Kalvin Pearson News

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford likely won't play in Thursday's nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game against Green Bay, coach Jim Schwartz acknowledged Monday.

Detroit -- Amid the euphoria of the Lions' frantic 38-37 triumph Sunday at Ford Field, there was still an unsettling question that had to be asked.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford sensed a pass rusher lurking behind him. He stepped forward and fired the ball to the left side of the end zone.

Allen Park -- The Lions put starting right guard Stephen Peterman on injured reserve Friday, ending his season, and he's expected to undergo ankle surgery next week.

The Detroit Lions have listed three players as out for Sunday's game against Cleveland: guard Stephen Peterman , safety Kalvin Pearson and linebacker Ernie Sims .

Detroit Lions wide receiver Derrick Williams returned to practice today after sitting out Wednesday with a hip injury, but linebacker Zack Follett was not participating in the portion of practice open to reporters.

By Tony Moss, NFL Editor -- - Arriving this week at Ford Field? An opportunity for a measured degree of progress for the Detroit Lions.

Allen Park -- Add another former starter to the Lions' injured reserve list. The team placed safety Marquand Manuel on IR on Wednesday, replacing him on the roster with safety DeAngelo Smith, a rookie fifth-round pick who was signed off the Chicago Bears' practice squad.

One defensive snap. That's all cornerback Jack Williams will play for the Lions after suffering a significant knee injury Sunday at Minnesota.

Detroit's youth movement spent much of Sunday's 27-10 loss at Minnesota spinning its wheels.

Detroit Lions starting free safety Louis Delmas was held out of the lineup due to an infected tooth and jaw, and right guard Stephen Peterman was taken to the locker room on a cart with a leg injury in the third quarter against Minnesota.

The message from Lions coaches to their struggling secondary has been simple: Do your job and eliminate mistakes.

Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham loves the potential of Sammie Hill.

Anthony Henry said he had never been benched in his life -- not in high school, not in college, not in the 122 NFL games he had played before Sunday.

Gunther Cunningham is caught in a vicious cycle. The Detroit Lions defensive coordinator said he wants to blitz more, starting with Sunday's game at the Green Bay Packers.

The last time the Detroit Lions won a game at Lambeau Field, Brett Favre was an Atlanta Falcon, Wayne Fontes was coaching, and Erik Kramer was starting for the Lions in place of the injured Rodney Peete.

When the Lions made their final cuts Sept. 5, nine of the 10 members of their secondary were new.

What safety Troy Polamalu wants and what coach Mike Tomlin decides regarding Polamalu's playing status are probably two different things.

Stan Kwan, the Lions special teams coordinator, knows he's under fire after the Lions allowed a whopping 277 yards in punt and kickoff returns -- one yard more than the defense gave up -- in last week's 48-24 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Veteran Daunte Culpepper quarterbacked the Lions at practice Wednesday while rookie Matthew Stafford sat out with a knee injury.