Dillon Johnson Was On Pins and Needles Before He Returned to Full Strength

The junior running back from Mississippi turned to acupuncture to get healthy again.

Running back Dillon Johnson, with an injured knee, could have tried any number of medical solutions to get back on the field for the University of Washington football team. 

Heat. Cold. Weights. Muscle manipulation.

However, the attending medical staff had another less than obvious treatment in mind. The people overseeing his care asked the former Mississippi State turned Husky rusher if he had any aversion to needles, and he responded to them in a positive manner.

The recommendation was made that he try acupuncture. 

"I had to go to this lady and she was tremendous," Johnson said this week. "She got me right. She put about 20 needles in my hamstrings and calves, and it hurt, but it got me better. Here I am now."

For Johnson, here is a very good place. He's coming off a 256-yard, 4-touchdown rushing output in the Huskies' 52-42 victory over USC that has led to him being named the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week after earning similar Pac-12 honors.

After initially suffering a knee injury that required surgery during his time at Mississippi State, and re-injuring himself, Johnson was handled with great care by Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff during both spring and fall camps, as well as at the beginning of the regular season.

With Cam Davis suffering a season-ending knee in an August scrimmage, Johnson was needed more than ever by the Huskies when the season began, but he wasn't quite ready. He rushed for just 12 yards against Boise State in the opener before he was held out of Washington's second game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

"When Cam went down, I really wanted to be there for the guys," Johnson said. "I could've played the Tulsa game but I would've only been about 50 percent of myself and the coaching staff did a tremendous job of telling me I'm going to be OK and reminding me to continue to get better each week."

It was at that point he was presented with the acupuncture option to become a regular part of his recovery regimen.

"If you're ever hurt, that's where you need to go," Johnson said. "I remember the medical staff asked if I like needles and I said, 'Not that much,' and they told me they had something that they thought they could help me."

Washington RB Dillon Johnson & Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. named Walter Camp National Offensive & Defensive Players of the Week

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 7, 2023

After his first session, Johnson said he returned to the acupuncturist three times a week for more than a month and continues to go whenever he feels something tense up.

While the treatment has helped him significantly this season, it was a challenge at first for the junior running back to submit to the unconventional approach to wellness.

"It's absolutely a weird feeling," he said. "If you think about it, you're not going to be able to do it. I have to sit there, close my eyes and tell myself, 'If you want to feel better this is what you have to do.' " 

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