Bisi Johnson suffers torn ACL during Vikings training camp
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings will need to prepare for the 2021 NFL season without wide receiver Bisi Johnson after he tore his ACL on Friday. The severity of his injury was reported by Tom Pelissero on Saturday night likely will have the pass-catcher miss the entire season.
Over the course of two seasons with the team, Johnson has played in all 32 regular-season games for the purple and gold while starting nine of those contests. In those games, he accumulated 45 catches for 483 yards and three touchdowns.
Minnesota seems to really like what they see in the young receiver and he likely would have been part of the team’s 53-man roster this season if healthy. However, now the plan will likely shift a little going forward.
How will the Minnesota Vikings deal with the injury to Bisi Johnson?
While it will be disappointing not to have Bisi Johnson around, the Minnesota Vikings are fairly well prepared to deal with the 2021 season without him. Unlike previous years, there is a mix of experience and potential that could get bigger roles.
Chad Beebe could see the field more as a result of this injury. He has flashed some potential at times but hasn’t been a steady, reliable force as a pass-catcher. Past him on the roster, the most likely options to get more playing time will be new faces to the roster.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette was a fifth-round pick during the 2021 NFL Draft this year and could impress enough during training camp or the preseason to earn some snaps. Also, former Jaguars receiver Dede Westbrook came to the team on a one-year deal and should be able to help as an offensive weapon as well as on special teams.
The Viking Age would like to wish Bisi Johnson and full and speedy recovery from this ACL injury and hope he can return to the team when he is healthy and ready to play.