TAMPA, Fla. -- The Buccaneers class of free agents had been pretty quiet early in the season. But that changed Sunday.

Defensive end Michael Johnson came through with two sacks and a forced fumble that set up a touchdown. Johnson did exactly what the Bucs envisioned when they brought him in as a free agent from Cincinnati.

“What we brought him here to do: rush the passer," coach Lovie Smith said Monday. “But not just rush the passer; play the run. You look at just about every one of his plays -- to me, as I look at a player, every time you get an opportunity to strip the football, we want you going for the ball. Michael is doing that for the most part. I just liked his overall play. He tweaked his ankle a little bit early. Got rolled up again. Wasn’t lucky with that, but shook it off, came back in. We’ll need play like that from Michael throughout.”

Even before getting his ankle rolled up on, Johnson had been playing with a sprained ankle. Perhaps the most impressive thing he’s done so far is play through injury.

“Michael Johnson has played injured throughout the season,’’ Smith said. “ I wouldn’t say that he was 100 percent yesterday, but he really showed up, he played well, got one of our highest grades we give from a performance and I’m really pleased with him.’’

Makes you wonder what Johnson can do when he gets back to full strength.