SANTA CLARA – Cornerback Dontae Johnson had a thoroughly forgettable Sunday a few weeks in Houston when he was completely torched by Texans receiver DeAndre Hopskins. All of that faded into oblivion on Christmas Eve versus the Jaguars when Johnson returned an intercepted pass 55 yards for a score early in the second quarter.
Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles misjudged a pass to rookie receiver Keelan Cole, who tried to haul in the errant throw with one hand. The resulting tipped pass was plucked by Johnson for his first interception of the year. Without a soul in front of him, Johnson could have jogged into the end zone.
PICCCCCCCCK-6! #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/pG1LqaAvOA
— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2017
Cole looked affected by strong safety Eric Reid, who pasted him after he tipped the pass to Johnson. The defensive score put the 49ers up 16-0, which quickly turned to 16-2 when Jacksonville blocked an extra point and the Jaguars returned for their own 2-point conversion.
?️@5__On__It blocks the XP and @AColvin_22 returns it for a score.#JAXvsSF pic.twitter.com/6xeg8DcR3X
— z-#Sacksonville (@Jaguars) December 24, 2017
For the 49ers, it was their first defensive score since then cornerback Jimmy Ward scored against the Bears in 2015.