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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jeff Risdon

Mike O’Hara says Matthew Stafford played with broken back in 2018

Did Matthew Stafford have a broken back down the stretch in 2018? According to Mike O’Hara of DetroitLions.com, he did.

While it’s been widely reported Stafford had a back injury, likely suffered in the loss to the Rams in Week 13, O’Hara’s assertion that the Lions QB actually broke his back is revelatory. O’Hara dropped the information on a podcast over the weekend. The episode of O’Hara’s podcast with Ken Brown ventured into Stafford’s toughness.

Here’s the exchange between O’Hara and Brown:

O’Hara: “He is durable, but he does play with injuries. Turns out he had a broken back last year. Broken bones in his back.”

Brown interrupts: “Were you supposed to say that?”

O’Hara after a pause: “It’s been reported.”

Brown, laughing: “It’s been reported? I didn’t see that – did you put that report out?”

O’Hara: “Just now. No, I read that. Word gets out in the National Football League.”

O’Hara is employed by the Lions organization, so this isn’t some random speculation. The team and Stafford have not given any indication on the severity of the back injury at any point, other than Stafford appearing on the team’s injury list for the final weeks of the season following the Rams game.

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