prior to playing against Chicago last week because of a fractured finger in his throwing hand. He threw four interceptions in Detroit's 37-13 loss, but blamed his performance on the wind at Solider Field. However, Stafford said his finger is feeling better when asked after today's practice."
NFL analysts see Matthew Stafford's finger injury as an issue for Lions
November 16
Detroit Free Press
 
"The last time a Lions coach took the wind, it didn't work out so well. But Jim Schwartz steadfastly stuck with it this week after many of quarterback Matthew Stafford's passes sailed around Soldier Field on Sunday. Schwartz insisted after the 37-13 loss to Chicago, and again Monday, that the reason for Stafford's four interceptions and 52% completion rate was the howling weather in the stadium, rather than the fractured index finger on his throwing hand. "Is he 100%? No," Schwartz said Monday. "What affected him was the wind in this game." But two experts think Schwartz's wind argument is full of hot air."
Matthew Stafford's hit triggers Lions-Bears melee, but no apologies
November 14
Detroit Free Press
 
"Matthew Stafford wasn't about to apologize for his takedown of Bears cornerback D.J. Moore that started a shoving match and emptied both benches in the second half of Chicago's 37-13 win Sunday. "He kind of blocked me. I was just trying to get him off me best I knew how, and I guess he didn't like the way I did it, and he wanted to ask me about it," Stafford said. Did Stafford like the way Moore did it? "Yup," Stafford said. Stafford tossed Moore to the ground by the back of his helmet while trying to fend off a block on his third interception of the game. Moore retaliated by hitting Stafford as the Lions quarterback was just starting to get up from the ground. Brandon Pettigrew and"
Lions blown apart by Bears; Stafford has broken finger
November 14
Detroit News
 
"Maybe Jay Cutler was right after all. Maybe the Lions are just an indoor team. Even though the temperatures were unseasonably warm Sunday at Soldier Field (69 degrees at the start), the Lions, particularly the offense, looked completely out of its element, contributing two fumbles and a two pick-sixes that led to 24 points in the Bears' stunning 37-13 victory. "If you play this game long enough, you are going to be on the opposite end of some big games," receiver Nate Burleson said. "We went to Denver, blew them out, came in the locker room and acted like nothing happened. "We came to Chicago, got blown out and now we have to act like nothing happened. We are 6-3. It's not like we are"
Matthew Stafford's finger just one of the Lions' pains
November 14
Detroit News
 columnist Bob Wojnowski
"It had been awhile since the Lions imploded, so you might have forgotten how ugly it can look. This was an awful response to a big game, starting with the quarterback and splintering from there. Matthew Stafford was brutal and baffling, which put him in a category with a lot of Lions. If this was the launching of a second-half playoff drive, it couldn't have started worse. The Lions weren't ready for this, weren't ready for the wind, weren't ready for the animosity. Stafford threw four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns in the third quarter, but the game was lost even before then. That's just where it completely unraveled, as the Bears rolled to a 37-13 victory Sunday. For the"
D.J. Moore's spat with Matthew Stafford heats up rivalry
November 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"No hard feelings? ''No,'' Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said after the Bears-Lions rivalry reached a new level of animosity with a major-league melee in the fourth quarter of the Bears' 37-13 victory at Soldier Field. ''I think the melee happened and it's done and we're done. After the game, guys went up and shook hands.'' Well, some guys did, anyway. ''I didn't want to talk to anybody after the game,'' said Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton. ''I saw [Brandon Pettigrew] start walking to the locker room and I was like, 'OK. That's what it is then.' We're good friends. But he wasn't going to come out to talk to nobody.'' The growing rivalry lived up to expectations. The perpetrators of the"
Matthew Stafford knows Bears will give Lions 'best shot'
November 11
Detroit News
 
"The playoff countdown is on for the Lions, and the formula is clear cut to end their 12-year playoff drought. Eight weeks, eight games: Win games and they're in, with no need for any scoreboard watching and hand-wringing in the hope that other playoff contenders will lose. It's a simple formula, but a difficult road to the postseason, starting Sunday against the NFC North rival Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago. It's a big game and a tough opponent for the start of the second half of the season after a week off with a bye. The Lions' 6-2 record includes a 24-13 victory over the Bears at Ford Field on Oct. 10. The Bears are 5-3 and on a three-game winning streak that has lifted them into"
Matthew Stafford will be tested in Lions' playoff run
November 8
Detroit News
 columnist Mike O'Hara
"The magical word "playoffs" and everything it promises and entails should be the Lions' call to battle as they restart the season after a week off with a bye. They are playoff-worthy challengers with a 6-2 record, but it would be a mistake to believe that the job is half done in going to the postseason for the first time since 1999. There is no such thing as the job being half done. It's either done or it isn't. There is nothing halfway about it. Making the playoffs requires hard work, with no resting points in the 16-game season. It has nothing to do with the Lions' history and comments, good and bad, by outsiders. The Lions' playoff march starts with Sunday's game against the Bears in"
Matthew Stafford deserves some of the pub celebrity QBs get
November 6
Detroit News
 columnist Jerry Green
"The first celebrity quarterback the Lions encountered this season dated a movie star and plays for the team with the loudest propaganda level in the NFL. He was glorified for winning a game in overtime after having his ribs cracked and a lung punctured. America's media had been pitching this guy's story for several years — in the playoffs and out. The second celebrity quarterback came out of college as a magnet for news stories. He played at a national championship school and was drafted for the pros in the first round. His flaws have been overlooked by the fawning magpies of ESPN and Fox, NBC and CBS. Fans in his pro town purchased space on an electronic billboard to plead with the coach"
Lions' Jahvid Best still sidelined; Matthew Stafford bouncing back
November 1
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions continue to have no timetable on the return of running back Jahvid Best, who has missed the past two games with a concussion. "We've had some players come back quickly, some players that lasted a little bit longer," coach Jim Schwartz said Monday. "But the one thing we'll be sure to do is be objective and listen to the people that are expert in those decisions. "I say it all the time, but I'll say it again: It's not something that you can put tape around, it's not something that you can tough out. It's a situation that we have to be conservative, and I think it's good for Jahvid, it's good for the NFL.""
Matthew Stafford's ankle looks sound on 21-yard scramble
October 31
Detroit Free Press
 
"If there were any lingering questions about the health of Matthew Stafford's sprained right ankle, they disappeared late in Sunday's first quarter when the Lions quarterback stepped up in the pocket to avoid a sack and took off running for a 21-yard gain, tying his career high. "It was good enough to get out there and scramble a little bit," Stafford joked after the 45-10 win over the Broncos at Sports Authority Field. It was his only carry."
Stafford says he's starting today in Denver
October 30
Pro Football Talk
 
"As the Lions try to stop a two-game slide in the Mile High city, they'll have the services of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford tells Ed Werder of ESPN that the third-year player will indeed start on Sunday, despite a sprained ankle."
Stafford looks strong in Friday's practice
October 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"Jim Schwartz wouldn't commit to it, but everyone who has watched Matthew Stafford practice the past three days believes he'll start at quarterback Sunday for the Lions against the Broncos. Stafford suffered a sprained right ankle on the final offensive play in last week's loss to the Falcons and was listed as questionable on the team's official injury report Friday. But in practice, Stafford was the only quarterback to participate in a skeleton passing drill during the 30-minute portion open to the media, and even Schwartz acknowledged he was moving around the best he has all week. Stafford was listed as full participation in practice Friday after being limited Wednesday and Thursday."
Lions QB Matthew Stafford practices for third time, but Nick Fairley likely out
October 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"Matthew Stafford was listed as questionable on the Detroit Lions' official injury report today, but the expectation is that he will play Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Stafford took part in a full practice today for the first time since spraining his right ankle on the Lions' final offensive play of last weekend's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He had been limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday. Lions coach Jim Schwartz declined to name a starter today but acknowledged that Stafford was feeling "better today than he was yesterday and, hopefully, we can keep him on that track till Sunday." "A lot of things can happen between now and Sunday," Schwartz said. "I've learned not to make"
Lions' Matthew Stafford, Broncos' Tim Tebow face different expectations
October 28
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Michael Rosenberg
"This week, Lions savior Matthew Stafford likely will take the field against Denver savior Tim Tebow, and I think we can agree: The Lions absolutely, unequivocally, must win this game. Or the next one. Or maybe the one after that. I never know how to use the words "must win" in sports. It almost sounds threatening. Perhaps I should just send the Lions a strongly worded letter imploring them to do their best. Stafford and Tebow won't be on the field at the same time, unless the Broncos take the advice of Tebow's critics and make him a safety. In fact, we're not 100% sure Stafford will be on the field at all. He is recovering from a sprained right ankle. But coach Jim Schwartz said Stafford"
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford's health shows progress
October 28
Detroit News
 
"Another day, another step closer to recovery for quarterback Matthew Stafford. "Matt looked real good today," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Thursday. "He went a little bit (on Wednesday) and quite a bit (Thursday). I think he's looking good." Stafford, still limited by a right ankle sprain, clearly was moving more fluidly during the open portion of practice. He was making throws off five-step drops and he quarterbacked the first team in skeleton drills. Barring any setbacks, it appears he is on pace to start in Denver on Sunday. "He was improved," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He's on a pretty good track right now.""
Lions' Matthew Stafford practices with first-team offense
October 28
Detroit News
 
"Another day, another step closer to recovery for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford, fighting through a right ankle sprain, was moving much more fluidly during the open portion of practice Thursday. He was making throws off five-step drops and he quarterbacked the first-team offense in the skeleton drills. Barring any setbacks, it appears he is on pace to start in Denver on Sunday."
Pressure hindering Lions QB Matthew Stafford's production
October 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown for progressively fewer yards and had a progressively lower passer rating three of the past four weeks, culminating with Sunday's underwhelming 15-for-32, 183-yard showing against the Atlanta Falcons. But Fox analyst John Lynch, who'll broadcast Sunday's game against the Broncos alongside Dick Stockton, said there's a different explanation."
Fair or not, Lions' Matthew Stafford must play better
October 27
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Jamie Samuelsen
"The last two Lions games, both losses, have been clouded by controversy. What concerns you most about what you've seen from Detroit? The story coming out of the 49ers game was "The Handshake." The story coming out of the Falcons game was "The (alleged) Taunting." Both issues were completely overblown. Neither issue will have any impact on the Lions going forward. And both totally overshadowed the real issue at play here. "The Quarterback.""
Matthew Stafford no lock to start for Lions on Sunday
October 27
Detroit News
 
"He didn't look very comfortable and he didn't take any reps with the offense, but quarterback Matthew Stafford was in a helmet and shoulder pads Wednesday doing all he could to get his sprained right ankle ready for Sunday. "If I am healthy enough to play, I will try to be out there," Stafford said. "It's yet to be seen if I can get to that point. But if I can, I want to play." He said the ankle "felt OK, obviously sore," but that it was better Wednesday than it was Monday. "Hopefully it will continue making progress," he said."
Lions QB Matthew Stafford appears OK at practice
October 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was a limited participant in the individual portion of practice today, running lightly during stretching but sitting out some skeleton offensive drills. Stafford appeared to be moving fine three days after he sprained his right ankle on the Lions' final offensive play of a 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton took reps with the first- and second-team skeleton offense, when Stafford appeared to remove an ankle brace from his right foot. A Lions trainer came out a few minutes later, and Stafford changed into a higher-cut shoe on his right foot only."