Yahoo Sports Cal DL Brett Johnson out for 2021 season after breaking hip in automobile accident
Cal will be without one of its best defensive players for the entire 2021 football season.
The school announced Wednesday that defensive lineman Brett Johnson suffered a broken hip in a recent automobile accident. Johnson had successful surgery on the hip, but the injury will keep him off the field next season. Johnson is expected to make a full recovery and return to action in 2022. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
"While we will certainly miss Brett on the field this coming season, the most important thing right now is that he focus on his overall health and well-being," Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said. "As his teammates and coaches, we will help him through this difficult time. When he is ready to return to the field, we will welcome him with open arms.”
Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive tackle, played in all 17 games for Cal over the past two seasons with 13 starts along the way. During that span, Johnson totaled 46 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks.
"I appreciate all of the support I have received from my family, friends, teammates, coaches and so many others since the accident," Johnson said. "I am looking forward to making a full recovery and getting back on the field in 2022."
Cal went 1-3 in its abbreviated 2020 season. The Golden Bears open up the 2021 campaign at home against Nevada on Sept. 4.
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