Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford won’t play in Sunday’s game against the Bears — a massive break for the home team, which hasn’t won a contest in six weeks.
Stafford was one of seven players listed on the Lions’ inactive list. ESPN reported Stafford has broken bones in his back. He was listed on the injury report with hip and back issues this week. He was called questionable for Sunday’s game even after saying during the week he thought he’d play. That fit his career profile — he’d started 136 consecutive games.
Quarterback Jeff Driskel, who went 1-4 in five starts with the Bengals last year, will start in his place. Rookie David Blough, a rookie from Purdue, was put on the active roster Sunday and will back up Driskel.
Lions coach Matt Patricia praised him earlier this week in a call with reporters.
“Just give credit to Matthew Stafford,” he said. “He’s a guy that comes in every single day and works hard to get better, to improve. He’s been around the game a long time but really approaches every single day like a new day and he wants to get better. So just give him credit for his work ethic and his toughness and his ability to study, be disciplined and really just try to improve every single time he walks into the building.”
Not listed on the Lions’ inactives: defensive lineman Mike Daniels, who will play for the first time since Week 3 after hurting his ankle.
