Johnson finished the 2020 season with 15 catches (on 23 targets) for 173 yards and no touchdowns in eight appearances.
Analysis: Johnson was a healthy scratch for eight of the Cardinals' first 10 contests of the campaign, but a positive COVID test and injuries to the receiving corps allowed him to get on the field down the stretch. Tossing aside his two longest catches of the season -- 45 and 32 yards -- his other 13 receptions went for a miserable 7.4 YPC and 4.6 YPT. A 2019 sixth-round pick, Johnson has two years remaining on his rookie deal, but the presence of DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk, possibility Larry Fitzgerald returns and potential for offseason additions doesn't guarantee Johnson anything heading into the offseason.
Jan 22, 2021 8:49 PM EST
Johnson is in line to serve as the Cardinals' No. 2 wide receiver for Sunday's road game against the Rams with Larry Fitzgerald (groin) and Christian Kirk (undisclosed, reserve/COVID-19 list) sidelined, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: After making just two appearances through Arizona's first 10 contests of the season, Johnson has received a varied snap count in five consecutive games, leading to a 10-131-0 line on 13 targets. Behind DeAndre Hopkins, Chase Edmonds and tight end Dan Arnold, reps and passes from Kyler Murray still will be available for Johnson, Andy Isabella and Trent Sherfield. Considering his recent workload, Johnson should lead that trio, but his career mark of 5.5 yards per target doesn't project significant production.
Jan 3, 2021 12:30 PM EST
Johnson is slated for a larger role in the Cardinals offense Sunday against the Rams after Christian Kirk (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: While he was inactive for eight of the first 10 games of the campaign, Johnson has had a modest role in the offense over the last five contests, hauling in 10 of 13 targets for 131 yards during that span. With Kirk out of the picture Week 17 and Larry Fitzgerald (groin) seemingly poised to join him on Arizona's list of inactives, Johnson could bump all the way up to the No. 2 receiver alongside DeAndre Hopkins. Still, in Johnson's 17 career appearances, he's averaged just 5.5 yards per target, so he may be hard-pressed for a notable performance Week 17, even if he experiences a decent increase in volume.
Jan 3, 2021 9:14 AM EST
Johnson caught two of three passes for 50 yards during Saturday's 20-12 defeat to the 49ers.
Analysis: Johnson did most of his damage on a 45-yard bomb late in the third quarter, which was the Cardinals' longest play of the game. He otherwise was quiet on his 20 snaps on offense behind DeAndre Hopkins (75 of 82), Larry Fitzgerald (71) and Christian Kirk (68). Having said that, Hopkins suffered an upper-body injury during the game and Fitzgerald's recent practice reps were capped due to a groin issue, so the state of Arizona's receiving corps is in some flux.
Dec 27, 2020 2:06 PM EST
Johnson totaled two receptions (on three targets) for 38 yards during Sunday's 33-26 victory against the Eagles.
Analysis: The Cardinals made Andy Isabella a healthy scratch for a second straight game, going instead with Johnson as the fourth wide receiver behind DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald. Johnson's 32-yard catch at the end of the first half was Arizona's fourth-longest play of the contest, but he otherwise was quiet on 20 other offensive plays. Assuming he's available on game days, his lack of snaps and targets don't give much hope for production on a weekly basis.
Dec 21, 2020 6:54 PM EST
Johnson reeled in one of two passes for nine yards during Sunday's 26-7 road win versus the Giants.
Analysis: With Larry Fitzgerald back from the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Cardinals opted to make Andy Isabella a healthy scratch, which allowed Johnson to work as the No. 4 wide receiver behind DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Fitzgerald. The top trio earned between 72 and 84 percent of the plays on offense, while Johnson was limited to 24 percent and Trent Sherfield to six percent. Only Johnson got into the act among those two, but a nine-yard catch on such a small snap share is nothing to write home about.
Dec 14, 2020 6:24 PM EST
Johnson hauled in all four targets for 27 yards during Sunday's 38-28 defeat to the Rams.
Analysis: With Larry Fitzgerald (illness) out for a second straight game, the Cardinals operated with four wide receivers on the majority of snaps Week 13. The development allowed Johnson to work with DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella, and he finished second on the team in catches and third in receiving yards. There's no telling when Fitzgerald will be ready to be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, so Johnson may continue to play a large role in Arizona's offense Week 14 versus the Giants.
Dec 7, 2020 7:31 PM EST
Johnson made a seven-yard catch during Sunday's 20-17 defeat in New England.
Analysis: The Cardinals were shorthanded at wide receiver due to Larry Fitzgerald (illness) and Trent Sherfield (undisclosed) residing on the reserve/COVID-19 list. As a result, Johnson got on the field for the first time since Week 5 and almost made the most of his nine offensive snaps. On a short catch-and-run near the goal line before halftime, he was ruled to have broken the plane, but upon a review the play was reversed, and he was credited with the aforementioned grab. If Fitzgerald and/or Sherfield can't make it back to the active roster for Sunday's contest against the Rams, Johnson again may serve as the No. 4 WR behind DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella.
Nov 30, 2020 8:15 PM EST
Johnson was a healthy scratch for Sunday's 37-34 overtime victory versus the Seahawks.
Analysis: In a game in which the Cardinals had four wide receivers with at least a 50-percent share of the snaps on offense, Johnson's DNP tells much about his standing in the receiving corps. All of DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald and Andy Isabella met the aforementioned playing criteria, while Trent Sherfield remained busy on special teams Sunday. As a result, Johnson is a fantasy non-entity at the moment.
Oct 26, 2020 6:38 PM EST
Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game versus the Cowboys.
Analysis: Johnson played just five offensive snaps in a Week 5 win against the Jets, and now he's been pushed completely out of the gameplan. There aren't many reps to go around with DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald handling most of the snaps in three-wide sets, but now Andy Isabella and Trent Sherfield are the only remaining reserves.
Oct 19, 2020 3:54 PM EST
Johnson gathered in his only target for five yards during Sunday's 30-10 road victory against the Jets.
Analysis: Johnson's sole offensive look occurred just before the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter, and he got on the field for just five of the Cardinals' 75 plays on offense. On a positive note, he's impacted the box score in both of his appearances this season, so an injury on the depth chart in front of him may result in some targets for the second-year pro.
Oct 13, 2020 12:52 PM EST
Johnson was active but didn't play in Sunday's 31-21 loss at Carolina.
Analysis: In fact, Johnson has only made his way onto the field in one of four games this season (Week 3 against the Lions when Christian Kirk was sidelined with a groin injury). If the pattern holds moving forward, Johnson will need an absence from the wide receivers above him on the depth chart to make an impact in the fantasy realm, and all of DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, Kirk and Andy Isabella earned offensive snaps Sunday.
Oct 6, 2020 10:14 AM EST
Johnson played 46 of 65 offensive snaps during Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Lions on his way to two catches (on seven targets) for 24 yards.
Analysis: Among the eight Cardinals that recorded catches Week 3, five of them had a catch rate at or above 83.3 percent. Johnson wasn't one of them, as evidenced by his stat line, and accounted for nearly half of Kyler Murray's 12 incompletions. That said, Johnson was making his season debut after spending the first two games of the year on the reserve/COVID-19 list and seemed to be thrust into three-wide sets more often that Andy Isabella with Christian Kirk (groin) sidelined. If Kirk continues to miss time, Johnson may be able to expect a similar workload to Sunday's in the short term.
Sep 29, 2020 8:53 PM EST
Johnson is expected to have a role Sunday against the Lions with Christian Kirk (groin) sidelined, Kyle Odegard of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: Johnson missed the first two games of the season due to a spell on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but now that he's available, coach Kliff Kingsbury believes both Johnson and Andy Isabella will be involved in Arizona's offense. After being a regular part of the receiving corps as a rookie last year through a Week 12 bye, Johnson didn't log a single snap in the final five games of the campaign. His 8.8 YPC and 50 percent catch rate were uninspiring, to say the least, but he'll have a chance to make an impact as long as Kirk is sidelined.
Sep 25, 2020 1:06 PM EST
The Cardinals activated Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: Johnson is eligible to rejoin the team, and he'll begin preparing for Sunday's game versus the Lions. The 23-year-old wideout averaged 37.8 snaps per game in 2019, but he likely won't garner the same usage right away with DeAndre Hopkins in the picture now. He'll battle with Andy Isabella and Trent Sherfield for reps.
Sep 21, 2020 1:50 PM EST
Johnson was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Friday afternoon, Kyle Odegard of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: This explains why Johnson was held out of practice Thursday and Friday for non-injury reasons, though it doesn't necessarily mean he tested positive for COVID-19, as it's possible he merely came into contact with an infected individual. The timing suggests he isn't likely to play in Sunday's game against the 49ers, though he might've been a healthy scratch even if he were available.
Sep 11, 2020 1:43 PM EST
Johnson missed practice Thursday and Friday for non-injury reasons, Kyle Odegard of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: With no other details provided, it isn't clear if Johnson will be available for Sunday's game in San Francisco. It also isn't clear he'll have a significant role -- or even be active -- if he is available. The 2019 sixth-round pick was limited to a 21-187-1 receiving line on 42 targets last year.
Sep 11, 2020 9:20 AM EST
Johnson recorded 21 catches (on 42 targets) for 187 yards and one touchdown in 10 appearances during the 2019 campaign.
Analysis: A regular in the Cardinals offense through Week 11, Johnson was a healthy scratch for the last six games of the season. The weekly decision was a curious one, considering the team was unable to get consistent production out of its outside receivers. Perhaps a full offseason to get acquainted with Kyler Murray and within coach Kliff Kingsbury's system will help Johnson regain a hold in the WR rotation, but he also will have competition for reps in the form of Trent Sherfield and fellow 2019 draftees Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler.
Jan 6, 2020 12:48 PM EST
Johnson (coach's decision) is listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Johnson will be a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive time Sunday, as he has 21 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown this season. With the rookie sidelined again, Andy Isabella and Trent Sherfield are in line to handle the depth receiver snaps for the game.
Dec 22, 2019 12:07 PM EST
Johnson (coach's decision) is listed as inactive Sunday against the Browns, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: Johnson has yet to suit up since the team's Week 12 bye, marking his third consecutive absence and fourth overall this season. If he continues to be a healthy scratch the rest of the way, he'll finish his rookie campaign with a 21-187-1 line on 42 targets.
Dec 15, 2019 11:51 AM EST
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