Explore topics ‪‪Tennessee Volunteers football‬, ‪Kentucky Wildcats football‬, ‪Butch Jones‬, ‪Southeastern Conference‬‬ Kentucky football: Injury didn’t stop Stephen Johnson when Cats needed him against Tennessee

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The fans knew, erupting as Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson trotted out of the locker room following what looked like a nasty injury and ensuing X-ray. They cheered even louder when he improbably jogged back onto the field moments later. Louder still when Johnson launched himself from the 3-yard line, took a shot and tumbled into the end zone for the winning score with 33 seconds left against Tennessee on Saturday night at Kroger Field.

The hero walked to the postgame podium with his left shoulder wrapped in ice and his arm in a sling. He tried to explain his performance — just 46 yards passing but 84 critical yards rushing — in a 29-26 victory over the Volunteers, but his coaches and teammates told the story of his toughness much better.

“Amazing, really,” coach Mark Stoops said. “There’s not many players that probably would have come back and even played in that situation.”

Much less keep the ball on a read option on his first play back in the game, then keep it again and welcome contact on the 11-yard touchdown run at the end. Afterward, linebackers Josh Allen and Denzil Ware called him a “dog” and “warrior,” while running back Benny Snell went with “fighter.”

Linebacker Courtney Love said Johnson is the toughest quarterback he’s ever played with.

Johnson went down and stayed down after a 34-yard run early in the third quarter. He said his left, non-throwing shoulder went numb. Trainers took him to the locker room for tests that showed no reason to keep him out of action — but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t hurting.

Johnson was itching to get back on the field, but offensive coordinator Eddie Gran, who watched backup QB Drew Barker fumble the ball away on his second snap Saturday, wasn’t sure when or if UK’s starter would return.

“I told [the trainers] on the sidelines, ‘Just get me in, see what’s wrong, and get me right back out,’ ” Johnson said. “I definitely was gonna continue to play this game.”

He heard the cheers when he ran through the tunnel and back to the sidelines.

“That just gave me a little bit more life,” Johnson said. “It really warms your heart when you come on the field and all of BBN is screaming and shouting and just really excited for you.”

RELATED: Another ugly win, but beating Tennessee was all that mattered for Kentucky

That screaming and shouting was only a preview of the comeback Johnson and Snell led in the fourth quarter. Gran said Johnson was 100 percent on his reads all night on whether to keep the ball or hand it off.

The most important read was the last one, which sent Johnson flying and secured Kentucky’s second win against Tennessee since 1984 and the Wildcats’ second consecutive bowl bid.

The victory was unorthodox. Johnson struggled for much of the night, completing just six passes, but his legs and Snell’s 180-yard rushing total propelled Kentucky past what would’ve been a debilitating defeat.

Johnson, known for his calming presence, showed a toughness that’s far from obvious when looking at his thin frame. On his first play back from injury, he decided to tuck the ball on a read that went for 17 yards. He got up from the tackle, and while Kentucky fans were likely uneasy after yet another hit to their quarterback, Johnson clapped his hands.

It was just another moment in a night full of Stephen Johnson moments.

“I’ve seen him run head up with linebackers knowing he ain’t got no chance,” Ware said. “But he just lays it all out on the line and you can’t ask for nothing better than that.”

Allen might’ve best explained what Johnson means to Kentucky.