The way most see it, Kerryon Johnson is best served by watching the rest of this season from the sidelines. The way he sees it, he's spent enough time there already.
"For me, as stupid as some people might see it, I like to play, man. I did all this work in the offseason and all this work in the summer and I didn't do it to play five games," Johnson said Friday. "Obviously my goal every year is to play a full season. Two seasons down and I'm 0-for-2, but getting to seven or eight (games this year) is better than where I'm at right now.
"I just like to play. I like to be out there with these guys. I like for these guys to see me play and be able to count on me. It's just what I love to do."
Johnson hasn't played since underdoing a knee operation after the Lions' Week 7 loss to the Vikings. He's eligible to return from injured reserve for the final two games of the season, and it sounds like he's trending in that direction. He's been practicing since last week and said he's enjoyed a "smooth recovery" from surgery.
"I feel good, I'm happy. It could be way worse. I dealt with it, been getting better every week, been surprising myself every day going out there and doing some of those things I've been doing, and hopefully by next week I'll surprise myself again and play," Johnson said.
It's the second year in a row Johnson has missed time with a knee injury. He also dealt with various injuries in college. With the Lions limping to the finish, many fans would rather see Johnson shut it down for the season with an eye toward 2020.
What would Johnson tell those fans?
"I mean, this is my job," he said. "Fans don't determine what I do. I love them, but they don't really have any input on what I do. They don't have to go through my life on a daily basis. If I don't go out there and perform, somebody else might come out and perorm and then my fans will be fans of that guy. So they just have no input on what I decide to do with myself.
"If I want to go out there and play like I've done my whole life, then I'm going to go out there and play. Regardless of my parents, whatever they say, they know the same thing -- I'm hardheaded, I barely listen and I do what I want to do."
Though the last-place Lions are long out of the playoff race, Johnson believes there's value in returning.
"In my eyes, for sure. I can go out there and I can benefit the team, I can encourage the team, I can play alongside them. It's been a long season for everybody," he said. "I just want to be out there with those guys and be able to go through those trenches, through those battles with them, playing on Sundays and and giving it my all just like they have this year."
Matt Patricia said Friday Johnson has looked "really good" in practice. And the more Johnson can play down the stretch, Patricia said, the more it will help him next seaosn.
"It's a new year every year, but you want to make sure you're able to carry some things over. When you're in a situation where you haven't played in several weeks, here toward the end of the season, if you can get back out there and play and get your mindset back in that frame, I think it just helps you push into next season a little bit better," Patricia said.
Through six games this season, Johnson was averaging 3.3 yards per carry. That was a big drop from last season, but the concern isn't Johnson's ability. He's shown he can be a difference-maker in the NFL. The concern is whether or not he can stay healthy.
But Johnson doesn't sound worried. As Patricia often says, injuries early in a player's career don't always portend injuries down the road.
"It's just unfortunate, but it happens," said Johnson. "A lot of guys, Frank Gore, for instance, had tons of injureis and look where's hes at now, third on the all-time rushing list. There's guys who seem to get injured every week and guess what he does the next week -- comes back and runs for 100. Guys like that, I look at them and say, if they can keep going, why can't I?
"It's just something that happens. Physical sport, physical positon, but you can't let it stop you."
