It's not too late for Kevin Johnson to turn around his once promising NFL career. He'll just have to do so with a team other than the Houston Texans. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Texans released Johnson on Tuesday, making him a free agent.
Source: The #Texans have released former first-round CB Kevin Johnson. A talented corner available before free agency.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2019
The 2015 first-round pick got off to a good start in Houston, appearing in all 16 games as a rookie and eventually supplanting incumbent starting cornerback A.J. Bouye in the lineup. He finished with 52 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and nine passes defensed in 2015, easily the best numbers of his career.
Injuries began taking their toll on Johnson the next season, when he broke his foot on October 22nd against the Indianapolis Colts after a strong showing over the season's first six weeks. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve, ending his season after just six games.
Johnson won a starting cornerback battle over Kareem Jackson leading up to the 2017 season, but was quickly hindered by injury again when he sprained his MCL in Week 2. Jackson had taken his spot as a starter by the time he returned to the lineup over a month later, leaving Johnson as the Texans' third cornerback to finish the season. He played in 12 games overall two seasons ago, notching 45 tackles and two passes defensed.
Johnson's 2018 season was over almost before it began, as he suffered a concussion in Week 1 against the New England Patriots and was placed on injured reserve.
Still just 26, Johnson has the physical tools to emerge as a valuable contributor to a team's secondary – health provided, of course.
Follow Us
Subscribe