Darius Johnson to undergo MRI

[PonyPride]

SMU receiver Darius Johnson — whose 12 catches, 152 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the Mustangs' 40-33 victory at TCU earned him Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors — revealed Tuesday that he played more than half of the game with a strained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee. Johnson will undergo an MRI Tuesday afternoon to make sure there is no additional damage.

"It happened sometime in the second quarter," Johnson said after sitting out Tuesday's practice. "But my adrenaline was going. I just didn't feel it, I guess."

That changed Sunday, when Johnson said he was walking with "a heavy limp." The discomfort has gone down since Sunday, he said. If the MRI confirms the initial MCL strain diagnosis, Johnson said he has been told that treatment will consist of a combination of rest, ice and electronic stimulation.

Johnson said the pain has been reduced, and he is optimistic that he will not miss any games.

"It doesn't hurt when I walk anymore," he said. "It only hurts when I make certain movements laterally, but we have got a bye week, so I have time to rest it."

The results of the MRI will determine the course of action taken by SMU's medical team, but Johnson said he hopes to be back on the practice field with his teammates "in a day or two."

Johnson admitted that he initially feared the injury could be worse than just a sprain.

"At first I was (nervous)," Johnson said, "because when it initially happened in the game, it felt kind of loose. But Dr. (John) Baker told me yesterday that it wasn't a tear, so that's good. I'm getting the MRI today just to make sure."

[NickSMU17]

What a player....

[Mestengo]

Business wishing well bring up the next

[Pony ^]

Great time for a bye week

[OR-See-Nee]

I nearly threw up when I saw the post title.

That.

DJ is the man for playing with that type of injury.

[ojaipony]

I'll take a squad full of hungry, competitive 3 star recruits with chips on their shoulders that have chemistry and are humble and coachable versus a squad of four to five 4 stars any day (not that I wouldn't take the 4 stars mind you).

[HorsePower]

Saturday was the best game of DJ's career, and he did that while playing hurt?

I used to think he was a little soft. Not anymore.

[PonyPride]

I nearly threw up when I saw the post title.

Sorry about that!

Incidentally, Johnson's two touchdown catches, 12 receptions and 152 receiving yards all tied career highs for him, but he declined to answer when I asked him what kind of numbers he might have put up against TCU if he were fully healthy.

[Mestengo]

Worm

[Stallion]

Wow I didn't even see any signs of injury on the field. Thank goodness we have off weak. I was more worried about Jagared Davis and I guess others said Crawford limped off

[ponyscott]

Those guys were all warriors on Saturday...

[mrydel]

Tell him to rub some dirt on it.

[GiddyUp]

this is terrible news - he has to be healthy these next few games for us

[CalallenStang]

Darius Johnson has become my new favorite player on this team. Playing at such a high level through that kind of injury takes guts and determination. Plus I loved his quote about the TCU people.

[Pony_Law]

Any updates on results?