The Lions don't have a fullback on the roster and they didn't use any two-back sets against the Bucs. The plan coming into the season was to deploy three receivers most of the time.

However, that plan changed when rookie WR Titus Young was slowed throughout camp with a lingering hamstring injury. Instead, they are running most of their offense out of two-tight end formations with Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler. Scheffler, more often than not, is being used like a third receiver.

It's working thus far. Pettigrew had four catches for 57 yards (and he dropped a sure touchdown), Scheffler had an 11-yard touchdown and WR Nate Burleson, who is being moved back and forth from the outside to the slot, had five catches for 60 yards.

The cumulative effect is that offensive coordinator Scott Linehan can create a mismatch almost any time he wants.

PLAYER NOTES

--PR Stefan Logan had a rough first week. He didn't get to return a single kickoff (three touchbacks) and he managed only a 6.8 average on five punt returns. That's a far cry from the 12.1 yards he averaged last season. The Lions spent extra time on their punt return and kickoff coverage units this week.

--CB Eric Wright's Lions debut was a success. He did some of his best work when he moved into the slot in the nickel packages. He had six tackles and broke up a pass. He just missed a pick-six when he over-ran a shovel pass from QB Josh Freeman.

--OT Jason Fox (foot) hasn't returned to practice yet, but he seems close. He stretched with the team before Wednesday's practice and has been out of the boot for more than a week.

--DT Nick Fairley (foot) is still unable to practice. The Lions aren't giving any timetable for a return. He's already gone past the initial 4-to-6 weeks estimate.

--TE Nathan Overbay (6-5, 270) was signed to the practice squad. He was active for 10 games with the Bucs last season. He replaces TE Cornelius Ingram who was placed on the practice-squad injured list.

--DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, as will be his regimen on Wednesdays, did not practice.

INJURY IMPACT

--WR Calvin Johnson rolled his ankle early in the game Sunday and he didn't practice on Wednesday. He said he is taking treatment twice a day and fully expects to play against the Chiefs. If he can't play, Burleson would assume his duties and the other receivers would move up a notch on the depth chart. TE Tony Scheffler would get a lot more run at the flanker spot in that scenario.

--WR Maurice Stovall had a cast on his right hand and was limited in practice Wednesday. He banged his hand early in the game Sunday. He is expected to play, at least on special teams. Rashied Davis would get more time on offense if Stovall can't handle the ball.

--FS Louis Delmas sustained a hip pointer on the final play of the game Sunday. He did not practice on Wednesday, but he said he will play on Sunday.

-CB Alphonso Smith (foot) was still limited in practice Wednesday. If he can get himself ready to play Sunday, he would most likely replace Aaron Berry as the right cornerback in the nickel packages. Starting RCB Eric Wright slides into the slot on passing downs.

GAME PLAN
The talk all week has been about handling success and not taking the Chiefs lightly. "This is the NFL," coach Jim Schwartz said. "You can't read too much into one week. You have to go on the whole body of work, and the Chiefs' body of work is pretty good. They have explosive players, Pro Bowl players and they were a playoff team last year."

The Lions will stress gap-soundness and ball pursuit on defense. The Chiefs have a formidable ground attack, led by Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones and Le'Ron McClain. They are especially concerned about Dexter McCluster's ability to do damage out of the backfield catching passes in the flat.

Offensively, the Lions will look to attack what appears to be a shaky pass defense. The Bills averaged 12.2 yards per completion last week.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Lions DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska) has some not-so-pleasant memories of facing Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (Texas) in college. "I look forward to seeing another Big 12 guy," Suh said. "I saw a lot of him at Texas. I remember a play he got me on. I won't ever forget that." Charles somehow escaped Suh's clutches with a spin move and raced 50 yards. The Chiefs were the top rushing team in the NFL last year and they averaged 6.0 yards per run in the loss last week. It will be an extreme test for the Lions' defensive line and linebackers.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson will certainly test the back end of any defense, but the Lions will be trying to exploit the absence of Chiefs' safety Eric Berry, who is out with a knee injury. Most likely it will be former Lion Jon McGraw that will replace Berry. The Lions averaged 9.2 yards a completion against the Bucs. They will be looking to take that into double digits against the Chiefs.

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