Week 1 is in the books, thankfully, and the Detroit Lions are shifting their focus to what will be a tough road matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
During the Lions 48-17 loss to the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, quarterback Matthew Stafford was slow to get up from hits on multiple occasions. As we know, Stafford is as tough as it gets when it comes to quarterbacks, so it was not surprising that he wanted to continue playing with his teammates. (Matt Patricia leaving a battered Stafford in a game that was already lost is another story.)
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On Tuesday, Stafford joined The Mitch Albom Show and said he is “good to go” for the Lions Week 2 contest against the 49ers.
From Detroit Free Press:
“I’m doing OK,” Stafford said. “I’m feeling healthy and good to go.”
The first scare in Monday’s game was when Stafford hyper-extended his left knee after being inadvertently kicked by his own teammate, Taylor Decker. According to the Lions signal-caller, he may have dodged a bullet.
“Obviously a complete accident, but I was just locked out on my left leg and my knee just kind of, leg just kind of hyper-extended just a little bit,” Stafford said. “Probably scared me more than anything. That’s a common way people (get) really hurt, so I was lucky to get out of there with not too much.”
The second time Stafford was slow to get up came in the third quarter when he was drilled by two Jets’ defensive linemen. Following that hit, he said he was having trouble breathing.
“Needed to get that ball out probably a little bit quicker and maybe try not to take that hit, but was just trying to fight back, do everything I could,” Stafford said. “Held onto it a little too long and those guys did what they’re coached to do, hit me pretty good.”
Despite playing one of the worst games of his career, Matthew Stafford is the heart and soul of the Detroit Lions and if he is unable to play, it would be extremely difficult for the Lions to beat any team in the league.
