Shoulder Injury Cuts Gus Johnson's Memorable Night Short

Gus Johnson’s night came to a sudden, unceremonious end on Thursday in San Diego, but it was a very memorable night all the same for the undrafted rookie out of Stephen F. Austin.

With Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar all out on Thursday, Johnson started at running back for the Cowboys and posted 35 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries before leaving the field with a strained left shoulder in the third quarter. The touchdown would be the Cowboys’ only scoring of the night.

“It was great. It’s an experience I’ll never forget,” Johnson said, per the Dallas Morning News. “I know I wasn’t let the ball go. You got to keep the ball. I just threw up my ‘Axe ‘em, Jacks’ sign from my school Stephen F. Austin because if it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Johnson wasn’t left terribly concerned by the injury in terms of how it’ll affect him moving forward, and expects to be ready to practice when the team reconvenes on Saturday in Oxnard.

“It was disappointing,” Johnson said. “You get banged up playing football. It’s what happens. Sometimes the pads can’t be your hero. It’ll be fine.”