It's Trumaine Johnson's job to step up now.
Heading into training camp, it was Gaines and Johnson expected to battle for the starting cornerback spot opposite Janoris Jenkins. That competition ended prematurely after news of Gaines' injury that would require surgery and force him to miss the entire year.
Johnson himself missed seven games last season due to a knee injury. Prior to that, though, he appeared in 32 straight games from 2012-13. Over three seasons, he's recorded 119 tackles and eight interceptions.
And so far in training camp, Johnson appears be making an imprint on the coaching staff.
"It all goes back to what he's done this offseason," Fisher said of Johnson, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He was there every day. He's worked, he's taken care of his body, and he's determined. As you get in that third and fourth year and play like he has, you should start making those plays when you have that kind of ability."
(h/t St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
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