As we saw with DeSean Jackson last week, when a noteworthy offensive weapon hits the open market, it typically doesn’t take long for him to find a new home. Ex-Titans running back Chris Johnson is the latest big-name skill position player to be released by his previous team, with Tennessee making the move official earlier today. Even taking into account a diminished market for running backs, along with the fact that Johnson is recovering from knee surgery and is now five years removed from his 2,000-yard season, there will be interest in the perennial 1,000-yard rusher.
Here are the first few rumors on the league’s newest free agent, with any other Friday updates being added to the top of the list throughout the afternoon and evening:
- Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link) hears from Cowboys sources that Dallas doesn’t have interest in signing Johnson.
Earlier updates:
- Before Johnson was released by the Titans, the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, and Falcons all discussed a possible trade for the running back, but elected not to make a move, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. We can probably cross off Miami as a suitor, since the club signed Knowshon Moreno instead.
- Despite a report last weekend suggesting the Falcons had no interest in Johnson, Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean isn’t ruling out that possibility of the 28-year-old ending up in Atlanta — Schefter’s report indicates the Falcons at least had a little interest. Wyatt identifies the Jets, Giants, and Cowboys as other potential suitors.
- The Jets seem to be leading the charge for Johnson at this point, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, and as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has reported a couple times this week. Three Jets beat writers (all Twitter links) agreed today that the team would have interest in Johnson, but all three stressed it would have to be at the right price.