Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Micah Johnson during practice on Aug. 30, 2019. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

By Britton Gray

Big Opportunity

Micah Johnson focused on finishing 2019 strong after slow start

Sep 26, 2019 | 4:56 PM

Micah Johnson has had a lot of weight on his shoulders in his first season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders — literally and figuratively.

Despite the wear and tear of a CFL season, the 31-year-old defensive tackle posted on Twitter a video of him bench-pressing 485 pounds during a workout session as the team prepares to meet the host Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

“I think a few times I’ve hit 450-plus (pounds) but I was just shocked to be feeling this good this late in the season,” Johnson said. “Most guys aren’t touching weights (this late in the season), let alone that much so that’s more of an off-season thing.”

Johnson said he was lifting with rookie defensive lineman Charbel Dabire and had to show the veteran still had what it takes.

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“He’s a monster,” Johnson said of Dabire. “He pushes me all the time.”

The weight in the gym might not compare to the weight of the expectations Roughriders fans had when Johnson’s signing was announced in February. Reports said Saskatchewan made him the CFL’s highest-paid defender.

Being a five-star college recruit, Johnson said it wasn’t the first time he had to shoulder the weight of high expectations.

“I don’t think it’s a new thing for me. You just have to identify what got you there,” Johnson said. “(Defensive tackle) is one of those positions where if a team wants to, they can do a lot to take a guy out of the game.”

Johnson had a slow start to the season with the Roughriders. After recording 16 sacks in 2018 with the Calgary Stampeders, he went without a sack through his first eight games in 2019.

“I was pissed off but that’s football,” Johnson said. “Sacks are one of the bigger ways you can impact a game as a defensive line. It’s one of those things we’re all keeping track of.

“This year has been a great growing year for me, finding other ways to impact the game other than that.”

He said the biggest disappointment for him this season was the number of sacks he has been close to but whiffed on, especially in the back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I’ve been working on my grip all week,” Johnson said. “I got ran over by (Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler) in the pocket so I’ve got to work on that end.”

Johnson suffered an ankle injury on Aug. 1 that kept him out for a month. He returned against Winnipeg on Sept. 1.

“That was pretty disappointing because I felt (in) the games leading up to that (injury), things were swinging,” Johnson said. “It gave me an opportunity to get better and grow some more because I was able to look at things …

“It’s weird. Stepping away for a second actually helped me.”

In the three games since returning, Johnson has recorded his first two sacks of the season.

“It feels good to get that monkey off your back a little bit; it gives you a lot to look at,” he said. “Last year in Calgary, in the last six or seven games I had nine or 10 sacks so it’s just one of those stretches that happen.

“I’m just worried about these last six games and finishing strong.”

With the weight of getting the first sack off his shoulders, Johnson’s wallet will also be feeling lighter due to a bet he had with current CFL sack leader defensive end Charleston Hughes at the beginning of the season.

“I’ve conceded (the bet) and I told him I’m paying in nickels and quarters; I’m not giving him $1,000 cash,” Johnson joked. “I might give it to him in all loonies.”

Notes: Offensive guard Brendon LaBatte (hip) is to make his season debut against Toronto. LaBatte missed the Roughriders’ first 12 games with an abdominal injury … Receiver Jordan Williams-Lambert will not travel with the team for Saturday’s game. Williams-Lambert has yet to play since returning to the Roughriders after an NFL tryout … Linebacker Solomon Elimimian left Thursday’s practice early due to tightness, according to head coach Craig Dickenson … Defensive end Earl Okine (back) was given the day off … The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway Saturday at 3 p.m.