Barring an injury or other unforeseen development, Chris Johnson will be the starting running back for the Titans again next season.
At a press conference to introduce the team’s coaching staff, Titans head coach Mike Munchak also said that the team won’t be cutting Johnson before $9 million of his $10 million salary for 2013 becomes guaranteed on February 9. Things were pointing in that direction after Johnson broke word of a good meeting with Munchak, although it probably didn’t come down to that.
Munchak said Thursday that the Titans never considered cutting Johnson and that they always felt Johnson was “obviously” going to be part of the team next season. Johnson expressed optimism about where the team is heading after speaking to Munchak and Munchak said the conversation was simply to make sure Johnson knew where the team stood in regard to his contract.
“It will be business as usual,” Munchak said, via Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. “I talked to CJ to see how he was doing and make sure there was no misunderstanding on what was going on, and he was fine and we’re good.”
With that settled, the Titans can move onto improving the team around Johnson. If they don’t, there’s a pretty good chance different people will be making decisions about Johnson’s future this time next year.