In the days leading up to the start of Lions training camp, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News will highlight the key position battles. Today: Backup quarterbacks.
Allen Park — It’s the camp battle the Detroit Lions hope never matters — the competition to back up starting quarterback Matthew Stafford.
This year, for the first time in Stafford’s career, he’ll be older than his backup.
Significantly older. A role previously held by Daunte Culpepper, Shaun Hill and Dan Orlovsky will either be manned by Jake Rudock or rookie Brad Kaaya.
This model more closely mirrors what the New England Patriots have utilized, drafting and developing a young signal-caller behind the unquestioned franchise starter.