Huskies RB Johnson (foot) feeling ‘a lot better’

Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterDec 28, 2023, 05:27 PM ET

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• ACC press reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
• Graduate of the University of Florida.NEW ORLEANS– Washington running back Dillon Johnson said Thursday his foot is feeling”a lot much better”after playing through substantial pain in his last three games.Johnson had his foot stepped on versus

  Oregon State on Nov. 18, needing him to wear a walking boot the week leading up to the regular-season finale versus Washington State. Though he was doubtful to play, Johnson gutted it out and led the Huskies with 82 yards.Though he was feeling a little much better against Oregon in the Pac-12 national championship the following week, Johnson exposed throughout his very first schedule Thursday before the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl that he was greatly medicated to be able to play.Editor’s Picks 2 Related He stated the month break in between the Pac-12 championship triumph on Dec. 1 and the matchup against

  Texas in the semifinals has been great.”

  It’s the first time that I have actually been able to get my foot back together, and it’s been a blessing since the resting time came at the perfect time,”Johnson said.”God blessed me with some strong high pain tolerance because there’s no other way I would have had the ability to play if I didn’t. And whoever made medication, bless their heart since I wouldn’t have had the ability to play without that, either. So I value them, too.” Johnson emerged as a force this season, hurrying for a career-high 1,113 backyards and 14 goals in his first season with Washington after moving in from Mississippi State. He played through hamstring and knee injuries earlier this season, too, and is one of several Washington players who has actually played through discomfort this year to never ever miss out on a start. He also mentioned receiver Rome Odunze, who sustained a fractured rib and collapsed lung previously this season. “We’ve got guys that are willing to do whatever and he’s one of those guys,” Johnson said.”Like we say,’ We do not care if we lose an arm, leg, knee.

  We’re going to be out there playing.” Johnson described his own efficiency in the national championship against Oregon this way,” I was out there struggling. I had to take a lot medicine. I

  was sort of out of it.”He particularly kept in mind the final play of the game to clinch the win– an 18-yard run on third-and-9 with 53 seconds left. Johnson wound up with 152 backyards and 2 touchdowns, and recalled what coach Kalen DeBoer informed him before the play.” When I moved, the medication had me so low, that I truly didn’t even understand what occurred,”Johnson stated.”I was simply keeping the ball due to the fact that I just keep in mind that’s what they informed me. Coach DeBoer, he was like, ‘Just hold on to the ball. If you get tackled for a loss, it’s OK.’ I searched for. I was already tired. I was like,’Nah, we’re [going to] complete the game right here. So o-line did a terrific job, I made an excellent cut, and the game was sealed.”