It's quite evident Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson's production in 2014 has not been up to par. Johnson has missed time this season due to an ankle injury, but when he has been active, he has averaged just 72.3 receiving yards per game, which is his lowest average since 2010. He had averaged more than 100 receiving yards per game from 2011-13.
Johnson said Tuesday he is still the "same guy" from 2012, when he totaled 1,964 receiving yards, which is an NFL record. Quarterback Matthew Stafford suggests Johnson's drop in production is because defenses are doing a better job "keying in" on the star receiver.
"He’s the best receiver in the league, and they know that," Stafford said, per The Detroit News. "It’s on me to just throw him better balls and make sure we’re on the same page."
Stafford added it's tough to tell if Johnson is still hobbled by the ankle injury.
"It was a long time that he was out," Stafford said. "Even when he was in early on in the season, there were a couple games he played where he wasn’t himself. It’s always a long process coming back."