Kalen DeBoer shares promising update on Dillon Johnson's health for National Championship vs. Michigan

Washington is likely to have stalwart tailback Dillon Johnson available for the National Championship against Michigan on Monday night after he re-aggravated an injury late in the Sugar Bowl, head coach Kalen DeBoer said.

Speaking with reporter on a conference call on Wednesday, DeBoer gave a brief update on Johnson. The running back has apparently been “shaking off” this injury in a number of games now.

“There’s nothing as far as above and beyond what has happened in the past. Just kind of throughout the game he’ll re-aggravate it, shake it off and go back out there and play. I guess my thoughts are that he’ll be ready to go,” DeBoer said.

DeBoer, knowing that Johnson has managed to overcome this same injury before, shared that even initially he wasn’t overly concerned, even with a short turnaround.

“Obviously it’s a quick week, quick turnaround, only seven days to get ready again. We’ll be smart with how we prepare. And again, that’s my assumption, not having talked to him today. But even knowing when he landed, as long as everything came out alright with everything, he was going to do everything he could to be on that football field next Monday,” DeBoer said.

And though Johnson has been playing injured, it’s been hard to tell. He finished the regular season just shy of 1000 yards, which he eclipsed in the Pac-12 title game. He’s averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has 16 rushing touchdowns, including a pair against Texas in the semifinals.

Early indications were that Johnson could play in the championship

Shortly after the game, DeBoer provided an additional injury update on Johnson, with the championship game just a week away.

“I think, and again, I haven’t even talked to the training staff,” DeBoer said. “I caught Dillon just a second and it’s related I think to what he’s been going through the last couple months. So, you know, obviously, he was down and in some pain, but he’s been in pain the last couple months.”

Johnson has been playing injured for some time now. He ended the season banged up and even with the layoff couldn’t get entirely healthy for the Sugar Bowl. Still, he decided to play through pain.

He would need to be carted off and was clearly in pain with what seemed like a lower leg injury.

“So, just working through it. He’s a tough, tough guy. Tough kid. Not a kid anymore but tough player for us. He’s just been so strong and keeps pushing forward. It goes back to two or three weeks left to go in the season when really this injury happened. Based on what I understand.”