Matthew Stafford has been sacked more times in the last two weeks _ 12 _ than quarterbacks Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Jared Goff and Ben Roethlisberger have been all year.
Stafford came up limping after one fourth-quarter sack Sunday, when his right leg bent awkwardly back as Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short rolled him to the ground.
Lions coach Jim Caldwell declined to offer much of an update on Stafford's health at his weekly news conference Monday, but he did acknowledge the need to better protect his franchise quarterback.
Stafford, in his weekly Monday appearance on The Mitch Albom Show on WJR-AM, said he was "doing OK" but declined to say whether he'll play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
"It's our job to protect him no matter what (is going on)," Caldwell said. "I don't care if they're blitzing, not blitzing, four-man rush, whatever it might be. We didn't do a good enough job with that, but there are a lot of moving parts that deal with protection. It's routes being run properly, guys getting open, ball's delivered on time. Offensive linemen blocking, tight ends blocking, backs blocking. So there's a lot of different things that go into it."
The Panthers sacked Stafford six times on Sunday in their 27-24 win at Ford Field, just as the Vikings dropped him six times the week before.
At one point in Sunday's fourth quarter, Stafford appeared to receive medical attention on his upper right leg. During the change possession not long after Short's sack, trainers heavily taped Stafford's right ankle.
Stafford, who's been sacked 18 times this year, tied for third most in the NFL, walked with a slight hitch after his post-game news conference Sunday, which was conducted in the locker room (and not in the basement interview room at Ford Field) for one of the few times in his career.
Caldwell declined to say Monday what benefits there might be to sitting Stafford for this Sunday's game against the Saints with a bye on tap next week.
"Totally hypothetical situation, which generally, as you all know, I'm not going to answer," he said.
For now, there's no indication that Stafford will miss any time, and it likely would take a significant injury for him to do so.
He's made 101 consecutive starts, the fourth longest active streak among quarterbacks, and played through an injured middle finger on his throwing hand for the final four games last year.
"I think like most of the guys (he's) pretty sore after the game, but the rest you'll have to wait for the injury report," Caldwell said.
