Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 11-12-19

Articles:

KEY QUESTIONS: What was the timeline on Stafford's injury designation?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/key-questions-what-was-the-timeline-on-stafford-s-injury-designation

Stafford talks missing Bears game, working to return:   https://www.detroitlions.com/news/stafford-talks-missing-bears-game-working-to-return

3 things we learned: Lions’ Jarrad Davis plays better in diminished role:   https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/11/3-things-we-learned-jarrad-davis-plays-better-in-diminished-role.html

Detroit Lions stay with run game despite more injuries:   https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/11/11/detroit-lions-run-game-injuries-jeff-driskel/2569889001/

Lions seemed to blow Stafford's injury – and Driskel paid the price:   https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/11/11/detroit-lions-matthew-stafford-back-injuiry-jeff-driskel/2566532001/

Four Downs: Did Lions violate NFL rules in reporting of Stafford's injury?:   https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/11/11/did-detroit-lions-violate-nfl-rules-reporting-matthew-staffords-injury/2562561001/

Despite injury, Patricia said Lions left option open for Stafford to play Sunday:   https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/11/11/matt-patricia-detroit-lions-left-option-open-matthew-stafford-play/2568349001/

MONDAY HUDDLE: Matthew Stafford’s injury could alter course of Lions franchise:   https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2019/11/11/monday-huddle-matthew-staffords-injury-could-alter-course-of-lions-franchise/

3 takeaways from Detroit Lions loss to Chicago:   https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2019/11/11/3-takeaways-from-detroit-lions-loss-to-chicago/

The Matthew Stafford injury timeline according to Matt Patricia:   https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/11/11/matthew-stafford-injury-timeline-according-to-lions-coach-matt-patricia/

NFL Week 10 Team of the Week (LT TAYLOR DECKER, DETROIT LIONS: Decker earned a 74.3 overall grade and an 82.9 pass-blocking grade against Chicago on Sunday, allowing zero total pressures across 59 pass-blocking snaps in the process.):   https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-10-team-of-the-week-2019

A Big Week for Clutch Defensive Stands—and, as Always, for Lamar Jackson (There’s a good chance that Lions QB Matthew Stafford misses another game. And based on what he’s played through in the past, and how tough he’s proven to be, that should tell you all you need to know on the severity of his back injury. Thing is, he can’t just tough this one out. It’s my understanding that playing through it isn’t about pain tolerance. It’s about the risk of re-injury, which makes whatever decision the doctors make entirely black-and-white.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/11/11/minnesota-vikings-pittsburgh-steelers-cleveland-browns-lamar-jackson-week-10-mmqb

FMIA Week 10: Playoffs For Steelers? It’s A Whole New World In Pittsburgh (Special Teams Player of the Week - Matt Prater, kicker, Detroit. The Lions’ secret weapon this year has a league-leading six field goals from 50 yards and beyond (missing only one) and his sixth, a 54-yarder, gave the Lions a 6-0 lead over the at-the-time-toothless Bears in the second quarter.):   https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/11/steelers-playoffs-nfl-week-10-fmia-peter-king/

$.10 After NFL Week 10 ($.02--One of the more impressive streaks in the NFL ended on Sunday in Chicago. Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford had his consecutive starts streak end at 136 games when he was ruled out with broken bones in his back. For the first time since the end of the 2010 season, Stafford missed a game.  Contrary to popular belief, he did not suffer the injury from carrying the moribund Lions all season--though that’s certainly an apt metaphor. Just as he did near the end of the 2018 season, Stafford suffered a fracture in his bones, likely a transverse process. Those are the “wings” that stick out to the side of the vertebrae that sort of resemble giraffe ears when viewed from behind. It’s not any risk of paralysis, but it’s painful and causes restricted strength and range of motion in the torso and lower body.  Stafford had to be forced to sit, a sign of just how badly he wants to win. His sense of obligation to play for the Lions is understandable; without No. 9 at the controls, Detroit just might be the worst team in the league. Backup Jeff Driskel wasn’t awful in relief, but without Stafford threatening down the field or fitting throws into tight windows, the Lions offense was too easy for the Bears to defend. Driskel was the Lions’ leading rusher with 37 yards, which speaks volumes about the injury-riddled Detroit run game that was down to third-string gadget guy J.D. McKissic after rookie Ty Johnson left early with a concussion. Workhorse Kerryon Johnson is already on IR.  Stafford can probably return to action in 2-3 weeks, based on most reports I’ve seen. I would question the Lions for risking him further injury in a lost season. Even though he was having an amazing season, Stafford still couldn’t outscore what opponents continue to hang on the toothless, passive Detroit defense. There’s no point to it. Any defense that makes Mitchell Trubisky look like Steve Young is not the kind of support a quarterback can function with even at full strength.  At 3-5-1, the Lions have sunk back to the bottom of the NFC North. They’re not escaping that basement in 2019. And if Matt Patricia’s trademark defense--which has legit talent but doesn’t attack or coordinate well--doesn’t dramatically improve, they might be there for a long time.):   https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3212/$10-After-NFL-Week-10

2020 NFL Draft:

Eight first-round locks for the 2020 NFL Draft:   https://www.pff.com/news/draft-eight-first-round-locks-2020-nfl-draft

PFF College Football Heisman Watch after Week 11:   https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-heisman-watch-after-week-11

BOOMS AND BUSTS: WEEK 11:   https://www.rotoworld.com/article/weekend-recap/booms-and-busts-week-11

NFL draft notes: If Dolphins miss on Tua or Burrow, there's a fascinating alternative:   https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-if-dolphins-miss-on-tua-or-burrow-theres-a-fascinating-alternative-220045709.html

NFL draft: Joe Burrow wasn't the only standout prospect in LSU-Bama thriller:   https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-winners-and-losers-joe-burrow-not-the-only-standout-in-lsu-bama-thriller-200424092.html

CFB Week 11 Risers and Sliders: Rashard Lawrence continues to make some noise:   https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-week-11-risers-sliders-rashard-lawrence-continues-to-make-some-noiserisers-sliders-week-11/

2020 Draft WR Stock Watch: Smith erupts:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-wide-receivers-watch-devonta-smith-erupts-again-ceedee-lamb-and-tyler-johnson-flourish/

2020 Draft RB Stock Watch: Taylor, Etienne deliver wins:   https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-rb-stock-watch-travis-etienne-jonathan-taylor-carry-their-teams-to-victory/

2020 NFL Draft QB Stock Watch: Joe Burrow dominant vs. Alabama, Jordan Love has best game of season:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-qb-stock-watch-joe-burrow-dominant-vs-alabama-jordan-love-has-best-game-of-season/

2020 NFL draft: Paulson Adebo scouting report:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/11/11/2020-nfl-draft-paulson-adebo-scouting-report/

Video:

Patricia on timeline for Stafford's injury designation:   https://www.detroitlions.com/video/patricia-on-timeline-for-stafford-s-injury-designation

Stafford on being inactive in Week 10:   https://www.detroitlions.com/video/stafford-on-being-inactive-in-week-10

3 and Out with Chris Spielman: Week 10:   https://www.detroitlions.com/video/3-and-out-with-chris-spielman-week-10

Tori's Take LIVE: Week 10:   https://www.detroitlions.com/video/tori-s-take-live-week-10