Houston Texans: Rookie cornerback Lonnie Johnson sidelined with injury

Houston Texans 2019 second-round draft selection Lonnie Johnson sat out of practice with a knee injury.

The University of Kentucky draftee Lonnie Johnson sat out of Houston Texans practice on Monday after suffering a knee injury in a previous practice in the opening week of training camp. Johnson is one of the young cornerbacks that the Texans brought in the offseason to help alleviate the weakness that was glaring after last season’s disappointment in the playoffs against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Texans had no solution last season across from cornerback Johnathan Joseph who will be entering his 14th season in the league and ninth year in Houston. Missing practice is never a good sign from rookies as they need all the physical reps available to get acclimated to the physical demands at the professional level where receivers are generally bigger, faster, and stronger.

Johnson will have no bigger tests across the league than battling with the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, and Keke Coutee in training camp with a talented passer in Deshaun Watson at quarterback. Johnson came in great shape as a rookie and passed the Texans’ conditioning test when their training camp started late last week.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, head coach Bill O’Brien stated that Johnson’s left knee injury is not expected to keep him on the practice sidelines for too long.

Texans are doing their job in making sure their players get into the preseason and regular season in the best physical shape as they are competing for a long playoff run in 2019.