SANTA CLARA – Seventh round pick defensive end Cam Johnson returned to the practice field this week. He underwent a procedure in June for a knee injury he sustained his senior season at the University of Virginia. He spoke today about the progress he’s making with his knee, what he’s practicing and who he’s learning from. Here’s a transcript.
Q: How do you feel after your knee procedure last month?
CAM JOHNSON: I feel like I’m getting better every day. The plan is to keep progressing and get as healthy as I can as soon as I can.
Q: Is that an injury that slowed you down at the University of Virginia?
CAM JOHNSON: It hindered me a little bit, but that’s the past. I’m trying to progress right now and help this team.
Q: Was there any thought of having that procedure while in college?
CAM JOHNSON: The past is the past. I had the procedure and I’m ready to move forward.
Q: Where are they playing you now?
CAM JOHNSON: Still at outside linebacker.
Q: Are you mainly doing pass rush, coverage…?
CAM JOHNSON: All of the above.
Q: Do you feel you’ll be 100 percent full-go health-wise by the start of training camp?
CAM JOHNSON: I’m just taking it day by day and get as healthy as I can as soon as I can.
Q: What percentage would you put yourself at right now?
CAM JOHNSON: I couldn’t put a number on it, but I’m definitely feeling better.
Q: How did you spend that past month?
CAM JOHNSON: I went home for a little, came back and started to get back in the flow of things – work on rehabbing the knee and trying to get it stronger.
Q: You’re working with quite a few very good linebackers. Have any made an impression on you yet?
CAM JOHNSON: All of the vets, actually, but I kind of stick around Ahmad (Brooks). He went to UVA like me, so he’s one of the guys I talk to the most.
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Man, Johnson has the Harbaugh speak down perfectly. Coach has to love those responses. Any guy who has bought in to that degree makes the 53 man roster. If he’s healthy. With those answers, who can tell?
Hanging from the cobwebs in my mind, you stole my exact thoughts as I listened to Mr. C. Johnson. I agree that if he can get close to 100% and fully confident in that knee, he has a good chance to stick.
All the rookies have been indoctrinated into Harbaughness. They all have “getting better every day” on auto-repeat.
I can’t wait to see Johnson in exhibition games. He was graded as high as the second round by some scouts and dropped mostly due to his sickle-cell trait (that trait hasn’t hurt Ryan Clark too much). If he’s as good as the draftniks thought he’ll be a solid backup for the OLB position.
Why even publish it? He’s getting better, he plays outside linebacker, he is practicing rushing and coverage, and he hangs with Ahmad Brooks.
Cam Johnson. the steal of the later round draft.
Looking for good things from Can Johnson. All arrows up for me.
Well said
Well said…. yes those 12 words were constructed and structured beautifully in that sentence. It really illustrated your desire for the player to produce as well as your overall sense of optimism. Never have I seen such elloquence especially from such a deep and profound statement.
Well said, indeed.
His UVA coaches speak very highly of him…many scouts doubted him, so he’s got extra motivation to show who he really is. When Mike Mayock said he was among his list of top 100 players, that lends more credence that he could well be the steal of the draft. I thought Mayock was one of the top analysts WRT the draft.
Grant here is a challenge for you. Next time you are interviewing a struggling or injured player please preface all questions with; “Answer the following question without using the phrases ‘take it one day at a time’ -or- ‘take it one game at a time.’
I’m willing to bet it’s a physical impossibility for an athlete to give an interview without using one of the aforementioned quotes.