Running back Chris Johnson tore his meniscus last season and played through the injury before having surgery early in an offseason that’s seen him go from the Titans to the Jets.
Johnson said his knee feels good now and he’s denied reports that he’s developed arthritis in the knee, but it sounds like he and the Jets will be exercising plenty of caution this spring to make sure it keeps feeling good into next season. Kimberley Martin of Newsday reports that Johnson said Thursday that he will probably be held out of OTAs as his knee continues to recover.
It’s not an ideal situation, but it is one the Jets surely contemplated before signing Johnson to a two-year, $ 8 million contract and one that presumably didn’t concern them all that much. They are going to want Johnson at full strength come September and training camp should afford him plenty of time to get up to speed with the offense.
Assuming he does, Johnson will likely be the top back on the depth chart when the season opens as the Jets try to put a productive offense on the field this season.