Former Falcons offensive linemen Mike Johnson, after suffering three gruesome injuries over five seasons, has elected to retire.
He has notified his family and will worry about filing his retirement papers with the league office once things are sorted out with his worker’s compensation situation.
Johnson, who starred at Alabama, was selected in the third-round (98th overall) of the 2011 NFL draft. He was considered a promising prospect and was set to take over the starting right tackle spot after Tyson Clabo was released in 2013.
But injuries got in Johnson’s way.
Johnson, 28, played in 18 games with one start. He served as the jumbo tight end in 2012, playing in all 16 games and catching a touchdown pass as the Falcons went 13-3 and reached the NFC championship game.
Johnson was on injured reserve three of the past four seasons.
Johnson chronicled his injuries on the Moving the Chains radio show on 680 The Fan on Tuesday.
“My second year, we were playing in Detroit and had what you call a lisfranc injury on my left foot, which is a career ender for a lot of people,” Johnson said. “It’s a tough injury to get over especially as an offensive lineman when you’re carrying 300 pounds. Had a healthy year my third year, came back as a starting right tackle and broke my left ankle and dislocated my foot. (I) had micro fracture surgery. I had plates and screws, the whole bit.
That injury occurred in a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals when someone fell on Johnson's leg in a pileup. He was injured on the first play of the 9-on-7 inside run drills. He left the team's facilities in an ambulance on August 6, 2013.
“It was bad,” Johnson said. “It was one of the those things where you look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘if I can get back from this….’”
He did make it back, but almost a year to the day, he suffered a lisfranc injury to his right foot.
Johnson went into detail about the nature of a lisfranc injury, which left tackle Jake Matthews is battling back from this season.
“It’s the first metatarsal in your foot, the big toe gets separated and you tear all of the ligaments through the middle of your foot,” Johnson said. “Basically, what they had to do with mine’s is put two screws in the side of your foot and kind of piece it back together with metal and hope the ligaments and everything in there kind of grows back together.”
After trying out for the Miami Dolphins last season, Johnson decided to call it quits.
“It was so tough dealing with the ankle break,” Johnson said. “It was one of those things where I was like, if I can just get back and make it through this, then to have that second major injury within a year, it was tough.
“I rehabbed as best I could. Ran as best I could. Tried to lift weights and tried to make a comeback. Obviously, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be with the Falcons. They were dealing with a lot injuries and needed to go in another direction.”
The tryout was too taxing on his body.
“It was one of those things where I looked myself in the mirror,” Johnson said. “I was so sore for a week afterwards. My ankles were swollen. My feet were swollen. It was one of those things where you just look yourself in the mirror and say ‘I don’t need this.’”
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