Read the full transcript from CB Chris Johnson's postgame media availability on August 22, 2026
How did you feel the defense performed overall?
Chris Johnson: I'd say overall, I liked our physicality and our toughness to be able to finish through that game. Regardless of what happens on the offensive side of the ball, we kind of hold ourselves to the same standard. So you know, we had a short field a few times and the standard stays the same. We're trying to minimize points. Obviously at some point in the field, three points is probably the least we could get a team to, but at the end of the day, our main goal is to keep the other team out of the end zone and I felt like we did a solid job doing that today.
What was your impression of the first time coming in to Hard Rock Stadium for a game?
Chris Johnson: Yeah, it felt good, man. I definitely can't wait to see the atmosphere in a real game in a regular season, but I definitely like the support from the fans here, with it being the preseason still.
Did you find yourself matched up across from OBJ? Just what was that, if you did, like what was that like? I know he's one of those guys trying to resurrect his career, but he has had so much success.
Chris Johnson: No, I didn't find myself matched up with him, but to that statement, I feel like all accolades aside, I feel like the best way I play my game is to not worry about who's the opponent across from me, you know what I mean? And all respect to him. He's a great player and had a great career, but I'm not sitting there guarding him like, 'man, this guy's a really good player.'
That's the same thing when James Winston is quarterback and former No. 1 pick?
Chris Johnson: Yeah, like it's definitely cool seeing guys on TV from when I was younger, I grew up watching football. So it's cool, but at the same time, it's just another face, another opponent that I'm playing this day.
We spoke with Jacob a few days ago about joint practices and he said it's really unique to this level of play. It's not something that you do in college or high school. What have your takeaways been from the joint practices considering now you've done two joints and two preseason games?
Chris Johnson: I like the joint practices a lot. I feel like in the preseason games, it gets kind of like you're trying to let a lot of other guys play, trying to let everybody get in. But in the practices between both teams, I feel like it's a lot more like ones and twos kind of thing so the competition is a lot higher. And then it's also like you've been going against your own team for so long that that's why a lot of like physical stuff happens at these practices just because you got a lot of steam that's been built up. You don't want to take it out on your own team, but you finally get another color in front of your face and it's hard to control your emotions, but I definitely like the atmosphere and being able to get work in with another team.
On that front, Hafley said he thought that joint practice was one of the defense's better sessions. What do you think you guys did effectively in order to receive that praise from your coach?
Chris Johnson: I feel like we played, like outrageously physical to the point where some fights did end up sparking off for whatever reasons. But I feel like we went out there, we did our job, what we had to do. We played physical, we brought our pads with us and we kind of let our play do the talking.
The rookies will kind of be relied upon a lot this year. Just where are you at just from a understanding standpoint and also knowing that you guys will be relied upon this year?
Chris Johnson: The pressure doesn't really affect me. I feel like at the end of the day, that's what I came here to do, you know what I mean? I came here to play, so I don't really view it that way. And that's the same way with all our class from our early picks to our late picks; everybody here is ready to play and eager to play.
