The Bears could face their third different Lions starting quarterback in as many games Thursday.
Jeff Driskel was listed as limited on Monday’s injury report after hurting his hamstring in a loss to the Redskins a day earlier. Lions coach Matt Patricia told reporters Monday that the hamstring was “sore” and “tight” — a problem for a mobile quarterback.
Driskel has started the Lions’ last three games, dating to the team’s contest at Soldier Field, after franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford broke bones in his back. Stafford isn’t expected to play on Thanksgiving.
If Driskel can’t go, the Lions would start David Blough, a rookie from Purdue who’s never taken an NFL snap.
Because neither team held a true practice Monday — they were walk-throughs — they submitted estimated injury reports.
“That can be challenging when you have somebody like that that you don’t know much about,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said. “The one thing with Jeff Driskel, that was such a short notice on the last time we played them so we got to play a full game against him. It’s hard to tell just with walkthroughs, day after what the situation is. But I know our defensive guys will do everything they can to stay prepped on them on the other quarterback.”
Patricia confirmed that the Lions reached out to veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, whom the Lions cut in September in order to sign Driskel. ESPN reported that the XFL, who controls Johnson’s rights, rebuffed the Lions’ efforts.
