Lions WR Calvin Johnson Game-Time Decision For Week 9

Tom Kowalski of MLive.com reports that Lions’ receiver Calvin Johnson is participating in Thursday’s practice along with running back Kevin Smith. Smith was held out of Wednesday’s practice due to a left shoulder injury.

Head coach Jim Schwartz will likely declare both players as game-time decisions for Sunday’s contest against Seattle.

The Lions’ offense appears to be getting back near full strength for this weekend’s game against the Rams. The Detroit Free-Press reports that in addition to quarterback Matthew Stafford, Lions’ Pro Bowl wideout Calvin Johnson was back on the practice field on Thursday, and looks likely to play in Week 8.

Johnson had missed the last two games with a knee injury. The Lions clearly missed his field-stretching presence, as they were shutout against the Packers in one of those games. The Free-Press points out that the matchup against the Rams should be a good one for Johnson, as St. Louis has given up the fourth most passing plays of 20 yards or more in the NFL.

It’s not official, but all signs this week combined with an Adam Schefter tweet that Calvin Johnson isn’t expected to play today vs. the Packers point in one direction: Calvin Johnson won’t play today vs. the Packers.

According to MLive.com, Calvin Johnson did not practice again on Friday, and his status for this week’s game against the Packers appears to be doubtful.

Johnson left last week’s game against the Steelers after injuring his right knee. He did not return, and has not practiced all week.

MLive.com reports that Lions WR Calvin Johnson missed practice on Thursday due to his injured knee, and looks unlikely to play this Sunday against the Packers.

We’ll keep you updated on any further developments.

Without going into specifics, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz told reporters that the tests on Calvin Johnson’s knee showed that the injury was not “significant”, according to the Detroit Free-Press.

We’ll keep you updated on whether Johnson practices his week, and what his status is for this Sunday’s game against the Packers.

After leaving yesterday’s game with an apparent knee injury, MLlive.com reports that Lions WR Calvin Johnson will undergo tests today to determine the severity of his injury.

Early indications are that Johnson should not be out long. Head coach Jim Schwartz told Scout.com:

[Johnson] wasn’t able to go back in and finish. We tried to get a sleeve on it. We tried to get a brace on it. It was a situation where it was still possible if he could feel good with it, we would have put him back in the game. We just couldn’t get him settled down, couldn’t get him comfortable.

The fact that the Lions thought Johnson could have potentially played with a sleeve or brace is certainly positive news. We’ll keep you updated on any developments once Johnson’s test results come in.