Quarterback Matthew Stafford was on pace for a career season last year before a back injury suffered Week 9 in Oakland ended his season prematurely.
The 11-year veteran was back on the field throwing shortly after the season ended and conducted throwing sessions with teammates throughout the offseason in lieu of OTAs and minicamp practices, which were cancelled due to COVID-19.
"His drive, his competitiveness, I knew he'd be right back at it," Lions head coach Matt Patricia said Friday when asked about Stafford. "Just keeping him healthy and making sure he went into the offseason as safely as possible was important for us and certainly through training camp as we go with him knowing the offseason was limited we want to make sure with all of our quarterbacks we have a real smart plan for all of them."
View photos from workouts during Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket Mortgage on Aug. 7, 2020.
Detroit Lions safety Duron Harmon (26) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) Detroit Lions running back Ty Johnson (31) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby (65) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Caleb Benenoch (74) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Beau Benzschawel (63) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Ford (38) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Dee Virgin (30) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Workouts at the Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Duron Harmon (26) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Duron Harmon (26) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye (24) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Workouts at the Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Will Harris (25) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Ty Johnson (31) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Ford (38) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Isaac Nauta (89) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Ford (38) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Geremy Davis (12) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Chase Daniel (4) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Will Harris (25) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Ty Johnson (31) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Geremy Davis (12) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Jesse James (83) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darryl Roberts (29) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Geremy Davis (12) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Geremy Davis (12) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darryl Roberts (29) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Oday Aboushi (76) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Julian Okwara (45) during workouts Allen Park Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 7, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
After a COVID-19 scare due to a false positive test just a few days into camp, Stafford is back in action and back to being his old self, according to his head coach.
"He knows his body, his arm and all of that better than anybody and nobody works harder," Patricia said. "This guy loves football. I love it when he calls me and says, "Hey, I'm going to go throw this or work this out. I'm going to go grab these guys and do this.' Almost like that football junkie mentality. You just love it. You just love his passion and grind for the game."
The Lions learned the hard way last year that it's tough to win without their starting quarterback. Detroit went 0-8 without Stafford.
If they can keep him healthy, he's got a plethora of skill-position weapons around him, and we saw the first half of last year that Darrell Bevell's system is a perfect fit for Stafford's skill set.
This Lions' offense has the chance to be dangerous, but that's contingent on Stafford staying healthy and picking up right where he left off last season.
