Lions’ QB recovering from a rib injury
Less than a week after giving some in the Detroit Lions organization a scare with his rib injury, Matthew Stafford is on track to play in Sunday’s home opener against the Denver Broncos (8:30 p.m., NBC). Stafford has practiced in full the last two days, and Lions coach Jim Caldwell said his quarterback has gone about the week in normal fashion. “I think, on a daily basis, he demonstrates his desire to be out there and rolling along,” Caldwell said. “He’s an unusual guy in that respect, but just in terms of how he’s gone about the week, in terms of his preparation and things of that nature, it’s been on par with the way in which he prepares. But every week’s a little different challenge and, certainly, this week is challenging for him.” Stafford took eight hits and was sacked once in the Lions’ 26-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings last weekend and was so beaten up, he needed X rays on his ribs and chest after the game. (Detroit Free Press)
Nerdy Football Analysis: Despite putting up a decent stat line last week, Stafford player fairly conservatively, opting for short passes to pick up yards. It lead some to speculate that his rib and chest injuries were preventing him from throwing the long ball. Things don’t get any easier for Stafford this week, facing the top-ranked pass defense thus far in 2015 in the Denver Broncos.
