Derrick Johnson flings his helmet in discuss after his second quarter injury
Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson saw a lot of lean years when he first arrived in Kansas City. Things have been looking up ever since Andy Reid arrived. In perhaps the biggest regular season game in the Reid era, a game in which the Chiefs defended Arrowhead with a 21-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the mood was somewhat somber in the second quarter when the team learned that Johnson is done for the season.
Johnson suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in the second quarter. This injury is not new to Johnson. He missed most of the 2014 season because of a torn right Achilles, and was injured on what turned out to be the Raiders’ only touchdown drive of the game.
Johnson is the Chiefs all-time leading tackler. 5th year player D.J. Alexander is his backup.
“A sad deal there,” Reid said. “I felt a little bit of a letdown when it happened.”
The Chiefs were up 21-3 when Johnson was hurt. He threw his helmet down in frustration and couldn’t put any weight on his leg. The injury took some of the wind out of the defense’s sails, who allowed the Raiders to drive 92 yards for their only touchdown just before halftime. The defense responded in the second half, holding Oakland to just a field goal.
