Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson sat
out a second straight practice Thursday with a lingering knee injury, though
the All-Pro is still expected to play in this weekend's game at Jacksonville.
Johnson has battled knee soreness throughout the season and has been limited
to just 80 yards on six catches the past two weeks, but has yet to miss a
contest. The team has routinely scaled back his practice reps in order to get
him ready for game action.
The NFL's leader with 1,681 receiving yards in 2011, Johnson has managed a
modest 41 receptions totaling 638 yards with just one touchdown catch
through Detroit's first seven outings this season.
Also held out of Thursday's session for Detroit were safeties Louis Delmas and
Amari Spievey and defensive end Cliff Avril.
Delmas left Sunday's 28-24 victory over Seattle with an injury to his
surgically repaired left knee, while Spievey is still battling a concussion he
sustained in the Lions' Oct. 22 loss at Chicago. Avril did not participate due
to a back problem that isn't believed to be serious.
The Sports Network