(Update, Nov. 26: In a somewhat unlikely development, injured Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will start Thursday, according to a report on MLive.com.)The Lions would love nothing more than to trot their new franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, out for a national-television audience on Thanksgiving Day. But it looks like everyone will have to settle for Daunte Culpepper.
Stafford, who injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder one play prior to tossing a game-winning TD to beat Cleveland last Sunday, was listed as doubtful by the Lions for Thursday's game against Green Bay.
Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz did not sound optimistic about Stafford's playing status following the team's Tuesday practice, and apparently, nothing changed over 24 hours.
"If it's the way it was [Tuesday], a lot of guys wouldn't have been able to play, but you don't want to rule anyone out this time of the week," Schwartz said. "He's still sore, but he's getting better. It's something we anticipated getting better. Whether it's something that will be better on Thursday -- it's still too early to tell. If he was the way he is today, he'd be unlikely to play; but things can change so we don't want to rule anything out."
Stafford did not participate in practice at all this week for Detroit. Neither did star wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is dealing with hand and knee injuries. Johnson is listed as questionable for Thursday's contest.
Should Stafford be unable to go, Culpepper would return to the starting lineup; he started two games for Detroit earlier this season with Stafford nursing a knee injury. Culpepper actually has a Thanksgiving Day win to his credit -- way back in the 2000 season, Culpepper led the Minnesota Vikings to a 27-15 win at Dallas.
Detroit has not won a Thanksgiving Day game since beating Green Bay in 2003, a stretch of five consecutive losses. That streak has contributed to the growing movement that wants the league to take the annual Thanksgiving games away from Detroit (and, to a lesser extent, Dallas) and allow other teams to rotate into hosting duties.
