Lions Notebook: DT Corey Williams week-to-week after knee surgery

Detroit Lions DT Corey Williams (99), defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (93), and defensive end Cliff Avril (92) during the second half against the St. Louis Rams at Ford Field. Williams' replacement Sunday will be either Nick Fairley or Sammie Hill. (US Presswire)

When it comes to discussing his players’ rehab progress, Jim Schwartz is far from an open book. So when he told reporters Thursday that he had an announcement concerning the status of absentee DT Corey Williams, the news wasn’t going to be good.

“Corey had knee surgery on Tuesday,” Schwartz said. “I didn’t announce it [Wednesday] because I wanted to wait until we got two days of game plan from Minnesota … but he’ll be declared out this week.”

Schwartz’s revelation offered an explanation for why Williams had missed most of the Lions’ 2012 regular season practices. It also meant that Detroit’s D-line would enter Sunday’s game without this season’s second-leading pass rusher.

“[Williams] played well, particularly [in Week 1],” Schwartz said. “Since then his knee had been getting a lot of swelling, and it slowed him down a little bit from being able to practice and [play] in the games. “Hopefully we can put that behind him with what he had done.”

Williams garnered 1.5 sacks during Detroit’s first two games. His role was reduced in Week 3 -- presumably because of his worsening condition -- and the Lions’ listless rush didn’t register a sack on Titans’ QB Jake Locker. Despite Williams’ diminished role against the Titans, DT Sammie Hill and other Lions D-linemen praised his determination to contribute in whatever way he could.

“We know how much [Williams] was hurting before [the surgery],” Hill said. “That’s one stand-up guy -- a warrior on the field and off the field. We hope he can hurry back so we can get our rotation going again.”

Schwartz did not address whether Hill, or 2011 first-round draft pick Nick Fairley, would replace Williams in the starting lineup. Hill has the advantage of having started three games last season, but Fairley’s play has improved to the point that he has a legitimate claim to the starting job. Fairley is also the Lions’ only reserve D-lineman to have registered a sack this season.

Whichever player receives the starting nod Sunday, Hill says Williams’ replacement has a duty to play up to his standard of excellence on the field.

“Working up to [Williams’] standard is a whole other level we’re going to have to step up to,” Hill said. “Our play has to reflect his play.”

The Lions did not offer a timetable for Williams’ return, but they confirmed he would not be placed on injured reserve, and listed his status as week-to-week.

Scheffler’s possible return adds key option for the offense: TE Tony Scheffler (calf) returned to the practice field Thursday after injury caused him to miss Detroit’s Week 3 loss to Tennessee. Scheffler’s speed and ability to get open on deep routes down the middle was a key part of Detroit’s early season game plan, and his absence hurt Detroit’s big-play ability against what was thought to be a vulnerable Titans defensive backfield.

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan wouldn’t confirm whether Scheffler would be available against the Vikings on Sunday at Ford Field, but he acknowledged that Scheffler’s presence on the field gave the offense a lift.

“Just having Scheffler back in the lineup gives us another weapon on our offense,” Linehan said. “He’s able to do a number of things, but I think his ability to get [deep down field on pass routes] is definitely a strength.”

OC Scott Linehan: Stafford “feeling better” while rehabbing hip: Lions’ offensive coordinator Scott Linehan told reporters that QB Matthew Stafford got “a lot of work” in during Thursday’s practice. Stafford was listed on the team’s practice report as a limited participant in the workout. Linehan declined to comment on whether Stafford or Shaun Hill would start Sunday’s game vs. Minnesota, but he did credit Stafford’s ability to play through injury.

“I think every quarterback or every player is playing through [an injury] at this point,” Linehan said. “[Stafford] obviously had some discomfort [in his hip], but … I don’t really consider him injured or anything like that. He’s just dealing with something that’s been uncomfortable and we’ll see. He’s definitely feeling better.”

Practice report: In addition to Stafford, Williams, and Scheffler, Detroit listed 10 players on its Thursday practice report: No practice: S Louis Delmas (knee), LB Travis Lewis (quad). Limited practice: LB Justin Durant (back), DE Lawrence Jackson (calf), RB Mikel Leshoure (groin), G Rob Sims (knee), S Amari Spievey (groin). Full Practice: T Corey Hilliard (elbow), WR Calvin Johnson (ankle) and WR Titus Young (knee).