Calvin Johnson expected to make delayed season debut for Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell told reporters on Monday that he plans on having Calvin Johnson on the field for the first time this preseason.

Johnson, who had surgery on a knee and a finger this offseason, hasn’t played yet this preseason as the Lions proceed with caution regarding their All-Pro receiver.

"“We plan to get him some work this week,” Caldwell said, as reported by MLive.com. “That’s [Monday] that I’m telling you that. Toward the end of the week, something adjusts, or we have to adjust here and there, and it could be that with a number of different guys, but we plan to get him some work this week.”"

Johnson caught 84 passes in 14 games last year, gaining 1,492 yards with 12 touchdowns, a year after setting a new NFL single-season record with 1,964 receiving yards in 2012.

Johnson has been named All-Pro each of the last three seasons and is a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Caldwell said he plans for the first units to play into the second half, with some possible exceptions. Johnson would likely be one of those.

"“We plan on taking them through the typical (regular season) scenario,” Caldwell said. “It’s not etched in stone. Your first units, offense and defense, will go through the half, come back out after the half because it’s the first time they’ve had the opportunity to do so. That’s typically the way, but that’s not a blanket statement for everybody.“Some of the guys might not play in the second half.”"

The Lions face the Jacksonville Jaguars Friday night.