AMERICAN FOOTBALL

He began coaching quarterbacks locally when out of nowhere, he received a message on social media from a team in the Italian Football League, which plays American football.

Detroiter William Gholston honoring men who helped him get to the topDETROIT – The excitement for Super Bowl LV is unlike any other with masks, social distancing and other COVID precautions in place. It’s the first time the stadium won’t be full for the big game, and it’s the first time the Super Bowl will go ticketless and cashless. Bucs defensive end William Gholston believes playing when he was a student at Southeastern High School in Detroit made him who he is. AdAs a sophomore in high school, he was deemed “too tall,” needed to fill out and realize he wasn’t a wide receiver, but bust as a defender. “He donated to the high school.

DETROIT – Rob Foster worked tirelessly for months as a medical resident on the frontlines at Ascension Hospital. He’s getting rewarded for it in a big way -- Foster is headed to Super Bowl LV in Tampa as a special guest of the NFL. While he lives in Metro Detroit, Foster grew up in Tampa and rooted for the Buccaneers. “They did win the Super Bowl once in 2010,” Foster said. When his dad, a Buccaneers season-ticket holder since 1976, heard the Super Bowl was sending vaccinated health care workers to the big game, he called his ticket rep.

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against Anthony Zettel #69 of the Detroit Lions and Tahir Whitehead #59 for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field on November 23, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT – The Detroit Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Ford Field in their last game of the season. Highlights: Cousins throws 3 TDs, Vikings end with 37-35 win over LionsBefore the gameThis season will end like so many others for Matthew Stafford: His Detroit Lions have a losing record and won’t be in the postseason. What’s different now is that there are real questions about Stafford’s future with the Lions. “All I’m thinking about is the Vikings and trying to get myself healthy.

Detroit Lions head coach Darrell Bevell carries a game ball as he leaves the field following a 34-30 win over the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

DETROIT – Detroit Lions interim coach Darrell Bevell and four assistants will be forced to sit out Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay after two individuals in the organization tested positive for COVID-19. After the Lions let go head of coach Matt Patricia, Bevell stepped in as interim coach for the team. Now the Lions will have an interim coach to replace their interim coach who has to sit out Saturday’s game against the Buccaneers due to the NFL’s COVID protocols. On game day, Bevell won’t be able to communicate with the interim coaches. NFL rules state that the coaches can’t have any contact, so the assistant coaches stepping in will be all on their own.

DETROIT – Aaron Rodgers ran for a tiebreaking score in the third quarter and threw three touchdown passes and the Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions 31-24 Sunday and clinched the NFC North title. The Packers clinched the division with the win and Minnesota’s loss to Tampa Bay earlier in the day. The Packers’ win combined with the Saints’ loss in Philadelphia gives Green Bay the top seed in the NFC. The Lions (5-8) scored first and pulled into a tie late in the second quarter, but they simply couldn’t stop Rodgers. He also threw a 14-yard TD pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s back shoulder to put the Packers ahead 14-7 in the opening minute of the second quarter.

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions activated safety Jayron Kearse after he served a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on substance abuse. Detroit released running back Ty Johnson on Thursday to clear a roster spot for Kearse. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Kearse signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Detroit as a free agent. The Lions drafted Johnson out of Maryland in the sixth round last year and he had 63 carries for 273 yards as a rookie. Detroit (1-2) hosts New Orleans (1-2) on Sunday.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Matt Prater made a 39-yard field goal as time expired, Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Detroit Lions snapped an 11-game losing streak dating to last season by beating the Arizona Cardinals 26-23 on Sunday. Stafford calmly led the Lions downfield, Prater connected on his fourth field goal of the afternoon and the Lions finally got to celebrate a victory. Arizona's Kyler Murray threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score, but he also had three interceptions. Six plays later, the Lions took a 10-7 lead when Stafford hit Jesse James for a 5-yard score. The 35-year-old Peterson, who is in his 14th NFL season, played six games for the Cardinals in 2017.

Daily testing for COVID-19, except on game days, has been extended into the regular season by the NFL and the players union. With no testing on game days, the pregame coronavirus exams will be conducted on the day before the game and must be completed before a club travels. NFL Players Association President JC Tretter of the Cleveland Browns recently called for a continuation of daily testing. In the spirit of adaptability, expect the NFLPA to push for modifications or updated recommendations such as the continuation of daily testing as the season progresses and new information becomes available, Tretter posted on the union website last week. More Football NewsFive Detroit Lions headlines to watch for the 2020 seasonJim Harbaugh tells Michigan football players they could start season next monthMHSAA reinstates fall football, other high school sports in Michigan

ALLEN PARK, Mich. The Detroit Lions have signed defensive end Will Clarke, adding much-needed depth at the position. Clarke, who has seven career sacks in 53 NFL games, joined the team for practice on Sunday. The Lions released guard Caleb Benenoch to clear a spot on the roster for Clarke. Clarke is the fourth defensive end on Detroit's roster, joining starters Trey Flowers, Romeo Okwara and rookie Julian Okwara. Clarke played for the St. Louis BattleHawks in the XFL last year.