Lions' Stafford sits out practice

10/8/2009

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Matthew Stafford was held out of practice yesterday by the Detroit Lions because of his injured right knee.

The Lions chose to not say anything more than that.

Detroit coach Jim Schwartz replied, “We'll see on Sunday,” when told the Pittsburgh Steelers said they expected to face Stafford.

Even if Stafford can't practice again today, Schwartz said that won't necessarily rule him out.

“I don't want to set any hard-set rules,” he said.

Daunte Culpepper took snaps with the first-string offense while Stafford watched, wearing a red No. 9 jersey, a Tigers cap, black shorts and shoes.

“Daunte looked good — just like he did in the preseason,” safety Louis Delmas said.

Culpepper was competing to be Detroit's starting quarterback until he needed eight stitches to close a cut on his foot after the team's third exhibition game.

Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, had his right knee twisted on a sack in Sunday's loss at Chicago. He wasn't in the locker room Monday or yesterday when it was open to the media, but told reporters after the Bears game that he hurt the same knee in high school.

Schwartz confirmed receiver Calvin Johnson did not practice after missing the end of the last game with a leg injury. Schwartz would not acknowledge offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus was held out even though he was relegated to watching while reporters had access to the workout.