SB Nation Detroit - Lions Preseason 2012: Matthew Stafford, Stefan Logan Practice On Monday

Lions Get Calvin Johnson, Others Back At Practice On Tuesday

2012-08-28T17:30:23Z

Detroit Lions all-pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson returned to practice on Tuesday after sitting out Monday's practice. Johnson ran through drills with a blue splint on his index finger, but coach Jim Schwartz said that his finger was not the reason Johnson sat out practice on Monday.

Tight end Brandon Pettigrew, offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus, and safety John Wendling all returned to practice after missing Monday as well. Recent addition, cornerback Kevin Barnes also made his first appearance on the field at a Lions' practice on Tuesday.

Running back Kevin Smith remained out of practice with the ankle injury he suffered against the Oakland Raiders in the Lions third preseason game on Aug. 25. Also missing Tuesday's practice were WR Titus Young, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE Lawrence Jackson, LB Travis Lewis, and LB Stephen Tulloch.

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Ryan Broyles Excited For Lions' Preseason Finale

2012-08-28T16:48:03Z

Detroit Lions' rookie WR Ryan Broyles is excited for the Lions final preseason game on Aug. 30 against the Buffalo Bills. Broyles, a second-round pick out of Oklahoma, is coming off a torn ACL he suffered in a game against Texas A&M on Nov. 5, 2011. The rookie is looking forward to the increased playing time and a chance to play in the first half:

"It gives us our chance to come out there with the first-half swag; we’ve been waiting off until the second half, so it’s going to be good to get out there and go through warm-ups and have that intensity gathered up and actually get to start the game with that."

Broyles has four receptions for 42 yards through the first three games of the preseason. The Lions have been increasing his reps in practice as he recovers from his reconstructive knee surgery.

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Lions Get Stefan Logan Back At Practice; Several Others Out

2012-08-27T23:04:45Z

Detroit Lions running back/kick returner Stefan Logan returned to full participation in practice for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in the Lions' 27-12 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 17, according to Tim Twentyman.

While Logan was on the practice field, several other Lions players were not, including running back Kevin Smith and cornerbacks Chris Houston and Bill Bentley, all of whom were injured in Saturday's loss to the Oakland Raiders. None of the three are expected to play in the Lions' preseason finale vs. the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, according to head coach Jim Schwartz (via Brad Gallis). However, Schwartz notes that the injuries don't seem to merit any long-term absences.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson also sat out Monday's practice, as did linebackers Stephen Tulloch and Travis Lewis, defensive tackle Andre Fluellen, tight end Brandon Pettigrew and safety John Wendling.

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Matthew Stafford Injury Update: Lions QB Practices Without Wrap On Left Hand

2012-08-27T21:10:34Z

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford participated in practice on Monday without any sort of wrapping on his left hand, as Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com reports. The fourth-year QB broke a blood vessel in the hand last Saturday, but he's not expected to miss the regular season opener.

Lions fans know all too well about Stafford going down, but this doesn't appear to be serious. The quarterback is already participating in practice again without obvious limitations, so he has some time to get back into form before the actual season opener on Sept. 9.

CBS Sports reports that Stafford may still miss Thursday's preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills, but that's mostly just a precaution. The Lions have gone just 1-2 during the preseason this year.

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Matt Stafford Injury: Blood Vessel In Hand Not Expected To Sideline Lions QB

2012-08-27T13:53:54Z

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford broke a blood vessel in his non-throwing hand in the second quarter of Saturday's preseason game vs. the Oakland Raiders, but is not expected to miss the start of the regular season.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford broke a blood vessel in his left hand but still expects to be ready for Detroit's regular-season opener.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2012

Stafford injured his hand when it collided with the helmet of Raider defensive lineman Dave Tollefson. Stafford was taken to the sideline, where he was examined by Detroit's staff and given ice for the hand.

In 2011, Stafford was third in the NFL in passing with 314.9 yards per game. He also finished third in touchdowns with 41.

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Matthew Stafford Injury Update: Should The Lions QB Play In The Final Preseason Game?

2012-08-27T13:08:31Z

The Detroit Lions suffered a scare on Saturday night when starting quarterback Matthew Stafford injured his non-throwing hand after it made contact with a defender's helmet. Luckily, the X-rays showed no breaks in Stafford's hand and he will be able to play in the Lions' regular season opener. The real question is whether or not he should play in the final preseason game Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills.

Mike O'Hara of detroitlions.com asked himself that same question Monday. Initially his reaction was to sit Stafford out, but he seems to have changed his thinking:

I think Stafford is tough physically and tough mentally. Playing or sitting proves nothing. I also think there is no wrong choice on whether Stafford plays or sits out. Having said that, under Coach Jim Schwartz’s plan last year, Stafford played the first series of the last exhibition. He was on the field for four plays – two passes, to handoffs - before turning the offense over to Shaun Hill.

Starters generally play very little in the final preseason game, if at all. O'Hara is arguing that playing Stafford would not risk much. Stafford may not be in much danger if he plays, but the other side of that equation ask how much benefit there would be in one series for a veteran quarterback.

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Lions' Ryan Broyles, Kyle Vanden Bosch Miss Thursday's Practice

2012-08-23T17:45:13Z

Detroit Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch didn't practice during the team portion of Thursday's session and is unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Vanden Bosch has missed most of training camp already with a knee injury and only just returned to practice earlier on a limited basis earlier this week, after missing most of training camp with a knee injury. Willie Young or Lawrence Jackson would start in Vanden Bosch's place.

Receiver Ryan Broyles also missed practice Thursday with a knee injury, as did running back Stefan Logan (ankle) and linebacker Travis Lewis (quadriceps). Broyles played for the first time this preseason last week, after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while with the Oklahoma Sooners last November.

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Lions Roster Moves: R.J. Archer Released

2012-08-23T17:11:54Z

The Detroit Lions released fourth-string quarterback R.J. Archer on Thursday, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Archer's release comes on the heels of the team's signing of special-teamer Kassim Osgood on Wednesday. With Archer's departure, there's room on the roster for Osgood to slot in. Archer played one series in last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens but never threw a pass in game action.

The news could be good for former Boise State star Kellen Moore, as the report points out. Moore should get more opportunities in the Lions' last two preseason games to prove he deserves a roster spot. Teams have a little over a week to decide how to cut down to their final rosters.

Moore has completed 14 of 29 passes through the first two preseason games with no touchdowns and an interception. The Lions could choose to keep two quarterbacks over three, and starter Matt Stafford and backup Shaun Hill are safe. General manager Martin Mayhew has said he prefers to have three quarterbacks on his roster.

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