CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) Matthew Stafford has built a reputation for being tough and playing with injuries.
The Detroit Lions will need their franchise quarterback to be tough – and stay on the field – if they want to bounce off a 4-5 start and make a run in the NFC playoffs.
If Lions want a run, they probably need to do it now.
Detroit is gearing up for three fighting teams in the Panthers, Texans and Bears, giving them a unique opportunity to build momentum in the final four games of the season.
First up is Carolina, without Christian McCaffrey and possibly quarterback Teddy Bridgewater dealing with a knee sprain. If Bridgewater fails, the Panthers turn to either Will Grier or PJ Walker, who have two combined starts at the quarterback.
But Lions coach Matt Patricia won’t overlook Carolina regardless of who is playing QB.
Carolina will be ready to go, said Patricia. ” It’s a copycat league. There are things in the game that will show up in the next game or a couple of games on the street. So we have to clean up this stuff and try to improve. For us we’re just trying to stay within the week and make sure we focus on that because I think if you look beyond it you can just get distracted. ”
Stafford is dealing with an injury of his own.
He injured his right thumb in the first half of Detroit’s 30:27 win over Washington last Sunday, but threw 276 yards and three touchdowns. X-rays were negative. Stafford rested his thumb on Wednesday but returned limited training on Thursday.
Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye said Stafford looks good in practice and looks like he hasn’t missed a blow.
Bridgewater said Thursday he wasn’t sure he was ready to play.
Panther’s trainer Matt Rhule said while the QB was throwing in practice, he hadn’t tested his mobility.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do until he does,” said Rhule on Thursday. “ We’re trying to be smart about when to do this. He prepares like he’s playing. When we get to Sunday and he feels he can play, we will play him. ”
McCAFFREY DOES NOT EXPECT TO PLAY
Bridgewater’s injury is even more worrying when you consider the Panthers will run back again without their best offensive playmaker, Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey will miss his eighth game of the season with an injury – the last two due to a sprained AC joint in his shoulder.
McCaffrey was effective when he played, averaging 124.7 yards from the scrimmage, and scored six touchdowns. The panthers fought in the red zone without him.
Mike Davis would get started for McCaffrey. Davis completed a total of 675 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in 2020 but hasn’t been as effective for the Panthers in his last four starts.
SWIFT DEALING IN CONCLUSION
Detroit designed D’Andre Swift in the second round of that year and he appeared to be the team’s number 1 last week after hitting a season high of 150 yards on his first NFL start. Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said days later that 35-year-old Adrian Peterson had clarified the pecking order in the background.
However, Swift was listed on the injury report on Thursday with a concussion and was not exercising. His game status for Sunday remained in the air. Peterson and Kerryon Johnson would get extra work if Swift persevered.
Swift had 81 yards of rushing and season highs of 16 carry and 68 yards of receiving and a season high of five receptions, including a short one that he turned to a 15-yard score in defeating Washington. The former Georgia star has 331 yards of rushing, an average of 4.7 yards per carry and four touchdowns, and 31 catches for 275 and two more points.
SAVVY VETERAN
Detroit’s defensive end Everson Griffen, acquired in a deal with Dallas last month, had his first sack in his second game with the Lions against Washington. He also made a crucial game that didn’t make it into the boxing standings and helped stop a reverse gear without engaging in a tackle.
“Everson has a tremendous amount of energy,” said Patricia of Everson, who has 3 1/2 bags in nine games this season, 78 bags in his career and is 15th among active players.
THIRD BELOW WOES
The Panthers defense really struggled to get off the field on the third descent.
Carolina allows opponents to convert a league high of 55.3% of the third downside. Last week Tom Brady turned 10 of 16 third down chances and the Buccaneers stacked a total of 30 first downs in a 46-23 drubbing of the Panthers.
“We (stink) in this department,” said Panther’s cornerback Rasul Douglas. “ We didn’t make it while as a defense we must find a way to do it. I think the coaches put us in positions to get off the field and we don’t, neither do I. ”
SEE THE FAKE
The Panthers have tried a wrong punt in each of the last three games, two of which resulted in initial defeats. Last week’s attempt did not disappoint, however, as punter Joe Charlton was fired for a 5-yard loss in a 4-5 win that gave the Buccaneers the ball at the Carolina 40.
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AP sports journalist Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.
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