The Green Bay Packers Wednesday terminated the contract of defensive end Joe Johnson, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced.
Johnson opened 2003 as the Packers' starter at the 'Power' (left) defensive end position before seeing his season conclude due to injury for a second straight year. He started the first six games before suffering a season-ending injury, rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while rushing the passer late in the first quarter of an Oct. 12 game vs. Kansas City. Subsequently placed on injured reserve Oct. 15, he underwent reparative surgery Oct. 21.
Johnson recorded eight tackles (seven solo), including a season-high four stops in the opening game vs. Minnesota (Sept. 7). He followed that up with a three-tackle performance against Detroit (Sept. 14), and later picked up a tackle in a win over Seattle (Oct. 5).
A two-time Pro Bowler (1998, 2000), Johnson signed with the Packers as an unrestricted free agent, March 26, 2002. He has 521/2 sacks in his nine-year NFL career.
