Kevin Johnson, cornerback, Houston Texans
Johnson has been ultra-impressive throughout the first three weeks of training camp. After registering two tackles in his preseason Week 1 debut, Johnson was a tad more challenged in Saturday’s matchup against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
That said, Johnson was all business when he managed to knock the ball loose from the hands of Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, which stopped a third-down conversion.
While the Texans’ first-round draft pick has not been playing much with the first team in practice, he is drawing praise from some of his teammates:
“He has some incredible confidence, incredible technique, quickness, footwork,” safety Rahim Moore said (via ESPN). “He’s a hawk. He’s one of my favorites to watch. He’s learning from two great guys in Kareem [Jackson] and [Johnathan Joseph]. He’s funny, because when he makes plays, he celebrates, and he’s very hard on himself, too. He’s a rookie. He came in very humble, hungry, inquisitive, and he’s going to be a great corner in this league.”
If Johnson keeps making major plays like the one he managed against a skilled receiver such as Thomas, he’ll be on course give fellow cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and Darryl Morris a run for their money this season.