Lions QB Stafford (back) not practicing

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford did not practice on Wednesday as the Lions began preparing for Sunday's visit from the Dallas Cowboys. Stafford was held out of last weekend's game in Chicago after tests on his ailing back revealed that his injury was more serious than previously thought.

Stafford attended Wednesday's practice, which was held indoors due to heavy snowfall in the area. He "lightly tossed a few footballs" but was not in shells when practice began, according to mlive.com. He was officially listed as a non-participant, with hip and back ailments, on the team's injury report. Jeff Driskel worked with the first-team offense Wednesday and would likely make his second straight start if Stafford is unavailable.

Driskel completed 27 of 46 passes for 269 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Bears at Soldier Field. Stafford, 31, said on Monday he's not considering being shut down for the rest of 2019 and felt he made the best decision he could on his status for last week.

"I think I made the right decision," he said. "... My thinking is to try and be out there as soon as I possibly can to help us win." Stafford had started every game under center for the Lions since the start of the 2011 season, a string of 136 consecutive starts. This year, he has passed for 2,499 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games.

 

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