As a rookie, Eagles wide receiver Damaris Johnson showed flashes.
Now that he’s in an offense more suited to his skills, he thinks he can show even more.
“I’m kind of expecting to have a bigger year and help my team out more than last year,” Johnson said, via Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com.
“I want the guys to know they can depend on me and be comfortable that I can go out there and take more reps and contribute more and be accountable. I want my teammates and coaches to trust me and know they can count on me.”
Johnson developed as a receiver, and became a good punt returner by the second half of the season, when he began to catch up to the speed of the NFL game. He was a runner-receiver-returner at Tulsa, leaving as with NCAA records for all-purpose yards (200 yards per game on average).
And he thinks that versatility will pay off under Chip Kelly.
“I can carry the ball for this team, I can work in space, I can definitely go outside and play outside, return punts or kicks — whatever the team needs, I’m down to do,” Johnson said. “I feel versatility is definitely a strength of mine.
“Coach Kelly puts us in great positions to make plays. He has everybody doing things that they’re good at. It’s kind of like musical chairs. Everybody does different things.”
And while the Eagles don’t lack for versatile weapons on offense, Johnson’s emerging skills make him an option Kelly will want to explore.