Texas native WR Johnson playing with heavy heart
PHILADELPHIA » Entering Houston on I-45 is an overpass spelling out, in huge letters “Be Someone.”
Marcus Johnson, who grew up 40 minutes from the city, drove past it daily to get to the gym and train for a job with the Eagles. What Hurricane Harvey has done to the iconic image is frightening.
“The great symbol of Houston,” Johnson said Monday. “To see water right below that in that freeway, that highway where I drive back and forth literally every day Monday through Sunday, to see that underwater, it’s crazy.”
Hurricane Harvey had taken the lives of eight people as of Monday afternoon. Johnson feels fortunate the death toll doesn’t include his family or friends, who he dialogues with as much as possible.
A part of Johnson wishes he could be back to help his family, who reside in Friendswood, Dickinson, Hitchcock and Galveston, Texas.
Another part of Johnson is grateful for practice, the chance to earn a job with the Eagles and the opportunity — temporarily, at least — to quiet the noise in his head.
“Day by day it’s getting worse and worse there,” Johnson said. “I talked to my mom the other day and she said that the hurricane is kind of sit-
ting right now and it might go back into the gulf and come back. They’re predicting anywhere from 15 to 25 more inches of rain. And who knows from there what it could turn into. It’s tough. I constantly think about it. But I just have to know when to handle business right now and when to make sure I’m checking in on those guys and those people and making sure they’re OK.”
At this point, Johnson feels good about what he’s done for the Eagles as they approach their final preseason game Thursday against the New York Jets.
Johnson (6-1, 204) caught two passes for 45 yards, including a 38-yarder, against the Buffalo Bills and last week gave Matt McGloin a big target resulting in a touchdown pass against the Miami Dolphins.
“I feel like I’ve been doing well,” Johnson said. “It’s football. I’ve done it my whole life. It’s just making sure that when I go on the field I’m locked in and know what I have to do. There’s one more week left so that’s also a thing where you can focus in on this week, handle my business against the Jets, finish strong in the preseason and just go from there. Just keep doing what I’m doing. Keep building, keep going out there and making plays, contributing on offense, special teams or whatever it is. And just continuing to step up.”
Johnson applauded the efforts of J.J. Watt, who plays for the Texans, to rally resources for flood victims.
“Anything helps,” Johnson said. “Any donation helps. It’s people losing homes, a lot of things they’ve invested in. It’s tough being away and not being able to help and to see that and to see hearts crushed and to see those people going through it.
Johnson, 23, starred at Clear Spring High in League City, Texas in football and track. He completed his football career with 110 receptions for 2,051 yards (18.6 average) and 21 TDs.
Johnson went on to have a solid career at the University of Texas, where in 42 games he produced 61 receptions for 793 yards and four TDs.
Looking at the wide receiver position, Johnson seems to have worked himself into a spot on a depth chart that will go at least five deep, and possibly six deep. The competition is Bryce Treggs and rookies Shelton Gibson and Greg Ward. Possibly even Nelson Agholor.
For Johnson, it’s about focusing and finishing.
“I’ve talked to plenty of friends,” Johnson said. “I just have to be able to flip the switch and understand that this is what’s at hand right now. All I can do is pray right now.”