The Washington Huskies football team took a hit with news that wide receiver James Johnson has retired from football due to a lingering wrist injury suffered last fall. Johnson, who would have been a fifth-year senior, will remain on scholarship until he completes his degree.
Hampered by injuries throughout his career, Johnson, from Valley Center, CA., did not play at all in 2012, and only 30 games in his four seasons, catching 68 passes for 791 yards and seven touchdowns. Johnson’s best game came in 2011 against Nebraska, when he had six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
He started fast in the 2009 season opener against LSU, scoring the first touchdown of Steve Sarkisian’s coaching tenure. After following up with a touchdown reception against Idaho, he became the first UW true freshman receiver to score TDs in his first two games.
Sarkisian announced four other players have been released from the team: WR Jamaal Jones, DB Darien Washington, TB Erich Wilson II and LB Evan Zeger.
The Huskies open the 2013 football season at newly renovated Husky Stadium on Aug. 31 vs. Boise State. The game will be at 7 p.m., televised on the new Fox Sports One channel. The Pac-12 Conference announced game times for two other UW games: The Huskies play at UCLA at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 on ESPN2. The Apple Cup against Washington State that ends the regular season will be Friday, Nov. 29 at 12:30 p.m. on Fox.
The Big Ten Conference announced earlier that Washington’s non-conference game against Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago will kick off at 3 p.m. PT on the Big Ten Network.
Washington State will play its conference opener at USC at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 on Fox Sports 1. The Cougars will host Arizona State at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 on ESPN.
Start times and TV information for the remaining Pac-12 contests will be announced six to 12 days before each game.