One of the Houston Texans’ best players and offensive leaders, Andre Johnson, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The story was first reported by John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
Johnson will not participate in OTAs or minicamp. Johnson expects to be back for the start of training camp in late July in 3-4 weeks. McClain reports that the procedure occurred two weeks ago.
Injuries could prove to be the achilles heel this impending season. The team’s quarterback, Matt Schaub is recovering from a foot injury and Johnson is also coming off of an injury plagued season. It was perhaps his worst season statistically.
Johnson missed seven games in the 2011 regular season due to hamstring injuries on both legs.
Johnson posted career lows in receptions (33), receiving yards (492) and equaled a career low with two touchdowns.
Johnson has done the knee scope song and dance before. A knee injury in 2007 season required a scope and forced Johnson to miss the final seven games of the season. He missed OTAs in 2008 before his coming out party the following season. He led the league in receptions (115) and receiving yards (1,575). If Johnson follows that precedent, Texan fans will be happy.
Johnson is longer in the tooth now (33) and the injuries are beginning to mount. The Texans and Johnson are tied tightly together though because the team needs a healthy Johnson to fulfill its potential and his contract is untradeable.
Johnson, however, was not worried.
According to Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com, Johnson said he hyperextended his left knee last season and that his procedure was “nothing to panic about.”
If Johnson is correct it bodes well for the Texans this season.
Follow Chris Shelton on Twitter for more sports updates.
