It's weird to view this type of news as a positive development, but Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson has not practiced yet this week. He was out again on Thursday, suggesting that he is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. This is a good thing because there's no real sense in having Johnson play in a meaningless game when he clearly isn't 100 percent healthy. The best plan of action for him is to start his offseason early so he can start recovering from his various injuries.
It's not clear at this point what exactly Johnson's recovery process will entail. He declined to comment on the possibility of surgery to repair his injured knee, and he didn't even want to comment on the Deadspin report that he has been playing with a partially torn PCL. Basically, he didn't have much to say on Thursday, especially about his status for Sunday's season finale. I'm hoping that's a sign that Johnson's season has already come to an end.
Here's the Lions' full injury report from Thursday:
RB Joique Bell (knee) - Limited in practice
WR Calvin Johnson (knee) - Did not practice
OT LaAdrian Waddle (ankle) - Did not practice
OG Dylan Gandy (illness) - Did not practice
DE Israel Idonije (neck) - Limited in practice
LB DeAndre Levy (foot) - Did not practice
CB Bill Bentley (concussion) - Did not practice
CB Chris Houston (toe) - Did not practice
CB Darius Slay (knee) - Limited in practice
CB Rashean Mathis (illness) - Fully practiced
CB Jonte Green (shoulder) - Limited in practice
S Louis Delmas (knee) - Limited in practice
S John Wendling (ankle) - Did not practice