Here's a name I forgot about...
Bisi Johnson started playing football when he was 7 years old. He thrived at wide receiver and the sport became a constant for him, something he could always rely on no matter what else was going on in his life.Then he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last July during Vikings training camp. It was a rather innocuous play at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, and while Johnson actually left the field under his own power, he soon learned of the severity of his knee injury.
All of a sudden, he had a lot of time on his hands.
“It was a challenge,” he said. “I haven’t not played football since I was 7 years old.”
Asked about the time away, Johnson noted how it provided him with some perspective. He long has been able to rely on football to always been there for him. He also admittedly had started to take the game for granted over the years.
“I think my appreciation for football grew a lot not being able to play for a year,” Johnson said. “You kind of get stagnant. You’re going through the same motions. You’re going to work every day. You’ve been practicing every Monday through Friday. You know, as much as I still loved it, I probably lost it a little. Then I sat out a year, and I’m like, ‘Damn. I really missed this.’ ”
Now back on the same field where he injured his knee 10 months ago, Johnson has rediscovered his passion, and is hoping to pick up right where he left off. He already has spent time with the No. 1 offense during organized team activities and he could be a key contributor in new head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
“I think the new scheme is great,” Johnson said. “We’re going to throw the ball quite a bit, so that’s exciting for me.”
As for mixing in with the No. 1 offense?
“I’ve done that before,” said Johnson, a seventh-round draft pick in 2019. “I’m not a stranger to that.”
This is true. As quarterback Kirk Cousins noted, Johnson was poised to be breakout player last season.
“I remember thinking in Year 3 he was going to take a big step,” Cousins said. “I’ve always had a high opinion of him, and I do think in Year 4 here I expect him to have a very productive year and provide a great deal of depth for us. I’m excited about him.”
So is offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, who lauded Johnson’s ability to pick up the new scheme quickly, which isn’t the easiest thing to do.
“There’s a lot of intricacies,” Phillips said. “We’re not going to just spell it out and have the longest play calls known to man. Everything is coded. Everything has got the ability for us to get up to the line of scrimmage and go fast. Ultimately, that’s what we want so we can put pressure on the defense when we choose to.”
Though it’s unclear where Johnson fits into the new scheme, the only thing that matters to him is that he’s playing football again. He missed it more than he knew.
“I think the energy is incredible around the building,” Johnson said. “I think K.O. really has the whole team bought in. You know, this building is excited for the fresh start. I think it’ll be really good for us.”
https://www.twincities.com/2022/05/27/vikings-receiver-bisi-johnson-rediscovers-passion-during-recovery-from-knee-injury/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
It's easy to forget about Bisi, but it sounds like Cousins is a fan.
Love the WR group. You've got the elite receiver, the veteran, and the exciting young WR3. WR4 should be a good competition between Bisi, ISM and Nailor.
I forgot he was even still on the roster. We have a good group of receivers provided Thielen still has juice in the tank and Osborn/Marsette continue to progress and take that next step.
The fluff stories always ignite the base. I like them, but I'm too long in the tooth as a fan to buy in. There's a thousands stories in the big city. Let's see the proof.
Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:
https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
@"StickyBun" said: Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
Well my goodness, if Wilson isn't better in his 2nd season, the Jets franchise has huge problems. This year should tell us a lot about the futures of Wilson, Lance and Fields, but I'm not so sure it will. Unless the 49ers trade Jimmy G, Lance probably wont see the field. And the other two are on teams so bad it will be hard to gauge what they're capable of.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
Well my goodness, if Wilson isn't better in his 2nd season, the Jets franchise has huge problems. This year should tell us a lot about the futures of Wilson, Lance and Fields, but I'm not so sure it will. Unless the 49ers trade Jimmy G, Lance probably wont see the field. And the other two are on teams so bad it will be hard to gauge what they're capable of.
Steve McNair sat what, his first 2 seasons before starting, correct? Aaron Rodgers for 3, I believe. It can be done. I just wonder if a guy like Trey Lance is going to benefit from sitting like this. His college career is SO limited, he didn't start many games. McNair played at Alcorn State, but he threw a TON of passes, setting all kind of records. A Heisman trophy finalist. Rodgers had two excellent seasons at California. Trey Lance hasn't played any significant football since the 2019 season. He's thrown for just 2900+ yards, all of that basically in one year at North Dakota State. The sample size is ridiculously small at a nothing university. Rumors are Lance has a ton to learn....which, although only rumors, how could it not be correct? But the kid needs reps and he's not getting them.I'll be 100% shocked if Lance turns into anything even decent in the NFL.
@"StickyBun" said: Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
...and so does bitching and moaning because your team didn't do precisely what you wanted them to do....
https://zonecoverage.com/2022/minnesota-vikings-news/the-vikings-offseason-was-tailor-made-for-jim-harbaugh/
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
...and so does bitching and moaning because your team didn't do precisely what you wanted them to do....https://zonecoverage.com/2022/minnesota-vikings-news/the-vikings-offseason-was-tailor-made-for-jim-harbaugh/
lol, yeah I don't get this at all. But look at the source. I just chalk this up to the need to provide content 24/7 and monetize their website. Like the author has a f#$%ing clue about how this would benefit Jim Harbaugh.
@"StickyBun" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
Well my goodness, if Wilson isn't better in his 2nd season, the Jets franchise has huge problems. This year should tell us a lot about the futures of Wilson, Lance and Fields, but I'm not so sure it will. Unless the 49ers trade Jimmy G, Lance probably wont see the field. And the other two are on teams so bad it will be hard to gauge what they're capable of.
Steve McNair sat what, his first 2 seasons before starting, correct? Aaron Rodgers for 3, I believe. It can be done. I just wonder if a guy like Trey Lance is going to benefit from sitting like this. His college career is SO limited, he didn't start many games. McNair played at Alcorn State, but he threw a TON of passes, setting all kind of records. A Heisman trophy finalist. Rodgers had two excellent seasons at California. Trey Lance hasn't played any significant football since the 2019 season. He's thrown for just 2900+ yards, all of that basically in one year at North Dakota State. The sample size is ridiculously small at a nothing university. Rumors are Lance has a ton to learn....which, although only rumors, how could it not be correct? But the kid needs reps and he's not getting them.I'll be 100% shocked if Lance turns into anything even decent in the NFL.
I think Lance has the highest upside of any of the QBs drafted last year. But he's got to climb Mt. Everest before anyone can begin to see glimpses of that, which may never happen.But at least Lance has a team around him. I feel bad for Fields, who is in a horrible, horrible situation. For a team that is supposed to be "rebuilding" they have shockingly few young talented players to build around. Raquon and Jaylon are good, but it's mostly a depth chart filled out with castoffs. Players like Tajae Sharpe and Dakota Dozier. Mooney is solid, but their other two starters at WR are Eq St. Brown and Bryon Pringle, who was just arrested last month. There may not be a worse depth chart in football.
Now...watch them beat us....
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
Well my goodness, if Wilson isn't better in his 2nd season, the Jets franchise has huge problems. This year should tell us a lot about the futures of Wilson, Lance and Fields, but I'm not so sure it will. Unless the 49ers trade Jimmy G, Lance probably wont see the field. And the other two are on teams so bad it will be hard to gauge what they're capable of.
Steve McNair sat what, his first 2 seasons before starting, correct? Aaron Rodgers for 3, I believe. It can be done. I just wonder if a guy like Trey Lance is going to benefit from sitting like this. His college career is SO limited, he didn't start many games. McNair played at Alcorn State, but he threw a TON of passes, setting all kind of records. A Heisman trophy finalist. Rodgers had two excellent seasons at California. Trey Lance hasn't played any significant football since the 2019 season. He's thrown for just 2900+ yards, all of that basically in one year at North Dakota State. The sample size is ridiculously small at a nothing university. Rumors are Lance has a ton to learn....which, although only rumors, how could it not be correct? But the kid needs reps and he's not getting them.I'll be 100% shocked if Lance turns into anything even decent in the NFL.
I think Lance has the highest upside of any of the QBs drafted last year. But he's got to climb Mt. Everest before anyone can begin to see glimpses of that, which may never happen.But at least Lance has a team around him. I feel bad for Fields, who is in a horrible, horrible situation. For a team that is supposed to be "rebuilding" they have shockingly few young talented players to build around. Raquon and Jaylon are good, but it's mostly a depth chart filled out with castoffs. Players like Tajae Sharpe and Dakota Dozier. Mooney is solid, but their other two starters at WR are Eq St. Brown and Bryon Pringle, who was just arrested last month. There may not be a worse depth chart in football.
Now...watch them beat us....
Yep. This is when I'll believe a new regime will bring real change: when the Vikings stop losing games like they've historically done. Losing to backups, losing to 2nd year players that are still learning with a subpar roster, etc. Nobody shits the bed more consistently in games they should win than the Minnesota Vikings. Fingers crossed that can be done away with with the new staff.
@"StickyBun" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: Like I said, hope springs eternal for NFL fans:https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/27/new-york-jets-zach-wilson-second-year
Well my goodness, if Wilson isn't better in his 2nd season, the Jets franchise has huge problems. This year should tell us a lot about the futures of Wilson, Lance and Fields, but I'm not so sure it will. Unless the 49ers trade Jimmy G, Lance probably wont see the field. And the other two are on teams so bad it will be hard to gauge what they're capable of.
Steve McNair sat what, his first 2 seasons before starting, correct? Aaron Rodgers for 3, I believe. It can be done. I just wonder if a guy like Trey Lance is going to benefit from sitting like this. His college career is SO limited, he didn't start many games. McNair played at Alcorn State, but he threw a TON of passes, setting all kind of records. A Heisman trophy finalist. Rodgers had two excellent seasons at California. Trey Lance hasn't played any significant football since the 2019 season. He's thrown for just 2900+ yards, all of that basically in one year at North Dakota State. The sample size is ridiculously small at a nothing university. Rumors are Lance has a ton to learn....which, although only rumors, how could it not be correct? But the kid needs reps and he's not getting them.I'll be 100% shocked if Lance turns into anything even decent in the NFL.
I think Lance has the highest upside of any of the QBs drafted last year. But he's got to climb Mt. Everest before anyone can begin to see glimpses of that, which may never happen.But at least Lance has a team around him. I feel bad for Fields, who is in a horrible, horrible situation. For a team that is supposed to be "rebuilding" they have shockingly few young talented players to build around. Raquon and Jaylon are good, but it's mostly a depth chart filled out with castoffs. Players like Tajae Sharpe and Dakota Dozier. Mooney is solid, but their other two starters at WR are Eq St. Brown and Bryon Pringle, who was just arrested last month. There may not be a worse depth chart in football.
Now...watch them beat us....
Yep. This is when I'll believe a new regime will bring real change: when the Vikings stop losing games like they've historically done. Losing to backups, losing to 2nd year players that are still learning with a subpar roster, etc. Nobody shits the bed more consistently in games they should win than the Minnesota Vikings. Fingers crossed that can be done away with with the new staff.I have no idea what Chicago is doing to give Fields the best possible chance? And I think Lance is going to start this year, too much upside and draft capital to sit.
Division games will always be tough...I can remember even back to Grant & Burns era's (with great teams) those divisional road games were always a crap-shoot.
But I get and agree with the broader point; On Brand for the Vikings for too long has been mediocrity and being the bit player in other teams glory seasons.
Zimmer was let go 2 - 3 years too late.
Bisi reminds me of Cris Carter in that he runs excellent smooth routes and has great hands, I think he has can be a very steady 3/4 WR on this team if he can stay healthy.
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