Lions' Calvin Johnson expects injured ankle to improve this week
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson told reporters Sunday he expects his injured ankle to continue to get "better and better" this week.
Johnson was limited to a season-low 37 snaps in the Lions' 24-17 win over the New York Jets due to an ankle injury he sustained in Detroit's game against the Green Bay Packers last week. He practiced just once this week and was ruled questionable heading into the game against the Jets, against whom he caught just two passes for 12 yards.
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"Things (have) gotten better all week," Johnson said after the game. "It was a struggle at first, and as the week progressed, it's gotten better and better. Expect the same thing this week."
While Johnson did see the field against New York, he was mostly used as a decoy, and he saw his playing time dwindle in the second half after the Jets eventually caught on that he wasn't 100 percent.
"It was tough," Johnson said. "But I figured from moving around yesterday I'd be able to get on the field a little bit. It's good to be out there with the fellas. It sucks being on the sideline not being able to play, but that's part of the game."
"Maybe (it worked) at the beginning," Johnson said. "Then it fell off, and they did what they wanted to do."
With Johnson limited, Golden Tate led Lions receivers with eight receptions, six more than any other player, for a game-high 116 yards.
Johnson has 21 receptions for 341 yards and two touchdowns this season. The three-time All-Pro has totaled 9,669 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2007 and has missed just six games in his career.
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The Lions (3-1), in first place in the NFC North, host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Bills are 2-2 this season.
- Ben Estes
