Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
Tip to the readers: Starting tomorrow, our Hashmarks team will run a two-day series on key players coming off injuries for every NFL team.
Earlier today, we caught up with Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson, who missed five games last year with a hamstring injury and had his 64-game playing streak snapped.
Johnson was in and out of the lineup for the rest of the 2007 season and recorded just 497 rushing yards on 2.9 yards per carry.
"It was one of the most frustrating things, because I haven't missed any games in how long?'' Johnson said. "So for that to happen and to happen so early in the season really bothered me the whole year. I tried to play, but I was nowhere near where I was.''
After posting back-to-back-to-back seasons of at least 1,300 rushing yards, Johnson says he's out to prove he can have another big year. Johnson stayed in Cincinnati this offseason to work with the team's trainers and put on approximately 15 pounds of muscle to increase his durability.
"These trainers right here know me the best,'' Johnson said. "I've been here with them for eight years. They know my body inside and out.''
