Andre Johnson’s day ends short of tying NFL mark

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Andre Johnson needed eight catches to reach 1,000 for his career and tie Marvin Harrison as the fastest in NFL history to reach the mark.

Johnson collected a co-team high four balls for 17 yards Sunday during the Texans’ 27-13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field.

Then the veteran wide receiver’s day suddenly ended.

Johnson dropped a throw from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick after receiving a helmet-to-helmet hit from Telvin Smith with 12 minutes, 41 seconds left in the second quarter. The Jacksonville linebacker was flagged for a personal foul and the Texans soon scored a touchdown via a four-yard Fitzpatrick keeper around the right end. But Johnson was forced to leave the game due to a concussion and never returned. He was surrounded by his teammates for an extended period after the hit and will have to pass the NFL’s concussion protocol to be available next Sunday at Indianapolis in a critical AFC South matchup.

“That was scary, man,” Texans running back Arian Foster said. “The refs were trying to (back us up) and I’m like, ‘Naw, that’s my guy.’ But it’s always scary. You saw what he means to this team when everybody crowded around him – coach is out there, trainer, everybody’s worried about him. I talked to him. He said he’ll be all right.”

Johnson still moved deeper into the NFL’s record book. He passed Torry Holt for 12th all-time in receiving yards (13,398) and extended his franchise record of 167 games played.

“He’s a tough guy. A very tough individual,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said.


(chron.com)