ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this morning that Detroit Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson will miss his third straight game as he recovers from an injury to his ankle.
The move will once again see the Lions—who are 2-0 without Megatron this season—missing the biggest and baddest target in the entire NFL. While Johnson (22 receptions, 348 yards, 2 TDs) isn’t putting up the eye-popping numbers he did over the last two seasons, he is a game-changing force who commands a double team on basically every single play.
Golden Tate (48 receptions, 649 yards, 2 TDs) will once again be the chief beneficiary of Johnson’s absence, especially because the Lions are also missing Reggie Bush, Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, Joseph Fauria, a group that according to ESPN Stats and Information makes up 43 percent of quarterback Matthew Stafford’s targets this season.
The Lions and Atlanta Falcons will kick off at 9:30 this morning from Wembley Stadium in London
[via Adam Schefter]