ALLEN PARK — Lions coach Jim Schwartz said it’s too early to determine if quarterback Matthew Stafford will be able to start on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field. Stafford sat out Sunday’s loss because of a painful separated shoulder that had been aggravated the previous week.

“(His status is) probably unchanged right now, but we’ll see as we get through this week. If he’s the same as he was last week then he won’t play again. If he improves that door is open. It’s probably too early to really definitively say anything there,’’ Schwartz said.

The coach said that Daunte Culpepper would not lose his backup role because of his play in Sunday’s 48-3 loss at Baltimore. He said Drew Stanton will have a chance to compete at practice this week for the starting role just like he does every week. But it certainly sounds like if Stafford can’t go then Culpepper will get his fourth start of the season.
— PAULA PASCHE