Thursday Notes: Calvin Johnson Practices, Kevin Smith Sidelined with Shoulder Injury

by Sean Yuille on Nov 5, 2009 11:02 AM EST in Notes Comment 23 comments

Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith is stopped by St. Louis Rams defenders Quincy Butler (36), David Vobora, Paris Lenon and James Laurinaitis (55) in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

3 months ago: Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith is stopped by St. Louis Rams defenders Quincy Butler (36), David Vobora, Paris Lenon and James Laurinaitis (55) in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Although he was listed as limited, Calvin Johnson practiced on Wednesday with the No. 1 offense. That's a good sign, because even Matthew Stafford was listed as limited in practice. He was listed as limited last week as well, but he obviously ended up playing. For Calvin, it looks like he will be a game-time decision, which is probably what Kevin Smith will be as well. Smith missed yesterday's practice because the shoulder he injured during the Rams game is still sore. If Smith is unable to play on Sunday, Maurice Morris will step in as the starter, and you can probably expect to see more of Aaron Brown as well.
Jason Hunter finally returned to practice after missing a couple games. It would be nice to get him back for this weekend.
Wide receiver Eric Fowler has been signed to the practice squad by the Lions.
It looks like Manny Ramirez and Jon Jansen are competing for the starting spot at left guard.
Danny Amendola, the returner that got lit up by Zack Follett, has a concussion. When asked about the hit, Amendola said this:

"The hit didn't hurt, but my mind wasn't working," Amendola said. "I walked off, I think. Just got my head buzzed a little bit."
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.
Roy Williams complained to the media about how Tony Romo's passes to Miles Austin are thrown much better than when they go in his direction. I still can't believe we got a first- and third-round pick for him.

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Looks like we're getting healthier

we never play well on the west coast so I am really hoping for an upset but I think Hasselbeck will have a field day and end up torching us.

I’m interested to see how the Lions respond to the media bashing them all week for losing a very winnable game against St. Louis. I want to see if they’re gonna play hard for Schwartz or roll over and die. Maybe we will get surprised on the upside (winning a very losable game on the road) after being surpised on the downside (losing a very winnable game at home)

I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver

Pic - me and the great Herman Moore

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 5, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Every time Roy Williams opens his mouth

it puts a smile on my face to think what we got for him.

by n4ry4 on Nov 5, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

loving every second of it…and even more so when i hear t.o. open his mouth about how he wants to beat roys stats…considering they both suck, its hilarious, even funnier knowing that the cowgirls dumped t.o. for roy…who’s doing nothing & we got three draft picks…hahahhahahaha

by londonlion on Nov 5, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you seen his numbers?

WOW, those are some bad stats.

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin

by Leapin Lion on Nov 5, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Roy sucks

And his mouth is as big as T.O.’s…..the difference is that T.O. can back up his mouth in the right situation…..Roy just has a big mouth and sucks.

by KDawg on Nov 5, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If I had to choose between the two though, I'd honesty choose Roy...

TO has too big of a mouth and causes more problems than Roy ever has.

Although I still dislike both of them.

by ZWC11 on Nov 5, 2009 8:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly*

by ZWC11 on Nov 5, 2009 8:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

dont spell check people plez

Just Remember matt... what would Daunte do??

by det32 on Nov 5, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

nvm lol thought some els said that you spell check your self thats fine

Just Remember matt... what would Daunte do??

by det32 on Nov 5, 2009 9:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take T.O.

As a receiver, he’s a lot better than Roy (or was, since he’s pretty old now), enough to justify the difference in attitudes / saying dumb stuff.

by n4ry4 on Nov 6, 2009 9:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice graph

Reminds me of the Supply and Demand chart. Aggregate GDP for the Detroit area would likely be somewhere close to where DET is playing this weekend!!! LOL

I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver

Pic - me and the great Herman Moore

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 6, 2009 10:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

C'mon Calvin

Return to to the line-up! Please! Also, Roy Williams is a douche.

“BTW, Sean, I’m stealing that Zack Follet line.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Nov 5, 2009 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see Manram in the rest of the season

he’s young, I thought he has played ok, not great but not bad. He’s a road grater and a possible future with the lions. I like Jansen but he is old.

by msivits on Nov 5, 2009 7:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"The hit didn't hurt, but my mind wasn't working"

Good to know everything’s working fine now Yogi Bera! What does that even mean? I love this game, but the professional players never cease to amaze me. Rather than just admitting he got his bell wrung he would rather admit he may have temporary brain damage, but he’s too tough to feel pain.

by Mushy on Nov 5, 2009 9:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Roy

cracks me up. He complains about the balls not being thrown his way as much. I’m honestly guessing that Tony is just putting it up to him when there’s very little other option on those downs. The guy takes more than just plays off. He takes off entire series at a time. His route’s are horrible and that’s really what his problem is. He hasn’t gotten better since his Freshman year at Texas. He’s the same freak athlete with little work ethic. He’s like TO and has the physical skill to be as dominant as TO was for almost a decade but he doesn’t have TO’s desire to get the ball on every play. I would take TO over Roy given the chance, they’re both cancers in the locker room but TO wants the ball every play and busts his ass to get it Roy doesn’t and never really has.

by rmatheny on Nov 5, 2009 9:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maurice Morris

I’m really looking forward to the game this weekend………One thing I am extremely interested to see is if Kevin Smith plays, hopefully he will……but if not Maurice Morris plays his old team………..that’s always interesting to see how that turns out……..hopefully our running game can have a big week……………

I don’t think we can say we got a steal for Roy Williams until we see how Brandon Pettigrew and Derrick Williams progress over the next few years…….I know they are rookies but I haven’t been impressed with their play thus far……….I do agree though that the actual draft positions they got for him were outstanding………..I just worry with the Lions history of draft busts………

by douglazz63 on Nov 5, 2009 11:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Obviously who we turned the picks into is important

But the deal itself was amazing when you consider Roy was in the last year of his contract and considering what he has done since the trade.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Nov 6, 2009 2:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was wait for someone to challenge Jerry Jones mental Competence

by j16941 on Nov 6, 2009 6:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed......

…….It was a great deal considering nobody knows if Roy would still be here……..but Roy put up better numbers every season he had in Detroit than he has in Dallas…….could it be chemistry? I was as happy for the trade as anybody……but if we traded Roy for another 1st round bust like Mike Williams or Charles Rogers……then we got ripped off……..All I know is that Roy in his rookie season would’ve been more beneficial to the team than Brandon Pettigrew was against St. Louis………Brandon Pettigrew might be able to run block……but so could Michael Gaines………and nobody wants him back………

by douglazz63 on Nov 6, 2009 2:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs