Detroit Lions odds and ends

October 28, 1:58 PMDetroit Lions ExaminerChris Morgan

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Will Stafford be on the field on Sunday? (US Presswire)

This is a pretty big week for the Detroit Lions. They may be favored to win this week's game against the St. Louis Rams (no, really) but there is still concerns with injuries and such. Will Matthew Stafford and/or Calvin Johnson be able to play this week? Right now, the answer is unknown.

Stafford did practice on Tuesday and he says his knee feels better than it did last time he tried to practice. That's a good thing, obviously. Whether or not he'll be able to play is still a question, but this is at least a positive sign. However, I still feel that Daunte Culpepper could do a decent enough job replacing him, especially against the Rams.

Calvin Johnson, meanwhile, did not practice. Now, if Johnson misses the St. Louis game that would be a big deal. He's the best player on Detroit's offense, and would likely be the best player on the field on Sunday, depending on how you feel about Rams running back Stephen Jackson. Without Calvin Johnson to throw to, either Stafford or Culpepper will have a much rougher go of it. In other injury news, Sammie Hill practiced on Tuesday. Hopefully the Lions will be able to get reasonably healthy on their defensive line. You need a lot of deph there.

Lastly, in a bit of non-injury news, the Lions have a new left guard. It's Jon Jansen. Fed up with the likes of Daniel Loper and Manny Ramirez, the Lions have decided to stick the wily ol' veteran into the offensive line and hope for the best. I think it's a wise move. Jansen may be on his last legs, but he should still be able to play a passable left guard. Anything to improve the O-line is a good thing, even if it is very short term. Hopefully, Jeff Backus will slide into left guard next season, with a first or second round pick taking over at left tackle. One thing at a time, however. For now the Lions just need to hope the offensive line can do enough to protect whomever is under center so the Lions can beat the Rams.

As things progress injury wise for the Lions I will be sure to let you know. Here's hoping they'll be healthy and can pull out the W.

...And they've progressed. Just as I was writing this, news came out that Stafford practiced on Wednesday as well, while Calvin Johnson did not. Obviously, one day closer to the game means things are slightly more clear now. As of this moment, I think that we'll see Stafford in the game on Sunday but that Johnson won't be able to play. Hopefully I am wrong. We'll have to wait and see.