HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 17: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions watches from the sideline in the second half during the preseason game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

There’s been a lot of speculation about the health of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in recent weeks after getting a six-day break from training camp and having yet to play a snap this preseason.

If you’re a newer Detroit Lions fan or if the iron man label Stafford earned throughout his career has faded your memories of his early years. Matthew Stafford was thought to be an injury-prone draft bust after his first two seasons were cut short due to season-ending injuries. Lucky for Lions fans, since those first two seasons, Stafford has started 127 consecutive games, which is good for sixth all-time and third among active quarterbacks, behind Philip Rivers (208) and Matt Ryan (147).

Even though he hasn’t missed a game in 8 years, it’s not like he hasn’t been getting injured, especially in the past three seasons. In 2016, Stafford dislocated and tore ligaments in the middle finger on his throwing hand.

He went from an MVP candidate to the ultimate game manager, and the Detroit Lions didn’t win a game after that injury. In 2017, Stafford injured his hamstring and ankle week 5 vs. Carolina and had a hand injury week 13 vs. Baltimore. And as we all know by now, last season Stafford played with broken bones in his back for who knows how long.

So after finishing last season with a broken back, plus his eight-year history of never missing the action, game time or practice, it has many wondering if all the caution this preseason is a sign Stafford isn’t 100% healthy.

But Matthew Stafford is far from the only NFL starting quarterback yet to play a single snap in the preseason. Other starters include; Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Carson Wentz, and even Mitchell Trubisky. That’s 11 quarterbacks including Stafford or about 34% of the league.

You wouldn’t think the Lions would be a part of the 34% after this same head coach played the same franchise quarterback with broken bones in his back in meaningless regular-season games just months ago. Now, they’re resting a fully healthy Stafford?

Matt has a brand new offense to learn and only a couple months to get everybody on the same page. To me, it sounds like somebody is either lying or somebody has changed their philosophies when it comes to injury prevention and/or preseason football in general. I’m betting on the latter.

The Detroit Lions are apart of this new way of thinking for some NFL coaching staffs on how they utilize the preseason. One of the new ways of NFL preseason thinking is joint practices. They are more valuable than a preseason game as joint practices are situational football against another NFL team at it’s finest. You can work on any situation you want without the restraints of following game rules, all while being able to keep that red jersey on your most valuable asset when the wins and losses still don’t count.

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The Detroit Lions have been resting their veterans going all the way back to OTA’s and well through training camp as well, almost looking for a reason to have guys sit out. So for me, with Stafford still playing in the joint practices last week, I’m not worried at all.