Category: Lions News

Lions staff member tests positive for COVID-19

Lions staff member tests positive for COVID-19 and is now in isolation

The Detroit Lions had a staff member test positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The positive test places the team in the NFL’s Intensive Protocol, which ramps up the precautionary actions for the team and the training facility in Allen Park.

While unidentified who tested positive, the Lions did note that the infected person has not been at the team facility in the last 48 hours and is in self-isolation. Staff member is a different designation from player, who would be placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

The official statement from the Lions, via Twitter:

What exactly does it mean to be in the NFL’s Intensive Protocol? This is a description from the NFL’s PR department, also via Twitter:

Everson Griffen not happy about being called a ‘good player’ by Mike Zimmer

“I’m really looking forward to playing the Vikings and showing them I am a great player”

Everson Griffen is set to play his first game for the Detroit Lions, and the defensive end already has beef with the Week 9 foe, the Minnesota Vikings. Griffen played his first 10 seasons in Minnesota, and his departure from his longtime team does not sit well with him.

Griffen made that abundantly clear in his Zoom press conference with the media on Thursday. Specifically, he’s not happy with his old coach calling him a “good player”. Not at all.

“I got a little frustrated when I read the comment that (Vikings coach Mike) Zimmer said about, ‘Oh Everson was a good player’. Like, coach Zimmer wasn’t just a good coach, he was a great coach to me,” Griffen said. “So for him to call me a good player, that kind of hurts my feelings.”

The new Lions defensive end is definitely excited to play his old team in his Detroit debut.

“I’m really looking forward to playing the Vikings and showing them I am a great player,” Griffen said with emphasis.

The longtime Viking did talk fondly of his former teammates, noting he misses many of them. Then Zimmer came into mind again, and Griffen got animated.

“We going to see who’s a good player on Sunday, that’s what I got for him … he’s gonna put some respect on my name.”

Thanks to FOX2 for posting the clip:

Kelly Stafford: Entire Stafford family tested negative for COVID-19

Matthew Stafford needs 5 days of negative tests to return to the Lions

Kelly Stafford offered some positive news for Detroit Lions fans on her Instagram story feed on Thursday. She stated that the entire Stafford family, including husband – and Lions starting quarterback – Matthew have tested negative again for COVID-19.

“Okay y’all, I appreciate everyone reaching out and giving us well wishes,” Stafford posted, with a mask dangling from her ear. “We are fine. We are all negative (for COVID-19). My husband is negative. There was just a certain exposure. We have all been testing since the exposure.”

Her post comes a day after Matthew was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Lions due to his exposure. If Stafford tests negative five days in a row after Monday’s initial exposure, he will be able to play in Week 9 in Minnesota. Wednesday was the first date of those tests.

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Matthew Stafford and the Lions QB options for the Week 9 game vs. Vikings

Stafford could still play but there are other options too

We still don’t know who will be under center for the Detroit Lions when the team takes the field in Week 9 in Minnesota in a key NFC North game against the Vikings. Matthew Stafford’s appearance on the Lions’ reserve/COVID-19 list complicates the entire scenario.

There is a way for Stafford to still be able to play. All indications are Stafford himself did not test positive, including an Instagram story post from Kelly Stafford. He was instead in close contact with someone who did test positive.

That contact happened on Monday. NFL protocols require five days of negative tests to clear the reserve/COVID-19 list. Stafford can hit that mark if he tests negative every day, starting with Wednesday’s test. If he has passed all tests up to Sunday, Stafford will fly on a private jet to Minnesota and get his final test there.

Stafford cannot practice with the team or sit in on meetings other than via teleconferencing while he’s on the reserve list.

If Stafford cannot get clearance to play, Chase Daniel will get the starting nod. Daniel has yet to play for the Lions after signing as a free agent this offseason. The former Bears backup has started five games in his 11-year career, including a win over the Lions in 2018 with Chicago. He led the Bears to a 16-6 victory over the Vikings in Week 4 last season after starter Mitchell Trubisky left during the opening drive after fumbling.

David Blough is the only other QB on the Lions roster. He started the final five games last season after both Stafford and Jeff Driskel were injured and placed on I.R. The Lions lost all five games Blough started.

Stylistically, Blough is more capable of running the Darrell Bevell offense that Stafford executes. He has a stronger arm and has proven more willing to try to fit the ball into tight windows. Daniel is more of a rhythm-based, cautious passer who often slides around to get better throwing angles.

Whoever is under center will not have top WR Kenny Golladay to target. Golladay is out with a hip injury.

 

 

The Detroit Lions have placed Matthew Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list

The Detroit Lions announced they have placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Detroit Lions announced they have placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

After placing Jarrad Davis on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, Stafford becomes the second player the Lions have had to place on the list this season.

Update per Adam Schefter: Stafford falls into the “high-risk close contact” category from a contact on Monday. As long as he began his minimum 5-days isolation immediately AND continues to test negative, it’s possible he could be cleared for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. 

It was reported by The Athletic’s Chris Burke — this week’s pool reporter — that Chase Daniel and David Blough were taking reps during the portions of practice available to the media, so it’s unclear who would start this Sunday if Stafford can’t play.

The Lions released the following statement with their confirmation:

This reserve list category was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted t comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.

Lions QB Matthew Stafford misses Wednesday’s practice session

Marvin Hall said Stafford “should be fine” after practice

Some unexpected and undesirable news comes out of Detroit Lions practice on Wednesday. Quarterback Matthew Stafford did not participate in the portion of practice open to the media, and he was not spotted in the team facility.

The Lions gave no indication for the absence. Stafford was at the team facility on Monday, and the entire team was off on Tuesday for the league-wide honoring of Election Day.

Head coach Matt Patricia did not bring up Stafford’s availability during his pre-practice press conference. After practice, wide receiver Marvin Hall gave an update on the quarterback’s status in his own Zoom session with the media.

 

 

Lions will practice on Wednesday, confident in safety protocols in place in Allen Park

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia confirmed at his morning press conference that the team will practice on Wednesday, and they are confident in the safety protocols in place in Allen Park despite Jarrad Davis being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list yesterday.

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia confirmed at his morning press conference that the team will practice on Wednesday, and they are confident in the safety protocols in place in Allen Park despite Jarrad Davis being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list yesterday.

Patricia confirmed that Davis was indeed the first Lions’ player who needed to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list since the regular season began and walked reporters through the timeline on what happened after they were alerted to Davis’ situation.

“(We) go look at the contact tracing, we have an interview process that we go through,” Patricia said. “We kind of just completely make sure that we understand the situation that we’re talking about, whatever that is, and then we run everything through the League. And we have great conversations with them as far as what are the risk factors and what does that look like, and then from there we go forward with what we think’s best for the team.”

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported that the Lions were one of several teams this morning that had “no new positive test results”, and while Patricia continues to keep players COVID-19 results in-house — following NFL/NFLPA guidelines — he did note that: “Nobody would not be able to practice because of (Jarrad Davis)” on Wednesday.

So this appears to be an isolated situation surrounding Davis and the Lions feel confident they’re are keeping their players safe with the current protocols they have in place — which are continually being updated based on new information from the league.

This weekend’s game with the Minnesota Vikings does not appear to be in jeopardy at this time.

Detroit Lions place Jarrad Davis on reserve/COVID-19 list

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the Detroit Lions have placed linebacker Jarrad Davis on Reserve/COVID-19 list.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reported, and the Detroit Lions have confirmed, that they have placed linebacker Jarrad Davis on reserve/COVID-19 list.

This is the first time a Lions player has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 since the initial testing in the early portions of training camp in early August.

The Lions released the following statement with their confirmation:

This reserve list category was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted t comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.

With no details surrounding Davis’ situation, it’s unknown how long he will be required to away from the facility.

NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Opinions of the Lions future are varied

Taking a look at where the Detroit Lions sit among the collection of Week 9 national power rankings.

Entering Week 9, the national media’s opinion of the Detroit Lions mirrors the fans, with some believing they can string together a series of wins over the next month, while others think the season is basically over and that coach Matt Patricia’s days in Detroit are numbered.

Let’s take a closer look at what the national analysts thought of the Lions’ victory and what the experts are saying this week.

Touchdown Wire: 25 (Previous: 22)

“Thankfully for the Lions, they now enter the more favorable part of their slate of games. Their next four games are winnable, as they face Minnesota, Washington, Carolina and Houston. But any hope Lions fans had last week took a huge blow seeing this one get away from them.” — Mark Schofield

USA Today: 18 (Previous 18)

“They’ve scored first in all seven of their games this season … but haven’t scored enough in four of them.” — Nate Davis

NFL: 27 (Previous: 21)

“The Lions are now 0-3 at home after a 41-21 loss to the Colts that wiped away any goodwill accrued from back-to-back wins. They had a chance to put themselves into excellent playoff position entering the season’s second half, but instead melted down with two turnovers that produced 15 Colts points at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. Detroit also lost star wideout Kenny Golladay, who’ll likely miss time after sustaining a hip injury. The Lions face three losing teams over the next three weeks — if they clean up their play, they could still find themselves in the thick of the playoff race come December. But can you trust this team? That’s what I thought.” — Dan Hanzus

ESPN: 24 (Previous: 22)

“Reason for optimism: P Jack Fox. The offense is inconsistent. The defense can’t do much against any team with a winning record. The coaching has been suspect — and has moved away from things that work, like a group of offensive linemen that appeared to coalesce prior to Sunday’s demolition by Indianapolis. But hey, have you seen the punting? Fox leads the NFL with 53.2 yards per punt, best in the league by 2.8 yards. His 47.6-yard net punting average also leads the NFL. And Detroit’s special-teams coverage, led by coordinator Brayden Coombs, has been good. So not all is troublesome in Detroit.” — Michael Rothstein

CBS Sports: 18 (Previous 16)

“Their little surge came back to reality in a hurry with a terrible showing at home against the Colts. The heat is back on Matt Patricia.” — Pete Prisco

Sports Illustrated: 26 (Previous: 20)

“The fact that a win against the Colts would have pushed the Lions over .500 for the first time in the Matt Patricia era is damning. So, too were the results: The Lions yielding 41 points to the Colts in their seventh straight loss at home. Lions ownership billed this as a judgment year for Patricia and GM Bob Quinn, and games like this certainly make reaching that judgment easier.” — Jenny Vrentas

Sporting News: 19 (Previous: 18)

“The Lions couldn’t run the ball on the Colts and also lost wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a new injury. Matthew Stafford managed as well as he could but Matt Patricia’s defense got ripped too much for the QB to make a difference. Consider the coach back on a hotter seat.” — Vinnie Iyer

Lions had just 10 defenders on the field twice in loss to Colts

The Lions had an unwanted flashback to the Jim Caldwell era

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An old problem for the Detroit Lions reared its ugly head once again in the team’s humbling 41-21 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. One of the banes of the Jim Caldwell coaching tenure in Detroit made an unwanted appearance in the game.

The Lions defense played with just 10 men on the field. Twice.

It happened twice in the loss to the Colts, a repeat of the damning critique that was commonly held against Caldwell at the end of his coaching run with the Lions. One incident even saw Caldwell’s defense play with just nine players on the field while surrendering a key third down conversion in a close loss. It happened multiple times in Caldwell’s tenure.

Chris Burke of The Athletic captured screenshots of the incidents and posted them to his Twitter account.

It’s another embarrassing gaffe for a team and a coaching staff that cannot afford it.