Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford injures hand in loss to Ravens, x-rays negative

As if Sunday wasn’t devastating enough for the Detroit Lions and their playoff chances, it got a lot worse after the game had already been decided. After throwing the game-clinching interception Matthew Stafford was hit and his right throwing hand was stepped on by a Ravens defender.

Stafford stayed down for several seconds clutching that hand. It did not look pretty:

Trainers wrapped up Stafford’s hand in a towel and escorted him to the locker room late in the fourth quarter. Detroit officially announced the injury as a hand injury and listed him as questionable, but he did not end up returning to the game.

Jake Rudock came in and played for Stafford in the final two drives of the games. He promptly threw a pick-six as the Lions’ miserable day refused to end.

We’ll continue to update the story on Stafford’s diagnosis, but let’s hope for the best for Stafford. If there’s any hope for a Lions postseason, they’re reliant upon that right hand.

UPDATE: Jim Caldwell said in his postgame press conference that x-rays were negative on Stafford’s hand. However, Stafford’s hand was pretty well bandaged during his own press conference:

UPDATE #2: Former NFL doctor David J. Chao believes Stafford will play next week.