Johnson’s injuries slowed progress
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Now that it’s the off season for the NFL, this is the prime time for analysts to lend their opinion on how the regular season went for teams and individual areas.
It was no different for ESPN’s Adam Reicher and what he had to say on his Rookie Report about Andalusia native Nico Johnson, a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Johnson was drafted as the second pick of the fourth round of the NFL draft in 2013. He played in six games, mainly on special teams and was present for 17 snaps on defense all season. Most of them, Reicher noted, came at the tail end of the season.
“Johnson’s rookie season didn’t amount to much,” Reicher said. “The Kansas City Chiefs were hopeful that Johnson could challenge for a starting spot at one of the inside linebacking spots, but he never made a strong push. Injuries slowed him during training camp and the preseason, and the Chiefs wound up starting veteran Akeem Jordan instead.”
While he may have lost a shot at a starting role on the Chiefs, Johnson has put in plenty of work on the practice squad and has been a good team representative off the field.
Organized team activities (OTAs) begin shortly after the 2014 NFL Draft, which is slated for May 8-10.