Johnson lone Lion rookie not expected to start camp on time

<p>Calvin Johnson, the second pick overall in the NFL draft, is the only rookie the Detroit Lions do not expect on the field for their first practice Thursday morning.</p><p>Detroit finished contract negotiations Wednesday with quarterback Drew Stanton and defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis and were close to a deal with safety Gerald Alexander. All three players were expected to sign four-year deals.</p><p>Coach Rod Marinelli said Lions Chief Operating Officer Tom Lewand was optimistic about getting Johnson into training camp soon.</p><p>"Talking to Tom, he feels it's got a chance within the next three days or something like that," Marinelli said. "I hate to give a number because it could go either way.</p><p>"It hurts any player and you want him, but in the offseason he picked up the terminology and formations extremely fast and he's in good shape."</p><p>The All-American and Biletnikoff Award winner was rated as the top prospect in the draft by several analysts after he set school records last year at Georgia Tech as a junior with 1,202 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns.</p><p>"We continue to have discussions and to trade proposals," Lewand said. "I don't make predictions."</p>