By Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press –
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Matthew Stafford left Sunday’s 44-41 loss to the Tennessee Titans with a right leg injury and will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine its severity.
Stafford left the game late in the fourth quarter after Alterraun Verner stripped Brandon Pettigrew of a pass and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown.
Stafford, who initially suffered the injury to his hamstring or glut during practice last week, aggravated it chasing down Verner and said he felt it pull several other times during the game.
“It’s something that had been bothering me all week and kind of felt it a couple plays during the game,” Stafford said. “Was trying to sit on a heat pack and try and keep it loose and warm, and then on that last play trying to go after that guy, I couldn’t turn it on. I felt like if I tried to turn it on it would have been a lot worse than it is.”
Shaun Hill finished the game and threw two touchdown passes in the final 18 seconds of regulation as the Lions’ rallied to tie before Rod Bironas kicked the game-winning 26-yard field goal at the 10:36 mark of overtime.
Hill finished 10 of 13 passing for 172 yards, but the Lions are a different team with Stafford on the field.
Stafford completed 33 of 42 passes for 278 yards against the Titans. Last year, he became the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards.
He said he’s not yet sure if the injury will affect his availability for next week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions have a bye after Minnesota.
