Vikings make Johnson their starting punter

Eddie Johnson, a former Newport Harbor High and Orange Coast College

standout, has become the Minnesota Vikings’ starting punter after the

team made 11 cuts Monday.

The Vikings cut Nick Murphy, who had been battling Johnson for the

Vikings’ starting punter position. Johnson is now the lone punter on

the team. He was the Vikings’ sixth-round selection in the 2003 NFL

Draft.

Minnesota will end its preseason by playing host to Arizona

Thursday at 5 p.m. Johnson and the Vikings will open the regular

season at Green Bay, Sept. 7, a game scheduled to be aired locally at

10 a.m.

Johnson wears jersey No. 4.

-- by Steve Virgen