The Oakland Raiders welcomed a special guest to practice this week, as former Detroit Lions All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson is in Alameda for Organized Team Activities.
Johnson is a guest of offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who served as an offensive quality control and quarterbacks coach for the Lions for five years while Johnson was with the team.
The 31-year-old retired after the 2015-16 season, and while he may not have plans to return, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie does have the ability to changed the minds of retired players, as was seen with running back Marshawn Lynch earlier this offseason.
McKenzie was among the Raiders personnel seen talking with Johnson, via the Raiders official Twitter account:
Former Lions receiver @calvinjohnsonjr joins us for the first week of OTAs as a special guest. #Megatron
Read: https://t.co/44w5mYo1cI pic.twitter.com/XILNvsvLic
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) May 23, 2017
In nine NFL season Johnson caught 731 passes for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns. He was named a Pro Bowler six times and an All-Pro three times. His best season was in 2012, when he caught a career-high 122 passes for 1,964 yards, which broke Jerry Rice’s all-time receiving yards record for a season.
Johnson will be in Oakland through Thursday, when the Raiders wrap up the week of on-field work.
