Bengals linebacker Micah Johnson is no more. Don't get me wrong. He wasn't phased out of the space/time continuum from an accident with a reported Delorean on the scene. In fact he's being added to a substantially long list of players that's change positions during the Marvin Lewis era. The only difference is that most of those that came before Johnson didn't last with the Bengals for very long.
Cincinnati moved Johnson to the defensive end position, hoping to take advantage of his physical abilities and converting him into a pass rusher. Johnson likes the move, perhaps watching his chances of making the squad relatively increase, especially as Marvin Lewis' obsessive hybrid player.
"All the coaches said, don’t look at it as a negative thing," Johnson said. "They think I can be a good pass rusher with my size and speed. A good combination of both helps me out at linebacker, too. I think it will really help out going up against bigger guys play in and play out."
An interesting scenario that could come out of this, provided Johnson takes advantage of his new role as a pass rusher. The mothership's depth chart lists Johnson as the third-string left defensive end behind first-team Carlos Dunlap and backup Robert Geathers. If Geathers is cut, based on salary and his injury situation that's expected to be resolved before the first regular season game, it automatically puts Johnson into discussions that he makes the 53-man roster with relative ease.
Regardless of the situation, the coaching staff appears interested enough in Johnson to do whatever it takes to keep him on the team. Now it's turn to make it happen.