Report: Calvin Johnson Says He 'Definitely' Expects To Play Against Miami

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who has missed three straight games with an ankle injury, said he believes he will be back in action when Detroit hosts the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 9.

"Definitely expect to play," Johnson told the Detroit Free Press at Ford Field, where Johnson received the Ed Block Courage Award on Tuesday night. "Looking forward to the game, playing some old teammates. So that makes it all that much better."

Johnson has not played since Oct. 5, when he aggravated an ankle injury in a game against the Buffalo Bills and left the game just two plays into the second half. Johnson had also been limited in the previous week against the New York Jets. Quarterback Matthew Stafford only targeted Johnson three times between those two games after throwing to Johnson 34 times over Detroit's first three games of the season.

Johnson has not practiced much since the injury, but he was a limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday leading up to Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson again did not play, but the Lions won anyway. They are 3-0 without him this season, and the team has a bye this weekend.

If indeed Johnson takes the field Nov. 9 against the Dolphins, it will have been five full weeks since he played in a game.