Tom Johnson worked his way up through NFL Europe, the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League with a goal of becoming an NFL starter.
He finally has arrived. At least for the time being.
With Sharrif Floyd out, the Vikings defensive tackle started last weekend’s game at Detroit and could get the nod again Sunday at Chicago. Coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn’t know when Floyd, who had cartilage removed from his knee and has had a bad ankle, will be able to return.
Johnson was at Winter Park on Wednesday, wearing a walking boot.
In the meantime, Johnson is the starter at the three-technique spot. The five-year veteran said it’s a role that fits him well.
“I definitely feel like my play speaks for itself,” said Johnson, who has started three of 62 career NFL games. “Some people think that I’m underrated, but if they watch film, they see that I dominate when I’m out there playing. My job is to go out there and dominate the guy in front of you.”
Johnson, 31, has shown signs of doing that since joining the Vikings in 2014. Although he started just two games last season, he was second on the team with 6-1/2 sacks. He set a goal this season of eight sacks but is behind that pace with two in six games.
But if he continues to play more snaps, he could catch up.
“The No. 1 thing is winning, but if everybody is doing their job, the stats will come,” Johnson said. “It’s all about getting my sacks and trying to get tackles.”
Johnson broke into the NFL with New Orleans in 2011. Before that, he spent five years bouncing around various leagues as a free agent out of Southern Mississippi.
Johnson played on a one-year deal worth $845,000 in 2014; the Vikings re-signed him to a three-year, $7 million contract last March.
“He’s a veteran guy that knows what we’re trying to get done, understands, has had some success last year,” Zimmer said. “And I think that’s kind of carried over, and I think he’ll continue to have success.”
With Floyd out, the Vikings’ three-man interior rotation was disrupted against the Lions. Still, Minnesota didn’t have many problems; nose tackle Linval Joseph and Johnson each played 44 of the team’s 54 defensive snaps.
“Tom is a great guy,” Joseph said. “He can play the run, he can get after the quarterback. He’s very smart and easy to coach, and right now, I’m glad to have Tom here, because if Tom wasn’t here, what would we be in?”
Floyd, injured Oct. 18 against Kansas City, is the second Minnesota interior lineman to miss time because of injuries. Backup nose tackle Shamar Stephen was put on season-ending injured reserve last week with a foot injury, replaced on the roster by free agent Kenrick Ellis.
If there are any more issues in the interior, depth could become an issue. Joseph can play the three-technique spot, although Ellis isn’t well-suited there. In a pinch, though, defensive ends Everson Griffen, Brian Robison, Danielle Hunter and Scott Crichton could move inside.
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