Tyler Johnson’s Long Season
January 24th, 2021
Bucs WR Tyler Johnson.
Bucs rookie Tyler Johnson is a great story that most Bucs fans know.
For those who don’t, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians attended the Outback Bowl last January. There he watched Minnesota upset Auburn to give the Gophers their first 11-win season in 95 years.
Joe has a hunch Arians was there scouting future Bucs second-round pick Antoine Winfield. But he also saw Winfield’s teammate, Gophers wideout Tyler Johnson, have a field day against a strong SEC team.
Regarding Johnson, Arians supposedly told his son Jake during the game, “We’ve got to get this guy.”
And they did as Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafted Johnson in the fifth round a few months later.
For a time, Joe thought Johnson might not make the team. This year was hard enough on rookies as there was no rookie minicamp, no OTAs, no minicamp of any sort thanks to the COVID. And almost right away in training camp, Johnson had what the team deemed at the time a “soft tissue” injury. So Johnson could do little aside from attending meetings and watching practices for a week.
The way Arians talked recently, it almost sounded as if the team discussed putting Johnson on injured reserve, effectively ending his rookie season.
“I didn’t know if we were going to be able to salvage the year after that hamstring [injury] and all that missed time,” Arians said this week. “But he has worked his tail off.
Johnson worked hard enough to climb above Justin Watson on the depth chart and to push Scotty Miller for playing time. Johnson has played in 16 of the Bucs’ 18 games.
With Antonio Brown out today, many expect Johnson to, at least in part, pick up the slack.
“He’s modeled himself after Chris [Godwin] – he’s doing a great job blocking, he does not drop balls and he’s improved tremendously,” Arians said.
As for his progress from missing a chunk of training camp to being one of the first off the bench in the playoffs, Arians said of Johnson’s progress, “It’s fantastic.”
Joe sure hopes if his number is called today, Johnson balls out.
January 24th, 2021 at 4:53 am
Me too Joe!
Good read. Thanks Joe.
Go Bucs!!!
January 24th, 2021 at 5:33 am
Are we really just one win away from playing in a freaking Super Bowl in our own stadium??!!!
Please don’t let the dream end.
Go Bucs!
January 24th, 2021 at 5:37 am
It’s HOT down here!
January 24th, 2021 at 5:51 am
9 hours to go…
having trouble sleeping…let’s get it on !
January 24th, 2021 at 5:54 am
i’m a little worried about rodgers trying to exploit a potentially over eager devin white in the short to mid range passing game…
rodgers can be quite savvy
January 24th, 2021 at 5:55 am
we will need an unexpected player on both sides of the ball to have a much bigger game than expected….
an offensive sleeper dude, and a defensive sleeper dude
January 24th, 2021 at 7:11 am
Johnson has promise, and he made a great catch last week, but I’m not ready to say he is ready to pick up any slack (is there any) for Antonio Brown. What we really need is for Godwin to do today what he’s done for the whole regular season. He needs to make those plays that Brown has been making lately. Same with Gronk. Step it up boys.
January 24th, 2021 at 7:30 am
I have no doubt, TJ will ball out. I was sold on him after showing true grit n effort against the bears n packers earlier in the season. He has natural skills n abilities which was an example of the great catch he made last week. Let’s go TJ catch another touchdown like u did earlier in the season against the packers. And, show your YAC like u did on a play against the bears.
January 24th, 2021 at 7:46 am
the thing i like most about tyler is he’s fairly well spoken and smart…
so there’s a lot of room for mental growth as a football player…
we can all see he has the physical skill set already…
he has a huge upside, once give the playing time…
another great draft pick by BA and Licht
January 24th, 2021 at 8:15 am
What round was AB drafted?
I think TJ gets a precursor for what his role will be next year on the Super Bowl defending champs season!
January 24th, 2021 at 8:27 am
GO BUCS!! I had to say that!! Ok so TJ has good hands and blocks and even catches passes thrown his way in the end zone. We need at least one of those today!! GO TJ!! GO BUCS!!
January 24th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Tyler Johnson’s first NFL TD was against GreenBay in week 6. Hope that gives him even more confidence today!
January 24th, 2021 at 8:54 am
Johnson models himself on CG14 who models and is buds with HOF ME13. For real, Joes? Whew, all 3 are playing today. This Bucs offense is matching the defense that won the SB in 2003. Pack still have a better ST and home field, but this will be a dog fight. Let the best team win, and please let it be Tampa Bay! 🏈👍
January 24th, 2021 at 9:39 am
Johnson, Miller, AB wanting to come back…. all this leads to Godwin being allowed to walk due to his price tag.
Money will be tight and CG may be the most expendable.
January 24th, 2021 at 10:20 am
Johnson was a really nice steal in Round 5. If Licht Brain just promises to never ever draft a kicker again , I may even learn to like him a little bit.
January 24th, 2021 at 10:27 am
J.T. can probably thank the Bucs other great receivers for his progress. How can you not get better following Evans, Godwin, A.B., and let’s not forget the things he must’ve learned from Brady. You go Gopher, cold shouldn’t be a problem coming from Minn.
January 24th, 2021 at 10:30 am
I never use the he’s well spoken thing. It’s a back handed compliment that white guys give black guys. Like it’s unusual. You will seldom if ever hear this said about a white guy.
January 24th, 2021 at 10:58 am
The little amount of work he has done, he has been IMPRESSIVE.
January 24th, 2021 at 12:56 pm
My all time favorite Golden Gopher. I knew y’all would love him.