Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is reportedly expected to start Thursday against the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL reporter Albert Breer. The Lions are also expected to have kicker Matt Prater Thursday despite missing practice with an illness, but if he can't go, expect punter Sam Martin to handle the kicking duties, according to Justin Rogers of MLive.com.
The Lions have won three straight games and, at 4-7, are potential wild-card contenders but would likely need to win out the rest of their season for that to happen. Detroit will try to get the season sweep against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers Thursday night, but they face a difficult challenge, as the Lions have not swept Green Bay since 1991.
Detroit will be without wide receiver Lance Moore with an ankle injury, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. While Johnson is listed as questionable on the team's injury report, he has reportedly been named a team captain for Thursday's game, indicating that he is expected to play, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Johnson is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but he will need to have a big night for Detroit's offense with Moore out.
Johnson is coming off his biggest game of the season, catching eight passes for 93 yards and scoring a season-high three touchdowns. The last time Johnson faced Green Bay, he caught six passes for 81 yards. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has picked up his play recently and is coming off a five touchdown passing performance last week. The Lions will look to complete the season sweep for the first time in 24 years, and Johnson will need to have a strong performance if the Lions want to get a win Thursday night.
