Notebook
Lions aren't rushing Matthew Stafford back from injury
Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News
Allen Park -- Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't practice again Thursday as he continues recovering from the partially dislocated kneecap he suffered nearly three weeks ago.
Stafford spent practice throwing passes on the sideline and seemed to move well while working with Jason Arapoff, the team's coordinator of strength and development.
"I really don't test (the knee) much," Stafford said after practice. "It's always been fine walking around and doing stuff like that. I just have to get comfortable to where I'm running. I don't push as hard off it right now as I probably would in a game."
Advertisement
The timetable for his return still is unclear, but the Lions seem content letting him rest the knee during the bye week and likely will put him back on the practice field next week. He practiced last Wednesday but experienced swelling and was shut down.
"I didn't have any expectations for his progress," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "Our expectation was when he's healthy he'd be back on the field. We never put a timetable on it."
Stafford said Thursday it was tough watching the Lions offense gain just 149 yards in a 26-0 loss to the Packers last week.
Defensive end put on IR
The Lions placed DE Copeland Bryan on injured reserve Thursday, after he suffered a sprained MCL against the Packers.
The team signed free agent linebacker Vinny Ciurciu to fill Bryan's spot on the roster.
Ciurciu most recently was with New England but was released Sept. 4. He was an undrafted rookie free agent in 2003 and played for Tampa Bay, Carolina and Minnesota in his seven-year career.
More walking wounded
Receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) didn't practice Thursday. He wore a brace on the right knee and did some light jogging.
Linebacker Larry Foote also sat out practice and had his right wrist heavily wrapped. He said it was nothing serious.
Also missing practice: QB Daunte Culpepper (knee), DT Sammie Hill (ankle), DE Jason Hunter (ankle) and DE Turk McBride (knee).
Daniel Howes: The drip, drip, drip of job losses in Michigan isn't close to coming to an end. By 2011, according to a University of Michigan survey released today, Michigan will have … 
Susan Whitall: I knew readers would email to add names to my abbreviated list of Motown rock acts in Wednesday's Detroit News story on Power of Zeus
For me, Rare Earth were the best, … 
Ted Kulfan: Several thoughts after Sunday's 117-91 Phoenix victory over the tired, ragged Pistons: 1) One thing I'm noticing on the NBA beat is the schedule plays such a big role. … 
