Chris Johnson doesn't seem to be putting too much stock in offseason talk of a time share in the New York Jets' backfield this season.
In a Tuesday phone conversation with Around The League, Johnson spoke confidently about being the Jets' primary ball-carrier in 2014.
"Once the season starts and once we're playing and I'm doing my thing, I'm pretty sure if I'm making plays they're going to want to keep handing the ball off to me," Johnson said. "If they want me to continue making plays, I'm pretty sure I can't do that if I'm on the sideline."
Johnson's comments come one week after running backs coach Anthony Lynn said the Jetsneeded to be "strategic" in how they use Johnson, who enters his seventh season with 1,742 career carries.
Johnson, 28, indicated an openness this spring to sharing the workload with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. On Tuesday, the former Titans back sounded like a player who sincerely believed he'll remain a bell-cow back if the Jets give him the opportunity to prove himself.
"I want to do the best thing to help the team," Johnson said Tuesday at the Mr. Clean Summer Fashion Party. "That's coming out here and making big plays week after week after week. As for the time share and all that, it won't be an issue I'm pretty sure.
"That's with any position on the field, if we have a receiver that's continuing to make play after play I'm pretty sure they're going to keep getting the ball," Johnson continued. "(Offensive coordinator) Marty (Mornhinweg) is a smart guy, he knows how to put his players in the right position to make plays, so at the end of the day, if I continue to play like I've been playing, they're going to keep handing the ball off to me."
Johnson said he was "pretty much cleared" by Dr. James Andrews during a recent visit to the orthopedist's Pensacola, Florida, office. Johnson -- who's coming off knee surgery -- was limited during the Jets' offseason program and said he was unsure if the team planned to take precautions with him during training camp. We asked Johnson if he was 100 percent healthy.
"I wouldn't label myself at 100 percent, but very close," he said. "In the 90s."
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