(SportsRadio 610) -- Texans running back David Johnson is adamantly against playing an extra regular season game, a measure NFL team owners are likely to approve in meetings this week.
Johnson, 29, said he advocated against the move during the players' association summit last month.
"I don’t believe in it. I don’t agree with it," Johnson said Monday when asked about adding a 17th regular season game.
The NFL has played a 16-game schedule since 1978, but the NFL has long wanted to expand its regular season.
As ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio points out, the new TV deals were negotiated based on the assumption there would be 17 games, making this move a mere formality.
To Johnson, who is entering his seventh NFL season and second with the Texans, the extra game would be tough on players' bodies.
He's not alone.
Saints All-Pro running back Alvin drew a lot of responses for his strong stance on the issue.
“It’s tough because obviously the fans and everyone is excited to see more football, but as football players – especially as a running back – towards the end of the season it’s tough to get through injury-free and all the nicks, all the bruises and being bruised up," Johnson said. "That extra game is going to make it obviously tougher. I think it’s not in the best interest of the players as a whole, so I think it’ll be tough for us, for sure.”
Johnson also spoke about the team adding veteran running backs Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram II, which he suspects sharing the load could keep them all healthy.
Johnson was the Texans' leading rusher for a pedestrian run game last season, but the Texans hope changes along the offensive line, coaching and adding more backs can improve their run game.
“Honestly, I think it will be great," Johnson said of adding Lindsay and Ingram. "I think it will be great for us because it will help us all stay healthy and play in this long season, now hearing that they’re going to add another game to the season. I think it will be great for us, like you said, having veteran guys. That way we can all play together and it won’t be a lot of learning to be a professional athlete.
"Guys are really respected in the league, guys are responsible, real good pros in the league. I think it will help out a lot with this team, with the team moral and getting everyone going, especially with this run game. It was a tough running game last year and hopefully we can all, all three of us, can contribute and get this thing going.”