Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Reggie Bush also is expected to miss Sunday%27s game with a sprained ankle

The Detroit Lions could be without two of their top offensive weapons for Sunday's NFC North showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.

Calvin Johnson was listed as doubtful on the Lions official injury report today and is likely to miss his first game of the year, and Reggie Bush was listed as questionable and told the Free Press he's a game-time decision.

Johnson did not practice all week because of a high ankle sprain he suffered on his only catch of the game in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The Pro Bowl receiver, who is second on the Lions with 22 catches for 348 yards, was limited the last two games by a sprained right ankle he originally suffered in a September win over the Green Bay Packers.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell seemed resigned to the fact that Johnson would not be available on Sunday, though he declined to rule him out completely before practice today.

"You never know," Caldwell said. "There's a possibility. A couple weeks ago, I really didn't think that he'd be available, but the fact of the matter is he came out and, after doctors looked at him, and said, 'Hey, you know what? He can go.' So anything's possible."

Johnson insisted Wednesday he's not worried about the toll injuries are taking on his 29-year-old body. Johnson missed two games because of knee injuries last season and underwent knee and finger surgeries this off-season.

"Anytime you have an injury that limits whoever you are," Johnson said. "But it's not an issue with me going forward in the future."

Bush sprained his ankle on a third-quarter run against the Bills and plans to test his injury out before Sunday's game.

"I'm still hopeful, so we'll see," Bush said. "We'll see what happens. Probably a game-time decision."

Tight end Joseph Fauria (ankle) and linebacker Travis Lewis (quad) are out Sunday for the Lions (3-2). Linebacker Chad Greenway is doubtful because of rib and hand injuries for the Vikings (2-3).

Linebacker Chad Greenway is doubtful because of rib and hand injuries for the Vikings (2-3).

RIDDICK'S ROLE: Theo Riddick was one of the Lions' breakout stars of spring, and if Bush doesn't play Sunday, Riddick might finally get to show his wares in a game.

"Theo, he's an up-and-coming player," running back Joique Bell said. "Seeing him grow from his rookie year till now is like night and day, and just want to see what he can do out there on gameday. I don't think we've used him as much to be able to tell what he can do out there, but he will be used throughout this season. We will need him."

A sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame last year, Riddick has played sparingly this fall with just six carries for 22 yards. He missed last week's game with a hamstring injury, and Bush said he sees some of himself in the second-year running back.

"He's very shifty, but he's more of a natural runner than I was when I was in Year 2," Bush said. "I was a playmaker, but I wasn't a natural runner between the tackles in the NFL. In college it's different. In college, whatever. But in the NFL it's a lot harder."

BRAIN GAMES: Bell will be back in the starting lineup Sunday — if Bush sits — after missing the Bills game with a brain injury.

He said he suffered the injury late in the third quarter when he lowered his head to pick up an oncoming blitzer and immediately "felt like a tingling sensation throughout my body." He stayed in for the rest of the quarter and the first play of the fourth quarter before trainers evaluated him for a concussion.

"I feel great," said Bell, who practiced without restrictions all week. "I feel fresh. Not only was I able to give my brain time to mentally rest, but also get my body time to rest as well."

BRIEFLY: Golden Tate, DeAndre Levy and Don Carey are the Lions' game captains for Sunday.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.