39 Kyle Johnson, Fullback
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 242 lbs.
College: Syracuse
Born: in Woodbridge, N.J.
High School: Woodbridge
High School
Resides: Denver, Colo.
Acquired: Free Agent,
2003
Pro Year: 2nd
Year with Broncos: 2nd
NFL Games Played/Started:
12/3
Postseason: 0/0
• Johnson totaled
two receiving touchdowns this year (a 23-yarder vs. Hou.
(11/7) and a 19-yarder at N.O. (11/21)) and mdae nine receptions for 126 yds.
(14.0 avg.)
2004: Johnson became a
reliable pass-catcher and lead blocker at the fullback position during the 2004
regular season, playing in 14 games (3 starts). Statistically, his biggest
contributions came as a pass catcher who tallied nine receptions for 126 yards
(14.0 avg.) with two touchdowns. He also was a solid contributor on special
teams, making nine tackles on kickoff and punt coverage to rank fourth on the Broncos.
He missed the Broncos’ final two regular-season games, vs. Ind. (1/2) and at Tenn. (12/25), with a right
ankle injury. At K.C. (12/19), the fullback was forced out in the second
quarter with a right ankle injury and did not start because Denver opened the game in a
two tight-end set. He hauled in a Jake Plummer pass along the sideline and used
a nifty move to gain 14 yards on the Broncos’ first touchdown drive vs. Mia.
(12/12), and he finished the game with two receptions for 22 yards (11.0 avg.) along
with two special teams tackles. Johnson started at S.D. (12/5) and played
extensively against the Chargers but did not record an offensive statistic.
Johnson hauled in two second-quarter passes to record eight yards (4.0 avg.)
receiving vs. Oak. (11/28), and he added a stop on special teams. In his second
career start at N.O. (11/21), he used his speed to turn a short catch into a
19-yard score early in the fourth quarter. He also served as a lead blocker for
Reuben Droughns, helping the back gain 166 yards.
Johnson had a career day vs. Hou. (11/7), setting
personal bests with three receptions for 46 yards (15.3 avg.),
including a 23-yard touchdown reception for his first career score. Johnson did
most of the work on his third-quarter touchdown catch against the Texans as he
broke several tackles along the Texans sideline to scamper into the end zone.
He also displayed his toughness after a 5-yard fourth-quarter reception by
withstanding a big hit from Houston cornerback Dunta Robinson, who was shaken up as a result of the
collision. On special teams against the Texans, Johnson made two tackles.
Because Denver opened up in a
two-tight end set vs. Atl. (10/31), he did not start
against the Falcons but did play extensively at fullback and on special teams.
Johnson recorded his first career start at Cin.
(10/25) on Monday Night Football and was involved in Denver’s special teams effort,
tackling Bengals return man Kenny Watson on a
third-quarter kickoff. He played special teams only at Oak. (10/17). With Reuben Droughns starting at running
back vs. Car. (10/10), Johnson replaced Droughns
as the team’s primary fullback against the Panthers but did not start because
Denver opened the game in a three-wide receiver set, and he helped block for Droughns as he recorded the ninth-highest single-game
rushing total (193 yds.) in franchise history. He
made a 31-yard catch, the first of his career, on a quick pass from Jake
Plummer over the middle in the first quarter that moved the Broncos into Carolina territory on their
drive that resulted in their second field goal of the game. Johnson briefly
played at fullback at T.B. (10/3), including an appearance on the Broncos’
fourth-quarter scoring drive that set up Denver’s field goal that
proved to be the game winner. Additionally, he made his first career tackle on
special teams against the Buccaneers. He saw one play at fullback and played
substantially on special teams vs. S.D. (9/26). At Jac. (9/19), Johnson played on special teams only.
He saw most of his action on special teams vs. K.C. (9/12) in Denver’s season opener while
also filling in sparingly at fullback. He had a key block on a 32-yard kick
return by Roc Alexander in the third quarter against the Chiefs.
2003: Johnson had three
different stints on the team's practice squad with the final one coming before
the regular-season finale at Green Bay (12/28). He was signed
by the Broncos on Sept. 10 and spent one week on the practice squad after being
waived by the Broncos in training camp (8/26). He later rejoined the team
(10/14) and spent a month on the squad before being released Nov. 18. Johnson
was signed the final time to practice squad on Dec. 24.
2002: Johnson signed with the
Broncos Dec. 11 from Detroit's practice squad and
was inactive for each of the final three games. A 2002 draft choice of the
Carolina Panthers (5th round/145th overall), he was waived by the Panthers
Sept. 1 and signed to the Giants' practice squad Sept. 3. Johnson was waived
from the Giants' practice squad Oct. 24 then signed to Detroit's practice squad Nov.
13, where he remained until being signed to Denver's 53-man roster.
COLLEGE: Johnson was granted a
sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and started all 13 games at fullback as a
senior. He gained a career-high 223 yards on 52 carries with three touchdowns
and caught six passes for 75 yards and one touchdown. Johnson totalled a career-high 96 yards on six carries with a
13-yard touchdown at Rutgers and rushed for a
touchdown at Pittsburgh. Elected team captain
as a senior, Johnson started at fullback in the season opener versus Buffalo and had five carries
for 27 yards with a 4-yard touchdown run before sustaining a season-ending
ankle injury. A Big East Academic All-Star, Johnson played in all 11 contests
for the Orangemen with four starts as a junior. He was Syracuse’s third leading rusher
with 157 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns and also posted six
receptions for 40 yards and one touchdown. An All-Big East Academic choice,
Johnson saw action in six games as a sophomore, contributing as a reserve
tailback and on special teams. He finished the season with 33 yards on six
carries and three special teams tackles. He scored his first career touchdown
on a 17-yard run versus Rutgers and played on special
teams in the Orange Bowl against Florida. Johnson saw action in
three games as a redshirt freshman and gained 26
yards on six carries.
PERSONAL: Born Albert Kyle
Johnson on Dec. 15, 1978, he earned second-team
all-state recognition and earned all-county and all-area honors as a senior at
Woodbridge (N.J.) High School after rushing for 1,235 yards. Johnson earned his
undergraduate degree in electronic media in December 2000 and is currently
pursuing an M.B.A.
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Johnson's Regular
Season Record
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|
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RUSHING
|
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RECEIVING
|
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SCORING
|
|
Year
|
Club
|
G
|
S
|
No.
|
Yds.
|
Avg.
|
LG
|
TD
|
|
No.
|
Yds.
|
Avg.
|
LG
|
TD
|
|
TD
|
TDr
|
TDp
|
TDrt
|
2pt
|
Pts.
|
|
2002
|
Denver
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2003
|
Denver
|
PRACTICE SQUAD
|
|
2004
|
Denver
|
14
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
9
|
126
|
14.0
|
31
|
2
|
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
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Career Totals
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|
14
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
9
|
126
|
14.0
|
31
|
2
|
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
12
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