Having had a chance to see a fair bit of the all-important preseason Week 3 games out there, here are a few things that caught my attention.

Get the latest notes from Around the Web, including the status of Ben Roethlisberger, whether Reggie Bush expects to play this week, who will be the starting QB for the Lions, and more.

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz announced Thursday that WR Calvin Johnson won’t play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns due to his sprained thumb.

Some news and notes from around the league, including a look at Tom Brady’s return, some impressive rookies, the latest on the Detroit quarterback battle and some other odds and ends.

The Lions are officially calling WR Calvin Johnson’s right thumb injury a sprain, but it was enough to keep him from participating in full drills Tuesday at training camp.

Among the topics Lions GM Martin Mayhew touched on following the conclusion of the team’s rookie orientation Sunday was the upcoming training camp battle between quarterback Daunte Culpepper and No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford. The Detroit Free Press reports Mayhew said that if the season began today, Culpepper would likely be the team’s starter.

Suddenly, Detroit is the place to be — at least in NFL circles. Speaking from his Michigan home, LB Larry Foote told the Detroit Free Press that he would love to play for his hometown Lions if he is released — as expected — by the Steelers.

Conventional wisdom says that Daunte Culpepper will be the Lions’ starting quarterback in Week 1, despite the team’s signing of No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford over the weekend. However, the Detroit News reports that Stafford is prepared to make the decision as tough as possible for the Lions and new coach Jim Schwartz.

Michael Fabiano discusses the fantasy implications of the NFL Draft.

Michael Fabiano examines the impact fantasy players in the 2009 NFL rookie class.

The Lions opened minicamp Friday and might have tipped their hand about what they plan to do with the No. 1 overall pick in next week’s draft.

Lions QB Daunte Culpepper, who weighed 292 pounds when he was signed in the middle of last season, has reportedly dropped over 30 pounds, according to Mlive.com.

Jamie Dukes has some burning offseason questions. Who should sign Michael Vick? Will the Chiefs keep Larry Johnson? Which team needs Ray Lewis the most?

A Lions source is disputing a comment from former WR Mike Furrey that Detroit’s quarterbacks have been told Daunte Culpepper will be the starting QB for the team next season, Booth Newspapers reported.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has a host of issues facing the Lions, one of the most pressing being the quarterback position. More specifically, what he is going to do about pending free agents Jon Kitna and Daunte Culpepper.