ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN – JULY 28: Jared Goff #16 and Tim Boyle #12 of the Detroit Lions smiles after the Detroit Lions Training Camp on July 28, 2021 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Jared Goff sat out Wednesday’s practice for the Lions, casting immediate doubt that he’ll play Sunday against the Browns.
Jared Goff was never going to be taken off the field for anything other than an injury, even then it didn’t happen after he suffered an oblique injury in Week 10. Lions head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged he thought about going to David Blough, but his comments that Goff gave the team the best chance held true in application.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Tuesday, Wednesday looked to be an important practice day for Goff if he’s going to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns (and presumably his status for Week 12, Thanksgiving Day against the Chicago Bears, would be in doubt too). The Lions coaching staff wanted to see how he threw, and in particular how his mechanics looked.
During his media session on Wednesday, Campbell had some news on Goff.
Jared Goff’s status for Sunday vs. Browns is now in legit doubt
Goff will not practice Wednesday, and he’s being labeled as day-to-day (insert Keith Olbermann’s old line–“aren’t we all?”). Tim Boyle is still on IR, but he returned to practice on Nov. 8 to open the 21-day window to put him on the 53-man roster and he will take first-team reps in Goff’s place. Blough is truly the No. 3 quarterback for the Lions, as Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket’s “Stoney and Jansen Show” on Tuesday.
Less than one quarter into a two or three-game stretch facing formidable pass rushes, Goff did not emerge unscathed. His practice activity, or lack thereof again, on Thursday will be the ultimate tell on if he’ll play in Sunday against the Browns. A move to activate Boyle will also be a clear sign of real doubt about Goff’s status, with practice squad quarterback Steven Montez another option to be elevated to the active roster if it come to that.