Gus

Johnson

The 2015 priority UDFA has now been waived twice in five days. He’ll troll for practice squad work.

A second-year UDFA, Johnson couldn’t beat out Brandon Wilds and Terron Ward in Atlanta. He’s backfield insurance after Branden Oliver’s Achilles’ tear.

He “added” a zero-yard reception. The Cowboys’ No. 4 back now has 21 carries for only 71 yards (3.38 YPC) through three preseason games. He should get major run in Thursday’s finale.

The Houston Chronicle reports the Cowboys would like to stash Johnson on the practice squad. An undrafted rookie out of small-school Stephen F. Austin, Johnson rushed 37 times for 139 yards (3.75 YPC) and two touchdowns this preseason. Johnson isn’t a flashy runner. He’ll be a two-down grinder if he ever cracks a 53-man roster.

This sounds like an AC sprain where the joint is partially separated, but it’s not necessarily a significant injury and will heal on its own. Archer says Johnson “is likely to be held out of contact for more than a week.” At less than 100 percent, Johnson’s chances of making the 53 are greatly diminished.

Johnson went undrafted out of Stephen F. Austin, where he was the 2014 Southland Conference Player of the Year. He ran a disappointing 4.70 at the Combine, but posted solid vertical (36 1/2") and broad (10') jump numbers, and then improved his forty to the mid-4.5s at his Pro Day. Johnson will start off as the No. 4 or 5 RB in Dallas, but is a name to monitor. The players in front (Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar) aren’t exactly world-beaters.

Joseph Randle was resting, Darren McFadden (hamstring) is hurt, and Lache Seastrunk has been jumped on the depth chart. That’s left Johnson to get a big chance with the starters over the last few days and he’s impressed with his ability to both finish runs and pass protect. The 2014 Southland Conference Player of the Year at Stephen F. Austin, Johnson is worth tracking closely in deeper formats.

Johnson was previously reported to have separated the shoulder. This is good news for the scrapping undrafted rookie, who was asked to shoulder most of the load in Dallas’ preseason opener. Still, the Cowboys may have to sign a free agent running back shortly. Johnson is nicked up, Darren McFadden’s hamstrings are unreliable to be kind, leaving Joseph Randle and Lache Seastrunk as the only healthy running backs left on Dallas’ 90-man roster.

We haven’t seen other Dallas media outlets report this, but the Star-Telegram’s Charean Williams appears to have gotten the information directly from the Cowboys’ post-game press conferences. Johnson isn’t not necessarily a fantasy prospect for 2015, but his loss shines a light on what is increasingly becoming a dire situation in the Dallas backfield. Darren McFadden (hamstrings) has barely practiced since the Cowboys signed him, Johnson might be waived/injured shortly, and Lache Seastrunk isn’t trusted by the coaching staff. Joe Randle is the only other running back on the 90-man roster.

The preseason DFS play of the night finished with 35 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries before leaving injured and giving way to Lache Seastrunk. Johnson is fighting for the Cowboys’ No. 3 tailback job behind Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden. Dallas will likely have to sign another back.