ALLEN PARK -- Matthew Stafford played through a back injury last year. He played through another back injury in a Week 4 loss against Kansas City. And then he suffered yet another back injury in a Week 9 loss against Oakland.

That’s three back injuries in a calendar year, the last of which has sidelined Stafford for a month. He’s not expected to play on Sunday against Minnesota either. All of which has heightened concerns that Detroit’s franchise quarterback could be dealing with back issues for the rest of his career.

But Stafford said he does not expect his current injury -- reported to be fractured bones in his back -- will become a recurring problem.

“No,” he said. “Trying to make sure it’s not.”

The injury snapped what had become one of the great iron-man streaks in the history of the game at the position. Stafford started 136 straight regular-season games. Only five quarterbacks have ever started more consecutively.

Needless to say, Stafford isn’t exactly used to sitting around, and the down time is killing him.

“No question it’s killing him," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “It’s what he does. He loves to play football, and, you know, if he gets a chance to be out there, he wants to be out there.”

Stafford is especially eager to return because of how well he was playing under Bevell. He ranked among the top-six quarterbacks in all the major passing statistics when he went down, including leading the league in yards per game. His 19 touchdown passes were second most. He was averaging a career-high yards per attempt, as he stretched defenses vertically, yet kept up the efficiency number too. If the season ended today, his 106.0 passer rating would be a career high.

So, yeah, of course he wants to be out there.

“It’s not fun,” Stafford said. “But I’m trying to do my best to help (Jeff Driskel and David Blough).”

Driskel and Blough have played well enough to win most weeks, and Blough was especially impressive in a loss against Chicago on Thanksgiving. But the Lions have also lost all four of their games without Stafford, five in a row overall and are buried at 3-8-1 heading into the final quarter of the season.

Still, Stafford has not given up hope of returning this season, much as running back Kerryon Johnson is doing this week.

“I think it’s just a continued process,” Stafford said. “It’s something that (Matt Patricia) and I and the doctors are having a bunch of conversations about and trying to figure out what’s best. I appreciate him giving me those options and trying to keep an open mind with it.”

Stafford said his back is improving, but sidestepped a question about how close he is to rejoining practice.

“I think it’s continuing to heal, as it should,” he said.