INDIANAPOLIS -- Lions coach Jim Schwartz will not speculate on what could happen to the rehabilitation process of quarterback Matthew Stafford should there be a lockout of the players.

If a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached by the end of the day on March 3, there remains a possibility the NFL owners could lock out the players. If that happens, teams will not be allowed contact with the players.

“I remain optimistic that we’re (not) going to cross that bridge. You’re not going to get me to comment on something that may or may not happen,’’ Schwartz said this morning (Thursday) at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Field.

After missing 13 games last season with shoulder injuries, Stafford underwent shoulder surgery on Jan. 21 which was unexpected.

“The way we are with our rehab schedule, the way we’ve rehabbed all our players all along I remain hopeful we’ll continue on that track and that we won’t have any interruption,’’ Schwartz said. (Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)