ERIC JOHNSON | Profile 49ers' tight end leader in receptions

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Quick -- name the NFL's leader in pass receptions.
The Vikings' Randy Moss? The Colts' Marvin Harrison? The Rams' Isaac Bruce? The Steelers' Hines Ward? The Eagles' Terrell Owens?
No, no, no, no and no.
With 41 receptions (three more than Bruce), San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Johnson is leading the league after five weeks.
"I definitely didn't expect this," said Johnson between meetings preparing for Sunday's game against the Jets. "Before the season began, my goal was to maybe lead tight ends in receptions."
What's even more amazing about Johnson is his college background -- he's an Ivy Leaguer.
Seventh rounder
The Niners' drafted Johnson, a wide receiver for Yale, in the seventh round of the 2001 draft. He made 15 starts as a rookie and 10 more in 2002, but missed all of the 2003 season when he broke his collarbone in the third exhibition game.
"A broken collarbone is brutal -- you try to go to sleep and you keep hearing it clicking back in and out," the Massachusetts native said.
This fall, he's not avoided pain. Last Sunday, the 6-3, 256-pound Johnson caught 13 passes for 162 yards, including a 23-yarder to set up Todd Peterson's winning field goal in San Francisco's first win, 31-28 in overtime over the Arizona Cardinals.
Johnson was playing with severely bruised ribs, perhaps even one that's cracked.
"I got crunched by one of the Rams' defensive ends [on Oct. 2]," Johnson said.
Niners coach Dennis Erickson said Johnson has "an innate ability to get open. He gets on linebackers and makes plays. He's a receiver playing tight end.
Needed more weight
"That's what he was in college," Erickson said. "[Team consultant] Bill Walsh saw him and projected him as a tight end once he put on some weight.
"He's a tremendous receiver, but he has to get better at blocking," Erickson said. "But for him to be among the league receiving leaders is fascinating."
After sitting out last week's practice, Johnson said a pain blocker allowed him to play against the Cardinals.
"People have played with broken ribs," Johnson said. "All week long, I hardly moved and that seemed to help."
Johnson also sat out practice this week, but intends to line up for Sunday's game in Giants Stadium. He expects that at least 30 friends and family members will be looking on.
Johnson said the Niners' 0-4 start caught his teammates off guard even though they knew a younger team would suit up this fall after quarterback Jeff Garcia, tailback Garrison Hearst and offensive linemen Ron Stone and Derrick Deese were released in cost-cutting moves, and wide receiver Owens was traded.
Reasoning
The releases were designed to allow the 49ers, who are owned by John and Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield, to eat up dead salary (money owed to released players) under this year's cap.
Johnson grew up in Needham, Mass., about 20 minutes from Boston. He's not given up on the Red Sox despite their 0-for-2 performance at Yankee Stadium in the American League Championship Series.
And he knows his alma mater will have a winner for president in the Nov. 2 election.
His choice?
"[Sen. John] Kerry -- I'm from Massachusetts," Johnson said.
williams@vindy.com