Buffs' Johnson Returns To Live Drills

BOULDER — Colorado forward Xavier Johnson returned to live drills Friday with the Buffaloes, the first time he's participated in full-contact work since tearing his Achilles tendon last summer.

“It was good to get back out there and compete a little bit,” Johnson said. “I didn't do every drill, but I did a live drill. It's good to compete.”

Johnson won't, however, be playing Sunday when the Buffs play host to Oregon in a 5 p.m. game (Pac-12 Networks) at the Coors Events Center — and the decision on whether he'll return at all this year has yet to be made.

Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining. If he returns this season, it would be his last at Colorado. If he chooses to redshirt, he would be able to return for a full season next year.

Johnson said the medical staff has cleared him for full participation.

“The doctors told me that my Achilles won't tear again,” Johnson said. “So now it's just a matter of getting my strength up in my calf.”

Colorado coach Tad Boyle has said the decision on whether to return is completely up to Johnson — and Johnson said he hasn't reached a decision yet.

“It's all up in the air still,” Johnson said. “The best thing is getting back in game flow and getting back in shape. I just have to keep doing that — get in game shape, keep practicing now. No going back, keep pushing forward.”

Last week, Boyle said Johnson's decision will no doubt be influenced by how soon he's ready to see game action.

“There's no decision to be made until he's healthy and ready to go,” Boyle said last week. “The problem is I don't know when that date's going to be and he doesn't know when that date's going to be. … I'm just going day by day and seeing how he's doing. It's going to be all his decision.”

The Buffs have 14 regular season games remaining, plus the Pac-12 Tournament and any other postseason games they might earn.

Johnson admitted he's still at least a couple of weeks away from being game-ready.

“Fully back to doing what I used to do — probably another week and half, two weeks,” Johnson said. “Then getting back to fully all the way, probably another two weeks.”

Johnson, who played in 29 games last year and started 15, finished as CU's third-leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Johnson didn't participate in all of CU's drills Friday, but did participate in a some live contact, his first of the season.

“It felt pretty good,” he said. “It tightens up on me still a little bit, but it's not my Achilles that tightens up. It's just some aches. (But) I don't think about it. When I'm out there playing, I just focus on playing basketball.”

Johnson also said he still needs to work on his timing — it's been seven months since he's seen live action — as well as his conditioning.

“I probably need to run some more,” he said. “It's been six months, so I'm getting back in the flow.”

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu.