Matthew Stafford will be held out of practice this week after coming into close contact with a non-team member infected by COVID-19 -- but he could still play in the Lions' game against the Vikings on Sunday.
Stafford was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday. His date of contact with the virus was Monday and he was asymptomatic as of Wednesday evening, according to Tom Pelissero. The NFL mandates a five-day isolation period from the date of most recent contact.
So Stafford would be eligible to come off the COVID-19 list Sunday, assuming he tests negative and doesn't display any symptoms between now and then. The Lions would have to fly him on a private plane to Minnesota to keep him away from the rest of the team on Saturday, notes Pelissero.
Then it's just a question of whether the Lions would be comfortable starting a quarterback who hasn't practiced or been with the team all week. The answer, considering the alternative, is almost certainly yes.
If Stafford isn't eligible to play, the Lions would likely turn to veteran backup Chase Daniel.
Stafford joins LB Jarrad Davis on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the Lions. Davis could also play in Sunday's game, assuming he didn't test positive himself and that he clears the necessary hurdles.