Lions will start Shaun Hill at QB again vs Packers, Stafford not ready yet
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So far, everything has gone wrong.
The winless Lions have been hit hard by injuries to Matthew Stafford, Nate Burleson and Jahvid Best — three key players on offense — and their best shot at a victory in Week 1 at Chicago was foiled when officials ruled Calvin Johnson didn't catch a potential game-winning touchdown.
"It's been like a domino effect," banged-up running back Aaron Brown said. "We started off with the dumb call and Matt getting hurt, then Nate, and (Best) and me. We keep churning for that break."
Stafford will miss a third straight game — Sunday in Green Bay — with an injured right shoulder that makes Shaun Hill a starter. Stafford didn't practice Wednesday and had plenty of teammates to watch practice with because Best (toe), Burleson (ankle) Brown (hand) and linebacker DeAndre Levy (groin) were among the players not healthy enough to participate.
Detroit didn't have a big margin for error this season after winning just twice in two years and injuries to several players have led to an 0-3 record, sinking the franchise to another low.
The Lions are 3-40 since midway through the 2007 season, giving them the worst 43-game record in NFL history, and they're 2-33 since 2008 for the lowest winning percentage over 35 games according to STATS LLC.
"The worse is over because we bottomed out somewhere in that span," kicker Jason Hanson said. "Everyone can see and feel that we're a better team and there's a reason to have expectations. But it wasn't good to go 0-3 in our situation because the longer you go without getting it done, the more you start to doubt."
Seeds of doubt were planted when the Lions gave Super Bowl-winning linebacker and TV analyst Matt Millen his first job in an NFL front office in 2001, when he drafted current center Dominic Raiola, and they've bloomed into a 33-114 record over the past nine-plus seasons.
Millen was fired two years ago, but his many misses in the draft and free agency left a mess behind for a franchise that already had problems with only one playoff victory since winning the 1957 NFL title.
"You can't get caught up in thinking we're cursed," Raiola said. "I don't even believe in witches."
Stafford didn't throw any passes Wednesday during the part of practice open to the media, then flashed a thumbs-up when a reporter asked him if he threw with his right arm when reporters didn't have access. The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft then declined comment and wasn't in the locker room when it was open for the media.
Detroit coach Jim Schwartz was only slightly more forthcoming.
"Matt's making good progress and is doing a good job in his rehab," Schwartz said. "He won't be ready this week. I'm not going to get into his daily rehab, but he's doing more and more every day as you would expect. ... Matt is continuing in his rehab and throwing is in that rehab."
The Lions are left to hope Hill can help them end an 18-game, regular-season losing streak on the road against the Packers.
"I've never won in Green Bay — that's mind-boggling," Hanson, whom Detroit drafted in 1992. "I used to joke about it, but it's not funny anymore. The streak started the year I came in the league. It seems impossible."
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the No. 2 pick overall this season, insists it is possible for the Lions to turn it around this season and it's easy for him to stay optimistic.
"For me, it's simple," Suh said. "I know how great we are when we're playing as a unit, and I don't think we've played our best game. Until we play our best game and we're still losing, then it becomes a problem."
Shaun Hill to start for Detroit against Green Bay
Shaun Hill will make his third consecutive start at quarterback for the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Green Bay.
Lions Coach Jim Schwartz said Matthew Stafford is making progress in his rehab from a right shoulder injury, but he added that the quarterback is not nearly ready to return to the field.
Hill, who took over for injured Stafford in the season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears, has completed 63 of 107 passes for 660 yards and three touchdowns with five interceptions.
Rookie running back Jahvid Best and veteran receiver Nate Burleson did not practice Wednesday, but both are anticipating being healthy enough to play Sunday.
Jaguars' Osgood jumps out of window to flee attacker
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Kassim Osgood jumped from a second-story window to escape an armed man who attacked him and struck him in the head with a pistol, while also striking the 19-year-old woman Osgood was reportedly visiting Monday, according to the Florida Times-Union.
The intruder left Osgood with minor bumps and bruises, according to the report.
"He's fine. I'm aware of it," Coach Jack Del Rio said. "I really can't comment on that whole deal. He's doing OK."
Julian Armond Bartletto, 20, was identified by Mackenzie Rae Putnal as her ex-boyfriend. The two exchanged gunfire during the incident, but no one was hit.
Osgood, 30, is a special teams ace who was signed away from the San Diego Chargers during the offseason. He also has three receptions this season.
Jets' Revis not expected to play Sunday
New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis did not practice and, according to coach Rex Ryan, is not expected to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Linebacker Calvin Pace also did not participate in team drills, though he was on the sideline. Pace has not played since he broke a foot in August.
"I think Calvin has a better chance to play than Revis," Ryan said. "I don't feel great about Darrelle playing."
Revis, who missed most of training camp because he was holding out for a new contract, injured his left hamstring in Week 2 against the New England Patriots.
Colts' Polian clarifies comments about schedule
Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian said he was "very imprecise" when he was quoted on his Monday radio show as saying a move to an 18-game regular-season schedule was "fait accompli."
Interviewed on ESPN's "Mike and Mike in the Morning" radio show Wednesday, Polian said he meant that the Colts are preparing as though the extended schedule will happen.
Expanding the regular-season schedule by two games and cutting the exhibition season from four games to two is one of the major discussion points in talks between the NFL and NFL Players' Association about a new collective bargaining agreement.
Matthew Stafford Out Again, Shaun Hill Will Start vs. Packers
The continuing development of second-year quarterback Matthew Stafford was supposed to be a major element of coach Jim Schwartz's rebuilding plan -- you could argue that developing Stafford is more important to the long-term health of the franchise than the team's won-loss record this season. But Stafford suffered a shoulder injury in Week 1, and he won't be back any time soon.
Tom Kowalski of MLive.com reported that the Lions have already determined that Stafford won't be ready to play Sunday against the Packers and backup Shaun Hill will receive his third straight start -- Hill also got the nod in Week 2 against Philadelphia and Week 3 at Minnesota. It's now looking increasingly likely that Stafford will sit out through the Lions' Week 7 bye and not get back on the field until Week 8 against the Redskins, on October 31.
By that point the Lions are likely to be 0-6 or, at best, 1-5. And, again, Stafford will have missed a lot of game time when he could have been getting some valuable on-field experience.