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Johnson sits out of practice as a precaution
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Thursday was supposed to be the day the public saw Larry Johnson running in a Chiefs uniform for the first time this year. But as things tend to go with Johnson, the plan didn’t exactly work out.
Instead of taking the field, the star running back stood on the sideline of the Chiefs’ practice facility and watched as Kolby Smith took snaps with the first team.
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said Johnson, who missed the second half of last season because of a broken foot, is healthy and practiced in the first three offseason workouts this week. But because rain forced the Chiefs to practice indoors Thursday, Johnson was held out because Edwards didn’t want him to run on artificial turf.
“I took him out,” Edwards said. “He worked hard three days (in) practice. He’s been running; he’s been finishing his runs. He’s fine.”
Thursday was the first day the Chiefs opened practice to the media. Johnson was not made available after practice or in the locker room, and Chiefs officials postponed Johnson’s previously scheduled meeting with reporters.
Johnson watched Thursday while his teammates ran non-contact drills. And as was the case the final eight games last year, Smith was the Chiefs’ primary rusher — for one day, at least.
Smith said he does not expect Johnson to miss more practice time. Although Smith said he is preparing as if he were the Chiefs’ starter, he doesn’t expect that to be the case.
“We’ll just have to see how the season goes,” Smith said. “If it happens, it happens. Everyone knows Larry is the guy. He’s healthy now. I’m happy to see that. I’m ready to see him do his thing. Whenever he needs a break, I’ll go in there and relieve him.”
Smith relieved Johnson after Johnson cracked a bone in his right foot in a game Nov. 4 against the Green Bay Packers. Smith started the Chiefs’ final six games and rushed for 407 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith was a solid rusher, but he also was a rookie. And few could argue that there was a correlation of Johnson’s injury and that the Chiefs lost every game without him.
The Chiefs waited until the final week last season to place Johnson, a two-time All-Pro, on injured reserve. Team officials were cryptic about Johnson’s injury, never revealing it as a broken bone and often hopeful Johnson could return. Johnson told The Star in January that the secrecy surrounding his injury was because few knew what was wrong.
“No one knew what I had,” Johnson said in January.
He said there was a slight crack in a bone near his fourth toe, and the bone shifted and caused his foot to swell.
But those close to Johnson say his foot has healed and he appeared this week to have returned to form. They say there is no reason to panic and no reason to think Johnson’s bad foot is still causing him problems.
“He practiced good for three days,” Edwards said. “We just gave him a rest.”