NFL PLAYER NEWS

Lions WR Johnson plans to sit until healed

The Sports Xchange

October 15, 2014 at 2:12 pm.

 

Calvin Johnson will return when he is healthy. (Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is still suffering from a high-ankle sprain, plans to sit until it heals so he can compete at his same high level.

Johnson injured his right ankle in Week 3 and missed his first game of the season in last Sunday’s 17-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson said he is “not there yet” and still has “lingering pain” in the ankle.

“Like I said, there’s no point in being on the field if I can’t go out there and do what I got to do,” Johnson said Wednesday. “Do what I got to do and do it to a high level that I’m used to doing it at.”

Johnson, 29, said he is “just working to get this thing right,” and rehabbing daily to try and heal the ankle. He said the rest in practices also helped too.

“Not beating it up,” Johnson said. “Not getting out there, rolling it again, it definitely helps you. More and more you can stay off that particular area, the faster it can heal.”

On Monday, coach Jim Caldwell said it is possible Johnson could be miss the next two games against the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, and not return until the team’s bye week in Week 9.

“I do not hold a medical degree. It may appear I do from time to time to you maybe, but I don’t,” Caldwell said Monday. “The fact of the matter is I leave it up to the doctors. Those are the professionals. They know exactly what it takes.

“Them in conjunction with Calvin and how he feels, they treat not only symptoms of the situation but also the patient as well in terms of how he feels. So they’ll let us know what’s the best path to take.”

Johnson suffered the ankle sprain in the second half against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 and was limited the following week against the New York Jets. Johnson aggravated the sprain on his one catch against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5.

Without Johnson against the Vikings, quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 19 of 33 passes for a season-low 185 yards.

Johnson has 22 catches for 348 yards and two touchdowns this season.

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