One of the problems with the subluxation of a joint is that the process of a something coming out of place and going back in can cause damage, the extent of which may not be immediately obvious.
In the case of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, the subluxation of his kneecap apparently has caused more damage than previously believed.
He practiced Wednesday but experienced more swelling, and now he’s inactive for Sunday’s game at Green Bay.
Per Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Stafford will consult with Dr. James Andrews, who’ll inspect a new MRI in an effort to determine the cause of the looseness in the joint.
If surgery is necessary to fix the condition, Stafford could be out for the rest of the year.
And that’s not good at all for a team hoping to get Stafford some valuable reps now, so that he’ll be up to speed if/when the Lions make a run at being competitive in 2010.