ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Calvin Johnson missed his third straight day of practice Friday, the first time this season the Detroit Lions wide receiver has sat out an entire week of practice leading up to a game.
He is officially listed as doubtful for the Lions, meaning he has less than a 50 percent chance of playing Sunday against Minnesota.
Johnson missed both Wednesday and Thursday practices the past two weeks, but practiced both Fridays and played both Sundays. When asked about Johnson's status Friday, Lions coach Jim Caldwell somewhat deflected the question, saying that a public decision had not yet been reached on the All-Pro.
"Not yet, not a public decision," Caldwell said. "One of the things I don't want to ever do is be misleading in that regard, but ... oftentimes things are incongruent with what we're trying to get done. So I will tell you not a public one at this point.
"And also, you never know. There's a possibility. A couple weeks ago, I really didn't think he'd be available, but the fact of the matter is he came out after doctors looked at him and said, hey, you know what, he can go."
Unlike the past two weeks, Johnson said Wednesday that he would need treatment and rest to heal his high right ankle sprain. Johnson aggravated the injury Sunday against the Bills when he was hit while catching his only reception of the game, a seven-yard slant on the second play of the third quarter.
"You want to be smart," Johnson said Wednesday. "You don't want to put yourself in a position where you can't be there for the team when it comes down to the end. That's what we're trying to be smart about right now."
If Johnson does not play against the Vikings on Sunday, a committee of players would replace him, probably dependent on the package. Receivers Corey Fuller, Jeremy Ross, Ryan Broyles and tight end Eric Ebron would be the likely beneficiaries of snaps if Johnson is indeed out.
The other player of question on the Lions' roster is running back Reggie Bush, who also missed his third straight practice with an ankle injury suffered against Buffalo on Sunday. If Bush does not play, Joique Bell and Theo Riddick both will likely see more carries. Bush has only played in 16 games in a season twice in his career and is questionable for Sunday. Bell and Riddick are probable.
Only two Lions players, tight end Joseph Fauria (ankle) and linebacker Travis Lewis (quad), have been ruled out.