stafford-glove.jpg

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford practices on Wednesday with a one-fingered glove over his passing hand. He was back in the glove Thursday, though it appeared slightly modified.

(Kyle Meinke | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Matthew Stafford was back in his one-fingered glove for practice Thursday, although this time he didn't look nearly as sharp.

The Detroit Lions quarterback threw tight spirals and was on the mark during the 20 minutes that were available to the media on Wednesday, but didn't spin the ball nearly as well on Thursday. He didn't put any passes on the ground, but the ball did wobble more than usual and there were a couple straight-up ducks.

Stafford does appear to be experimenting with the glove and tape he has protecting the middle finger on his throwing hand, which he reportedly dislocated in Sunday's win against Chicago. It appeared the glove extended higher Thursday than it did Wednesday.

It was also noticeably colder in the indoor practice facility Thursday, easily in the 40s, though it's unclear whether that had any impact on Stafford. And there were some wet ball drills too, where an assistant wiped the balls with a damp towel, trying to simulate the rain that is currently in the forecast for Sunday.

Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) also practiced, after missing Wednesday with a shoulder injury, and tailback Zach Zenner (brain) is out of the red jersey he was in a day earlier.

Center Travis Swanson (brain) and running back Theo Riddick (wrist) did miss practice for a second straight day, though, and neither looks like a good bet for New York after not playing last week either.