Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is coming off his least productive season in the NFL. Johnson attributed the lack of production to not being in football shape entering the season following a training camp holdout that resulted in a four-year, $53.975 million extension.
In what could potentially be bad news for Titans opponents, and good news for fantasy football enthusiasts, Johnson feels like his old self heading into the 2012 season, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports.
Harrison: Power Rankings
What is the NFL pecking order entering Week 1 of the 2012 campaign? Elliot Harrison ranks every team, from 1 to 32. **More ...**
"If you go back to years prior, you can see I am in the game and I am really never coming out," Johnson said. "Last year, I can say throughout the whole season, after two or three plays I needed to come out and take a break or whatever.
"I can't really say for sure when I got into tip-top shape, but it was toward the end of the year. I'd say around the Tampa Bay (Buccaneers) game."
Official playing-time documents support Johnson's statements. Johnson played in 64 percent of the Titans' offensive snaps as a rookie, before playing in 86.3 percent in 2009 and 83.6 percent in 2010. Last season, Johnson's playing time dipped to 70.2 percent.
With a full offseason and training camp to get into shape, Johnson expects to have a faster start this season.
"Things are going to be better this year," Johnson said. "I came in in better shape, and I feel like being here really helped me a lot. I am not coming in trying to get on the same page as my offensive line, like last season. I am more comfortable. I'll be all right, I know that."
Follow Brian McIntyre on Twitter _@brianmcintyre_.
