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Factoid

Chris Johnson

2,000-yard runner looking for work

Chris Johnson is an unrestricted free agent, and let the bidding begin. Former 2,000-yard rusher. He’s run tentatively at times the last two years, but he’s still talented, and there’s still some gas left in the tank (if he’s willing to use it).

Johnson turns 29 in September. He’s starting to get on the older side, but it’s too early to be working off the theory that he’s lost a step or simply doesn’t have it any more.

In the last 20 years, 22 running backs who were either 29 or 30 on opening day put up at least 1,500 combined yards. All of these backs, of course, were older than Johnson (he’ll be 28 when the season starts).

OLDER BACKS WITH 1,500-PLUS YARDS
YearRunning Back (age)TeamRunRecTot TD
2005Tiki Barber (30)NYG1860530239011
1997Barry Sanders (29)Det.2053305235814
2003Priest Holmes (29)K.C.1420690211027
2004Tiki Barber (29)NYG1518578209615
1984Walter Payton (30)Chi.1684368205211
2002Charlie Garner (30)Oak.962941190311
1998Barry Sanders (30)Det.149128917804
2004Corey Dillon (29)N.E.1635103173813
1984Tony Dorsett (30)Dall.118945916487
2005Warrick Dunn (30)Atl.141622016364
1998Ricky Watters (29)Sea.123937316129
1999Dorsey Levens (29)G.B.1034573160710
2003Stephen Davis (29)Car.144415916038
1999Ricky Watters (30)Sea.121038715977
2003Curtis Martin (30)NYJ130826215702
2001Garrison Hearst (30)S.F.120634715535
1989James Brooks (30)Cin.123930615459
2008LaDainian Tomlinson (29)S.D.1110426153612
2008Thomas Jones (30)NYJ1312207151915
1999Emmitt Smith (30)Dall.1397119151613
2011Michael Turner (29)Atl.1340168150811
1998Emmitt Smith (29)Dall.1332175150715

—Ian Allan

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