Johnson catches on with 49ers

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers might have found the No.1 receiver for whom they’ve been searching. He was buried on the Arizona Cardinals’ depth chart.

Bryant Johnson, who spent most of his five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals in the shadows of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, is expected to start for the 49ers this season at split end.

It just so happens that his first game with his new team will be against his former team. The 49ers open the season Sunday against the Cardinals at Candlestick Park.

“You look at it just like any other game,” Johnson said. “The thing you have to be careful about going into a situation like this is OD’ing on your emotions. I’m here now. I’m not there anymore and I’m taking the approach they’re an opponent now.”

Johnson’s arrival with the 49ers is a much-needed boost to a team that has lacked a true No.1 receiver since Terrell Owens left the franchise after the 2003 season. It also chips away at one of the Cardinals’ strengths in recent seasons. Johnson, the No.17 overall pick in the 2003 draft, was among the most talented non-starting receivers in the league.

“We lose a lot,” Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner said. “Bryant was a great complement to our other two guys. He was very explosive and could give us the big play and stretch the field.”

Warner said one of his greatest comforts was when Boldin and Fitzgerald were lined up on the same side of the field and Johnson got single coverage on the other side.

“I had full confidence in him that he would win,” Warner said. “I just knew that if people wanted to overload the other two guys, I had extreme confidence in B.J. He was going to do the right thing and he was going to win in one-on-one situations.”

Johnson averaged 42 catches for 535 yards and two touchdowns and started 39 games in five seasons with the Cardinals.

“When we had injuries to both Larry and Anquan, he stepped up and did a very good job in both roles when he needed to,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “And as our third receiver, he had a couple of big catches.”

But when Johnson hit the free-agent market in March, there was not a lot of demand for his services. Unable to attract a multiyear contract, the 49ers signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract nearly three weeks into the signing period.

Although he did not attract much attention on the open market, he said he ultimately decided to sign with the 49ers because of both his familiarity with receivers coach Jerry Sullivan, who was Cardinals offensive coordinator during Johnson’s rookie season, and his affinity for Mike Martz’s offense.

With a good season, Johnson should be able to parlay some success into a long-term contract — if not with the 49ers then with another team.

“I’m just looking to be productive,” Johnson said. “I’m in a great situation. And I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Asked what he expects to show in the 49ers’ offense, Johnson said he just wants to blend in and do his job.

“Just to be another playmaker,” Johnson said. “If you look at our offense, we have tons of playmakers on this offense. Just to be another playmaker who can create mismatches out there with the defense.”

Johnson started 19 games his first two seasons but took an immediate back seat to Boldin, selected in the second round of the same draft. The Cardinals selected Fitzgerald with the No.3 overall selection in the ’04 draft, pushing Johnson further into the background.

“I’ll just say it was something I had to deal with,” he said. “I had no control over who they were going to draft and the type of decisions they make. All I can do is try to be the best football player I can possibly be.”

NOTES

Left guard Adam Snyder will start ahead of David Baas, coach Mike Nolan said. Tony Wragge is scheduled to start at right guard. Wragge took advantage of his extended audition when Baas sustained a torn pectoral tendon in April.

Jeff Ulbrich and Takeo Spikes will split time at strong inside linebacker, but Nolan said it has not been determined which player will start the game.

Tight end Delanie Walker sat out of practice with a calf injury. He is expected to be available for practice today, and should be available to play Sunday.

Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin (knee) and linebacker Parys Haralson (shoulder) are still listed on the injury report despite going through their second straight full practices.

You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.