Georgia Tech safety Isaiah Johnson is in good spirits as he recovers from his ACL tear, but is uncertain if he’ll be ready in time for the season opener.

Johnson opened the Yellow Jackets’ fall camp in a yellow jersey, meaning he was released only to participate in non-contact drills. Johnson said he took part in individual drills with the safeties and walk-throughs. Johnson is a two-year starter at safety and Wednesday was named to the Sporting News’ preseason All-ACC team.

“Nothing serious, not too much movement,” Johnson said. “Just slow and steady.”

Given that the injury took place just over eight months ago, and a return from an ACL tear can take a year or longer, a patient course of rehabilitation is perhaps wisest.

“We’re going to kind of ease him back in,” coach Paul Johnson said.

That said, it hasn’t been easy for Isaiah Johnson to go slowly. He was sore Thursday, he said, because he went too hard in a workout.

“I have to be smart and adjust, know my boundaries, because I’m not 100 percent, so I can’t do what I really want to do,” he said. “I just have to be patient and good things will come.”

Johnson suffered the injury in bowl practice in December in a knee-to-knee collision with a teammate.

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