Former Eli Johnson '01 has four catches in NFL debut

He may not have stolen the show, but rookie tight end Eric Johnson '01 turned in a solid performance in his professional debut with the San Francisco 49ers Sunday.

The former Eli standout caught four passes for 34 yards --three of them for first downs -- as his new team scored a 16-13 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons in their season opener.

Johnson registered his first career reception on the final play of the first quarter, catching a Jeff Garcia pass for three yards and a 49er first down.

Later on the same drive from the Atlanta 48-yard line, Johnson caught a Garcia throw at the 42 and turned up the field for 10 more yards before being tackled. The drive would result in a 49er field goal, the team's first points of the game.

Trailing by three points with four minutes remaining in regulation and the ball on their own 14-yard line, Garcia found Johnson for a 12-yard gain on the first play of what proved to be the game-tying drive.

Johnson's four receptions tied for the third-highest total in the game.