Detroit Lions find perfect running mate for Kerryon Johnson
The Detroit Lions found a running mate for second-year running back Kerryon Johnson in free agent veteran and former Ram C.J. Anderson.
The Detroit Lions tried to snatch restricted free agent running back Malcolm Brown away from the Los Angeles Rams just last month. But the Rams matched the Lions’ offer, keeping Brown in the City of Angels. So Detroit opted to sign another back from Los Angeles instead.
As first reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Lions have agreed to sign free agent running back C.J. Anderson to a one-year deal. The exact details about the contract are unknown at this time.
Anderson originally went undrafted out of California. During his final season with the Golden Bears, he posted just 790 rushing yards and four touchdowns. But he did average a whopping 6.3 yards per carry.
The Denver Broncos signed Anderson as an undrafted free agent in 2013. But an MCL injury limited him to just five games and seven rushing attempts. The following season, Anderson would start in seven games in the Mile High City and rushed for 849 yards plus a career-high eight touchdowns.
The veteran running back’s best season for the Broncos came in 2017 when he posted 1,007 rushing yards and three scores as a 16-game starter. Ironically, Anderson would be released by Denver the following April.
After short stints with the Carolina Panthers and the Oakland Raiders, Anderson landed with the Rams last December. And he would come in to post two epic performances to end their season.
Anderson recorded 167 yards and a touchdown in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals. Then he posted 132 yards and a score against the San Francisco 49ers. That trend continued into the playoffs as the Rams ran all over the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round. Anderson rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns against the highly-touted Dallas defense.
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By agreeing to sign the 28-year old C.J. Anderson, the Detroit Lions have found themselves a replacement for LeGarrette Blount and the perfect power-running mate for second-year phenom Kerryon Johnson.