In a move that would make Jack Youngblood proud, Lions quarterback Matt Stafford is playing with a fractured finger on his throwing hand.
“It’s getting better,” Stafford told Mlive.com. “I didn’t have any setbacks in the (past) game as far as hitting it on something. I took another X-ray and it’s healing. It’s getting better everyday. I’m excited it’s feeling better.”
Still people are wondering how his finger really is and, more importantly, can he lead the Lions to victory? It’s clear he’s not looking for excuses or sympathy, he just wants to play football. Stafford had previously denied any injury and said he was wearing the glove for warmth.
“It’s the first time I’ve really hurt my throwing hand,” Stafford said. “(I’m) just trying to find different ways, whatever works for (me) as far as learning how to throw with it and things like that. The last couple of weeks, I’ve figured out how to get around it and throw just fine with it.”
Stafford plans to wear the splint and gloves in at least two more games. “Since it’s such a short week, I don’t imagine it getting miraculously better from Sunday to Thursday, so maybe the next two (games),” Stafford said.
“Least of our worries is our quarterback,” Coach Jim Schwartz said. “We know the reason those interceptions were thrown. It’s not going to affect the way we go about our business or the way he goes about his business.”
“He’s tough,” Lions center Dominic Raiola said. “We knew what he had early on, but he’s showing his toughness now. A little fracture in the finger is something you can’t avoid. It just happened. Some stuff happens. It doesn’t make him injury prone.
“I think it speaks more of him going out there, fighting through it. We respect that in this locker room.”
