Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford visited Dr. James Andrews down in Alabama today. The team provided the following update on the visit in a three-sentence press release:
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was examined today by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama.
Dr. Andrews informed the team today that his evaluation of Matthew’s injury (which occurred November 7 against the New York Jets) is consistent with the evaluation and diagnosis of the Lions’ medical staff.
Matthew will continue the rehabilitation process that he began last week under the supervision of the team’s medical staff.
This update doesn't exactly say a whole lot, but it makes it seem like surgery will not be necessary to repair his injury, at least not right now. It also leaves the door open for a possible return later this season, which Dave Birkett reported on Twitter.
I've been told Matthew Stafford does not need surgery on his right shoulder and will undergo rehab with a chance of returning this year.
No guarantees Stafford will return this year. Timetable is mid-December if it's the same as w/1st injury. But no IR yet.
I wouldn't have a huge problem with the Lions just shutting Stafford down and letting him have the rest of this year and the offseason to fully recover. They may end up doing that when all is said and done, but for now it looks like they will keep Stafford on the 53-man roster and see how his rehab goes. If he gets to the point where a return is possible at the end of the season, perhaps he will play. As Birkett said, there are no guarantees, but at least for now it looks like the injury isn't bad enough to force the Lions to shut Stafford down altogether.