The Lions are dealing with injury concerns of their own, including wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Their best player didn't practice due to a high ankle sprain on Wednesday with Johnson's status unknown for Sunday's game at TCF Bank Stadium. When asked on a conference call whether Johnson will play, Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said it's "a medical decision."

The Vikings are going to game plan as if Johnson will play given his playmaking ability. He doesn't lead the Lions currently in receptions, targets and receiving yards though. Golden Tate is fifth in the NFL with 451 receiving yards on 31 catches with Johnson being used more as a decoy so far.

"They're better with him, and we're going to prepare like he's going to play, go in there and have a game plan for him," cornerback Josh Robinson said.

Johnson towers over the Vikings secondary at 6-5 and 236 pounds, and Robinson said there's really only one way to defend a player of his size – be physical.

"You just got to be like a gnat," Robinson said. "It's one of the small creatures, but it can really disturb you. So you just got to be real agitative on him and try to frustrate him."

Caldwell, in his first season as the Lions head coach, doesn't think it's necessary to see his best player practice this week to determine whether he'll play.

"Obviously in his case, he's been around and knows the system," Caldwell said. "He's got the timing and those kinds of things down with the quarterback and stuff with Matthew, so that wouldn't be much of a concern."