Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Bisi Johnson looks to get his career on an upswing in 2022. Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings WR Bisi Johnson looking for breakout campaign in 2022

The Minnesota Vikings have an elite receiver duo in Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. They also might have an underrated No. 3 receiver in K.J. Osborn. The free-agent addition of receiver Albert Wilson gives the offense a dangerous gadget playerl too. But, there may also be one more receiver who can provide Kirk Cousins with a reliable option. His name is Bisi Johnson, and he is hoping for a breakout season for first-year head coach Kevin O'Connell. 

What is important to remember about Johnson is that he missed all of 2021 with a torn ACL that he suffered in training camp. Before then, the Colorado native had played in all 16 regular-season games during his first two NFL seasons in 2019 and 2020 for Minnesota. Now, he only started 12 of those games and has performed as a No. 5 receiver on the depth chart statistically. As a rookie, Johson was target 45 times and caught 31 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns. In 2020, Johnson caught just 14 passes on 19 targets for 189 yards and zero touchdowns. He clearly hasn't emerged yet as a reliable option just yet despite being generally healthy in his young career. However, that doesn't mean he won't have a career season in 2022.

Despite the lack of success in his first three seasons, this will be his first season in Minnesota with an offensive-minded coach. Kevin O'Connell comes from a team in the Rams that were very deep at receiver with Cooper Kupp, O'dell Beckham Jr., Robert Woods and Van Jefferson. Minnesota will almost certainly look to use a collective receiver core to help balance out an offense that has an elite rushing attack led by three-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook. The Colorado State star should have more opportunities coming in 2022, whch means he should be due for a career-high season.

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