Chiefs RB Johnson to return next week

Nov 6, 2008 - 7:06 PM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is expected to return to the lineup after he serves a one-game suspension for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers.

A series of off-field issues led to the Chiefs' decision to deactivate the Pro Bowl running back for the past three games.

But on Wednesday, coach Herman Edwards said it is time for Johnson to return to the field.

"He's been out a month. It's time for him to come back and do what he needs to do to prepare himself to get ready to play football," Edwards said. "We'll see where that's at."

Johnson was charged with simple assault on October 27 for allegedly spitting his drink in a woman's face earlier this month.

The 28-year-old also had an assault charge filed against him last month stemming from an incident in which he allegedly pushed a woman at a Kansas City nightclub on February 24.

Those incidents likely were the impetus for the one-game suspension imposed by the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

A league spokesman indicated the suspension could have been longer had the Chiefs not taken disciplinary action against their star running back.

The Chiefs certainly could use Johnson back in the lineup. They are 1-7 and in last place in the AFC West.

Losers of 16 of its last 17 regular-season contests, Kansas City also lost backup running back Kolby Smith for the season with a knee injury in last weekend's 30-27 loss to Tampa Bay.

"We've got to bring (Johnson) back," Edwards said. "He's missed a month of playing football. We've changed a little bit too, on how we play, so that's all involved in it too. But yeah, he's working out, he's preparing himself to get ready to play and that's kind of important."

The Kansas City Star had reported that Johnson has been accused by a woman of criminal offenses four times since he joined the Chiefs five years ago.

Johnson led the AFC in rushing with 417 yards prior to sitting out the first of these four games.

A first-round pick of Kansas City in 2003, he had back-to-back seasons of 1,700-plus yards in 2005 and 2006, rushing for 37 touchdowns in that span.