September 20, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver BC Johnson. Compulsory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports.
In 2021, KJ Osborne, a former student at the University of Miami, resigned as the Minnesota Vikings WR3, a position that has not been the highest in the team since the days of Jarius Wright.
And in the final games of the season, Rocky Ehmer puts some dazzling theatrics on the Smith-Merced gametap, giving Vikings enthusiasts a positive impetus to promote his upcoming sophomore.
That was okay and Dandy was – even an overdio – but where would that leave BC Johnson, who worked as the team’s de facto WR3 in 2019? Johnson tore up his ACL in the summer of 2021, at which point some quarterback became infected with the coronavirus, and Jake Browning spent a lifetime at the TCO Performance Center.
Now, though, Johnson is back, proof of his arrival at the Vikings Minicamp on Tuesday. Drafted in the 7th round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Johnson joined the Vikings with low expectations and owns the infamous “Rick Spielman 7th-Round” draft stock. Spielman, who was fired by Minnesota in January, infamously stockpiled late-round picks like the Schultz. BC was Skittle.
Johnson showed promise mini-flash in 2019 and 2020, tabulating three touchdowns on 483 receiving yards and 64 targets. By Vikings “old” WR3 standards, those numbers were rather admirable. But then came Osborne in 2021 and dropped 655 yards to the Vikings in modern times and Seven Score on the opponent. Osborne’s output was aligned with the NFL team’s usual way of doing business “nowadays”.
Fast forward to May 2022, and Kevin O’Connell, a new, offensive-minded head coach for the Vikings, Osborne has firmly grasped the WR3 task, and Johnson, who will fight for a place in the team’s WR room.
Here is the character cast:
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Adam Thilen
WR3: KJ Osborne
WR4: Ihmir Smith-Merced
WR5: OlaBC Johnson
WR6: Dan Chisena
WR7: Jalen Naylor
WR8: Blake Prohel
WR9: Myron Mitchell
WR10: Tristan Jackson
WR11: Thomas Henigan
This is not the opposite of the NCAA’s March Madness election process, which gives Johnson a place in the proverbial bubble. Vikings fans have some fond memories of the former Colorado State student because he was Something When Minnesota was Nothing In WR3.
However, if O’Connell’s offense is to be targeted, Johnson must pass Smith-Mercedes and arguably Jalen Naylor – whom WR coach Kenan McCardel clearly likes – is on the depth chart. This is a long command (and vice versa) for someone who is not very familiar with the new coaching staff.
When the Los Angeles Rams, former team of O’Connell, started the 2021 season, they listed six wide receivers. If O’Connell replicates the trend – which is a relatively safe prediction – Johnson must stop Naylor, hopefully Dan Chisena won’t be retained as a special team gunman, let’s assume no free-agent WR is signed, or a better performance than Smith-Marset. .
Johnson returned to a Vikings team that was different from the one he left out of last summer due to injury.
Johnson’s rookie contract expires later this season.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to her daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. She Hosts a podcast With Bryant McKinney, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sai And Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking Fandom dates back to 1996. Listed Criminal Pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors (Band).
