Jim Schwartz named Shaun Hill as the Lions' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Hill was able to practice with the first-team offense today, although he didn't take any snaps from under center.
Back on Oct. 17, Hill broke his left forearm toward the end of the first half of a game against the New York Giants. Hill was hit low and suffered the injury while trying to brace his fall. Drew Stanton was forced into action for the Lions, which many assumed would be the case this week with Hill still recovering and Matthew Stafford out again. Instead Hill will get the start for the Lions, which is great news for Lions fans.
Although Hill did not get any snaps under center today, he doesn't believe there will be any limitations during Sunday's game. Even if he couldn't take snaps from under center, the Lions run the shotgun a lot already and also run the pistol every so often, so they could probably get by. Besides, I'd rather Hill run the offense out of those two formations than have Stanton in there with under center formations available. I'm sure it will take Hill a quarter or two to get back in rhythm with the offense, but based on how he played earlier in the season, I'd take him on a limited basis over Stanton any day.
In the six games he's appeared in so far this season, Hill has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 1,309 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has 78 yards rushing on 14 carries.