Suiting up Week 14

Stafford (back) is listed as active Sunday in Arizona, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: Stafford will shrug off the back injury that limited him in practice all week, making his 125th start in a row in the process. Although he can be relied upon to be available from game to game, his current weapons don't give him the best chance to succeed. With Golden Tate in Philadelphia, Marvin Jones (knee) on injured reserve and Kerryon Johnson (knee) inactive, Stafford has had modest production the last two contests, totaling 481 yards and one touchdown versus three interceptions.

Trending toward playing Week 14

Stafford (back), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, is expected to play, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Analysis: With 124 consecutive starts under his belt, Stafford is about as durable as they come at quarterback, so his status never looked to be in serious peril even after the back issue limited his participation in practice throughout the week. While he'll be less 100 percent healthy if he suits up, the greater concern for Stafford may be the lack of playmakers surrounding him on offense. For the third straight game, the Lions will be without the services of both top running back Kerryon Johnson (knee)…read more

Listed as questionable for Sunday

Stafford (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest in Arizona.

Analysis: Although Stafford was limited in practice all week, he ranks second among active offensive players in consecutive starts with 124, so he has a streak to uphold. Assuming he's active this weekend, he'll be facing a tough Cardinals defense that is fifth against the pass (220.4 yards per game) and has allowed the third-fewest scores (16) to quarterbacks in 12 contests this season.

Limited Thursday

Stafford (back) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

Analysis: Estimated as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report, Stafford maintained that level of activity Thursday. Like wide receiver Kenny Golladay (quadriceps), Stafford doesn't appear to be in danger of missing Sunday's game at Arizona, but his status will continue to be monitored as the weekend draws closer.

Limited with back issue

Stafford was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a back injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: With no reports indicating Stafford's back issue is a concern, he should be able to play Sunday in Arizona, flanked by a depleted supporting cast that also includes wideouts Kenny Golladay (quad) and Bruce Ellington (back), who were also limited Wednesday. The Cardinals have allowed just 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 1.4 passing scores per game, typically getting gouged on the ground instead.

Solid in defeat

Stafford completed 20 of 33 passes for 245 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Lions' 30-16 loss to the Rams on Sunday. He also gained two yards on his sole rush and lost a fumble.

Analysis: Stafford turned in a serviceable stat line for fantasy purposes, but he still committed another pair of turnovers, including an interception in the end zone with 17 seconds remaining that snuffed out any last hopes the Lions may have had of completing a comeback. The veteran signal-caller is clearly hampered in an offense that's now down two of its top three receivers from the start of the season, and that was missing star rookie running back Kerryon Johnson (knee) on Sunday as well. Stafford…read more

Sinks team's chances with two picks

Stafford completed 28 of 38 passes for 236 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Lions' 23-16 loss to the Bears on Thursday.

Analysis: Stafford's final line was adequate in terms of completion percentage and yardage, but an absence of touchdown passes coupled with his two interceptions told the tale of the afternoon. The veteran quarterback's first pick was returned for a touchdown by Eddie Jackson with six minutes remaining and the game deadlocked at 16-16. However, Stafford appeared to be on his way to rallying the Lions for a potential game-tying touchdown before he was intercepted yet again by Kyle Fuller at the Bears'…read more

Avoids mistakes in Week 11 win

Stafford completed 23 of 37 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in the Lions' 20-19 win over the Panthers on Sunday. He also gained six yards on three rushes.

Analysis: Stafford managed to stay away from any miscues, making it his second interception-free game in the last three. The veteran signal-caller generated a solid performance despite the absence of Marvin Jones (knee), as he found Kenny Golladay on eight occasions for 113 yards and also displayed solid rapport with the recently arrived Bruce Ellington (6-52). Stafford will look to put together another solid effort in four days against the Bears in a Thanksgiving Day divisional battle, a game that Jones…read more

Pair of touchdowns in losing effort

Stafford completed 25 of 42 passes for 274 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Lions' 34-22 loss to the Bears on Sunday. He also rushed twice for nine yards and fumbled once but got the recovery.

Analysis: Stafford put up over 40 pass attempts for the second time in the last three games with the Lions facing a large deficit, which also led to his fifth game of over 270 passing yards this season. He also has thrown multiple touchdowns in six of his last seven contests, with Kenny Golladay and Kerryon Johnson on the receiving end of his passing scores Sunday. The fact he lost Marvin Jones to a knee injury in the second half certainly didn't help Stafford's cause, and he ultimately ran out of time…read more

Held under 200 yards

Stafford completed 25 of 36 passes for 199 yards without a touchdown or interception in Sunday's 24-9 loss to the Vikings. He also rushed five times for six yards and lost a fumble.

Analysis: Stafford was under siege throughout, taking 10 sacks. His fumble came on a regrettable decision to pitch the ball back to his running back on the outside, leading to a 32-yard Vikings defensive touchdown when the play went awry. If Stafford doesn't get better protection in Week 10 against the ferocious Bears defense, he could be in for another ugly afternoon.

Turns the ball over twice in loss

Stafford completed 27 of 40 passes for 310 yards, two touchdowns and an interception during Sunday's 28-14 loss to Seattle. He added six yards on one carry and a lost fumble on the ground.

Analysis: Flushed out of the pocket, Stafford muscled the ball 39 yards downfield to a streaking Marvin Jones for the game's first touchdown late in the first quarter. Detroit didn't strike again until the fourth quarter, when Seattle had already taken control of the game. The Lions did not have their newfound run game on Sunday. Consequently, Stafford showed that, albeit in a losing effort, he's still able to pile up stats when counted on to run the whole show. His interception was just his second since…read more

Tosses two scores in win

Stafford completed 18 of 22 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 32-21 win over Miami. He added nine rushing yards on four carries.

Analysis: What sort of alternate universe are we living in where Detroit runs for 248 yards and Stafford winds up with just 22 passing attempts? If this represents an extension of a new, more balanced Lions offense, fans can probably expect a less dynamic -- but more efficient -- Stafford. The Lions have boasted a 100-yard rusher twice in the past four games, with Stafford completing 72.8 percent of his passes during that span with a TD:INT of 8:1. After his methodical execution of a stingy Miami pass…read more

Pair of touchdowns in Week 5 win

Stafford completed 14 of 26 passes for 183 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Lions' 31-23 win over the Packers on Sunday. He also lost a yard on his sole rush.

Analysis: It was an unusually muted day through the air for the Lions, who fed two different running backs with double-digit carries for the second time this season. That led to a season-low amount of attempts and passing yardage for Stafford, but he still managed to throw for multiple scores for the fourth consecutive contest. The 10-year veteran now boasts a 10:5 TD:INT through five games and will look to stay hot against the Dolphins in Week 7 following a Week 6 bye.

Throws two touchdowns in loss to Cowboys

Stafford completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 307 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Cowboys.

Analysis: Stafford completed 80 percent of his passes as he averaged a healthy 10.2 yards per attempt. His overall numbers were driven by a pair of long touchdown passes to Golden Tate, including one in the final minutes which put the visitors ahead. Unfortunately for Stafford, his team fell to 1-3 on a field goal in the final seconds, but he's been excellent over the last three weeks and is averaging 305 yards per game to go along with a 7:1 TD:INT ratio during that span. He'll look to keep it up in…read more

Leads upset over New England

Stafford completed 27 of 36 passes for 262 yards with two touchdowns and one interception during Sunday's 26-10 victory over the Patriots. He added 10 rushing yards on his lone carry.

Analysis: Stafford built upon his solid Week 2 performance and is quickly making everyone forget about how this Lions team got blown out by the Jets in Detroit's season opener. In this one, Stafford outdueled Tom Brady by stringing together long drives in order to keep the Patriots offense on the sidelines. The Lions dominated time of possession roughly 39 minutes to 21. This development was largely a result of Detroit's newfound success in the run game, headlined by the fact that Kerryon Johnson became…read more

Bounces back in Week 2 loss

Stafford completed 34 of 53 passes for 347 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions during Sunday's 30-27 loss to the 49ers. He also rushed once for eight yards and lost a fumble.

Analysis: Stafford bounced back from a miserable Week 1 performance, improving in almost every significant passing category and nearly rallying his team to a come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter. Despite the team's offseason commitment to the running game, Stafford has been extremely busy through the first two games of the year; the Lions have thrown the ball on over three-fourths of their offensive plays thus far. The fact that Detroit has trailed by at least a 14-point deficit in the fourth…read more

Dreadful in blowout loss

Stafford completed 27 of 46 passes for 286 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions in Monday night's 48-17 loss to the Jets.

Analysis: Stafford endured a disastrous start to this season. The lone bright spot of his performance was a 24-yard touchdown to Golden Tate to begin the third quarter. Besides that, he threw two interceptions on both sides of halftime, including one that was easily returned for a touchdown. Furthermore, he took a cleat to the leg during the first half and was forced into a one-play exit after being crunched by two defenders while throwing during the third quarter. With his team down 31 points, Stafford…read more

Looks mediocre again

Stafford completed nine of 18 passes for 113 yards in Friday's preseason game at Tampa Bay.

Analysis: Stafford played into the third quarter and set up three field-goal attempts on five drives. He also took three sacks along the way, after taking two in a brief appearance last week. Stafford presumably will be held out of the Lions' preseason finale, thus finishing the exhibition slate having completed 11 of 23 passes for 164 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions. He'll open the regular season with a favorable home matchup against the Jets on Monday Night Football (Sept. 10).

Should see extended playing time Friday

Head coach Matt Patricia plans to give Stafford and the rest of the Detroit starters extended playing time in Friday's preseason game against Tampa Bay, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Patricia stopped short of stating exactly how much run he expects to give his first-team offense, but he did say he wants to get his team into "a regular-season mode," which suggests Stafford should get at least a few possessions Friday. The inability to pinpoint exactly how much Stafford will play obviously renders the quarterback a risky pick in DFS contests, but it could pay off if he stays in the game deep into the second quarter.

Limited action in preseason debut

Stafford completed two of five passes for 51 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions during Friday's preseason game against the Giants.

Analysis: Making his 2018 preseason debut, Stafford did what he could, but the quarterback was pulled from the game rather quickly after taking two sacks -- plus another that was wiped out be a defensive penalty -- behind an offensive line that seemed out of sync. However, there's optimism this trend won't continue into the regular season once offensive guard T.J. Lang (undisclosed) is back in action, especially if first-round rookie Frank Ragnow can acclimate to the professional stage sooner than later.…read more

Likely to play Friday

Stafford likely will play in Friday's preseason game against the Giants, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official website reports.

Analysis: Stafford came out in uniform for the Lions' first preseason game but didn't actually play in the contest. He'll likely play at least one or two drives Friday night, though coach Matt Patricia hasn't commented on his plan for the quarterbacks.

Suiting up Friday

Stafford is on the Lions' sideline with pads and a helmet before Friday's preseason game against the Raiders, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: Stafford wasn't warming up with the Lions' pass catchers, so initial reports favored him sitting this one out. It's still not guaranteed that Stafford will play, but most quarterbacks in his situation would be in street clothes otherwise.

Unlikely to dress Friday

Stafford isn't expected to suit up for Friday's preseason game against the Raiders, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: There's no reason to risk injury to the Lions' franchise signal caller, so backups Matt Cassel and Jake Rudock will lead the offense in the preseason opener.

Stafford displayed chemistry with second-year wideout Kenny Golladay during June minicamp, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

Analysis: The Lions are banking on Golladay's development along with an improved running game to make up for the offseason departures of tight ends Eric Ebron and Darren Fells. The team did sign Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo to join 2017 fourth-round pick Michael Roberts, but the trio will have a tough time matching the 751 yards and seven TDs provided by Ebron and Fells last season. The Lions otherwise devoted their offseason to building a decent rushing attack, something Stafford hasn't had since…read more

Stafford completed 20 of 29 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns during Sunday's 35-11 victory over Green Bay. He also caught a two-point conversion while rushing twice for two yards.

Analysis: Stafford capped off another statistically-strong season in Detroit by putting together one of his most masterful games in recent memory, as his 140.4 passer rating was his highest mark since 2015. The Georgia product ended the campaign in style, too, sneaking behind the Packers defense to catch a two-point conversion on a trick play in the fourth quarter. Stafford will now finish the season with a fantastic stat line that includes 4,446 yards passing, a 65.5 completion percentage, 7.9 YPA mark…read more

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said he won't give any consideration for resting Stafford during Sunday's season finale against the Packers, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: The 8-7 Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention after their Week 16 loss to the Bengals, but with a winning record for the season still achievable, it doesn't sound like the team will rest its regulars for an otherwise meaningless finale. Stafford has been playing through a bruise on his throwing hand throughout this month and sprained his ankle in late November, but it hasn't translated to a dramatic downturn in his productivity over the last five games. During that time, he's…read more

Stafford completed 19 of 35 pass attempts for 203 yards, one touchdown and one interception Sunday against the Bengals. He also gained seven yards on his lone carry in the 26-17 loss.

Analysis: Stafford completed just 54 percent of his passes and recorded an average of 5.8 yards per attempt en route to his second-lowest yardage total of the season. He opened the scoring with a 33-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, but the offense scuffled after that and finished with its lowest point total since Week 8. Most importantly, the loss eliminated Stafford and company from playoff contention, so it remains to be seen whether they choose to deploy all of their regulars for next week's…read more

Stafford completed 25 of 33 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 20-10 victory over the Bears. He also lost a fumble while rushing once for minus-1 yard.

Analysis: Stafford appears to be operating at full health, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported that Stafford didn't tape up his bruised throwing hand Saturday and won't need to moving forward. Even with this recent injury, Stafford currently boasts an 80.2 percent completion rate over his past three games. He was passing at a 62.5 percent clip in the 11 games prior. While he only completed two of 10 passes that traveled over 10 yards Saturday, Stafford excelled in the short-to-intermediate…read more

Excels despite hand injury

Stafford (hand) completed 36 of 44 passes for 381 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 24-21 win over the Buccaneers.

Analysis: Stafford had apparently looked increasingly better each day in practice this past week, and he parlayed that improvement into his second-best passing yardage total of the season. The veteran signal caller connected with eight different pass catchers on the afternoon and led an eight-play, 49-yard drive that set up a game-winning field goal by Matt Prater with 20 seconds remaining. It was Stafford's fourth 300-yard effort of the season, and he's also thrown for between 292 and 299 yards in three…read more

Playing through bruised hand

Stafford (hand) is listed as active Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Analysis: As he did throughout the week, Stafford will take the field Sunday with the ring and pinkie fingers taped on his bruised right hand, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Playing through a finger issue last season, Stafford completed 59.5 percent of his passes, averaged 271.3 yards through the air per game, and posted two touchdowns versus three interceptions across four outings.

Expected to start Sunday

Stafford's throwing hand made daily improvement over the week, and the quarterback is expected to start Sunday against the Buccaneers, per a source, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Stafford will face a Tampa Bay team that ranks 31st in passing defense (267.3 YPG) and 21st in points per game (24.0).

Enters weekend as questionable

Stafford (right hand) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Analysis: Head coach Jim Caldwell opened Friday's media session with nary an answer about Stafford's health, saying he's "progressing" and throwing "decently." During the open portion of practice, though, Stafford let it rip, despite having two fingers taped on his bruised throwing hand. Among his tosses, he completed a 45-yarder to Bradley Marquez. Perhaps the biggest question mark around Stafford's potential output is the state of the offensive line, as starting right tackle Rick Wagner (ankle), right…read more

Limited again Thursday

Stafford was listed as a limited participant during Thursday's practice.

Analysis: Though Stafford wasn't upgraded to full participation in practice, it nonetheless seems he stepped up his involvement during the session. According to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, Stafford was able to throw during the 15 minutes of practice made available to the media, with his touch passes looking normal. However, because Stafford had two fingers taped up during the workout -- one less finger than he taped Monday -- his throws were lacking in zip, which could hinder his effectiveness by the time…read more

Very limited at practice

Despite being listed as a limited participant, Stafford didn't appear to make any throws at Wednesday's practice, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: The Lions may have allowed Stafford to throw when the medi a wasn't watching, but he was limited to handing the ball off with his left hand while the press was around. Head coach Jim Caldwell confirmed that the bruising and swelling in Stafford's right hand is a significant issue, saying that his quarterback isn't yet out of the woods in terms of gaining clearance for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. This already seems to be trending toward a game-time decision, with 2016 sixth-round pick Jake…read more

No throws Wednesday

Stafford (hand) didn't throw during the portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: Prior to the session, head coach Jim Caldwell told Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com that Stafford is "not out of the woods yet" as it pertains to Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, noting the contusion on the quarterback's right hand isn't insignificant. The lack of throws doesn't mean Stafford ultimately won't be deemed a limited participant Wednesday, especially after he was able to hand off the ball with his left hand. Backup quarterback Jake Rudock handled the majority of reps, though, so the Lions…read more

'Not out of the woods' with hand injury

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said Wednesday that Stafford (hand) is "not out of the woods yet" and indicated that the quarterback's injury isn't insignificant, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Though X-rays came back negative on Stafford's right hand earlier this week, he's still dealing with a painful bruise that inhibits his ability to throw the ball. As a result, Stafford seems likely to be at least a limited participant in the team's first practice of the week Wednesday, if not held out of the session entirely. Because Stafford's status for Sunday's matchup with the Buccaneers is up in the air, Caldwell indicated that he would likely have to balance getting both Stafford and…read more

Bothered by bruising in hand

Stafford's right hand isn't broken, but it is very sore and badly bruised, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Given that X-rays came back negative, this wouldn't be much of a concern if it were an issue with Stafford's left hand. Unfortunately for the Lions, the injury is in the worst place possible for a quarterback, leaving Stafford's availability in question for Week 14 in Tampa Bay. Head coach Jim Caldwell said he isn't yet sure how the bruising will impact Stafford's ability to throw. Reports from practice will need to be watched closely this week, though it's possible the Lions try to hide…read more

Bruises hand Sunday

Head coach Jim Caldwell said X-rays came back negative on Stafford's right hand in the aftermath of Sunday's 44-20 loss at Baltimore.

Analysis: Although Stafford doesn't have a fracture, he does have significant bruising on the hand, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Stafford later told Meinke that he has "burning nerve pain" after his right hand was stepped on in the fourth quarter but expects it to be "OK." The Lions may not report on Stafford's health until the release of the first Week 14 injury report Wednesday, but it remains to be seen if his streak of 108 consecutive starts is in peril.

Suffers hand injury Sunday

Stafford is questionable to return to Sunday's game at Baltimore due to a right hand injury, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: Stafford was holding the hand tenderly as he walked to the locker room in the middle of the fourth quarter. If he fails to reenter the contest, he'll finish the day having completed 24 of 29 passes for 292 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jake Rudock takes over the offense in Stafford's stead.

Practices without limitations

Stafford (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday.

Analysis: Stafford came up gimpy in the aftermath of a 43-yard touchdown heave to Marvin Jones during the fourth quarter of the Lions' loss to the Vikings on Thanksgiving. Commenting on his right ankle Monday, he said that he had an X-ray after the game and was "feeling better," which foretold Wednesday's full session. Stafford can now prepare for Sunday's contest in Baltimore, whose defense has allowed just two touchdown passes to quarterbacks over its last five outings.

Ankle showing improvement

Stafford said his sprained ankle is "feeling better," Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Appearing on 760 WJR's The Mitch Albom Show on Monday, Stafford said he received X-rays after Thursday's loss to the Vikings that evidently came back negative. He's now four days removed from first sustaining the injury and still has six days until the Lions kick off against the Ravens this weekend. While the quarterback is seemingly on track to suit up for that game, Wednesday's injury report will be a better indicator of Stafford's potential availability.

Says ankle isn't 100 percent

Stafford said Thursday that his right ankle was "not 100 percent" after he injured it during the Lions' 30-23 loss to the Vikings, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Stafford hurt his ankle early in the fourth quarter on his 43-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jones, with the injury seemingly derailing the Lions' comeback effort. Though he remained in the contest, Stafford completed only three of six passes for seven yards the rest of the way, with his final third-down pass proving especially costly, as he overthrew an open Golden Tate on what was essentially a game-sealing interception. Though his Thanksgiving Day ended on a sour note, Stafford indicated that…read more

Stafford completed 20 of 35 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during Thursday's 30-23 loss to the Vikings. He also fumbled twice, losing one of them.

Analysis: The king of comebacks wasn't able to pull off any fourth-quarter magic Thanksgiving Day, thanks to a last-minute pass that bounced into the hands of the Vikings' 2016 Pro Bowl corner, Xavier Rhodes. Stafford wasn't all that impressive fantasy-wise, either, as he missed a number of seemingly easy throws and struggled his way to one of his lowest completion percentages of the year. On the bright side, Stafford seemed to avoid major injury after his right leg was rolled up on in the final quarter…read more

Stafford completed 21 of 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-24 win over Chicago.

Analysis: Stafford has been quietly impressive this season, with multiple touchdown passes in seven of 10 games. His numbers over Detroit's three-game winning streak have been superb, though. He's posted a seven:one touchdown:interception ratio and an absurd 10.1 yards per attempt. Stafford is humming, but it'll be interesting to see if his luck runs out next week against Minnesota. Stafford was held to 209 passing yards and no touchdowns against the Vikings' stout defense earlier this season.

Stafford completed 17 of 26 passes for 249 yards with three touchdowns and one interception while adding 17 yards on four carries in Sunday's 38-24 win over Cleveland.

Analysis: Stafford got some help from his teammates early on, as Detroit's two first-half touchdowns came on a running play and a fumble recovery. The league's highest-paid quarterback earned his money late, however, turning a 24-17 deficit into a 38-24 win with three touchdown passes in the final 16 minutes. Those scores of eight, 29 and 40 yards raised Stafford's TD:INT ratio to 17:5 on the season.