Lions appear to have patched things up with Calvin Johnson

“We have had more and more frequent discussions,” Johnson told Ryan Ermanni of Fox 2 Detroit about his appearance at practice. “…Being able to talk to the coaches and whatnot, it’s very cool. I’m a fan of the game, I’m a fan of Dan and the coaching staff he has over there because I know how much the team will learn from that, will glean from that. It’s very exciting the way they ended last year, it’s very exciting the way they’re going into this year.”

Johnson’s relationship with the Lions was strained when the team made him pay back $1.6 million of his signing bonus after retiring in March 2016. Although Detroit had the legal right to do so given Johnson still had more term left on his contract, teams typically don’t squeeze money out of retired veterans, especially ones as beloved as Johnson was by Lions fans.

But now the franchise is under the direction of a new controlling owner (Sheila Ford Hamp), a new chief operating officer (Mike Disner) and a new head coach (Campbell), who all seem to be on the same page as far as mending fences with one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

Johnson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, logged 731 receptions, 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns in nine seasons in Detroit. He set 16 franchise records including career marks for receptions, yards and touchdowns, the single-season record for touchdown receptions (16), and the single-game record for receiving yards (329).

He was a four-time All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowler and he was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and the Lions All-Time Team.