Eleven Months After Weight-Lifting Accident, Stafon Johnson Injured Again

Added on Aug 15, 2010 by Eric Galko in

NFL

On September 28th of last year, USC running back Stafon Johnson was involved in one of the scariest off-the-field football injuries I’ve ever heard of.

While beginning his final set on the bench press, something Johnson took great pride in and was considered by his coach, Pete Carroll, to be a near expert in, Johnson lost his grip of the bar, which came crashing down, landing right on his throat.

After emergency throat surgery followed by months of rehab just to be able to speak and breathe correctly, Johnson attempted to move out of college and onto his next dream: the NFL.

His recovery went well, along with his workouts with NFL teams. While most organizations were cautious about Johnson and his larynx recovery, the Tennessee Titans gave him a shot after the draft was over, and signed him to a undrafted free agent deal.

He performed well in off-season workouts and training camp, and with LenDale White out of the picture, Johnson was battling with LeGarrette Blount, another undrafted player, for the spot behind Chris Johnson and Javon Ringer. By the start of the pre-season, Johnson was edging out Blount.

But in this past week’s pre-season game, Johnson suffered another huge setback in his campaign to be a professional football player. He played the Seattle Seahawks, who’s coach is former USC coach and Johnson’s former head man Pete Carroll.

Early in the game, on a run play, Johnson was dragged down and laid on the field. Medical personnel came onto the field to inspect the injury. Along with the medical staff, his current coach Jeff Fisher and his former coach Pete Carroll also saw and spoke with Johnson as he was taken off the field.

Think about that. Carroll has moved on from USC. He didn’t draft any former Trojans, even though he multiple options to do so on draft day. Still, however, he felt the need to go over to Johnson and comfort him on his most recent injury.

After his injury at USC and now his injury with Tennessee, teammates and his former and current coach couldn’t say enough about his work ethic. They all say that he’ll be back.

“I am just a regular guy trying to make it like everybody else. I’m just going to tryand get back as soon as I can”
-Stafon Johnson

Root for your favorite player, your favorite team, even your fantasy roster. But, in a sport like football, you have to root for a player like Stafon Johnson. Best of luck, Stafon.