Shaun Hill to start for Lions for injured Stafford… again
For the second time this season, Shaun Hill is the number one quarterback for the Detroit Lions. Hill will return from an injury of his own to replace Matthew Stafford, who re-injured his throwing shoulder last Sunday.
Stafford suffered a separated shoulder in Week One. Hill led the Lions to only one win in Stafford’s six-week absence, but played as well as you’ll see from a back-up. Hill then broke his left arm in a loss to the New York Giants on October 17.
Initial tests revealed that Stafford now has a third-degree separation in his right shoulder and his season could be in jeopardy. The Lions now have to turn back to Hill in an effort to climb out of a 2-6 record.
"Barring any setback this week, Shaun Hill will start at quarterback," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He was in position last week that we dressed him as our third quarterback, where he could hand off, he could do all those different things. He wasn't really in
position to take a hit, but can play with a cast, and another week will be good."
The Lions have now listed Drew Stanton as their back-up and claimed Zac Robinson off waivers from Seattle this week. While the Lions have some insurance, Stafford hasn’t ruled himself out of playing again this season.
"I think there's definitely a possibility, and then other times you don't know, so we'll see," he said.
Stafford led the Lions to their second win of the season in a victory over Washington a couple of weeks ago. He was then injured in the Lions' loss to the Jets. He left the game with around four minutes remaining. He could only watch as his team blew a 10-point
lead and lost in overtime.
Those were Stafford’s only two games following Hill’s injury. Hill’s only win this season was a 44-6 blow-out over St. Louis. He has completed 61 percent of his passes and has kept the Lions close in all games in which they started. They lost by more than 10
points just once under Hill. Now Hill must rally the Lions to wins, not close losses, if the Lions have any hope at the play-offs. It will be tough at 2-6 now, and missing the play-offs would leave yet another year of frustration for Detroit fans.
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