Stevie Johnson's numbers are down as is his fantasy football stock. The Buffalo Bills wide receiver was once a lock as the No. 1 guy, but injuries and inconsistencies have left a lot of doubt around him. As the Bills attempt to get back on track with EJ Manuel at quarterback, the wide receiver cannot seem to get on the same page as everyone.
"There's a lot of people watching me, and I'm going through a year where maybe a lot was expected, and I expected a lot from myself," Johnson said, via ESPN.com. "It's OK, because I'm climbing still. I'm still working trying to get to the top. I've got to make them love me again."
The Bills offense has stopped and started all season. A lot of that can be summed up to inconsistent quarterback play. Injuries have hurt to position as several players have rotated in and out. Rookie Manuel is back in as the starter after returning from a knee injury, but the chemistry with Johnson is just not there. The sixth-year receiver dropped several passes, including a costly fumble that led to the loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Now Johnson is finding his future in question due to the drop in production. The wide receiver signed a five-year, $36.25 million extension in 2012, but if he cannot get on same level as Manuel, he could be out. Johnson said he has no intentions of leaving Buffalo.
"I started off with a goal here, and I want to complete it," Johnson said. "If I was to be out of here before I complete that goal, I'd be [ticked] off, man, at myself because I let myself down, I let the fans down and ultimately my family because they settled in here."
The Bills are now 4-9, poised for another top draft pick. They face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in a game that has more implications towards the draft order than anything else. The Bills have been mathematically eliminated from the postseason for a 14th straight season, but that is not going to stop Johnson from giving every game his all.
"I'm still here," he said. "And as long as I'm here, I'm going to hustle. That's it. That's all I can do."
Head coach Doug Marrone sympathizes with Johnson. He understands that the lack of consistency at the quarterback position along with throwing a rookie in the mix has certainly made things tough on the receiver. The team remains confident that everyone returns in 2014 with better health and chemistry.
