The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to take a huge leap forward during the upcoming 2015 NFL season. They feel that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is the leader that they have been waiting for, and the return of Adrian Peterson will take their offense to a new level as well. One of the most unknown talents on their offense is wide receiver Charles Johnson, who is entering his second season as a legitimate player for the Vikings.
During the 2014 season, Johnson ended up catching 31 passes for 475 yards and two touchdowns. He made quite a few plays and showed the Vikings that they could depend on him to come back this season and compete for a starting job.
Looking ahead at the 2015 season, Johnson is already showing signs of things to come for the Vikings during preseason action. Against the Oakland Raiders last night, Johnson ended up catching four passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. He was a big playmaker for them, and is showing off what fans can expect to see when the regular season hits.
At 26 years old, Johnson is still playing with a chip on his shoulder as he looks to prove that he can play in the NFL.
Johnson was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers with their seventh-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. It was a selection that many thought would be a steal for the Packers, but he never panned out for them behind all of the talented receivers. Minnesota decided to give him a chance, and now he has an opportunity to get back at his former team while making a name for himself as well.
Needless to say, it will be interesting to see what ends up happening this season with Johnson. Many believe that he will break out and show off potential that many didn’t think he had, but there are others that think he will bottom out and have a majorly disappointing season.
Having a quarterback like Bridgewater is exactly what Johnson needs to prove his critics wrong. Bridgewater is able to extend plays with his athleticism and speed, while Johnson is able to do anything and everything as a wide receiver. He can run short routes, long routes or even make plays in the open field on a screen play.
It is going to be a very exciting season for the Vikings and their fans this year. They have been waiting on getting back to relevance for quite some time, and the time has finally arrived.
All of that being said, Johnson is going to be a big part of their success or lack thereof this season. He has been working hard all offseason long to get into the best shape he can, and his game has evolved steadily throughout his career.
Expect to see Johnson be one of Bridgewater’s favorite targets, and to see him prove that he is an above average receiver that is worthy of starting in the NFL.
