Lions WR Ryan Broyles' confidence growing with increase in playing time

Ryan Broyles is seeing an increase in playing time since the Lions lost wide receiver Nate Burleson for the season in a 13-7 loss to the Chicago Bears on Oct. 22, and his confidence has been growing as a result.

Broyles has six catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in last two weeks versus the Bears and Seahawks.

Broyles told Justin Rogers of Mlive.com that he knew his number would be called at some point and that he was practicing like a starter throughout the season despite not seeing playing time in the Lions' first five games of the season.

The Lions drafted Broyles in the second round (54th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. Broyles missed the second half of his senior season in college after he tore his ACL in November 2011.

Burleson suffered a broken leg against the Chicago Bears and will miss the remainder of the season, which will mean more targets for Broyles and Titus Young for the rest of the season.