MKRob Sports

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz might as well have been Santa Claus when he pulled Drew Stanton aside before the Detroit Lions’ team meeting today. The coach told Stanton he would be the starting quarterback Sunday at San Francisco.

“It was a nice, early Christmas present, the best one I’ve had,” Stanton said.

Stanton has gotten mostly lumps of coal since the Lions drafted him in the second round in 2007: injuries, little playing time, tough situations. He often says nothing surprises him, and when he and Daunte Culpepper split reps in a walkthrough Tuesday, he wasn’t sure what would happen this time, either.

But with Matthew Stafford still dealing with an injured left shoulder and Culpepper failing to ignite the offense in his absence, Stanton will make his first start. Fans who have followed him since his days at Farmington Hills Harrison and Michigan State will get a chance to see what he can do in the NFL.

“You just have to be ready when it is your turn, and this is his turn,” Schwartz said. “He needs to be ready.”

He needs to play Santa himself, too. Folks on his list could have something else in their stockings.

“There might be some last-minute flights being purchased,” Stanton said, smiling. “It might replace some Christmas presents I had in mind.”