Packers Rookie Could Go From Inactive to Starter

Johnson made his NFL debut against Denver, logging four snaps on defense and 11 on special teams. It was similar last week against Minnesota, with four snaps on defense and seven on special teams.

“It’s kind of wild because you go from inactive to right into the action,” Johnson said. “As far as the preparation piece and stuff like that, when you prepare like I do, it’s fun. You just step right in.

“Even when I wasn’t active, I was still getting the call and going through checks. I was playing the game on the sideline. I wasn’t standing back with everybody. I was playing the game on the sideline so that when I do get an opportunity, I can step in and the defense doesn’t skip a beat and I know the flow of the game.”

Johnson didn’t know quite what to expect what he arrived in Green Bay. At safety, Savage was an obvious starter but the other spot, manned the previous four seasons by Adrian Amos, was set to be a wide-open battle.

Rather than finding an every-man-for-himself mentality, Johnson joined a position group with an all-for-one and one-for-all mindset. The veterans of the group, Savage, Ford, Jonathan Owens and Dallin Leavitt, welcomed Johnson with open arms. Ford drives Johnson to practice every day and shares his seven years of experience.

“Coming in as a rookie,” Johnson said, “you may hear things like, ‘Older guys won’t help you.’ That’s not what has happened here, so I’m thankful.”

Ford could be ready to play on Sunday. If he’s not ready, coach Matt LaFleur said there are “options” for filling his spot in the lineup. But, based on how the Packers handled Savage’s re-injury at Denver in Week 7 and his absence in Week 8, Johnson could be in the starting lineup.

He smiled at the possibility.

“It would mean a lot from an aspect of, man, you go from something that you dreamed about doing and then you’re there and being able to run out of the tunnel,” he said. “That would be a good part.”