Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson emerged as a breakout star during the 2018 NFL season. Although his rookie year may have been cut short due to a knee injury, Johnson is still thankful to be in the position he is in.
Johnson may have established himself as a bonafide workhorse last season, however, it seems his approach remains all the same. According to ESPN's Michael Rothstein, he is happy to be playing football for a living.
“I get to come to work in sweatpants and shirts,” Johnson said. “I get to go out and play a game that I’ve been playing since I’ve been 5 years old. I get to go home, and I get to come back and do it all again. I don’t have to sit in a cubicle. I don’t got to do no spreadsheets, no nothing. I like to have fun with this, and it’s long, like I said before, but you chop it into itty-bitty pieces. Hey, five weeks here, five weeks here, four weeks here and progress that way, and before you know it, you’re in the offseason and like, dang, Year Two is starting.”
Johnson's comments are certainly understandable. There are few people in the world that get to live out their childhood dream of becoming a professional athlete. Although the business aspect of sports can become a bit distracting, players can take solace in the fact that they get to do something they have always enjoyed growing up.
It is encouraging to see that Johnson is able to put things into perspective. Mental strength is as vital a component to recovering from injury as physical strength does. It is safe to say that he has it in spades. More importantly, he has the talent to back it up.
Johnson has set the bar high thanks to his stellar rookie season. He finished the 2018 campaign with 641 yards and three touchdowns on 118 carries. While the Lions have indicated that they hope to lighten his workload, there is no question that he will remain a focal point of the Lions offense moving forward.
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