The Detroit Lions took the field without their best player for the second consecutive preseason game Thursday versus the New England Patriots.
Although Lions coach Jim Schwartz suggested early this week that Calvin Johnson would get the green light after sitting out last week's game, the NFL's top wide receiver still is feeling the effects of a bruised knee.
Johnson did speed dynamics drills Thursday in pregame warmups, but he seemed to pull up a bit on one of his routes, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com. The Lions played just fine without Johnson, routing the Patriots for a 40-9 win.
Schwartz has downplayed Johnson's absence as "really precautionary." If this was the regular season, it's safe to assume Johnson would suit up as he did while consistently playing through knee pain in his record-breaking 2012 season.
For those participating in fantasy football drafts this week, Johnson's minor injury is a non-issue.
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