Kevin Johnson - Pro Football Rumors

Texans Place CB Kevin Johnson On IR

September 11th, 2018 at 5:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Texans have placed cornerback Kevin Johnson on injured reserve, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Houston head coach Bill O’Brien admitted on Monday that Johnson would likely miss time after suffering a concussion, with a return timeframe of four-to-six weeks as the likeliest outcome. With that in mind, the Texans moved Johnson to IR with the knowledge they can re-activate him after an eight-week absence.

Without Johnson in tow, the Texans are short on talent in their defensive secondary. Kareem Jackson moved to safety this offseason, leaving Aaron Colvin and 34-year-old Johnathan Joseph as the club’s starting corners. Free agent addition Kayvon Webster, luckily, is close to returning to action after suffering a torn Achilles in 2017.

Concussion To Sideline Texans’ Kevin Johnson For Several Weeks

September 10th, 2018 at 12:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kevin Johnson suffered his second concussion in the past month and may not be returning to the field anytime soon.

The Texans cornerback will be out “a while” because of this development, Bill O’Brien said (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, on Twitter), and may be an IR candidate. The former first-round pick is expected to miss at least four weeks because of this head injury, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting a six-week absence may be in the cards (Twitter link).

This is obviously a scary development for the fourth-year corner, and O’Brien called the matter “concerning” for one of his key defenders. Johnson suffered his previous concussion August 18 and was only cleared for a return to action on Friday. The fourth-year player sustained a concussion in 2017 as well. This latest one came when Johnson tried to make a tackle in the fourth quarter of a 27-20 loss to the Patriots.

Johnson missed four games last season and 10 in 2016 because of injuries. The Texans also have a recent history of a starter’s career ending prematurely because of concussions. C.J. Fiedorowicz‘s trouble with head injuries (three concussions in 2017) caused him to retire this offseason, and the Texans will exercise caution with Johnson.

Houston’s cornerback depth will be tested. The Texans moved Kareem Jackson to safety this year, and Johnathan Joseph is now in his age-34 season. Aaron Colvin mans the slot. Recent addition Kayvon Webster also missed Week 1 because of an injury. Veteran special-teamer Johnson Bademosi and recent waiver claim A.J. Moore also reside on the roster.

Johnson’s concussion would appear to make the Texans a candidate to explore outside solutions at the position.

Texans Pick Up Kevin Johnson’s Option

April 30th, 2018 at 12:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans picked up the fifth year option on cornerback Kevin Johnson, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). As a cornerback selected between No. 11 and No. 32, Johnson is slated to earn a salary of $9.069MM for the 2019 season.

The option decisions on some players in the 2015 draft were simple. The Bucs did not have to deliberate over Jameis Winston‘s option and the Titans did not have to think twice about adding another year to Marcus Mariota‘s deal. The call on Johnson, however, was not so easy.

Johnson missed ten games in 2016 thanks to a broken foot and lost another four games last year thanks to an MCL sprain. Johnson had a career-high 45 total tackles last year, but he has just one interception over three NFL seasons. Last year, PFF had him ranked as the worst cornerback in the NFL out of 121 qualified players.

Obviously, the Texans still believe in the former 16th overall pick. For now, he seems unlikely to start with Kareem Jackson, Aaron Colvin, and Johnathan Joseph ahead of him on the depth chart.

Injury Notes: Tate, Jameis, Sanders, Texans

October 16th, 2017 at 9:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After suffering an AC joint sprain on Sunday, Lions wide receiver Golden Tate is expected to miss a few weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Luckily for Detroit, the club is heading into a bye week before taking on the Steelers in Week 8, so Tate will get a bit of extra time to recover. If he is forced to miss time, Tate will be a large absence for the Lions’ 21st-ranked DVOA offense, as he’s posted 36 receptions for 363 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. Detroit would turn to T.J. Jones, Jared Abbrederis, and — if he’s healthy following a hamstring injury — Kenny Golladay to play more snaps alongside Marvin Jones.

Here’s more from the injury front:

Like Tate, Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is also dealing with an AC joint sprain, and his is all the more serious given that it’s in his throwing shoulder, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Winston attempted only 10 passes before going down with injury in a game Tampa Bay ultimately lost to Arizona. The Buccaneers are set to face the Bills in Week 7, and though Winston has vowed to play through the sprain, it’s not certain that he’ll be available on Sunday. If Winston can’t go, backup Ryan Fitzpatrick will start after throwing for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions yesterday.
Broncos wideouts Emmanuel Sanders and Isaiah McKenzie will each miss at least Week 7 with sprained ankles, reports Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). While McKenzie, a fifth-round rookie, has barely contributed on offense, the loss of Sanders will undoubtedly hurt the Broncos, as the club has little depth behind its starting wide receivers. Bennie Fowler and Jordan Taylor are candidates to see increased usage alongside Demaryius Thomas, as is Cody Latimer if he can return from a knee injury. Denver is also discussing whether to add more bodies at the wideout position, tweets Troy Renck of Denver7.
Cornerback Kevin Johnson is expected to return to action following the Texans‘ Week 7 bye, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters, including Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Johnson went down with a sprained MCL in mid-September, but Houston’s depth in the secondary has managed to keep its defense afloat, and the team currently ranks 11th in pass defense DVOA. Injuries have ruined each of Johnson’s past two seasons (he managed only six games in 2016), but the former first-round pick has been extremely effective when on the field.

Texans’ Kevin Johnson Out 4-6 Weeks

September 15th, 2017 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second time in his three NFL seasons, Kevin Johnson is looking at a lengthy absence due to injury. The Texans cornerback suffered a sprained MCL in Houston’s Thursday-night win in Cincinnati, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Schefter provides the timetable of four to six weeks for the third-year corner, which will deplete a Texans team that lost standout A.J. Bouye in free agency.

Houston still has Johnathan Joseph and slot man Kareem Jackson, but the Texans’ depth chart is noticeably thinner now after having both Bouye and Johnson — for a time — in the fold last season. Johnson sustained a broken foot in October of 2016, ending his sophomore season. The former first-round pick out of Wake Forest played all 16 regular-season games as a rookie, starting 10.

The Texans signed Marcus Burley as a free agent and have fifth-round pick Treston Decoud on the roster as well. The team, riddled by injuries at other positions as well, will likely have to make a roster move to add a corner in the coming days.

Texans Place Kevin Johnson On IR

October 22nd, 2016 at 2:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The broken foot Kevin Johnson sustained during the Texans’ overtime victory over the Colts last weekend resulted in the team relocating the cornerback to its IR list, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter).

Houston activated safety Lonnie Ballentine to replace the second-year corner on its active roster. Johnson would be eligible to return after eight games but isn’t expected to play again this season, making him an unrealistic candidate to take advantage of the new IR policy.

This represents another critical loss for a Texans defense that entered the season with lofty aspirations after a strong 2015. Johnson rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 8 cornerback through six games, and he’ll join J.J. Watt as players who will no longer contribute to the team’s AFC South title push this season.

The Texans also lost safety K.J. Dillon to a torn ACL against the Colts. Charles James figures to have more responsibilities going forward as the Texans attempt to fill the void of a player who’s proven thus far to be a quality investment via first-round pick. Houston’s already received standout work from former UDFA A.J. Bouye, whom PFF rates as its No. 1 corner thus far this season.

The No. 16 overall pick in 2015, Johnson made 21 tackles and deflected three passes in the Texans’ first six games. He also recovered a fumble. Johnson started 10 games as a rookie and played in all 16, intercepting a pass and registering 52 tackles.

A 2014 seventh-round pick, Ballentine spent the first six games of the season on the Texans’ PUP list after a significant knee injury ended his 2015 season. He tore his MCL and PCL while also dislocating the meniscus in the badly damaged left knee.

Texans Expected To Place Kevin Johnson On IR

October 17th, 2016 at 5:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Texans are expected to place cornerback Kevin Johnson on injured reserve after he suffered a broken foot in last night’s game against the Colts, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Per Wilson, Johnson is unlikely to play again this season, meaning he won’t be a candidate to return from IR.

Houston’s defense had already taken one tremendous hit this year, as defensive end J.J. Watt is on injured reserve with a back injury. The loss of Johnson isn’t quite on a Watt level, but his absence will be notable — Pro Football Focus had graded Johnson as a top-10 cornerback through 10 games. The Texans’ defense has still managed to rank as a top-15 unit by DVOA, but the unit will unquestionably be affected by Johnson’s loss.

The club’s secondary, specifically, is reeling, as fellow corner Kareem Jackson is still dealing with a hamstring injury, while Johnathan Joseph suffered a forearm ailment during last night’s contest (but is expected to be ready for next week). Reserve safety K.J. Dillon, meanwhile, tore his ACL on Sunday night and is now done for the year.

Texans CB Kevin Johnson Suffers Broken Foot

October 17th, 2016 at 11:15am CST by Zachary Links

Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson broke his foot in last night’s win over the Colts, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Johnson suffered the break in the same foot that was surgically repaired in the offseason. We should know more about Johnson’s fracture and the resulting timetable for recovery later today, but it’s safe to assume that he’ll be out for an extended period of time and he could be done for the season.

Johnson got the start last night as Kareem Jackson missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Before he was forced to exit the game, the 24-year-old was doing a solid job against Colts speedster Phillip Dorsett. Now, the Texans could be in trouble if Johnson is sidelined and Jackson is not available for Week 7.

Houston promoted cornerback Robert Nelson for last night’s game and they may now look to add another cornerback to play alongside Johnathan Joseph, A.J. Bouye, and Charles James. Joseph did suffer a forearm injury, but the team believes he’ll be ready to go next Monday night against the Broncos, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Texans Sign Entire Draft Class

May 8th, 2015 at 8:08am CST by Luke Adams

The Texans have locked up their entire 2015 draft class in one fell swoop, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who reports (via Twitter) that the club has signed all seven of its draftees. That includes first-round cornerback Kevin Johnson and second-round linebacker Benardrick McKinney.

According to Over The Cap’s draft pool figures, Johnson will be in line for a four-year contract worth more than $10MM, including a signing bonus of about $5.569MM. His deal will include a fifth-year option for 2019 as well. As for McKinney, he’ll earn $5.345MM over his four-year rookie deal, including a $2.147MM signing bonus.

Other Texans players who are now under contract with the team include third-round receiver Jaelen Strong, fifth-round wideout Keith Mumphery, sixth-round outside linebacker Reshard Cliett, sixth-round defensive tackle Christian Covington, and seventh-round running back Kenny Hilliard.

As our draft pick signings tracker shows, Houston is the third team to finish signing its 2015 draft class. The Dolphins and Vikings have also reached agreements with all their draftees.

Draft Rumors: K. Johnson, Hundley, Peters

April 30th, 2015 at 7:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest draft notes…

The ceiling for Wake Forest corner Kevin Johnson is the Dolphins at pick No. 14, while his floor is the Steelers with the 22nd pick, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
With the Browns considered likely to select a quarterback at some point in the draft, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com tweets that the club showed “absolutely zero interest” in UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.
The Saints have been trying to trade up for a pass rusher, and might have Vic Beasley in mind, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Marcus Peters is not on the Cowboys’ draft board, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link).