Close to a comeback

LARAMIE – C.J. Johnson said he felt like a stranger.

The University of Wyoming redshirt junior wide receiver returned to the practice field a couple weeks ago for the first time since he injured his left knee during the Cowboys' Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory over Central Michigan on Dec. 22, 2017.

Johnson tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, and suffered a micro-fracture after being tackled awkwardly along the sideline in the game.

"I got possibly one of the worst knee injuries without it ending my career," Johnson said. "If I had just torn the ACL, I probably would have played most of this season. It was a tough and life-changing thing."

The loss of Johnson was a blow to UW's offense.

He was second on the team last season with 30 catches for 531 yards. Johnson's 17.7 yards per catch led the team among those who caught at least 10 passes, and he had a team-high seven touchdown catches. In 2016, as a redshirt freshman, Johnson averaged 21.7 yards on his 21 receptions, with three touchdowns.

In other words, the Cowboys' most-proven big-play threat at receiver hasn't played in 2018. But will he?

Fifth-year coach Craig Bohl has been hopeful the past couple weeks the Cowboys could get Johnson back, but it definitely won't be for today's home game against San Jose State.

There is an opportunity for a medical redshirt so he would still have two years of eligibility, but UW would have to apply for that through the NCAA.

But before a firm decision is made on whether Johnson does or doesn't play this season, he has to be cleared medically. Despite practicing the past couple of weeks, he has been limited. However, UW receivers coach Mike Grant has liked what he has seen from Johnson on the practice field so far.

"I've been impressed," he said. "He is a little overweight right now, but that will come with more cardio. He is ahead of schedule in my book.

"He has been working through cone drills. He has started one-on-one drills with the defensive backs, and having guys pushing and banging on him. The next step is getting hit, tackled and getting that knee banged."

But like anyone who has dealt with an injury, especially the severity of Johnson's, there's a mental hurdle to clear before coming back. Johnson has crossed some, and said it isn't that he doesn't want to play this season, but more work needs to be done.

"I don't feel ready yet," Johnson said. "I feel like I have to take some more time mentally, and some physically, to get more prepared to play football.

"I know (UW) wouldn't let me practice if I wasn't close to 100 percent. But the knee gets sore easily, since I haven't ran in a while. I feel almost back to where I was before the injury, but mentally is another picture. Making cuts, you worry if you step wrong.

"I wear a brace, which helps. It is tough because this is something I've never experienced before. I hurt my shoulder, but I wore a brace and it was fine. This is a lot different."

This season hasn't been a lost one for Johnson, though. He has attended meetings and film sessions. He said he has added strength to his upper body (he was listed at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds prior to the season), and as he put it, is "Coach Grant's right-hand man on the sideline."

"I'm doing my best, but it is tough," Johnson added.

Grant said he would like to see Johnson play at some point this season – assuming he is ready mentally and physically – to "shake the rust off" from missing so much time. Perhaps some game experience would help Johnson cross that final mental hurdle.

At the very least, adding a proven big-play weapon to an offense that seems to be gaining some confidence and momentum after the insertion of true freshman quarterback Sean Chambers sounds exciting.

But whether it is later this season or next, Johnson will be back.

"I'm excited to come back full go and show people I've gotten better from this last year," he said.

Robert Gagliardi is the WyoSports senior editor. He can be reached at [email protected] or 307-755-3325. Follow him on Twitter at @rpgagliardi.