Chris Johnson split out wide during practice

New York Jets running back Chris Johnson spent most of the first offseason with his team recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee, and he played through the injury through the 2013 season for the Tennessee Titans. Although Johnson managed to scrounge out just a career-low 3.9 yards per carry last year, he did notch over 1,000 yards on the ground, making the productive, explosive RB six-for-six in that regard for his career.

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According to the New York Post’s Brian Costello, Marty Mornhinweg and the Jets are using one of their newest toys in a unique role in training camp, as the Jets split the running back out wide and used him in motion. Johnson’s career-high for receptions is 57, and he caught 42 passes last year. While he isn’t a great pass-catcher, he’s so explosive after the catch that it’s never a bad thing to use him in that regard. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to get him the ball in space?

Last offseason, the New England Patriots used their uber-explosive RB Shane Vereen in this way, and Vereen was featured heavily as a pass-catcher in his first season with the team. Vereen is a more natural pass-catcher and route-runner than Johnson, but CJ1K can be used as a pass-catcher to give the offense more playmaking ability and options. If he can successfully do that, then it could be a very nice wrinkle for the Jets new-look offense.