The Detroit Lions have been hesitant to place an official timetable on quarterback Matthew Stafford's back injury. If it were up to former Lions wideout Herman Moore, he would not come back at all until he is fully healthy.

Stafford is reportedly nursing fractured bones in his back. Moore says Detroit should start thinking long-term when it comes to making his return, via Brandon Folsom of the Port Huron Times Herald:

“I would look at it and say, ‘What is there to gain?‘ ” former Lions wideout Herman Moore said. “If this team was postseason bound, which it looks very bleak right now, I would try to bring Stafford back. But I don’t know if it’s worth the risk.”

Moore added that it may be better for the Lions to potentially keep him out for the final stretch of the 2019 NFL season.

“I do believe at this point it may not be a bad idea to consider it,” Moore said. “That’s ultimately not my decision or the fans’ — that’s the team’s.”

There is certainly plenty of truth to Moore's comments. The Lions are currently 3-6-1 and appear to be on the cusp of being eliminated from postseason contention in the coming weeks. There is not much reason for them to risk further aggravating an injury to their franchise quarterback in a lost season.

Furthermore, backup quarterback Jeff Driskel has enjoyed modest production since taking over for Stafford over the last two games. Although Detroit is 0-2 during that span, he has certainly done his part to help the offense put 40 points on the board during that time.

If the Lions' woes continue and Stafford is unable to make some solid strides in his recovery, then they may have to consider shutting him down for the remainder of the 2019 campaign.