Calvin Johnson wasn’t exactly used as a decoy Sunday, but he clearly wasn’t able to be his normal, All-Pro self.
“It was going to be all up to him,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said on the Lions’ plans for Johnson Sunday, who returned to active duty after missing last week with an injured right knee. “He was battling as hard as he could to be out there as much as he could.
Johnson only played 14 snaps in the first half and he dropped two passes. He played a lot more in the second half, though mostly he lined up in the slot. Most of the routes he ran were short, ball-possession plays.
Megatron wound up with eight targets and three catches for 25 yards. It sounded like the team knew he was going to be limited and tried to save his snaps for the second half. HC Jim Schwartz said his presence helped Reggie Bush and TE Joseph Fauria have big days. Unfortunately, owners don't get fantasy points for being a decoy, but the good news to take out of it is he appeared to come out of the game healthy and should be more involved going forward.
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