Detroit Lions will have quarterback Matthew Stafford under center when the 2020 NFL season kicks off. According to Lions’ general manager Bob Quinn, Stafford recovered from back and hip injuries he had last year and is “good to go.”
Stafford was limited to only eight games in 2019 due to fractures in his back, spending half of the season on the injured list. But it appears the health issues are now behind him.
“Matthew is doing great,” said Quinn via Lions’ official website. “He calls me probably once a week to check in. I know he’s working out. I know he’s feeling good, so health-wise he’s good to go. As I said at the end of the season, if we were starting our offseason program next week, he’d be there as a full participant. He’s cleared medically from that standpoint.”
Matthew Stafford completed 64.3 percent of his passes last year, throwing for 2,499 yards and 19 touchdowns. Lions were 3-4-1 during that period and looked like they might make a run for the playoffs. After Stafford went down, however, Lions weren’t capable of generating any meaningful offense and lost all of the eight remaining games.
Last season was the first time since 2010 that Stafford missed regular-season games. He had a streak of 136 consecutive starts before sitting down the Week 9 game against Oakland Raiders.
