ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Calvin Johnson is expected to return this week as the Detroit Lions enter a critical stretch of the season.Johnson said Wednesday he is back to his normal practice routine and will play Sunday when Detroit (6-2) hosts the Miami Dolphins (5-3) at Ford Field.Feeling good, Johnson said. Extremely motivated, especially with where we are as a team right now. Weve got Miami coming to our house so (lets) go ahead and get off to a good start in the third quarter of the season.Johnson sat out three games with an ankle injury while Detroit carried on and went 3-0 in his absence, albeit with less-than impressive offensive numbers.The Lions have not gained more than 400 yards since getting 417 in a Week 1 win over the New York Giants.But Johnsons return brings renewed hope with Detroit holding a one-game lead over Green Bay (5-3) in the NFC North.It changes (our offence), obviously, quarterback Matthew Stafford said. Maybe not so much in the plays we run but in how defences treat us. ... Were dangerous in the pass game when hes out there, so teams are probably worried about defending him scoring an 80-yard touchdown first.Golden Tate emerged as a reliable No. 1 target with Johnson sidelined, grabbing at least seven receptions in each of the past four games. Extra reps for he and rookie wideout Corey Fuller over the past month could pay dividends during the second half of the season.Golden had a big opportunity this year with Calvin and a bunch of other guys going down to step up, Stafford said. He grabbed that role and played extremely well for us. ... With the addition of him and hopefully getting Calvin back and some of the other guys at some point, (the offence) could be dangerous.Detroit has also been without tight ends Joseph Fauria, Brandon Pettigrew and rookie Eric Ebron, all three of whom did not play against Atlanta. Running back Reggie Bush was also unavailable against the Falcons, but said Wednesday he will be back for the Miami game.Detroits rushing offence is second-worst in the NFL and in need of a spark entering a key three-game stretch against Miami, at Arizona (7-1) and at New England (7-2). Bush said everyone must do a better job in the backfield, but a healthy Calvin Johnson should help too.Hes a running backs best friend, Bush said. Having him out there, even if hes just a decoy its great for the run game. I think thats going to have an (impact).Miami is one of the hottest teams in the NFL having won four of its past five games, including a 37-0 home win against San Diego last week.Weve got a lot of work cut out for us because were playing a team thats playing extremely well on both sides of the ball, coach Jim Caldwell said. This one presents every challenge that we could possibly think of.The Lions started 6-3 last year, but dropped six of their last seven games to miss the playoffs. Bush said its important to keep that in mind as the Lions prepare for three straight games against teams with a winning record.They dont give out any awards after the first half of the season, Bush said. If anybody should learn from last year its us. We shouldnt be looking ahead, we shouldnt be talking about the playoffs. We should be looking at this game and thats it.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cory Littleton Jersey . James Erskine said Tuesday that Thorpe was "quite sick" in a Sydney hospital but dismissed media reports the swimmer might lose the use of his left arm. "Hes not in the intensive care," Erskine said. Orlando Pace Youth Jersey .Y. -- Mike Zigomaniss goal at 5:53 of the third period stood up as the winner as the Rochester Americans hung on to defeat the visiting Hamilton Bulldogs 3-2 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/ . His recovery time is expected to be six to eight months. Seidenberg was injured in the third period of Fridays 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators, when he got his leg tangled with forward Cory Conacher. Clay Matthews Rams Jersey . Then youve got to worry about the other up and coming teams in the two weaker divisions in the "Junior Circuit". Aaron Donald Jersey .com) - Rick Nash scored twice and Derek Stepan chipped in a goal with one assist as the New York Rangers claimed a 5-2 decision over Calgary at the Saddledome.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Mike Napoli had the perfect scenario. He didnt waste it. Napoli hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs to help the Boston Red Sox wrap up their first winning road trip of more than three games this season with a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. "It was nice to have a winning road trip," the Boston first baseman said. "Were playing better baseball. I thought there were a couple more games we couldve had." Napoli took advantage of a 2-0 fastball from Reds starter Mike Leake in a ballpark known for yielding home runs. "He got a fastball down and away, and hes a pretty good opposite-field hitter," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "In this ballpark, thats a decisive combination." Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo became the first Boston rookie to start his career 2-0 since Justin Masterson won his first three in 2008 and the Red Sox finished their eight-game trip with five wins. Skip Schumaker and Cincinnati starting pitcher Mike Leake each hit their second home runs of the season, but the Reds still ended their seven-game home stand with a 3-4 record after opening by sweeping a two-game interleague series against in-state rival Cleveland. "It is certainly frustrating," Schumaker said. "Mike gives us a chance to win every time out. It would have been nice to give him a chance or take him off the hook." Burke Badenhop and Junichi Tazawa each pitched one perfect inning before Edward Mujica overcame back-to-back leadoff singles in the ninth for his third save. Schumaker and Leake each hit solo home runs in the bottom of the fourth to give the Reds a 3-2 lead. The Red Sox immediately responded with two outs in the fifth on Yoenis Cespedes RBI single and Napolis 361-foot, opposiite-field homer to right, his 15th homer of the season and second of the trip.dddddddddddd Ranaudo allowed eight hits and four runs with one walk and one strikeout in six innings. Leake (9-11) lasted five innings, his shortest outing in 11 starts since going five innings on June 15 at Milwaukee. He allowed eight hits and five runs with one walk and three strikeouts. Boston reached Leake for two runs with just one hit in the first. Leakes wild pitch set up Daniel Navas RBI single, and Nava later scored on Napolis slow grounder to third baseman Todd Frazier, whose throw home was too late to get the runner. FINALLY Boston CF Jackie Bradley Jr. snapped a 0-for-35 slump with a second-inning single. OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Boston is 24-23 in one-run games. The Red Sox were tied with Miami for the most one-run decisions in the majors going into Wednesdays games. The Reds slipped to 17-28 after going 27-22 last season. DANGEROUS BAT Leakes home run was the fourth of his career and raised his career hit total to 65, more than any major league pitcher since his debut in 2010. UP NEXT Red Sox: RHP Allen Webster makes his first career start against Houston on Thursday as Boston opens its second 11-game home stand of the season. Reds: RHP Alfredo Simon takes a 0.00 ERA in 3 2-3 innings over three games at Coors Field into his first career start on Thursday in Colorado, where the Reds open a seven-game road trip. TRAINERS ROOM Red Sox: Cespedes left the game after six innings with a right hand contusion after Farrell said he got jammed in his last at bat. Reds: RF Jay Bruce was scratched from the Reds original starting lineup due to illness. ... RHP Logan Ondrusek and 2B Brandon Phillips are scheduled to begin rehabilitation assignments with Triple-A Louisville on Friday. ' ' '