Jim Schwartz didn't get into Matthew Stafford's knee injury too much at today's press conference, but he did say that the Lions quarterback is day-to-day and that it is possible he will play against the Steelers on Sunday.
Schwartz refused to say Monday whether Stafford's right kneecap was dislocated, adding "we'll know more," on Wednesday.
Stafford suffered a subluxation of his right knee in which his knee cap popped out of its normal position but popped back in, a Lions source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. A series of X-rays and MRIs will determine if Stafford damaged any cartilage around the knee cap, but sources said such an injury is not normally a season-ender. He will undergo more tests in Detroit.
One medical source even suggested that Stafford could play next week with a brace, but that will be determined by the pain and stability of the knee. He also could miss a week or longer, pending more comprehensive tests.
Stafford isn't the only player who is day-to-day with an injury, as two other important pieces of the Lions offense are also banged up.
Schwartz said linebacker Ernie Sims showed character playing with a shoulder injury and that wide receiver Calvin Johnson (quad) and running back Kevin Smith (shoulder) are day-to-day.
Adam Jennings suffered an injury during yesterday's game as well, but his appears to be much more severe than a day-to-day type of thing. Schwartz described it as a "significant" ankle injury, and Jennings was using crutches in the locker room and didn't return home with the team.
Jennings had replaced Aaron Brown as the Lions' kick returner before the injury, but now that he is likely going to be out for a while, Schwartz has named Derrick Williams the starting KR. Williams hasn't even been active yet during the regular season, but there is a definite need to change things up at kick returner. Brown did well against New Orleans, but he has been awful ever since then.