Stafford to start final preseason game Thursday

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said after practice that quarterback Matthew Stafford likely will start Thursday’s exhibition finale but he was not certain about the status of Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton.

The Lions found out that Stanton has torn cartilage in his left knee and likely will have arthroscopic surgery Wednesday performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

“And then we’ll know more after he gets scoped,” Schwartz said. “But we don’t anticipate it being a long-term injury.”

Schwartz said Stanton suffered the injury during Saturday’s exhibition but he was not sure about the specific way it occurred.

Schwartz said he had not ruled out Culpepper for Thursday’s game at Buffalo. Culpepper missed practice in order to aid his recovery after suffering a cut on his foot at home Saturday night that required eight stitches.

With two quarterbacks injured, the Lions signed quarterback Brooks Bollinger and released guard Terrence Metcalf. Schwartz said if Culpepper does not play Thursday it will not affect his competition with Stafford for the starting job.

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