Matthew Stafford Has Fractured Bones In Back

NOV. 10: Stafford has fractured bones in his back, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. As such, doctors will not allow him to play in the team’s contest against the Bears on Sunday. Stafford’s streak of 136 consecutive starts will come to an end, and Schefter says he could miss up to three weeks.

NOV. 9: After some early-career injury issues, Matthew Stafford has been one of the NFL’s most durable players. The Lions quarterback has not missed a start since the 2010 season. That streak is suddenly in jeopardy.

On Detroit’s injury report with hip and back trouble, Stafford is shaping up as a true game-time decision. The Lions are concerned about their 11th-year passer’s availability for Sunday’s Bears game, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Stafford has appeared on the Lions’ injury report earlier this season but has taken every snap. Should Stafford be unable to go, the Lions are thin at backup quarterback. Jeff Driskel, who signed with the team earlier this season, joins rookie UDFA David Blough as the other quarterbacks on the Lions’ 53-man roster.

The Lions enter Sunday’s Chicago tilt at 3-4-1 and would certainly be major underdogs if Stafford is unable to go. Stafford did get in three limited practices this week. Considering his history, that’s a good sign for his availability for this NFC North matchup.

The 2009 No. 1 overall pick has started 136 straight games. He’s played well this season, rating seventh in Total QBR and having thrown 19 touchdown passes compared to five interceptions. Driskel last suited up for the Bengals in 2018, making five starts for an injured Andy Dalton. Blough was a multiyear starter at Purdue.

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