Chiefs’ Johnson eager to return

Derrick Johnson’s right Achilles tendon is doing good enough to press a gas pedal.

He hopes it’s good enough to play football by late July.

The Chiefs linebacker was the honorary pace car driver for Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, the first time he’s ever attended a race. He spent the afternoon touring the garage area and watching how a different set of pro athletes prepare for competition.

“I’m always appreciative of other professionals and what they do best. You never take it for granted what they can do,” he said. “You never lower your standard and say, `Oh, it’s not that hard.’ Because it’s a different world out there on the track.”

Johnson ruptured his Achilles tendon in a game against Oakland in December. The four-time Pro Bowl selection missed the final three regular-season games and the playoffs after surgery, but he said he’s on track to be on the field when the Chiefs report to training camp this summer.

Johnson ruptured his other Achilles tendon in 2014 and returned successfully.

“The Achilles is doing good. I’m still on track, just like a couple of years ago,” he said. “The goal is to be ready by camp. That’ll be one of those things I’ll be working my tail off this summer, go back to Texas after OTAs, get ready for camp. That’s the goal, to be ready for camp.” the best tight end of the 2017 NFL draft class even though six were selected ahead of him, including three in the first round.

Butt was considered a first-rounder, too, until blowing out his right knee in the Orange Bowl, which caused him to slip to the fifth round .

His new position coach, Geep Chryst, texted him right away and issued a challenge.

“He wants me to prove that I’m the best tight end in this class. That’s why I’m here to work and that’s how I feel,” too, Butt said Saturday after working with Geep on the side at the team’s rookie minicamp. “Right now my job is just to get healthy and learn as much of the playbook as I possibly can and that’s been my focus.

“But down the line, that’s the ultimate goal.”

It’s just that he won’t get the opportunity to prove he’s every bit the pro that first-round picks O.J. Howard, David Njoku and Evan Engram are until sometime this fall, after he fully recovers from his second torn ACL.

“Oh, man. It’s really tough. Being out there, my adrenaline is still pumping,” Butt said. “I’m so locked in. I know what I’m doing out there on every play. I just can’t go out there and do it. And that’s tough being a competitor and being a player that wants to help the team win. But I’m living through these guys out here.”