Veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson is still hoping some team will give him a shot at playing in 2016.
Johnson is working out and staying in shape, and he’s continuing to indicate he doesn’t consider his career over.
The question is whether NFL teams agree. The Colts cut Johnson early in the offseason, and there’s been little news of any other teams showing interest in him. Last year Johnson was healthy enough to play all 16 games, but he managed just 41 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns.
Johnson turns 35 on Monday and is well past the age when most wide receivers start to slow down. But he may still have it in him to be a contributor to some team’s offense.
If Johnson is able to put up even the mediocre stats he managed last year, he’d pad his Hall of Fame résumé. With 26 catches, Johnson would move ahead of Terrell Owens and Reggie Wayne and into sixth place all time in receptions. With 481 yards he would move ahead of Wayne and Marvin Harrison into seventh-place in career receiving yards. Just as Steve Smith has acknowledged he’s playing to reach 1,000 catches, Johnson may be motivated by bolstering his legacy, even if he’s not the same player now that he was in his prime.