Lions quarterback Jared Goff hoping to play Sunday against the Packers

After missing the last two games, Lions quarterback Jared Goff is hoping to return for Sunday’s season finale.

Coming off a big win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and missed Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons. He was cleared last week, but a knee injury that caused him to briefly leave the game against Arizona led to him missing last Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Goff’s bought with COVID and lingering knee injury came at an inopportune time. From Week 12-15 he was not only playing as well as he had played all season, he was the fourth-highest rated passer in the NFL.

Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers is not that meaningful for the Lions, beyond ending a rough season with a good effort. If they lose, there’s a chance they can regain the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. As for Goff, he’s hoping he’ll be able to play.

Jared Goff hopes he can play Sunday vs. the Packers

Goff made his regular appearance on 97.1 The Ticket Tuesday morning, and talked about his situation after a “good” workout on Tuesday morning. (h/t to the Detroit Free Press).

"Last week was leaning a little bit the other way from 50-50, and as the week went on just didn’t really progress fast enough,”  “Was hopeful, but this week is a little bit more hopeful but we’ll see.”They told me this morning I’ve got to be able to prove I can protect myself and prove that I can compete (in order to play),” Goff said. “So during the week I plan to do that and if I can, great. If I can’t, it’ll be pretty disappointing but hope to be out there.”"

Lions head coach Dan Campbell, naturally, said he is preparing as if Tim Boyle will make his fourth start of the season in Goff’s place on Sunday. But there’s still the entire practice week to go, and Goff is at least trending to right way toward being able to play against the Packers.