- Detroit Lions rookie running back Kerryon Johnson, formerly of Madison Academy, has been placed on injured reserve by the NFL and will miss the remainder of the 2018 campaign. Photo- Detroit Lions
Kerryon Johnson’s NFL Rookie Season Comes To An End
Published 5:52 am Wednesday, December 26, 2018
DETROIT, MICH.- Former Madison Academy All-State player Kerryon Johnson who played at Auburn for three years before opting to leave the Tigers and join the National Football League for the 2018 season has been placed on injured reserve by the Detroit Lions and will miss the remainder of the season. Johnson sustained a knee injury on Nov. 18 against the Carolina Panthers.
With Detroit, Johnson played in 10 games and rushed for 641 yards and three touchdowns on 118 carries. His top performances with the running game came against the Miami Dolphins where he rushed for 158 yards and versus the New England Patriots where he racked up 101 yards. As a receiver, the Lions rookie had 32 receptions for 213 yards and one touchdown.
Drafted by the Lions as a second-round pick (43rd overall) in 2018, Johnson was considered the main offensive attack for the Lions, especially after he exited Auburn after his junior season, which was a superb campaign as he rushed for 1,391 yards with 18 touchdowns and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year for 2017. His long-standing profile as an athlete was no higher signified than his 40-inch vertical jump, which was second among running backs entering the 2018 NFL Draft. His long jump was 10-foot-6, which was third among the tailbacks and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds.
The 5-foot-11, 206-pound running back was the Lions’ leading rusher and was the NFL’s first rookie to have more than 500 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards with an average of 5.3 yards per carry at the nine-game mark of a season since Adrian Peterson in 2007.
At Madison Academy, Johnson, the son of Kerry and Natalie Johnson, was an All-State selection three times and led the Mustangs to three consecutive Class 3A State Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He was named Alabama Mr. Football after the 2014 season. Winning the honor of Mr. Football, Johnson is the second member of the Johnson family to earn the honor as the tops in their sport as his older brother, Kerron, won the honor of Mr. Basketball in 2009. The multi-sport athlete was also a member of the Mustang’s basketball program.
The Lions failed to make the playoffs so it was fitting Johnson would be placed on IR and begin the process of healing and rehabilitation with sights set on 2019 for his return.
