Detroit Lions catch a break; Matthew Stafford activated and ready to go
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Lions have officially activated quarterback Matthew Stafford from the COIVD-19/reserve list.
All signs point to quarterback Matthew Stafford starting tomorrow when the Detroit Lions travel to Minnesota to square off against their NFC North division rival.
It appears the organization was able to avoid disaster and are luckily getting their franchise quarterback back after he missed an entire week of practice due to a strict NFL COVID-19 protocol.
The Lions are heading into a vital must-win Week Nine matchup, and they need Stafford healthy and under center to have a punchers chance to beat the Vikings. Earlier this week, Stafford was in close contact ( a none teammate) with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus. He needed to test negative all week before he could be cleared to suit up Sunday.
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That hurdle was completed, but Stafford will be heading into Minnesota set to face a Vikings team that is just a week removed from upsetting Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers behind a four-touchdown performance from their standout running back Dalvin Cook. It had been Cook’s first game back after being sidelined with a groin injury and he looked far better than 100 percent.
It goes without saying, a rusty Stafford is still a much better option than a polished Chase Daniel if the Lions have any hopes of coming away victorious.
It’s a Lions team that will already be without an abundance of players, a few of which are impact players. Detroit will take the field tomorrow without their best overall defender, Trey Flowers, who had recently been spotted wearing a sling.
Stafford will also be forced to operate the offense without his top playmaker, Kenny Golladay, who will be out due to a hip injury. Golladay missed the first two weeks of the season, leaving the offense to sputter. Detroit hopes to get enough production from Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, Marvin Hall, and Quintez Cephus to defeat a bad Minnesota defense.
On the other side of the ball, head coach Matt Patricia will have his hands full trying to scheme enough on defense to keep both Cook and star wideout Adam Thielen in check. The Lions defense will be getting corner Desmond Trufant back, but will be without Tracy Walker, Darryl Roberts, and Julian Okwara, along with Flowers as mentioned earlier.
Next. Pay Kenny Golladay now, before the price rises. dark
Stafford should be able to do enough on offense to keep the Lions competitive minus, Golladay. Even with a motivated Everson Griffen, the Detroit Lions defense will have their hands full.