Matthew Stafford Injury: Updates on Lions Star's Finger and Recovery

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford injured the middle finger of his throwing hand in Week 14 against the Chicago Bears. He finished the game but reportedly dislocated the finger and tore ligaments.

The quarterback reportedly will not need surgery and will play through the injury.

Continue for updates.

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Stafford Active vs. Giants

Sunday, Dec. 18

The Lions announced that Stafford will start against the New York Giants in Week 15.

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Latest on Stafford's Practice Status

Thursday, Dec. 15

Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press shared an image of Stafford wearing a glove that supports his injured middle finger during Thursday's practice session:

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Stafford Comments on Finger Injury

Wednesday, Dec. 14

"I'm sure it will get better," Stafford said Wednesday, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "Still working on it, figuring out what will be best come Sunday. ... It's never fun when it's on your throwing hand, but I'll figure it out, and we'll go from there."

Stafford also said he plans to practice without limitations all week, per Smith.

Stafford had the finger taped during his news conference, as a photo from Monarrez showed:

"I've had the broken index before and played with that, and that's no fun," Stafford said on WJR-AM (760) on Dec. 12, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "But this one will be a little bit different. I don't think it's going to be as bad as that one was."

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Stafford Likely Won't Need Surgery, Latest on Diagnosis

Monday, Dec. 12

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Dec. 12 that Stafford's injury was described as a "jammed knuckle" that is not expected to require surgery.

Adam Schefter of ESPN (h/t Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com), citing a source, reported Dec. 12 that "Stafford suffered a PIP (proximal interphalangeal) joint dislocation and torn ligaments to the middle finger of his throwing hand Sunday and will be required to play the rest of the season with a glove."

Schefter's source added, "Stafford's finger was bent downward at a 90-degree angle, and he had no control over the top part of digit."

Rothstein reported Stafford's finger was taped and that "while the injury would sideline many, he is determined to bring a division title to Detroit and lead the Lions into the playoffs."

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Stafford Has Been Durable After Early Injury Issues

Injuries were almost constant in Stafford's first two NFL seasons, but he's been healthy since. Stafford hasn't missed a game since the 2010 campaign, one of the longest start streaks for a quarterback in league history. 

Handing the offense over to Dan Orlovsky would not be an ideal outcome given Detroit's relative offensive struggles this season, if Stafford is forced to the sidelines in the future. Orlovsky is a 33-year-old backup whose career highlight (or lowlight) is stepping out of the back of the end zone for a safety during his first stint in Detroit.