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Vikings breakout WR Johnson knows he's capable of much more
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Charles Johnson walks slowly away from the JUGS machine where he spent about 30 minutes after practice catching extra balls with the rest of the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers. His eyes can't be seen behind the new, shimmering shield on his helmet but the beads of sweat stream out from behind the facemask.
In terms of breakouts, Johnson's 2014 season with Minnesota well qualifies, as he had 25 catches for 415 yards and two touchdowns in the final seven games. Back for a second season, in a likely starting role, Johnson is in position to take another step forward in his short NFL career.
The determination that allowed Johnson to overcome being from small Grand Valley State, a seventh-round draft position and a torn anterior cruciate ligament in two years to surprise for the Vikings is driving him again.
"I'm always trying to prove myself every day," Johnson said after practice during minicamp last week. "Every day I come out here with a mindset, with a goal that I want to accomplish. Like today my goal was to come out there and show speed, to be fast on my routes.
"I still think I got a lot of upside. I'm not where I want to be yet. I can continue to grow."
Those words have to be encouraging for Minnesota, which has sought a credible passing game for years. Quarterbacks and receivers in previous years have washed out. Now the Vikings have Teddy Bridgewater full of promise entering his second season to go with newly acquired Mike Wallace, Johnson and Jarius Wright, not to mention a hopeful recovery from Cordarrelle Patterson.
"I think he's growing as a player and everything about production, obviously, has to do with who you're playing and how they're defending you," offensive coordinator Norv Turner said last week. "Our goal here, as I've always said, is to make sure all five of your guys that can touch the ball are able to contribute, whether they are running or they're receiving it or whatever they're doing. That's our goal."
Johnson, 26, feels he's just getting started, and with good reason. Even as he was developing into the top threat at receiver late last year, Johnson was still working his way back from knee surgery.
A revelation to many seeing him on the field for the first time, Johnson knew he was capable of more. He was healthy but wasn't fully recovered from surgery as he averaged 16.6 yards per catch over the final seven weeks.
"I know I wasn't completely comfortable, completely healed, but I was healed enough to go out there and be able to contribute and do the things necessary to go out there and make an impact," Johnson said. "I'm more comfortable with myself (now). Further you're out from the knee, the more natural it comes to you. You're not babying it as much. You're not worried about it as much anymore."
Without worries, Johnson went about training in the offseason for explosive movements. A tip from his agent started Johnson using trampolines in workouts. Friends would throw passes to Johnson on the trampoline and the 6-foot-2 receiver would jump high to catch the ball.
Trust in his knee returned the more he jumped.
"Wherever the ball is, just go and get the ball," Johnson said. "You're usually going to land awkwardly, so you feel you're stable once you do that a few times. You feel good about it."
Turner, who was with the Browns when Johnson was a rookie and suffered the knee injury, has seen the difference in Johnson.
"He's stronger," Turner said. "He was recovering from that knee surgery a year ago and I don't know that he was ever 100 percent. I think he's 100 percent. He's got great work ethic . . . he's a big, strong guy. He's a 218-pound receiver that can run. He's got everything you need to be a productive player in this league."
Johnson said the mantra among coaches and fellow receivers is not worrying about a place on the depth chart but trying to "create your spot."
More comfortable -- in his knee and in the Vikings' offense -- Johnson is trying to create his spot. Some after-hours practice with the JUGS machine is only part of the process.
"You never get too many catches in," Johnson said.
Minnesota is hoping Johnson has plenty of catches in his future.
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