ON THE MEND

The two ice packs on Brad Johnson’s left knee are too big to ignore.

They’re evidence of an injury that has already set off a training camp controversy and may threaten Johnson’s dream of starting for the Washington Redskins.

That hope began in the North Carolina mountains and took him through 7-yard end zones in England before an improbable, injury-marred ride to fame with the Minnesota Vikings.

“I was on crutches just a few weeks ago,” said Johnson, who had surgery May 5 and has been somewhat gimpy during the first days of camp. “There may be a limp, but it hasn’t affected my timing. I’m throwing the ball very sharp, very crisp. It’s still six weeks away, so you don’t want to panic too early.

“From where I came from, I’m feeling great.”

That applies to his injury and career.

The 30-year-old Johnson is a self-described late-bloomer who grew up on a dirt road in Black Mountain, N.C., where he would throw footballs at trees to relieve boredom and go to bed at night dreaming of being Larry Bird in the Boston Garden, a star for the Yankees and a quarterback for the Redskins.

“I had a Washington Redskin jacket,” Johnson said in a Southern twang that has survived all his travels. “And I’d wear that thing to school and wear that thing out until I outgrew it.”

That must sound eerie for some Redskins fans, who remember that Heath Shuler came to Washington from the same North Carolina mountains five years ago with a similar nice-guy, small-town hero, lifelong-Redskins-dream story.

Reaching the big time, Shuler looked like a deer caught in headlights, never got comfortable and was a big-money flop.

“He’s a good guy,” said Johnson, who lived about 50 miles from Shuler. “There’s not too many people who don’t like him. It was a rough situation. He takes a lot of the blame.”

Johnson feels he is different because he’s had to pay his dues. His favorite sport was basketball, and he used to shoot hoops with Brad Daugherty at Owen High School. At Florida State, he lost the starting job his junior year to Casey Weldon, now Johnson’s backup with the Redskins.

Perhaps the most formative time in Johnson’s career was in 1995 when he played for the London Monarchs. Drafted by Minnesota in 1992, he had played in just three games over three seasons before the Vikings sent him to NFL Europe to get some experience.

Playing at White Hart Lane, a soccer stadium where players fell off the back of the shortened end zone, Johnson led the league in completions.

“You take your lumps,” Johnson said. “It was great for me, because I got to go through every situation. I needed that time to prove myself.”

Then came Johnson’s big leap, one that made him an inspiration for any third-stringer whose career seems to be going nowhere. When Warren Moon was injured in the Vikings’ season-opener in 1996, Johnson rallied the team to victory in the final minutes, got his first career start the following week and took Minnesota to the playoffs.

“Being healthy, being good, having good players around you and then getting the break, that’s kind of what I got,” Johnson said.

The injuries started the following year. A scary neck injury ended Johnson’s 1997 season early. Last year, a broken leg and then a broken thumb gave Randall Cunningham the chance to lead the Vikings to the NFC title game.

Johnson missed out on the fun and became trade bait, and the favorite team of his childhood acquired him for drafts picks in the first, second and third rounds after another late-bloomer, Trent Green, left via free agency.

“Brad has earned the right to be here,” coach Norv Turner said.

Statistically, that’s definitely true. Johnson is 15-8 as an NFL starter and is Minnesota’s career passing leader with an 84.8 rating. He once threw 109 passes without an interception.

But after his first Redskins minicamp in the spring, Johnson was hurt again. Knee surgery kept him off the field until this week, and Turner was so upset over footage of Johnson limping that he banned TV cameras from a practice on the second day of training camp.

Turner said the injury is no big deal, and Johnson and receiver Michael Westbrook seem to be developing some good chemistry. Still, there’s the nagging thought that Johnson may have to give way to Weldon or Rodney Peete if he’s hit in the wrong spot in September. The Redskins offensive line allowed a team-record 61 sacks last season.

“You know he’s frustrated,” said Weldon, who has remained good friends with Johnson over the years. “Because he’s a competitor and he’s worked so hard. But he’s the most positive guy I’ve ever been around.”

And Johnson will give a positive outlook, especially now that he’s wearing the burgundy and gold.

“I just had a bad streak of injuries,” Johnson said. “I feel like I recovered as quick as I could, and I’m just happy to be playing again.”