Jason La Canfora reportedly earlier Monday morning that Titans RB Chris Johnson suffered a meniscus tear back in Week 3, but still managed to finish out the 2013 season.
According to La Canfora, it appears to be a “virtual certainty” that Johnson will hit the free-agent market this spring.
Johnson, 28, opted to play out the season, despite being in “considerable pain and discomfort.” Johnson is scheduled to undergo what’s being referred to as a minor procedure on Tuesday and is expected to require a 4- to 6-week recovery period. La Canfora expects Johnson to be able to pass a physical by March.
We’ve passed along numerous reports regarding the Titans possibly parting ways with Johnson this offseason, so it’s not surprising to hear that a knee issue could further impact his future in Tennessee.
Johnson signed a six-year, $55.26 million deal in 2011, which includes a lofty base salary of $10 million for the upcoming 2014 season. Parting ways with Johnson would free up $4 million in cap space, according to Overthecap.com.
La Canfora expects the Titans to gauge Johnson’s willingness to take a pay cut during the combine, but believes an “amicable split” makes sense for both parties.
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