Lions' Matthew Stafford wearing protective glove, not on injury report

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is reportedly wearing a glove again to protective an injured finger ahead of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.

Stafford has played games in recent years while wearing the glove to protect an injured pinky finger. Although he was seen wearing the glove again, he did not appear on the injury report this week

According to the Detroit Free Press report, Stafford practiced on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with a glove on his non-throwing hand. Stafford appeared to injure the pinky on his left hand last Sunday against the Seahawks after a fourth-quarter fumble.

Why Stafford didn't appear on the injury report, as unable to fully participating in practice, is not known. Wearing a glove to protect the pinky implies he has undergone observation and treatment. With that usually comes a team requiring to disclose an injury.

Depending on the severity of the situation, the pinky injury can affect Stafford's ability to take snaps under center, forcing the Lions to use shotgun formation more often against the Vikings.

It will be Detroit's first game after trading receiver Golden Tate to the Philadelphia Eagles.