ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson said Wednesday that he is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and needs rest to be healthy.

However, Johnson has not ruled out the possibility of playing Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

“You can’t keep on pounding on it and expect it to get better,” he said. “You want to be smart. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where you can’t be there for the team when it comes down to it there at the end, and that’s why we’re trying to be smart about it right now.”

Johnson refuted an NFL Network report that his use as a decoy has been frustrating, saying Wednesday was the first time he spoke to any reporters since last Wednesday, although that is not necessarily a direct denial because reports could have filtered through other sources to whom he did speak.

Johnson first suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the Lions’ Week 3 win over the Green Bay Packers. In a Week 4 win over the New York Jets, he was a decoy, playing just 57 percent of the snaps and catching two passes.

In last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, he played most of the first half but didn’t have his first catch until the second play of the third quarter. After a 7-yard gain, Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin hit him hard on the right ankle, and Johnson limped off and did not return.

If Johnson can’t play, the Lions will rely on Golden Tate again as their top receiving threat, and he has rewarded their offseason investment with 31 catches for 451 yards. Receivers Jeremy Ross, Corey Fuller and Ryan Broyles and tight ends Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew will also have to be more productive.

Johnson said he didn’t know if McKelvin targeted the ankle, but he wouldn’t be surprised if other players do moving forward.

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” he said. “Guys try to take guys out of the game if they know they can, especially if you’ve got a playmaker. Defenses will do that.”

Lions coach Jim Caldwell also wasn’t prepared to rule out Johnson for the upcoming game, though he said Monday that he’ll strongly consider resting him.

“We’ll see,” Caldwell said. “We’ll kind of go through the week. … He’s an unusual healer in that regard. He heals rather quickly, and he makes a dramatic turnaround sometimes. We’ll kind of let it play out and see how it goes during the course of the week.”

Johnson said he’ll spend most of this week in the training room receiving treatment with hopes of recovering quickly.

“We’re doing everything in our power to get back on the field,” he said.

Injuries have become a growing concern for the 29-year-old Johnson despite his gaudy numbers in recent seasons. In 2013, knee and finger injuries slowed him down and required offseason surgeries, but he doesn’t expect his current ankle injury to impact his future potential.

“Any time you have an injury that limits whoever you are, but I don’t think it’s an issue with me going forward in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lions signed former Broncos kicker Matt Prater on Tuesday night to replace Alex Henery, whom they cut Monday after he went 0-for-3 on field goal attempts in a Week 5 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Prater has been one of the best kickers in the NFL in recent years, and with Denver cutting him last week and his suspension ending this week, the Lions were lucky to land him.

But signing Prater is also a risk. He received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse program for an alcohol-related incident, and if he tests positive again, he’ll be suspended indefinitely.

“When I was suspended, I was just staying away from football in general to just work on myself as a person,” Prater said Wednesday. “I got the call Sunday night and flew in and knew I was going to have a workout and kicked well enough to sign.”

Prater said he spoke to Lions coach Jim Caldwell for nearly an hour Tuesday before his tryout in which he apparently out-kicked veterans Connor Barth and Jay Feely, who kicked earlier in the day.

“I am one who believes in a second chance and I’ve had a few second chances in my life — and it’s made a tremendous difference,” Caldwell said. “I do think the young man is sincere — and it wasn’t just the hour conversation; we vetted him thoroughly.”

Between Henery and rookie Nate Freese, who was cut after Week 3, the Lions have made just 4 of 12 field goal attempts in 2014. Prater made 25 of 26 last season in Denver.

NOTES: RB Joique Bell (concussion) was a full participant in practice Wednesday and hopes to play Sunday. … Among those missing practice Wednesday were RB Reggie Bush (ankle), LB Travis Lewis (quad) and TE Joseph Fauria (ankle). S Jerome Couplin (ribs) was limited. DT Xavier Proctor was placed on practice squad injured reserve and DT Derrick Hopkins was signed to the practice squad.