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Johnson tweaked an ankle in the Lions' third regular-season game before suffering a high ankle sprain in a Week 5 loss to Buffalo. After that, he said he never felt completely healthy the rest of the season.
"I know this much: He's well rested,NFL Jerseys Wholesale," the coach said.
"No doubt," he said Wednesday. "I've still got it in me."
"The way he stepped it up when I went down, he really filled the void," Johnson said of Tate. "I know what I can do. As long as I'm healthy and on the field we're going to produce."
"I know I'm turning 30 but my body feels good now," he said.
The nine-year veteran celebrates his 30th birthday on Sept. 25 and still thinks he can lead the NFL in receiving yards, even after battling nagging injuries much of the last two seasons.
Notes: Linebacker DeAndre Levy (hip) and guard Larry Warford (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. The team said tight end Eric Ebron (ankle), tackle LaAdrian Waddle (elbow) and linebacker Tahir Whitehead (elbow) had limited participation in the session. Waddle, the projected starter at right tackle, said he was not certain he would play in the opener. . Running back Joique Bell, who missed all of the preseason and training camp while recovering from offseason Achilles tendon and knee procedures,Wholesale Jerseys 2017, was in full pads with his teammates Wednesday. . The Lions won't see Detroit native Antonio Gates on Sunday. The tight end will miss the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.
That greatness is hard to miss. Since Johnson arrived in the 2007 season, he's caught a league-best 74 touchdowns and recorded five games with 200 or more yards. His current 87.4 yards per game average is the best in NFL history.
"He looks pretty good to me," Stafford said of Johnson. "He's flying around, running,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, catching, jumping — all the stuff he's been able to do. He's the same old guy to me. Obviously he's an all-time great. It'll be a lot of fun to have him out there."
He missed three games and parts of two others in the middle of the season but still managed 1,077 yards — his lowest total since 2009 — and eight touchdowns on 71 catches.
His size could be an asset against the Chargers, who start cornerbacks Jason Verrett (5-10) and Brandon Flowers (5-9). Johnson also stands a full half-foot taller than any of San Diego's safeties.
"They're going to make their fair share of plays,Wholesale Adidas Hockey Jerseys," he said. "They're a very talented group and we're going to have to play our best game against them."
Even with the star wideout hobbled for most of the year, the Lions finished 11-5 and secured an NFC wild card berth. Two big reasons were a strong defense and the emergence of free agent Golden Tate, who played all 16 regular-season games and finished with 1,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys,331 yards and four touchdowns on 99 receptions. His performance helped energize an offense that often struggled when the 6-foot-5 Johnson didn't play or was used as a decoy.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Calvin Johnson doesn't think age has slowed him down. He is looking forward to proving it to opposing defenses this season.
Chargers coach Mike McCoy seemed resigned to working to contain Johnson and Tate.
A healthy duo should only help quarterback Matthew Stafford,Cheap Jerseys Store, who doesn't notice anything slow about his favorite receiver.
The opener at San Diego on Sunday will be the first time Detroit fans will see the Pro Bowl receiver this season. The coaching staff kept him out of the team's four exhibition games and coach Jim Caldwell flashed a smile when asked how effective he expected Johnson to be. |
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