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Lions Stafford to make trip; Bevell not counting him out vs. Titans

Matthew Stafford, who has not practiced all week due to injured ribs, will make the trip to Tennessee for Sunday’s game against the Titans.

It’s still uncertain whether the quarterback will start. It could come down to a workout on Sunday morning. Or not.

“He’s breathing really well, he’s better, he’s moving better. He’s feeling better how far that’s going to be we’ll see. You can’t really judge this because the guy is tough as nails,’’ interim coach Darrell Bevell said on Friday.

“I’ve had it before. (Brett) Favre was out 10 straight weeks, he was going to be out again, he walks in the day of the game and said, ‘I’m going.’ Guys like that, you give it to them and they go. So I feel like he’s in that same category (as Favre). He could walk in on Sunday and say, ‘I don’t care what anyone is saying, I’m going.’ So I’m going to let him go,’’ Bevell added.

Stafford injured his ribs — X-rays were negative — late in the loss to Green Bay.

“Sunday I didn’t feel good, I just wasn’t able to function. That was the biggest thing, I was spasming and locking up a little bit and I wasn’t able to throw, that’s basically what it boils down to,’’ Stafford said on Wednesday. “When I wasn’t able to do that, I felt like our best chance was to let Chase (Daniel) go out there and operate. I obviously don’t ever like coming off the field but I didn’t feel like I could help us any more.’’

Daniel finished the game and is preparing — like always — to start this week.

“Knowing (Stafford) he tries to play, there’s no doubt about it,’’ Daniel said. “The dude is one of the toughest dudes I’ve ever been around regardless of position.’’

For Stafford it seems rest, ice and heat is the best medicine this week. Not much else to do with ribs.

“I think it kind of boils down to being able to operate, go out there to throw it around, be able to feel good enough to know or at least give myself a good chance of finishing the game,’ Stafford said. “Don’t want it to be one of those things where you go out there and do something weird early and you’re out after the first series of the game. Not to say, you can take a big hit and who knows what could happen.’’

He said he wants to feel good enough to start the game and finish it at a high level.

Lions C Frank Ragnow fractures throat, doesn’t miss a snap against Packers

Want to talk toughness? Frank Ragnow, the Detroit Lions center, fractured his throat early in Sunday’s loss to Green Bay and finished the game.

The NFL Network first reported the injury on Wednesday, saying it occurred in the first quarter.

“I knew something was going on, but pretty crazy that he was able to finish the game with that,’’ said quarterback Matthew Stafford who didn’t finish the game due to injured ribs.

“He came up to me early in the game and was very hoarse and kind of feint sounding. (He said) I can’t really talk just to let you know. Just make sure you’re communicating with everybody up front even more so than I normally would,’’ Stafford said. “It was kind of crazy but it was good. We didn’t have any communication issues the rest of the game.’’

According to the Free Press, Ragnow is able to breathe and eat with the injury.

Even with the fractured throat he didn’t allow a quarterback hit. He played all 67 offensive snaps and four on special teams.

“He’s played awesome, he’s played fantastic. Ultra physical in the run game and does a really nice job in the pass game as well just clearing up a bunch of stuff,’’ Stafford said. “When he gets one-on-one he plays at a high level so we’re lucky to have him. He’s a young player who’s got a ton of talent, a ton of ability, the right head on his shoulders and works extremely hard and leads those guys really well.’’

Lions running backs coach Kyle Caskey also noted Ragnow’s toughness.

“The guy goes out there, he’s beat up, he plays center. You watch some of the plays he’s getting hit, he’s getting just blasted almost every play,’’ Caskey said. “The guy plays through a lot, the amount of things we put on his plate from week to week, he’s a very valuable piece of this puzzle.’’

“Love him as a teammate,’’ Stafford said. “Obviously he’ll play through a bunch.’’

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions.)

Five keys in the Lions’ 31-24 loss to Packers

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions, in their second game under interim head coach Darrell Bevell, hung with the Packers in the first half but then couldn’t get Green Bay’s offense off the field in the third quarter.

When it was over, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers beat the Lions 31-24 in a late matinee game on Sunday at Ford Field.

“We were going up against against one of the best quarterbacks to ever do it in this league,’’ Bevell said. “To be able to be in it at the end of the game with one possession to determine it. I was really proud of the guys and how they fought, they finished all the way to the end.’’

Quarterback Matthew Stafford wasn’t able to finish the game after getting crunched in the ribs in the fourth quarter. Bevell said it was too early to know if Stafford will have to miss a game or more. The quarterback was getting X-rays after the game.

“Matthew Stafford is as tough as they come, he’s a huge competitor, I know he’s going to want to be out with his team, it’s going to have to be pretty drastic for him not to be in there,’’ Bevell said.

Five key plays in the game:

1. Tied 14-14 at the half, the Packers had the first possession in the third. Talk about total domination for one quarter. In the third, they led in time of possession 13:49 to 1:21. In the third and into the fourth, Green Bay had two scoring drives. One was 14 plays, 75 yards eating up 8:49. The other was a dozen plays for 79 yards taking 7:49 off the clock. “That’s not how I wanted to start the second half, they came out, went on a long drive, when that happens on the offensive side of the ball we need to respond and do a good job of giving our defense a time to rest,’’ Bevell said. “We didn’t do that. We went three-and-out put them back out there and I think they had another long drive. Fortunately for us we were able to get it settled but that was a big swing in the game.

2. Aaron Rodgers was, well, Aaron Rodgers. He completed his first 10 pass attempts and finished with three passing touchdowns and 290 yards. He was never sacked and the Lions’ defense recorded one quarterback hit. He also carried the ball six times for 13 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown scamper. He’s 37 but his age certainly isn’t showing.

3. In the first half, Stafford was methodical in two scoring drives. One ending with a 1-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson and the second a 3-yard run by D’Andre Swift. It was a solid start for the Lions against a good Packers defense. “It doesn’t surprise me, I’m proud of this team. Like I said at the beginning of this thing, these guys are ready to fight, they want to continue to play week-in and week-out,’’ Bevell said. “As you saw they were in it untilt he tend. We’re going toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in our division but also in the NFC. I couldn’t be happier for these guys and the way they played.’’

4. Quarterback Chase Daniel, in for an injured Stafford, ran in from 4 yards out for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter but it was negated by a holding call on Matt Nelson. It definitely would have closed the game with 2:03 remaining. The Lions had to settle for a field goal. It’s uncertain if it could’ve been the difference in the result. Certainly there is a chance of that.

5. Yes it was a loss, so Bevell is 1-1 as head coach. It was a tough assignment against one of the best offenses in the NFL. The Packers beat the Lions 42-21in Week 2. Here’s the thing, Bevell had them ready to play. On the Packers first possession, they scored on a 56-yard touchdown toss to Davante Adams capping a three-play drive. It looked like it was going to be a long day in Detroit, but the defense hung in there and the offense found a rhythm (and the magic of a screen pass).

BONUS: The Packers held the edge in rushing yards, 120-51. … Green Bay was whistled for a dozen penalties (68 yards) while Detroit had 4 for 30 yards. … Final time of possession was 35:30 for the Packers and 24”30 for the Lions … Stafford threw for 203 yards in the first half and 41 in the second. … Danny Amendola had six catches for 66 yards. … Cornerback Darryl Roberts led the Lions’ defense with 7 tackles.

Up next: Lions (5-8) at Titans (9-4). Tennessee dropped the Jaguars, 31-10, on Sunday.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)