Can CB Leonard Johnson Get Back to Pre-injury Form?

Leonard Johnson is looking to bounce back from a slow start to his NFL career brought about by injury. Can he pull it off?

Author:
Joe Najarian
Publish date:
Jun 8, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

In this story:

New York Giants

Leonard Johnson, Cornerback

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 190 pounds
2022 Stats: N/A
2021 Stats*: GP 12/ GS 11. 35 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions.
*College stats at Duke

Leonard Johnson was the victim of unfortunate timing.

While training for the 2022 NFL Draft, the Duke defensive back tore his ACL and went undrafted. While recovering from his injury, Johnson took up a plumbing job as he anxiously waited for teams to show interest in him.

The New York Giants were willing to take that flyer and signed the 24-year-old cornerback to a three-year, $2.69 million contract.

After a year away from football, can Johnson reward the Giants and assist the team’s defensive secondary?

Best Case Scenario

Despite the ACL injury, which didn’t occur in a game, Johnson was remarkably durable during his collegiate career. He missed just one game in four years, playing in 47 out of a possible 48 games (39 starts).

Johnson recorded 165 tackles, ten tackles for losses, two sacks, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He excelled in defending both the pass and the run, which certainly piqued the Giants’ interest as they look to improve their secondary.

The Giants hope that Johnson can not only find his pre-injury form but also develop into a versatile slot corner. One of Johnson’s best attributes is his ability to identify plays and pick up coverage assignments, which gives the Giants several options for deploying him.

Worst Case Scenario

Unfortunately, ACL injuries have lingering effects, as a player’s speed can be permanently inhibited. If he has lost a step from his Duke days, some of his strengths become weaker while his weaknesses, such as his off-balance footwork, will be further exacerbated.

The worst-case scenario is if the ACL tear permanently caps Johnson’s abilities. He will have to push even harder to improve his game, and even then, he might never be the player he used to be.

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What to Expect in 2023

The most realistic expectation for Johnson is if he's indeed over his ACL tear, he'll land on the practice squad as he looks to make up for lost time otherwise spent rehabbing instead of developing.

The NFL is full of players who have overcome adversity, including injuries, and showed the mental fortitude to adapt and thrive. Perhaps Johnson could join that group of players and become a fan favorite.

The injury has hypothetically knocked Johnson down. What matters now is how he gets back up.