Big Red
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- Mar 16, 2019
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KeeSean Johnson doesn’t have the mouth of his namesake.
A media member recently tossed the Cardinals’ rookie receiver some bait, asking if he wanted quarterbacks to just throw him the damn ball, a la former Jets pass-catcher Keyshawn Johnson.
The Cardinals’ Johnson chuckled, but demurred.
“Not like that,” he said. “I just want to win as a team.”
While Johnson may not have the same penchant for gab, it’s looking increasingly likely that he will follow in Keyshawn’s footsteps and become a productive wide receiver in the NFL. The sixth-round pick was the third receiver the Cardinals selected in the draft but has quickly shot up the depth chart, getting regular work with the first team in practice.
“Early on, KeeSean Johnson has looked fantastic,” General Manager Steve Keim said on NFL Network. “He’s a guy that, I think, could break out as a rookie. He’s a really natural route-runner. To me, one of the most natural route-runners in the draft. To be able to get him later in Day 3 was a good get.”
The Cardinals are set at slot receiver with Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald. The outside spots are up for grabs and Johnson is making his case. He had the longest touchdown catch to this point in training camp on Tuesday, hauling in a 65-yard bomb from Brett Hundley in 11-on-11.
“He’s amazing,” Hundley said. “I love him. High praise for him. He fights for the ball. Great hands. He has a good mind. I think that’s the biggest thing with young guys, just understanding if you make a mistake, bounce back. He’s really, really come along.”
Johnson said the start of his NFL career was a culture shock, knowing he would have to go against someone like star cornerback Patrick Peterson in practice. Johnson dropped to the sixth-round because of concerns he didn’t have the foot speed to succeed against professional cover men, but he has proven that his other strengths more than make up for it.
“My route-running ability and my catching ability, I feel like those two things will take me a long way,” Johnson said.
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