From being on the roster bubble this preseason to winning a league-wide award in Week 1, it's been a bit of a whirlwind month for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Kameron Johnson.
There were questions about whether or not he'd be the odd-man-out in a crowded receiver room when final roster cuts rolled around, but Johnson ended up making the team. Not only did Johnson make the team, but he had an immediate impact in Week 1, making a statement that Tampa Bay’s decision to keep him was the right one and even winning an award in the process.
In the third quarter of the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson returned a punt 54 yards to set the Buccaneers offense up at the 32-yard line. At the time of the return, the score was tied 10-10. Tampa Bay took advantage of the incredible field position and scored a touchdown to take a 17-10 lead.
In a game the Buccaneers won by just three points, the importance of Johnson's huge return to put them in scoring position can't be overstated.
The 54-yard punt return was the longest return by a Buccaneers player since Bobby Rainey recorded a 58-yard return all the way back in 2015. It was also the longest return by any player in the NFL throughout the entirety of Week 1.
Johnson was recognized on a national level for his efforts, being named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 1. For a player that found himself on the roster bubble this preseason, these are the types of plays that validate the team's decision to keep him around and will ultimately help Johnson prolong his career in Tampa Bay.
Now, Johnson can set his sights on an even bigger milestone. The Buccaneers haven't registered a kickoff or punt return since Michael Spurlock did it on November 7, 2010, making for the longest drought among all NFL teams.
After his strong special teams performance throughout the preseason and in the season opener, perhaps Johnson could be the guy to end the drought, which would send the Buccaneers' fandom into a frenzy.
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