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Lions receiver Calvin Johnson has missed one game and he’s been limited in multiple others due to a lingering ankle injury. So when will he be back?

Not until he’s able to play at a high level.

“When I feel great, I’ll be out there,” Johnson said Wednesday, via the team’s official website. “Just trying to be smart so we can manage this thing and finish the season strong.”

No one knows when that will be. It probably won’t be Sunday against the Saints.

“All I can say is day by day with treatment everything that we’re doing is to strengthen that thing,” Johnson said. “That’s helping, and whenever it heals up, and whenever it feels like I can do all the things I need to do on the field [I’ll be back].”

It’s smart, for a couple of reasons. First, the ankle will never be fully healthy if he keeps playing before it is. Second, a series of subpar performances will make it easier for the Lions to justify moving on from Johnson’s $20 million cap number — and harder for Johnson to quickly find a home with another team.

For Johnson, it’s far better for him to play less and play well than to play more and play not as well.