Johnson reacts to his two touchdowns against Texans |
CANTON, O.H. - Prior to the Hall of Fame game against the Houston Texans, Collin Johnson's name was not mentioned.
His name will surely be mentioned now after his two-touchdown performance, including an unbelievable mid-air grab, which he nearly made a second time later in the game. “It was one pass, one catch. But, it was a big-time play for us because it was a go ball and (quarterback Brett Rypien) put it back shoulder right on the money where a big receiver like myself likes it. So, I told him that’s the perfect ball for me. I feel very confident in me making that play,” Johnson said. “So, I think we just grew from there, and we’re both veterans in this league. I’m on year five. (He’s) on year six. So, sometimes all you need is a couple of plays in practice and then just faith in each other. So, we just went out there and executed and I felt very confident with him in the huddle and all the quarterbacks.” The preseason is a time for opportunities, and that is certainly true of Johnson. For Johnson, who has not started an NFL regular season game since 2021, when he was with the New York Giants, being able to step onto the field is a blessing and an opportunity to take advantage of. “Every time you strap up your cleats and shoulder pads and helmets, it’s a blessing. So, I kind of entered the game with just a sense of gratitude and I felt honored to have the opportunity to play this amazing game. It’s been a long journey for me with injuries and stuff like that,” Johnson said. “So, I just (wanted) to put my best foot forward. I think I did that tonight. I left some plays out there and I’m just going to learn from that. But, I’m just going to keep my foot on the gas and keep going, keep improving because that’s all I know.” Last season, Johnson was part of Chicago’s practice squad but elevated to the active roster for a few weeks. This included the Bears’ 37-17 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, when Johnson had his only catch in a regular-season game for Chicago, going for 11 yards. For someone like Johnson, who is just fighting to get on the roster, being versatile and available in as many positions as possible is crucial. That is why Johnson also plays on special teams and recorded the tackle on the opening kickoff in the Hall of Fame 21-17 victory for the Bears, something he also takes a lot of pride in. “I started making some plays on offense, and (special teams coordinator Richard Hightower), our special teams coordinator, was like, ‘Collin, I’m going to pull you out of special teams.’ I was like, ‘No sir, I want to be in there. I want to show you I can do it’ and getting that special teams tackle on the opening kickoff, I felt super honored because that’s the first tackle of this new kickoff rule,” Johnson said. “So, it was super cool and I’m just going to keep growing.” Johnson has played in only 29 games since 2020. He has not scored a touchdown in a regular-season game since his rookie year in 2020, when he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the Giants, he had limited playing time before tearing his Achilles and missing all of the 2022 season. His playing time with Chicago was slim last season. So, having a game like he did against the Texans is an incredibly important opportunity for him, and he credits his faith with this chance. “With my journey, just with a lot of injuries and just having to be patient, my goal tonight was just to give God glory in everything I did. I’m a man of faith. Everything I did tonight, I just wanted to give God praise. So, every single touchdown, I got on a knee. I pointed to Him because He deserves all the praise, and people are telling me how good of a game I had, but it’s absolutely nothing without my faith in Jesus Christ,” Johnson said. “So, I just want to give Him all the glory. I was super emotional in the locker room because I’ve had such a long journey. It’s my first time getting in the end zone since 2020. I had to sit out a whole year in 2022 after I tore my Achilles, and I just kind of been through (the) injury bug a little bit. But, I never stopped working. I never stopped keeping the faith, and I’m just going to build off this and keep working. In everything I do, my goal is to give God glory. So, me having this opportunity, being on the podium. I just feel it’s only right to do that. So, I just want to say thanks to God.”
