The Lions have placed 40-year old kicker Jason Hanson on the Injured Reserve List ending his season due to a sprained PCL.  Hanson played in 8 games for the Lions this year and he made 12 of 14 field goals (85.7%) and 19 of 19 extra points good for 55 points.  28-year old Dave Rayner will likely be the Lions’ kicker the rest of the year.  Rayner has played in 3 games for the Lions this year and he has made 4 of 6 (66.7%) field goals and 5 of 5 extra points good for 17 points.  The Lions aren’t a good enough team to be leaving points on the field so they can’t afford to have Rayner missing field goals so it’s up to him to keep his job.

30-year old QB Shaun Hill has a broken right index finger and the Lions are seriously considering shutting him down for the rest of the year.  Hill has played in 9 games for the Lions so far this year and he has completed 215 of 351 passes (61.3%) for 2,206 yards with 13 TD passes and 11 INTs (78.6 QB Rating).  Hill has also carried the ball 19 times for 102 yards (5.4 ypc) so far this year.  It might be smart to shut down Hill because it’s almost impossible to throw a good pass with a injured index finger.  If Hill is indeed done for the season then the Lions need 26-year old Drew Stanton to step up.  Stanton has played in 3 games for the Lions this season and he has completed 20 of 36 passes (55.6%) for 233 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT (73.0 QB Rating).  Stanton has also carried the ball 7 times for 33 yards (4.7 ypc) so far this year.  If the Lions have to turn to Stanton the passing game is going to suffer….BIG TIME!

The Lions will be without RB Kevin Smith for this weekend’s game against the Cowboys due to thumb surgery.  Smith has carried the ball 34 times for 133 yards (3.9 ypc) and he has also caught 11 passes for 123 yards (11.2 avg) this year.  The Lions will need Maurice Morris to step up behind Jahvid Best.  Morris has carried the ball 11 times for 10 yards (0.9 ypc) and he has also caught 7 passes for 54 yards (7.7 avg) so far this year.  The Lions hope that Morris will play good enough to keep Jahvid Best fresh this Sunday.

UPDATE:  (11/25/2010) – The Lions have placed Smith on I.R., ending his season.

22-year old starting QB Matt Stafford is likely done for the year due to another separated shoulder.  Stafford played in 3 games this year for the Lions and he completed 57 of 96 passes (59.4%) for 535 yards with 6 TD passes and 1 INT (91.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 4 times for 11 yards (2.8 ypc) this year.  Stafford has played in 13 games in his first two years with the Lions and he has completed 258 of 473 passes (54.5%) for 2,802 yards with 19 TD passes and 21 INTs (67.1 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 24 times for 119 yards (5.0 ypc) with 3 TD carries.  The Lions hope that Stafford can stay healthy in the future as there is no doubt that he has a very high upside but that doesn’t matter if he can’t stay on the field.

The Lions will be without kicker Jason Hanson for 2-3 weeks with a MCL sprain.  Hanson has connected on 12 of 14 field goal attempts (85.7%) and 19 of 19 extra points good for 55 points.  The Lions have signed 28-year old kicker Dave Rayner to replace Hanson until he’s ready to return to action.  Rayner last kicked in 2008 with the Bengals.  He has played in 43 games in his NFL career and he has made 42 of 59 field goals (71.2%) and 48 of 49 extra points good for 174 points.

The Lions have placed 23-year old linebacker Zack Follett on the Injured Reserve List with a neck injury ending his season.  Follett played in 5 games for the Lions this year and he had 21 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  He has now played in 17 games in his first two years with the Lions and he has 31 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  Follett was injured on a helmet to helmet hit.

The Lions will be without QB Shaun Hill for a while as he fractured his left forearm in last week’s game against the Giants.  Hill has played in all six games for the Lions this year and he has completed 127 of 208 passes (61.1%) for 1,309 yards with 9 TD passes and 7 INTs (79.6 QB Rating).  Hill also has carried the ball 14 times for 78 yards (5.6 ypc) so far this year.  Matthew Stafford is expected back after the Lions’ bye this week and Drew Stanton will back him up until Hill is ready to return to action.  This is a shame as Hill did a pretty good job for the Lions filling if for Stafford.

The Lions have placed rookie WR Tim Toone on the Injured Reserve List ending his season after he broke his right leg in practice on Wednesday.  This was very unluckly for Toone who was on the practice squad for the Lions.  He was picked in the 7th round (#255 overall) out of Weber State last April.  He joined the legendary “Mr. Irrelevant” Club as the last player picked in the draft.  The Lions will give him another shot next year.

The Lions will be without 24-year old RB Aaron Brown for the next four weeks due to a broken bone in his right hand.  Brown has played in 3 games for the Lions so far this season and he has carried the ball 3 times for 13 yards (4.3 ypc).  He also has caught 2 passes for 10 yards (5.0 avg) this year.  Jahvid Best has a Grade 2 case of turf toe which he is going to play through.  He has played in 3 games for the Lions so far this year and he has carried the ball 38 times for 124 yards (3.3 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  Best has also caught 16 passes for 183 yards (11.4 avg) with 1 TD grab so far this year.  Maurice Morris and Kevin Smith will likely have to step up with Brown out of action and Best being gimpy right now.

Starting DE Cliff Avril will miss this week’s contest against the Eagles due to a sprained MCL in his left knee.  Avril had 1 tackle and a fumble recovery in the season opener against the Bears.  Turk McBride and Lawrence Jackson will likely split time at Avril’s position against the Eagles this week.  McBride had 1 tackle, 1 sack and a forced fumble in the season opener while Jackson didn’t record any stats.  I have a feeling that McBride & possibly Jackson will do a decent job against the Eagles this weekend.