Houston Texans have restructured David Johnson’s contract, which will now be worth up to $ 6 million in 2021, including $ 4.25 million fully guaranteed upon signing, a source told ESPN.
Johnson could have been a victim with a salary cap if he had not restructured his contract.
Johnson would have owed almost $ 9 million in 2021, of which only $ 2.1 million was guaranteed, before agreeing to the restructured agreement.
Houston traded with Johnson in March 2020 through a deal that sent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals.
Johnson ran 691 yards and six touchdowns last season on 147 carries. He played in only 12 games, missing three with a concussion and one while on the reserve list / COVID-19.
When the Texans traded with Johnson a year ago, the deal was made by former general manager and head coach Bill O’Brien, who was fired in October. At the time, Johnson was coming out of the smallest production of his career and giving him the keys to the Houston backfield.
Johnson’s best season came in 2016 for the Cardinals, when he was selected for his only Pro Bowl and was the All Pro first team after setting the best career in rushing yards (1,239), hurried touchdowns (16), receptions (80), receiving yards (879) and scrimmage yards (2,118, which led the NFL).
The Texans released Duke Johnson last week, who fled back.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jeremy Fowler and Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.