Professor

The Enquirer - Busy Johnson even busier

excerpt:

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - In the aftermath of the season-ending injury to rookie tailback Kenny Irons, the Bengals will look to expand the roles of backups or even sign a veteran off waivers.

But they also might be forced to turn even more to their featured back, Rudi Johnson. His workload could increase. He welcomes the additional work.

Who better?

Johnson leads all NFL running backs in rushing attempts, 1,039, since the start of the 2004 season. That year was Johnson's first as the team's featured back, following the off-season trade of his predecessor, Corey Dillon, to the Patriots.

"That's my game. It's why I train so hard," Johnson said Sunday after an afternoon practice. "I come in. I am ready to play every game, week in and week out. I have to be ready and fresh whenever my number is called."

Irons will have surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The Bengals had hoped to use Irons' speed to stretch the defense with outside runs.

Part of the reason for the lack of panic is Johnson.

"He's the best he's ever looked in the entire time he has been here," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "He really has taken good care of himself the past two years, and it shows.

"Knock on wood, he's healthy. He's stronger at the end of the game than he is at the beginning. We're going to have to lean on him a little more than we thought we would. And we'll have some other guys to spell him, give him a break. It's just not as much as we thought."

Kenny Watson and Quincy Wilson could get additional work, especially if the Bengals can't find a running back they like on waivers.

"It would have been nice to have somebody come in and do some different things, but at the same time we have to move on," Johnson said. "We have a long season ahead of us. Nobody is going to care about our situation. Baltimore doesn't care. Cleveland doesn't care. Pittsburgh doesn't care. We have to go in there with that mentality. Kenny, Quincy, whoever that is, has to step up. They have to do their part."

Irons was supposed to provide the same type of complimentary back to Johnson as Chris Perry. Perry is rehabbing from ankle and fibula fractures suffered last season at Cleveland. Perry is expected to start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and be ineligible for the first six weeks and five games.

There were rumors that Johnson was unhappy with the selection of a running back so high and that he viewed Irons as a threat to challenge for his job.

"I never said that," Johnson said. "I was cool with it the whole time. It wasn't about me. It was about Chris. They didn't know what his situation was and still don't."

Johnson prides himself on his durability. He is in year two of a revamped diet and training regime. He is down to 215 pounds after having reported as a rookie in 2001 at 235 pounds.

"I take a licking and keep on ticking," he said. "I keep playing until the final whistle blows."

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