Chiefs’ Reid confirms injury news: Emerging 2nd-year player heads to injured reserve
The feared news became reality Sunday, as Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid announced that second-year cornerback Nazeeh Johnson was being placed on the injured reserve with a torn ACL, ending his season.
Johnson hurt himself Saturday while defending receiver Richie James on a sideline route at Missouri Western’s indoor facility. The Chiefs’ seventh-round draft pick out of Marshall had emerged in this year’s camp, earning some reps with the first-team defense at defensive back.
Reid acknowledged Sunday that Johnson had been “playing good football” before Saturday’s incident.
“He’s really developed over the year. It’s too bad that it happened,” Reid said. “He’s got a good attitude about it. He’ll get back when he can get back.”
Cornerback Joshua Williams, who was part of the Chiefs’ draft class last season along with Johnson, said it was emotional seeing Johnson go down.
“He’s been such a just great guy in the locker room. He’s been doing his thing on the field, especially this camp,” Williams said. “So seeing something like that happen to somebody I’m so close with — he’s easily one of the closest guys to me in the locker room — it hurt to see that.”
Williams said he talked with Johnson both Saturday after he was hurt and then again Sunday morning.
“He’s just telling me (to) use him as inspiration, and that’s what I try to do,” Williams said. “Go out there, remember he was giving it his all. He didn’t get the result he wanted. Nobody wants to go down. So he’s saying, ‘You go out there and give it your all,’ and I’m definitely doing that.”
The good news for the Chiefs is that they have some depth at cornerback. L’Jarius Sneed returned to practice Sunday after missing the previous one with a knee injury. The team also has last year’s draft picks Trent McDuffie (first round), Williams (fourth), Jaylen Watson (seventh) competing for spots, along with 2023 seventh-rounder Nic Jones and second-year player Dicaprio Bootle.
Williams said Sunday he believed the Chiefs had “a lot of great players” in the secondary.
“I would say Coach Reid and all the coaches really just do a great job in making sure the next person is ready and prepared,” Williams said. “So I don’t expect to see any hitch in production. I think the next guy will jump up there and do his thing and take (Johnson’s) role. But it’s definitely gonna hurt.”
Johnson’s absence will certainly affect return coverage, as earlier this offseason, special teams coordinator Dave Toub said he believed Johnson had emerged as one of the best gunners in the NFL.
Reid also disclosed another season-ending injury Sunday: Isaiah Moore, an undrafted rookie linebacker out of NC State, was waived according to the NFL’s transaction wire while needing knee surgery.
With Johnson and Moore off the active roster, the Chiefs signed cornerback Anthony Witherstone out of Merrimack College and tight end Izaiah Gathings, who played collegiately at Middle Tennessee State.
This story was originally published July 30, 2023 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ Reid confirms injury news: Emerging 2nd-year player heads to injured reserve."
