Shaun Hill to Start at Quarterback for Detroit This Week

By Justin Worsley

The Detroit Lions have announced on Wednesday that backup quarterback Shaun Hill will start this week against the Philadelphia Eagles in the team's home opener this Sunday.

Starting quarterback and team leader Matthew Stafford suffered a shoulder injury last Sunday when Chicago Bears defense end Julius Peppers slammed Stafford into the field, injuring the second-year player's right shoulder in the process.

Stafford missed six games last season, all losses by Detroit, with injuries to his left shoulder and right knee. The Lions selected Stafford with the first-overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Hill, 30, was acquired by the Lions this offseason after the team traded away a seventh-round draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers. In San Francisco, Hill also competed for a starting job with another former first-overall draft pick, Alex Smith.

Philadelphia will also be sending out their backup quarterback this weekend. Kevin Kolb has been ruled out this week with a concussion, making way for Michael Vick to attempt to earn more playing time.

Hill completed 9 out of 19 passes last Sunday, including a controversial pass to Calvin Johnson which could have been the game winning touchdown if not for the officials to rule it an incompletion due to Johnson being unable to maintain possession of the ball.

No official word has come from Detroit about the extent of Stafford's injury or whether or not he will need surgery. Stafford, 22, suffered a separated shoulder last season against the Cleveland Browns. Despite being injured, Stafford re-entered the game late in the fourth quarter and threw a game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

In the Lions loss last week, it marked the first time in Stafford young career that he did not record a touchdown.