Injured Matthew Stafford preparing to play Titans Sunday

The Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford plans to play against the Titans

Despite injuring his ribs in his previous game, quarterback Matthew Stafford is preparing to start under center for the Detroit Lions in Nashville. That according to NFL Network insider, Ian Rapoport. The 5-8 Lions are set to take on the 9-4 Tennessee Titans this Sunday.

On the Lions’ final injury report, Stafford was officially listed as questionable for the Week 15 matchup. The 32-year old veteran passer did not practice during sessions on either Wednesday or Thursday but was a limited participant on Friday.

Unfortunately, if the 12-year quarterback does play on Sunday, he’ll do so without his starting center and his top wide receiver. Both center Frank Ragnow (throat) and wide receiver Kenny Golladay (hip) have been ruled for the matchup against the Titans due to their injuries. For Golladay, it will be his seventh-missed game in a row.

While Stafford’s presence will likely not aid the Lions in making the postseason as the New York Times have given Detroit just a 1% chance of making the playoffs, a victory against the Titans could help his offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell.

After the firing of former head coach Matt Patricia late last month, Bevell was named interim head coach. And after a come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 13, Detroit lost to the Green Bay Packers last weekend, giving Bevell an official record of 1-1 as a first-time NFL head coach.

Having Stafford under center certainly increases the chances of the Lions pulling an upset over a Tennessee team who have won their last three out of four games. The Titans have recently defeated the 8-5 Baltimore Ravens, the 9-4 Indianapolis Colts, and the 1-2 Jacksonville Jaguars.

Matthew Stafford has passed for 3,522 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 13 games so far this season. His completion percentage of 63.9% is his lowest since 2014.