The Viking Age
FanSided

Vikings OC Turner: Charles Johnson Is ‘Far And Away Our Best Receiver’

By Adam Carlson

facebooktwitterreddit

The Minnesota Vikings got quite a pleasant surprise when the Minnesota Vikings brought in wide receiver Charles Johnson in the middle of the 2014 NFL season.  While Cordarrelle Patterson wasn’t nearly as effective as fans and the team hoped he would be, Johnson stepped into a starting role and shined.

Recently, the folks at ESPN Cleveland caught up with Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner at the 2015 NFL Combine and was a bit surprised about what he had to say about former Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Charles Johnson.  Here’s what ESPN Cleveland noted about the conversation:

"“Bumped into former Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner and one of the more depressing things he related was that Charles Johnson is “far and away our best receiver” on the Minnesota Vikings. Turner said that with the Browns, he and his son, Scott, who was Browns receivers coach, tried to get Joe Banner to draft Johnson in a late round in 2013. Scott Turner had worked him out at Grand Valley State.”"

Nov 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson (12) celebrates a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Packers defeated the Vikings 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Johnson may have taken over a starting job at wide receiver during the 2014 NFL season, but his status among the ranks of pass catchers for the 2015 was in question.  However, this kind of endorsement by the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator is the kind of thing that lets you believe that Greg Jennings and Charles Johnson are currently penciled in as the starters on the outside.

There is still free agency and the draft coming up, but the depth at wide receiver is currently looking pretty good.  Teddy Bridgewater will be entering his second season at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings and could use some great weapons around him.  Aside from Jennings, Johnson, and Patterson, the Vikings have Jarius Wright and Adam Thielen that were part of the main roster last year.

Cleveland’s loss turned out to be Minnesota’s gain when it comes to Charles Johnson.  Hopefully he can continue to improve and be productive for the Vikings.

Next: Top 10 Biggest Vikings Salaries For 2015

More from The Viking Age

Home/Minnesota Vikings News