NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Matthew Stafford finished his warm-up throws about 10 minutes before inactives were due, turned and jogged off the field.
The injured Detroit Lions quarterback had no coaches, trainers or other medical personnel around him as he went through his normal pregame workout, and by the time he made it up the tunnel it was abundantly clear that Stafford would be active and start for the Lions on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
Stafford barely practiced this week because of a rib cartilage injury he suffered in last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers, but in 12 NFL seasons he has become an expert at playing through pain.