Chris Johnson: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Free-Agent RB

Free-agent running back Chris Johnson is training in an attempt to play in his eighth NFL season. He is reportedly drawing interest on the open market from multiple teams.   

Continue for updates.

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Johnson Comments on Potentially Playing for Cowboys 

Wednesday, May 6

TMZ (via The Dallas Morning News) reported that Johnson wants to play for the Dallas Cowboys:

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Johnson was recently stopped outside a Los Angeles restaurant by TMZ and was asked about the possibility of playing for the Cowboys next season.

“I’d fit good in Dallas,” Johnson said when asked if the Cowboys were a good option. “They need it. Yeah. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Before getting into his ride, Johnson looked in the camera with a message for the team.

“Dallas, come holler at me,” Johnson said.

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Adding fuel to the fire was Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, who made it sound like the Cowboys are also interested in Johnson playing in Dallas next season, per Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News:

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Teams Reportedly Expressed Interest in Johnson

Thursday, April 16 

TMZ.com noted that Johnson is reportedly drawing interest from "multiple" NFL teams:

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Just one month after he was hit in the shoulder in a drive by shooting, Chris Johnson is already getting ready to return to the NFL—and sources tell us he's "in talks" with multiple NFL teams. 

Johnson has previously said he's been checked out by a doctor—and insists he's good to go.

The big question was...will NFL teams be interested?

We're told from some pretty solid sources...at the very least, there are teams that have expressed interest in the 29-year-old—who had been training with NFL insider Jay Glazer before the shooting.

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TMZ also posted a video showing Johnson training and another with NFL insider Jay Glazer claiming that he worked with Johnson this offseason.

Johnson, 29, played in all 16 games for the New York Jets last season and finished with 663 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. It was the first season of his career that he failed to reach 1,000 rushing yards, and he didn’t resemble the explosive back who racked up 2,006 rushing yards, 503 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns in 2009.

There is something to be said for Johnson’s durability, considering he played in all 16 games in every season of his career except his first in 2008, when he played in 15 contests. In the injury-riddled NFL, depth is crucial, and Johnson is reliable when it comes to hitting the field every Sunday.   

He is also a proven veteran who can still likely contribute valuable yards for a contender in a backfield committee situation.

If he is healthy, Johnson will eventually draw serious interest from NFL teams looking for more depth at running back.