Journeyman Catches On in a Big Way : Pro Football: Ex-Harbor College star Richard Johnson had caught just one NFL pass before starring again this season with the Detroit Lions.

On his fourth try, Richard Johnson has caught on in the National Football League.

The former San Pedro High and Harbor College star is the Detroit Lions’ leading receiver and has helped spark the Lions to their longest winning streak, three games, since 1983.

Johnson has caught 59 passes for 930 yards and six touchdowns. Those statistics become even more impressive when it is pointed out that Johnson had been out of football since October, 1987. He had played in just one game since June, 1985, and his NFL career statistics entering this season were limited to one catch for five yards during a 1987 replacement game.

Johnson’s return to football began last December when he received a call from Detroit Lions assistant coach Darrel (Mouse) Davis, who had coached Johnson with the U.S. Football League’s Houston Gamblers in 1984.

“The first thing he told me was to get . . . in shape,” said Johnson, 28, who was working as a computer programmer for IBM in downtown Los Angeles.

Davis took Johnson into the Lions’ training camp because of Johnson’s familiarity with the innovative, explosive and controversial offense Davis was installing with the Lions: the Silver Stretch, also known as the run-and-shoot.

“Richard has played with very good intelligence, has great quickness and has shown an ability to make the big play,” Davis said.

Johnson’s professional career began as a tailback with the USFL’s Denver Gold in 1983. He was released during training camp but re-signed two months later. He played in just one game and never carried the ball or caught a pass.

Left unprotected by the Gold, Johnson was chosen by the Gamblers in the USFL’s 1984 expansion draft. He was converted to a wide receiver and introduced to the run-and-shoot.

“He picked up the offense as fast as anyone ever had,” said Davis, a 29-year coaching veteran.

Playing with a receiving corps dubbed the Mouseketeers in honor of their diminutive coach, Johnson caught a U.S. pro football record 115 passes in 18 games for the Gamblers in 1984. (Art Monk of the Washington Redskins holds the NFL receiving mark with 106 catches in a 16-game schedule, also in 1984. The NFL does not recognize USFL records.)

Johnson again led the USFL in receptions in its final season, 1985, with 103 catches.

In 1986, Johnson was set to play for Donald Trump’s New Jersey Generals, but the USFL’s decision to suspend operations in August ended those plans.

Johnson’s NFL odyssey began in 1987 when he signed as a free agent with the New York Jets. Despite catching three passes for 78 yards in a preseason scrimmage against the Washington Redskins, he was released two days later.

The Redskins remembered him, signing him for their strike replacement team, but released him after the first strike game. Johnson then signed with Buffalo but was released when the strike ended.

“I thought my career was over,” Johnson said. “I thought it was time to give up on football and concentrate on living life.”

The Lions lost nine of their first 11 games. But things started coming together on Thanksgiving. Johnson caught a 27-yard pass from Bob Gagliano for Detroit’s only touchdown in a 13-10 upset of the Cleveland Browns.

The next week in a 21-14 upset win at New Orleans, Johnson and the Lions were even better. Johnson again led all receivers with eight catches, including a 75-yard pass from Gagliano for the winning score. Johnson’s 248 receiving yards were the second best in team history.

That performance brought Johnson National Football Conference Player of the Week and Miller Lite NFL Player of the Week honors.

Johnson’s production tailed off last Sunday, but his four receptions still led the Lions in their 27-17 victory over Chicago. The win was Detroit’s first over the Bears since 1983 and snapped a 10-game losing streak against Chicago.

Johnson is taking his success in stride: “I’m just doing my job. It’s nothing big like everyone is making it out to be.

“It’s something that could happen to any receiver. It just so happened I was in the right place at the right time.”