San Diego Chargers wide receiver Stevie Johnson has reportedly hurt his knee and is set to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
I'm told by a source familiar with Chargers WR Stevie Johnson's knee injury that he has a torn meniscus & will have surgery soon @nflnetwork
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 1, 2016
He was a key contributor for the Buffalo bills before leaving in 2013, registering 289 catches for 3,720 yards and 26 touchdowns from 2010-13.
Since leaving the Bills, though, Johnson hasn’t been able to make quite as big an impact for the San Francisco 49ers or Chargers the past couple of years. That said, he will be missed if this is a long-term injury, as he still did manage 45 catches for 497 yards and three touchdowns last year playing with Philip Rivers.
Thankfully, there is reason for optimism. Depending on the severity of the injury, Johnson could be back rather soon. While some players who suffer a torn meniscus do end up missing significant time, the injury isn’t on par with a torn ligament.
Hopefully for Johnson and the Chargers he’s back on the field soon. Slated as the third receiver behind Travis Benjamin and Keenan Allen, Johnson — if healthy this season — will be expected to match or improve upon his 2015 numbers.
If this is a longer-term injury, then the Chargers will be in a bit of a lurch with nobody behind their top three with much experience in the NFL.