May 24, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans helmets lay on the turf during organized team activities at the Houston Texans practice field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports.
The Houston Texans are scheduled to win 6.5 games in 2023, an over-under formulated by sportsbooks in rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s first season.
And if one former Minnesota Viking plays his cards right, he may be catching passes in September from Stroud — Bisi Johnson.
Johnson is working out for the Texans this week, as KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted Monday, “Texans worked out Khalil Davis, Mark Gilbert, Olabisi Johnson, Dalton Keene, and Michael Menet.”
It is unclear if Johnson will land a 90-man roster spot, but doing so would be a much-needed jolt to the 26-year-old’s career. He hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2020.
The Texans currently employ these wide receivers:
Johnson filled WR3-WR4 roles with the Vikings in 2019 and 2020 — and then again in the summers of 2021 and 2022 before succumbing to serious injuries. He tore ACLs in back-to-back summers, ending his career in Minnesota, at least for now.
Minnesota plucked Johnson in the 7th Round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Colorado State alumnus has caught 45 passes for 483 yards and three touchdowns in his career. During the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the Vikings never really emphasized the utility of a big-name WR3, so Johnson adopted the role as his, to a degree. And after the 2021 torn ACL, the 2022 campaign was supposed to be revival. But that was ruined by an ACL tear in the other knee — truly cruel luck.
After Johnson’s season-ending injury last August, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters, “I have my fingers crossed that it’s going to be some positive news in some capacity because he’s earned a right, in my opinion, to be on our football team.”
He held a near-and-dear place in the Vikings heart, but the injuries were evidently too severe for a 2023 contract.
Johnson met with the New England Patriots about a 2023 gig during free agency’s opening week in March, but no contract materialized. He remains a true-blue free agent on the open market but hopes to land in Houston if the tryout is fruitful.
Houston employs two other ex-Vikings — Mike Boone (RB) and Case Keenum (QB).
Former Vikings safety Myles Dorn also tried out for the Texans last week, although no agreement has been reached as of July 31st.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.