Torn Ligaments Sideline Piranhas’ Defensive Back

Carlton Johnson, one of the Arena Football League’s best defensive backs, will miss the Piranhas’ next two games and possibly more because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

“If they ‘scoped him, he’s done for the year,” Piranha trainer Dave Chaffin said Tuesday after practice. “He’s definitely down two weeks, then we’ll reevaluate.”

Johnson injured his knee early in last week’s loss at Iowa when he was making a cut. Johnson said he had a similar injury last year while playing for Shreveport in the Canadian Football League.

“I kept telling the doctors last year that it wasn’t torn and I had to keep telling our doctors the same thing this year,” said Johnson.

Johnson leads the Piranhas in tackles with 51 and was fourth in the AFL in that category entering last week. He said he expects to return for the July 20 home game against Iowa.

The Piranhas’ coaching staff is considering placing Johnson on the injured list and signing either Jason Oliver or Tommy Jones. Oliver played at USC from 1991-94 but has been out of football since 1994 because of various injures he sustained in a car accident. Jones, who played at Fresno State, had been playing in the World Football League.

Ian Welsh, the Piranhas’ director of player personnel, said the team will evaluate Jones and Oliver for another day before deciding who will replace Johnson on the roster.