Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford: Back healing 'as it should,' not a long-term concern

Dave Birkett | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Lions analysis: The logic that could seal Matt Patricia's fate The Detroit Lions have a decision to make about Matt Patricia's future. And one NFL owner might have the right logic. Filmed Dec. 4, 2019.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said the back injury that will keep him out of his fifth straight game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings is healing "as it should" and that it hasn't changed his mind about playing into 2020 and well beyond.

"It’s something that was kind of a freak deal that happened and obviously got to take it in stride and listen to the doctors, my body, coaches, everybody, kind of figure out what’s best," Stafford said Wednesday. "But I was having a lot of fun playing when I was out there, wish I could be out there right now helping us try to win games. It’s just not the case."

Stafford has not played since fracturing bones in his back late in a Nov. 3 game against the Oakland Raiders.

The Lions are 0-4 in his absence, and on their third starting quarterback of the season in rookie David Blough.

Asked Wednesday whether the injury will be behind him for good once it is healed, Stafford said, "Should be, yes sir."

"I want to play for a long time (still)," Stafford said.

While Stafford remains unlikely to play again this year — the Lions (3-8-1) have four games remaining and were eliminated from playoff contention last week — the team has so far resisted placing him on injured reserve.

Lions coach Matt Patricia said Monday that decision has been made "out of respect for Matthew and his competitiveness and what he means to this team and what he brings every single week."

Stafford, in his 11th season, made 136 consecutive starts before his injury, a streak that dated back to the start of the 2011 season.

He took immense pride in that streak after missing much of the 2009-10 seasons with injuries, but insisted Wednesday that his reluctance to go on IR now has nothing to do with missing time his first few years in the league.

"There’s no stigma to it," Stafford said. "I think just it’s a continued process. It’s something that (Patricia) and I and the doctors were having a bunch of conversations about and trying to figure out what’s best. I appreciate them giving me those options and trying to keep an open mind with it."

Before his injury, Stafford was having arguably the best season of his career.

He threw for 2,499 yards and 19 touchdowns in the first eight games of the season, and was on pace to set career-highs in passer rating (106) and yards per attempt (8.6).

"Anytime you’re injured it’s frustrating, it’s tough. And especially if you’re playing good, and I felt like I was playing good," Stafford said. "I felt like we had a good thing going and, honestly, really proud of Jeff (Driskel) and Dave, how they’ve stepped in and played, cause we’ve continued to be explosive and score some points and do some of that stuff. So proud of those guys for that."

Driskel started three games in Stafford's place, including a Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears, when Stafford took first-team reps in practice during the week and was ruled out a day before the game.

Blough made his first career start last week, with Driskel bothered by a pulled hamstring.

Both quarterbacks have said Stafford has been instrumental in their preparation and in helping them navigate in-game.

"He does a great job with those guys," quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan said. "He really is supportive. Really couldn’t have asked for more in the way he’s handled it and really tried to be a resource for those guys. It’s a real benefit to have him in that room."

Stafford, who spent last week's loss to the Bears bouncing between position groups and offering advice to a variety of players in between series, said he's simply "trying to stay as involved as I possibly can" and help the Lions win games.

Coaching, he said, isn't in his future.

"I don’t think Kelly would be having that," he said, referring to his wife.

But playing soon, he hopes, is.

"Whatever happens is going to be a collaborative decision," Stafford said. "I’m not smart enough to tell you exactly what’s going on and some of those doctors never played football so it’s kind of a collaborative decision, whatever decision is made and whenever that happens."

Briefly

Stafford (back) was the only Lion who did not practice Wednesday. Jamal Agnew (ankle), Da’Shawn Hand (ankle), Sam Martin (abdomen) and Rashaan Melvin (ribs) were limited. … The Lions signed tight end Cole Herman to the practice squad and released linebacker Anthony Pittman.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Read more on the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter.