Johnson looks to build on big showing

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Patriots defensive tackle

Anthony Johnson was unrecognizable last week.

After losing 50 pounds during the offseason, the LSU product played in a game at 275 pounds for the first time in his life, and he recorded a half-sack, two pressures, a run stuff and a pass breakup in the Pats’ 2322 victory against the Bears.

And because Johnson was buried at the bottom of the depth chart because of an injury earlier in training camp, that type of dominant performance was completely unpredictable. He even admitted it’s the best game he has played at an NFL level.

“At the end of the day, I’m gradually trying to build on that and get better as a defensive lineman in this league,” Johnson said.

Now, he is faced with a new test. Johnson should be on the Panthers’ radar tonight at Bank of America Stadium, so he shouldn’t sneak up on the defending NFC champions. Johnson knows the importance of maintaining his composure, too, because he doesn’t want to make any mistakes while trying to one-up that breakout performance.

“Do my job and not step outside of my boundaries to try to do anything amazing,” Johnson said. “Just stay with the game plan and continue to do what the coaches ask of me.”

It’s been a weird journey for Johnson. He was one of the nation’s top-rated high school recruits in 2011 but went undrafted in 2014 after leaving early from LSU. The Dolphins wanted him to play at 325 pounds, and he barely made an impact before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Johnson then joined the Redskins practice squad in 2015 before the Pats scooped him up in May.

But even Bill Belichick was thrown off three months ago when he was reintroduced to Johnson, who weighed 260 pounds in middle school and played at around 300 pounds at LSU.

“A lot different than when we saw him at LSU,” Belichick said. “Honestly, I didn’t even recognize him when we brought him in for a workout. I looked at him and said, ‘ Do we have the right guy here?’”

Rather than eating space, Johnson preferred to trim down to feast on opposing backfields, and he was a menace against the Bears. If that game was any indication of his potential, he could be an impact performer in sub packages.

That’s what got Johnson so excited last week. He built toward this all offseason, and some friends and family hadn’t seen the new frame. He was jacked up to see the results after so much work, and he enjoyed hearing from so many supporters in the aftermath.

“It’s a process, especially in the NFL,” Johnson said. “Our offseasons are so long, so a lot of people really don’t get to see you, see what you’ve been doing.”

Like many unknowns, Johnson can’t make the 53man roster off one big game, so this week is huge for his employment status. Malcom Brown and Vincent Valentine are roster locks, so Alan Branch, Terrance Knighton,

Markus Kuhn and Johnson are competing for two or three jobs.

Johnson only sees one option.

“Keep getting strong,” Johnson said. “Keep getting better and wreak havoc on offenses the best that I can.”

Mingo star

The Patriots acquired edge player Barkevious Mingo from the Browns yesterday for a fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft.

Mingo, the sixth overall pick in 2013, has been considered a bust and wasn’t expected to make the Browns’ 53-man roster. They declined his fifth-year option earlier this offseason.

Mingo had five sacks as a rookie, two in 2014 and none last year. If all goes perfectly, he’ll provide Akeem Ayers like production. Because the Patriots surrendered a fifth-rounder as opposed to a conditional pick, Mingo can be expected to make the initial 53-man roster.

Mingo can play defensive end in a 4-3 and outside linebacker in a 3-4. The Patriots have dealt with injuries in that area to Rob Ninkovich (torn triceps muscle), Jabaal

Sheard (sprained MCL) and Shea McClellin (undisclosed), so Mingo adds to the depth. Plus, Chris Long missed 14 games during the past two seasons, so the Patriots could use the help if things get worse.

12 on board

Quarterback Tom Brady made the trip with the team to Charlotte, according to a source.

There’s still no word whether Brady will make his preseason debut against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium, but his presence here obviously leaves that option open.

Brady sat out the preseason opener against the Saints and was a late scratch last week against the Bears because he cut his right thumb. The 39-year-old said this week he wants to play in the preseason.

Unlikely reunion

The Lions released former Pats running back Stevan Ridley, but a reunion with his original team still seems like a long shot.

The 2011 second-round pick played four seasons in Foxboro, but his tenure ended when he tore his ACL and MCL in 2014. The Patriots reached out to Ridley in 2015 to gauge his interest in returning, but he ultimately signed with the Jets.

The Patriots never contacted Ridley this offseason when he joined the Lions and landed $250,000 in guaranteed money. But with the Pats potentially in search of a fourth RB before Week 1, don’t completely close the door on a second stint.