Washington kicker becomes hero in debut for hometown team

Washington Football Team antiaircraft tackle Jonathan Allen admitted it aft a 17-15 triumph implicit the Raiders connected Sunday astatine Allegiant Stadium.

He didn’t cognize kicker Brian Johnson’s name.

And helium wasn’t the lone one.

“Not galore radical connected the squad truly knew his sanction this week going in,” Washington backmost Taylor Heinicke said. “He made a sanction for himself today.”

Johnson capped his archetypal crippled with the franchise by making the game-winning 48-yard tract extremity with 37 seconds to play. The 22-year-old rookie — and Washington, D.C., autochthonal — was connected the Chicago Bears’ signifier squad astatine the aforesaid clip past week.

No, helium can’t judge it, either.

“Kicking for the hometown squad itself … it was insane,” said Johnson, who grew up attending games astatine Washington’s FedExField with a fewer longtime WFT fans — his parent and brothers.

“The vibe and everything … for not being astir it, I felt it. I felt it erstwhile I walked successful and everything. It’s an awesome locker country to beryllium in. They’re astir apt inactive learning my name, but it’s awesome to beryllium here.”

Johnson is Washington’s 4th place-kicker this season, pursuing Dustin Hopkins, Chris Blewitt and Joey Slye.

Hopkins had missed 2 tract goals and other points and was released successful October for Blewitt, who hadn’t kicked since 2016 and had 3 kicks blocked successful 2 games. Blewitt was released for Slye, who played astatine Virginia Tech with Johnson.

But Slye injured his hamstring portion attempting to marque a tackle Monday against the Seattle Seahawks. Johnson said helium got a telephone telephone Monday astir coming to Washington and reached retired to Slye afterward, citing the relationship they’ve maintained since college.

“It was large to spot him again and spot a acquainted face,” said Johnson, who played 4 games this play for the New Orleans Saints.

And adjacent amended to regenerate him Sunday.

Johnson credited chap specialists Tress Way and Camaron Cheeseman with easing his modulation during the week and helping him get acclimated with Washington’s peculiar teams. He practiced earlier the crippled to find his people lines and felt comfortable. Indoor venues specified arsenic Allegiant marque 48-yard kicks easier than they would beryllium outdoors.

He made 2 other points against the Raiders. Pseudo mentation for his heroics successful the last minute.

“Hell, yeah, I’m nervous. …. We conscionable brought him up,” Allen said of Johnson’s winning tract goal. “Credit to him. Saved our game.

“I cognize his sanction now.”

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.