Chris Johnson didn’t quite get Larry Fitzgerald money – $50 million guaranteed – but he still got paid: According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, the Titans running back just inked a 4-year, $53.5 million contract, and $30 million of that will be guaranteed.

Johnson, who turns 26 in three weeks, is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league, but running backs in the NFL are proving to be less durable than they once were, so expect this deal to be frontloaded in the first three years (like Mike Vick’s $100 million deal in which he’ll get $40 million guaranteed).

With the season less than two weeks away, how quickly can Johnson regain his superstar form? The Titans open against Jacksonville, Baltimore and Denver, and only one of those defenses is formidable. I’d expect to see plenty of Javon Ringer mixed in for the first couple weeks while Johnson gets his legs back. I think by the time November rolls around and the schedule softens up, Tennessee could be dangerous.

Hasselbeck has a few weapons at his disposal – Cook, Britt, Johnson – and I think the only thing that could keep this team from contending for a playoff spot is a shaky front seven on defense.

Previously: Chris Johnson Continues Showdown With Titans Over Contract
Previously: A Thought About the Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson’s Impact on the Passing Game