Denver Broncos: AJ Johnson hunting goats and breaking out

Denver Broncos linebacker AJ Johnson has been a key reason for the defense dominating over the last two weeks. He’s hunting GOATs and having fun.

The Denver Broncos desperately needed a spark sitting at 0-4 after the first month of the season, and they seem to have gotten exactly that from a pretty unlikely source.

As Broncos fans lamented the team’s decision to pass on linebacker Devin Bush with the 10th overall pick and instead move down for more selections, former undrafted free agent AJ Johnson could very well be the star in the middle this team has been coveting.

In two games so far, Johnson is filling up the stat sheet and more importantly, he’s having a tremendous impact on the overall flow and feel of the game.

The Broncos didn’t necessarily need a guy to just go out there and fly around like his hair is on fire, although Johnson’s flow is glorious. They also didn’t just need a guy to go and attack the line of scrimmage with reckless abandon, although Johnson has provided the physicality in the trenches required of an inside linebacker.

Part of the reason Johnson wasn’t playing until these last two games is the fact that Broncos head coach Vic Fangio wanted to see him turn his impressive athletic traits into football skills, and he’s definitely done that.

After a big game against the Chargers last week, Fangio was a bit hesitant to heap praise on his budding star linebacker. After the Titans game, Fangio let the compliments flow a bit more freely.

"“To be honest with you, I’m not surprised. I think I’ve said all along that he’s got talent. He can be a good inside linebacker in this league. He got this opportunity and he’s running with it. He’s a big, physical inside linebacker that plays hard and likes football. Hopefully he will get better and better.”Vic Fangio (quotes via Broncos PR)"

Johnson is celebrating big plays with a dinosaur walk, and he’s taken the mentality of a velociraptor out there for the Broncos.

"“It’s just like a personality, I guess. I got it from one of my guys back from college and it’s just transformed. I do it with kids when I’m playing with kids, and then I can relate it to on the football field, as I’m going to go eat and going to go hunt. I came up with a little thing. Guys are calling themselves ‘G.O.A.T.’ [Greatest Of All Time] and stuff like that. I’m the dinosaur, and dinosaurs eat the goat, so I’m out there trying to ball out and have fun with it. It seems like it’s working.”AJ Johnson on his nickname “Dino”"

Johnson’s breakout could not have come at a more perfect time. The Broncos were trying to avoid the first 0-5 start in franchise history two weeks ago, and now they’re looking at making up three games on the Kansas City Chiefs, who have lost two straight games going into a Thursday night matchup this week.

The Broncos are going to have to apply plenty of pressure and play fast if they are going to beat MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Johnson’s certainly doing his part to inspire confidence that the Broncos can, in fact, do that.

He’s racked up 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, an interception, a couple of pass breakups, and a pair of quarterback hits in just two games of work.

He’s taking on blocks, playing fast, and taking correct angles. Johnson is truly out there hunting like a velociraptor on a mission, and it’s given the Broncos life this season.