Calvin Johnson played with 3 broken fingers in 2013

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson set a NFL record for receiving yards in the 2012 season, all while playing with 3 broken fingers apparently. In November of last year Johnson said he had suffered a concussion in a game but played anyways, the Lions refuted the claims.

“Calvin Johnson confirmed that he played with broken fingers last season. Said he’s been trying to straighten them out. No offseason surgery,” Chris McCosky of the Detroit Free Press tweeted.

“I am not going to comment on any of our players’ health,” Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said in a February report.  “But that’s not uncommon for a wide receiver. . . . We don’t have any injury reports this time of year.  And you know how I am about injuries.”

Schwarz is downplaying the significance of the injury, but when you set a NFL record for receiving yards with 1,964 in a single season it’s hard to say it hindered him. But at the same time, had he been healthy could he have broken 2,000 yards?

He was listed with a ‘thumb’ injury twice in non-consecutive weeks. No word if that is one of the 3 broken fingers he suffered.

Assuming he’ll be healthy and at 100% in the 2013 season, he could be poised for another huge year. Which is crazy to think about.