The Lions hope to have a decision to make this Sunday: Matthew Stafford or Chase Daniel?
And assuming Stafford's available to play after landing on the COVID-19 list Wednesday, it sounds like they've already made up their minds: No. 9 is taking the field.
Stafford wasn't able to practice this week due to the NFL's COVID-19 protocols, but Matt Patricia said Friday he has plenty of confidence in the veteran to play at a high level just the same.
"If you called Matt Stafford on an April day and said, 'Hey, we're going to go play a 60-minute football game,' he'd be able to go out there and rip it," Patricia said. "He'd be fine. He'd see defenses, he'd see coverage. He'd be doing all the right things. He's a great vet. He knows how to play the game."
The scenario is obviously a little different in November, with Stafford having been absent for preparations for a crucial divisional game. But a less-prepared Stafford is better than pretty much any version of Chase Daniel.
So as long as Stafford tests negative and doesn't display any symptoms through the rest of his five-day isolation that ends Sunday, you can expect him lead the Lions onto the field against the Vikings.
"I do always think in the game of football there's a little continuity that needs to go on, especially when you have different guys out on the field and maybe different players in different positions week-in, week-out," Patricia said. "So I do think that's why practice is important from that standpoint.
"But I trust Matt Stafford to always do the right things, be ready to go, and that's where we are right now."
