Lions quarterback Jared Goff expected to start Sunday vs. Packers

After missing the last two games, Lions quarterback Jared Goff is expected to start Sunday’s season finale aganst the Packers.

Coming off the big win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, Lions quarterback Jared Goff landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and missed the following Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Then a left knee injury (deemed to be a bone bruise), which caused him to briefly leave the game against Arizona, led to him missing the Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

But Goff returned to practice activity this week, with positives comments from offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, and on Friday head coach Dan Campbell had positive news on the Lions’ starting quarterback.

Over the four weeks prior to his two-week absence, Goff was among the five highest-rated passers in the entire NFL. Over that span, he had nine touchdown passes (three multi-touchdown games) and just two interceptions with a 69.5 percent completion rate and a 105.1 passer rating. It was by far the best he has looked this season, and arguably the best he’s played in a couple seasons considering the downgrade in talent around him in Detroit compared to his time with the Rams.

Jared Goff will try to end first season as a Lion on high note

In the Week 2 loss to the Packers, Goff had one his better overall outings of the season’s first half (26-for-36, two touchdowns, one interception, 97.7 passer rating, 72.2 percent completion rate). Things went downhill soon after that though, with a stretch where he threw just one touchdown pass in five games.

Goff made it clear earlier in the week he wanted to return for Sunday’s season finale, as the Lions try to end a rough season on a high note. It would come down to being able to move around well enough and protect himself, and it appears he passed the test.