Johnson steps up as injuries mount
Rookie corner plays big role against Kelce in victory over Chiefs
Texans rookie cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. embraced a tough coverage assignment Sunday against Kansas City: shadowing tight end Travis Kelce.
Running step for step with Kelce, Johnson was up to the task.
Johnson batted away a thirddown pass from Patrick Mahomes that was intended for Kelce, a twotime All-Pro. Johnson, a secondround pick from Kentucky, held him to one catch for 12 yards on two targets during the Texans’ 3124 win at Arrowhead Stadium.
Johnson gave up just two catches for 25 yards on five targets overall for a shorthanded secondary that played without injured veteran starters Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby, who both had hamstring injuries.
“I didn’t give up (any) touchdowns,” Johnson said. “That’s my goal coming into the game every week. Kelce is a great player. I just went out there and (did) what I had to do against Kelce and then whoever else I was guarding. I just went out there and played ball.
“I wasn’t about to just let him do what he wanted to do out there. He’s a great player. I’m trying to be a great player. I just went out there and did my job.”
The Texans were encouraged by how Johnson performed as Kelce finished with four catches for 48 yards on six targets. Johnson also knocked away a pass intended for wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
“I just try not to play like a rookie,” Johnson said. “Just go out there and play to my potential. Just go out there and do what I can to help this team win when my number is called.”
It was personally significant for Johnson to apply sticky coverage to Kelce. And it was a part of the strategy before kickoff.
“They asked me for the game plan coming in to check him,” Johnson said. “Kelce is a great player, great person overall. I know a couple of his friends, but I wasn’t about to let a tight end do me in.”
Hill finished with five catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets, but he did the majority of his damage against cornerback Phillip Gaines. Gaines allowed two touchdowns as he played 100 percent of the snaps, the same amount as Johnson and safeties Tashaun Gipson and Justin Reid.
“Lonnie played aggressive,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Lonnie is a guy that gets better and better every week, and that’s what he has to do. The rookies have to just keep improving every week. This is another big challenge this week.
“Watch the film, there’s a lot to correct, technique-wise. Overall in the secondary, just using our feet better and maybe being less handsy. But I thought that Lonnie played aggressive and played with confidence.”
At 6-2, 213 pounds with 4.38 speed in the 40-yard dash, Johnson is an imposing, physical outside presence.
“I’m a big person,” Johnson said. “This is why they brought me here. I went out and did what I’m supposed to do.”
The Texans will need even more from Johnson moving forward. Joseph expects to return Sunday against Indianapolis for a difficult matchup with dangerous wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. Roby will be out for at least the next three games, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
“I’m a person who learns from my mistakes, on and off the field,” Johnson said. “Anything I see that I did bad, I try to turn it up a notch and correct it for the next game. Kansas City week is over. I’m focused on the Colts and not just T.Y., their whole team in general.”