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TD drought now Keyshawn's worst

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 6, 2001

TAMPA -- It's worse than Keyshawn Johnson thought.

The Bucs receiver figured he had simply matched the longest drought of his NFL career by going seven games without a touchdown reception. The game log disagrees: Johnson's longest dry spell had been a five-game stretch last season.

Either way, you don't have to remind the two-time Pro Bowl player of his touchdown total nearly halfway through the season.

"I'm getting a little impatient," said Johnson, who leads the NFC with 52 catches. "I'll be the first guy with 100 catches with no touchdowns in NFL history. I guess I'm on pace for 100-something (118), but not having a touchdown, that's crazy."

What's more surprising is that Johnson hasn't even been a target in the end zone; he counts one pass thrown to him in the end zone, jokingly referring to himself as "hell from the 20 to the 20." Sunday's loss to Green Bay brought six more catches, giving him more than twice his closest teammate, but the closest he came to scoring was a 22-yard catch to the 6. Three plays later, the Packers had him covered when Brad Johnson found tight end Dave Moore for his third scoring catch.

If Johnson can continue to avoid the end zone, he's on pace to shatter the NFL mark for receptions without a touchdown. Hall of Famer Raymond Berry finished the 1961 season with 75 receptions without so much as one score.

The only other NFL player with more than 30 receptions without a touchdown is Green Bay tailback Ahman Green, who has the consolation of rushing for four scores. Johnson's career low is five touchdowns in 1997. In his other four seasons, he has caught at least eight.

Cleveland's Kevin Johnson led the NFL's touchdown-less receivers last season with 57 catches.

INJURY UPDATE: Cornerbacks Donnie Abraham and Ronde Barber were added to the Bucs' injury list and were kept out of Monday's light practice. Abraham injured his back during an interception return Sunday, and Barber came out with a mildly sprained left hamstring.

The players' status won't be known until the weekly injury report is released Wednesday, but coach Tony Dungy downplayed the injuries as day-to-day, though both could sit out Wednesday's practice.

Dungy said it's too early to tell whether receiver Jacquez Green, sidelined two games with a groin and abdominal strain, would return to practice Wednesday. Defensive tackle Anthony McFarland is expected to miss Sunday's game with a sprained knee ligament sustained against the Vikings two weeks ago.

Reserve tight end Todd Yoder sustained a concussion Sunday and will be evaluated this week.

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