• Kevin Smith returned to practice on Thursday, splitting No. 1 reps with Maurice Morris.  Calvin Johnson also practiced again on Thursday.  It appears both will be game-time decisions for Sunday's game, but if I had to make a prediction right now, I'd say that the Lions will have all of their offensive weapons against Seattle.
• A lawsuit against Dennis Northcutt that brought about some pretty serious accusations was dropped.
• Although twins are on the way, Nick Harris will be with the team in Seattle this weekend.
• Unlike Julian Peterson, Sunday's game is not circled on Cory Redding's calendar.
  
• Chris Osgood used to be a Seahawks fan, but the Lions are his favorite team now.
• This year's Thanksgiving game halftime show will be "A Motown 50th Anniversary Tribute."  For more information, click here.
• The 49ers signed former Lions cornerback Keith Smith and already released Carson Butler from their practice squad.
• SB Nation's mid-season studs and duds awards are out.
  

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

5 days ago: Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith is stopped by St. Louis Rams defenders Quincy Butler (36), David Vobora, Paris Lenon and James Laurinaitis (55) in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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• Although he was listed as limited, Calvin Johnson practiced on Wednesday with the No. 1 offense.  That's a good sign, because even Matthew Stafford was listed as limited in practice.  He was listed as limited last week as well, but he obviously ended up playing.  For Calvin, it looks like he will be a game-time decision, which is probably what Kevin Smith will be as well.  Smith missed yesterday's practice because the shoulder he injured during the Rams game is still sore.  If Smith is unable to play on Sunday, Maurice Morris will step in as the starter, and you can probably expect to see more of Aaron Brown as well.
• Jason Hunter finally returned to practice after missing a couple games.  It would be nice to get him back for this weekend.
• Wide receiver Eric Fowler has been signed to the practice squad by the Lions.
• It looks like Manny Ramirez and Jon Jansen are competing for the starting spot at left guard.
• Danny Amendola, the returner that got lit up by Zack Follett, has a concussion.  When asked about the hit, Amendola said this:
  

  "The hit didn't hurt, but my mind wasn't working," Amendola said. "I walked off, I think. Just got my head buzzed a little bit."

  Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.
• Roy Williams complained to the media about how Tony Romo's passes to Miles Austin are thrown much better than when they go in his direction.  I still can't believe we got a first- and third-round pick for him.

• My confidence level in a Lions victory over the Rams has changed quite a bit this week.  On Monday, with there still being no word on the status of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, I was predicting a Lions victory, but there wasn't a ton of confidence behind that.  After Tuesday, I started to gain more confidence after learning that Stafford had returned to practice.  My confidence grew even more one day later after hearing that Stafford had again practiced.  After yesterday, my confidence in a Lions victory rose to an all-time high, because Calvin Johnson returned to practice.  As long as Johnson's knee responds well to the practice and he doesn't suffer any setbacks, it appears that the Lions' deep-ball connection between Stafford and Megatron will be on the field on Sunday.  That's great news considering the Rams will likely present many opportunities to go deep, which could make for a big day for both Stafford and Johnson.
• Stafford practiced for the third day in a row on Thursday, so I would peg his chances of playing on Sunday as probable.  It appears that he should be good to go barring any unforeseen setbacks.
• Terrelle Smith returned to practice on Thursday, whereas Jason Hunter and Zack Follett were sidelined with an ankle injury and an illness, respectively.
• Gunther Cunningham apparently has a list of players that are basically on notice, and if they don't start playing better, they will be headed to the bench.
• Brandon Pettigrew is surprisingly on pace to have a great rookie season by a tight end's standards.
• Larry Foote would "love" to finish his career in Detroit.
• Here is an interesting (and depressing) stat on Sunday's game from Inhistoric, SB Nation's sports history blog (HT: Turf Show Times):
  

  Next Sunday's matchup between the Rams and the Detroit Lions will be one for the history books (no, seriously). Both teams have lost 17 of 18 games and 25 of their last 27. And if the Rams go 0-16, and it would make this game the only matchup in NFL history between a team coming off a win-less season and a team on its way to a win-less season.

  Some people are dubbing this the "Toilet Bowl" on account of how bad the Lions and Rams have been in recent history.  I think that would only be an accurate description if Stafford and Megatron don't play.
• Carson Butler has been signed to the 49ers' practice squad.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, right, talks with Rams rookie third-round draft pick corner back Bradley Fletcher during NFL football minicamp at the Rams' training facility Friday, May 1, 2009, in St. Louis. Fletcher is out for the season after hurting his right knee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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• We will soon find out if Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and other injured Lions returned to practice today.  Stafford and Johnson missed Friday's practice, as did Larry Foote, DeAndre Levy, and others.  Daunte Culpepper sat out on Thursday but returned on Friday, so I'm assuming he will be good to go this week against St. Louis.
• Stafford said he will try to practice today in order to test his knee.  It certainly doesn't sound like anyone is really sure of where Stafford is at in the recovery process, so I guess we will just have to wait and see how his knee responds if he does get back on the practice field.  If he doesn't practice, then that would be very telling about his health.
  
• The Rams are also banged up, and they will be without three of their regular starters on Sunday.  Two of them -- cornerback Bradley Fletcher and long snapper Chris Massey -- are out for the season.  Guard Richie Incognito isn't out for the season, but he will miss Sunday's game because of a ligament injury in his right foot.
• Vinny Ciurciu has been all over the practice field.
  
• Brandon Pettigrew realizes that he needs to start playing better.
• Keary Colbert is headed to the UFL.  Based on his play in the preseason, that is probably a better place for him than the NFL.

• Defensive end Copeland Bryan was placed on injured reserve yesterday.  An MCL sprain he suffered against the Packers is the reason behind his season coming to an end.  The Lions replaced Bryan on the roster with free agent linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, who has been on a variety of teams over the years, including the Panthers, Buccaneers, Vikings, and Patriots.  Ciurciu actually practiced at fullback on Thursday, showing that he is a very versatile player.  His biggest impact will likely be on special teams rather than at linebacker, but the Lions obviously feel that he could also help out with depth at fullback.
  
• The Lions filled the vacancy on their practice squad (Lydon Murtha was signed by the Dolphins, as you probably already know) by signing defensive tackle Joe Cohen.
• Matthew Stafford threw some passes on the sideline during Thursday's practice, but he didn't actually get on the field with the rest of the team.
  
• The Lions were still so injured earlier this week that Jim Schwartz had to change a practice to a walkthrough.
• Schwartz said that the Lions would be comfortable with DeAndre Levy being a starter.
  
• Anthony Henry could still be moved to safety.
  
• Some Lions players are going back to their colleges for the bye week and others are simply going home.  Kevin Smith is actually going to New York City, but he said the Rams will still be on his mind even though the game isn't until next week.
• Orien Harris, who was released by the Lions earlier this season, has signed with the Bengals.
• The Highlight Reel's Philip Zaroo snapped a couple funny pictures during a Lions practice.  The first is of Tom Lewand and Jim Schwartz, who both have a priceless expression on their face.  The second is of Dominic Raiola doing what he does best: flipping people off.
  

• The trade deadline is at 4 p.m., and so far it doesn't appear that there are even whispers of a trade by the Lions.  Jim Schwartz did say that the Lions are "open to everything," but as of right now I haven't heard even a single trade rumor.
• Defensive end Copeland Bryan sprained his right knee's MCL during Sunday's loss to the Packers.  That is the same injury that Steelers safety Troy Polamalu suffered during the opening week of the season, and he just returned on Sunday.  It obviously depends on the severity of the injury, but usually it'll take 3-6 weeks to get back on the field after suffering an MCL sprain.
• Offensive guard Stephen Peterman enjoyed playing some defensive tackle against the Packers.
• I made the mistake of forgetting my iPod when I went home this weekend, so I actually listed to 97.1 The Ticket for a bit while driving yesterday.  The little bit I listened to before I changed to music was basicaly Brandon Pettigrew getting criticized and the hosts of the show questioning the Lions decision to draft him at pick No. 20.  I thought to myself: Yes, he has been rather average so far, but let's wait until at least the end of the season before making that kind of judgment.  John Niyo agrees with that line of thinking, pointing out that Pettigrew missed part of training camp and is still adjusting to the NFL.  My guess is that by the end of the season, Pettigrew will be one of Matthew Stafford's favorite targets, assuming of course that Stafford gets healthy and stays healthy.
• That brings me to my next bit of news.  Stafford went on Mitch Albom's radio show yesterday and denied that there is talk about his injury potentially being season-ending.  According to him, any talk of him possibly having surgery or being out for the season is nothing more than a rumor.  Let's hope it remains nothing more than a rumor.
• Cliff Avril shared his plans for the bye week on his blog.
• Julian Peterson is going to be an honorary captain for Michigan State on Saturday.  Considering the Lions are on a bye and both Michigan and Michigan State are home, I would expect to see Drew Stanton in East Lansing and Jeff Backus, Larry Foote, and Jon Jansen in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

More photos » by Russel A. Daniels - AP

Is cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on the Lions' trade wish list? (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)

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• With the trade deadline less than 24 hours away, all appears to be quiet in Detroit.  Although that was the case last year before Roy Williams was traded to the Cowboys, that move wasn't totally unexpected.  Regardless of what the Lions said, the feeling was that he wouldn't be a Lion for long, though no one thought the trade would be as sweet as it was.
  
  This year is different because the Lions are the ones looking to bring in a player via a trade.  Some names being mentioned are Glenn Dorsey and Nnamdi Asomugha.  I think Dorsey is someone who the Lions could realistically trade for, but I doubt Asomugha would come cheap.  I guess Martin Mayhew could always pull a fast one on Al Davis, but I don't know if there is enough time to sign a sprinter who can "catch" in order to ship him off to Oakland.
  
  I don't really expect anything trade-related to happen for the Lions, but at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if Mayhew pulls the trigger on a deal that brings some talent to Detroit.  I doubt he will want to give up a draft pick, so my guess is that if a deal happens, it will include only players.
• Speaking of Mayhew, he was asked about the possibility that Matthew Stafford's injury is more serious than originally anticipated, and this is what he said:
  

  "It's just gossip," Mayhew said Sunday at halftime of the Lions' 26-0 loss to the Packers. "It's gossip. I'm not going to comment on it. I'm not going to give it any credence or credibility by making a statement about it."
  
  Asked if he was denying the report, Mayhew said: "What I said is what I just said."

  Schwartz also commented on Stafford's injury and simply said that he will practice when he's healthy enough to get back on the field.

  "What I should have said is that we'll get him back on the practice field as soon as we can,'' Schwartz said. "I don't know if that will be this week, I don't know if that will be next week, I don't know if it will be the week after; but, as soon as he's ready and he's able to get out there we'll get him back on the practice field. He's doing everything he can to get back and we're doing everything we can to get him back and that's the philosophy we'll take with it."

  I'm not about to start panicking over the possibility that Stafford's injury is much more serious than him simply missing a couple games, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried.  All I can say is that either the Lions were not honest in saying that Stafford was questionable for the Packers game or he suffered a setback in the days leading up to the game.  I say that because in the video FOX showed of Stafford walking around before the game, he was limping considerably.  It wasn't a slight limp; it was a severe one.  Perhaps it was just hurting a little more than usual, but I am starting to become more and more concerned.

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More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Detroit Lions wide receiver John Standeford catches a two-point conversion from quarterback Drew Stanton during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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• The reason teams hold mass tryouts every once in a while was exemplified today, as the Lions signed free agent cornerback Demarcus Faggins.  The Lions needed to add another corner to the team after Eric King was placed on injured reserve, and Faggins tried out with the team earlier this season.  He was obviously at the top of their list of free agent corners, and he is now a member of the team. (John Niyo thinks Kevin Hobbs will become the Lions' nickel corner and Faggins will be inactive on game days for now.)
• At the top of the Lions' list of free agent wide receivers must have been John Standeford, as he was re-signed by the team on Tuesday.  Standeford was released during the final round of cuts before the season, but he has been brought back to add depth to the wide receiver position.  What that means for the health of Calvin Johnson is beyond me, but I'm hoping the Lions just want to have depth going forward so they are never again left with only three healthy receivers during a game like they were last Sunday. 
  
• On a more positive note, Sammie Hill must be healthy again based on the fact that the Lions released Chuck Darby to make room on the roster for Standeford.  Darby was brought back after Hill got banged up a few weeks ago, but the rookie must be ready to return if the Lions are willing to part with Darby.
• The Lions not only signed a couple players on Tuesday, but they also held another tryout.  This one only included three players: offensive tackle Levi Jones, center Melvin Fowler, and defensive back Jahi Word-Daniels.
• When Ernie Sims returns to full health, he will be one of the Lions' starting linebackers.

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