INDIANAPOLIS — Responding to multiple reports last week that painted the end days for running back Chris Johnson with the Tennessee Titans, head coach Ken Whisenhunt said no decision has been made.
Johnson, 28, rushed for 1,077 yards on 279 carries — a career-worst 3.9 yards per carry one season after posting 1,243 yards on 276 carries.
Johnson, who had minor knee surgery in January, said he was underused in the Titans’ offense and is open to being traded. Johnson turns 29 in September with more than 2,000 career touches in six seasons.
“I can’t speak about what he has left in the tank, you never know. I know he’s there every Sunday. He practiced every day from what I’ve seen looking at the (participation) charts,” Whisenhunt said Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium, site of the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. “It’s a process with everybody you go through with the football team. … Putting together the team is no exact science. Certainly chemistry will be a part of it. We’re under no deadline to do it.”
General manager Ruston Webster said the Titans are going to “take a look at what’s out there” at the running back position starting this week at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine.
“I think we can be as patient as we want to be,” Webster said.
But Johnson is owed $8 million in 2014. The Titans are expected to ask him to restructure his contract and, if refused, the team may cut or trade him.
Whisenhunt said he is assessing the strength of his roster and pointed to the mobility of fourth-year quarterback Jake Locker.
“Until you get time with them on the field, you evaluate what you think they’re good at,” he said. “It sounds like an easy process, I hope it turns out that way.”
Whisenhunt said Locker, 25, is working his way back to full healthy and expected to participate in organized team activities. Locker played just seven games because of injuries and has only 18 career starts since being drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft.
“From what I’ve seen Jake exhibits a lot of qualities that you can get excited about,” Whisenhunt said. “You don’t know which direction it’s going to go; we haven’t been on the field with them yet. I think the arrow is definitely going up.”
Webster said the evaluation of Locker is all about him staying healthy.
“He knows that,” Webster said. “Jake is his kind of guy in terms of work ethic. He’s going to be around the office all the time watching film. That’s the first thing coach Whisenhunt wants.”