NFL PLAYER NEWS

Lions: Calvin Johnson undecided on retirement

The Sports Xchange

February 18, 2016 at 9:22 am.

Sep 8, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) makes a catch and runs from New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (21) during the second quarter at Ford Field. Photo Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 8, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) makes a catch and runs from New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (21) during the second quarter at Ford Field. Photo Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Johnson continues to contemplate retirement and the Detroit Lions are content to give the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver more time to make the decision.

“Calvin has not made a decision,” Lions president Rod Wood told 105.1 FM in Detroit on Thursday.

Wood said he talked to Johnson this week, as did general manager Bob Quinn. In the next two weeks, Johnson’s roster status will become a key ingredient to approaching player personnel decisions. The new league year begins March 9, the first day free agents can discuss contracts with another team. Johnson has a salary-cap figure of more than $20 million for the 2016 season.

“It’s still in Calvin’s camp to make a decision,” Wood said.

“If he wants to come back, we’d love to have him back. If he decides to retire, we’re going to support that, too. He needs to decide what’s right for him. The worst thing we could do is put pressure on him.”

Johnson told Lions coach Jim Caldwell the day after the 2015 season that it had been his final campaign. Caldwell asked Johnson to take his time to think about the finality of the decision before making it official.

Johnson, 30, previously told quarterback Matthew Stafford and linebacker Stephen Tulloch of his plans and both players agreed to keep it confidential.

The Lions are hoping Johnson will change his mind.

Johnson released a statement after the season when it became public knowledge that he was considering retirement.

“Like many players at this stage of their career, I am currently evaluating options for my future,” Johnson said. “I would expect to have a decision regarding this matter in the not-too-distant future.”

Johnson has caught 731 passes for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns in nine NFL seasons. He set career highs for receptions (122) and yardage (1,964) in 2012 and made a career-best 16 touchdown receptions in 2011.

Johnson caught 88 passes for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015.