Lions QB Matthew Stafford was removed from Detroit’s COVID list and will play Sunday against the Vikings.

This was Stafford’s second stint on the COVID list but fortunately he never actually had the virus. His first time was die to a false positive. Stafford being back obviously helps the Lions offense tremendously. He’s our QB15 this week.

The Lions placed starting quarterback Matthew Stafford on the Reserve/COVID list on Wednesday.

Stafford will now have to clear the league's COVID protocol if he is to return this weekend against the Vikings. It is unclear whether Stafford actually tested positive for the virus or if he just had close contact with someone who did. Either way, the fantasy projections of all Detroit's skill players have to be knocked down a peg with either David Blough or Chase Daniel under center.

Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press wrote Friday about the visible chemistry between Lions QB Matthew Stafford and TE T.J. Hockenson after nearly a year away from their last game action with each other. "Sure, they had gotten some practice during training camp and offseason workouts that Stafford organized," wrote Monarrez. "But no one knew how good their chemistry would be in the season opener, given the major irregularities of the offseason."

“Yeah it was good,” Stafford said Wednesday of his chemistry with Hockenson. “Coach did a nice job drawing up some play to get him some chances and he capitalized on them. His touchdown, he’s probably the most-covered guy on the field. I jammed it in there to him, but it was a nice catch. I was happy for him.”

Stafford and Hockenson opened 2019 with a bang before Hockenson disappeared from the fantasy landscape and Stafford was lost for the season. 2020 started off well and should continue, especially if WR Kenny Golladay continues to miss time. Hockenson will see plenty of extra coverage this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, but is firmly in the TE1 conversation.

Lions rookie WR Quintez Cephus is likely headed for a second straight start when the Detroit Lions head to Green Bay to face the Packers, according to Kyle Meinke of mLive.com. Kenny Golladay (hamstring) has not returned to practice this week, opening the opportunity for Cephus.

"He did a great job," said Lions QB Matthew Stafford. "He’s a guy that came in Day 1 and was asked to do a lot, and he never skipped a beat."

"(He) Kind of hopped in there when it was his turn to get in there," Stafford continued. "Went out there and executed plays, so I know as a player out there, I have a lot of confidence in him, I know our coaching staff does as well. He’s just a guy who continues to work hard and learn and try to prove himself.”

Cephus has earned the trust of Stafford and the coaching staff, and he was rewarded with 10 targets this past Sunday. It is safe to say that he won't see 10 more against the Packers this Sunday, but the Lions will get the ball to whomever gets the offense going without Golladay. Cephus is on the WR4 radar as long as Golladay is out.

The Detroit Lions have removed quarterback Matthew Stafford from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

In a statement released by the team, the Lions insisted that Stafford never had COVID-19 — disputing an earlier report from MMQB’s Albert Breer — and that his test was a false-positive result. Stafford’s next step is to report for a physical and then he can begin the team’s strength and conditioning program.

The Lions placed QB Matthew Stafford on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.

A reminder, this list doesn’t necessarily mean a player tested positive for the virus, he could have also just been in close contact with someone that did. Nonetheless, it’s a very noteworthy addition to the list in what has been an ever-growing list. Stafford should be good by the time the Lions put the pads on later this month but still worth monitoring the situation, especially considering how the Lions’ season tanked after Stafford went down with a back injury.

They waited as long as they could, but with injuries mounting elsewhere and time running out for him to return this season, the Detroit Lions officially brought an end to Matthew Stafford’s season on Tuesday.

The Lions placed Stafford on season-ending injured reserve a little more than six weeks after he fractured bones in his back in a Nov. 3 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

The Lions were leaving the door open for Stafford to come back and play this season, despite being out of the playoff picture. Stafford was having a nice season before getting hurt, he threw for 2,499 yards and 19 TDs over the first eight games. They lost all six games without Stafford under center.