That’s what you need to know about the newest member of the 49ers roster: runner Kerryon Johnson.
Johnson was the Detroit Lions ’second-round draft pick in 2018, and only had 24. In his last season at Auburn, he ran for 1391 yards and 18 touchdowns in just 12 games. And during his rookie season with the Lions, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry. He looked like his best runner since Barry Sanders.
But in his second season, he averaged 3.6 yards per carry, and lost eight games with a torn meniscus, and has never been the same since. In 2020, he appeared in all 16 Lions games, but only rushed 52 times and averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. So the lions gave up on him.
And the Eagles claimed him for resignations. True, the team the 49ers will play this Sunday. They took Johnson to the training camp and gave him two runs during the preseason: he won 12 yards. And then they cut him off too. Which means Johnson’s career is based on life support.
This is because Johnson has yet to recover from his knee injury and may never do so. He plays with a thick, bulky knee that could mean his injury is a mental obstacle he has not overcome.
And that’s probably why the 49ers signed him. The 49ers like to add players who have a history of knee injuries, because the 49ers believe they can rehabilitate them. That’s why they signed Jason Verrett and drafted Javon Kinlaw. Therefore, Johnson will adapt to the locker room of the 49ers.
An ideal world, the 49ers won’t have to play Johnson this season. But given his terrible luck with injuries, they will probably need him sooner rather than later.