EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- While the Minnesota Vikings celebrated their NFC North championship Sunday night in the visitor's locker room at Lambeau Field, wide receiver Charles Johnson stood quietly on one side of the room, in the stadium where he'd begun his NFL career.

Vikings receiver Charles Johnson, who had a breakout season in 2014, has seen his snaps go elsewhere after being sidelined with a rib injury. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Johnson went from Green Bay through Cleveland to the Vikings, where he went from being a little-used receiver to playing such an important role in the Vikings' offense that offensive coordinator Norv Turner called Johnson the Vikings' top receiver late last season. Johnson caught 31 passes for 475 yards in 2014, developing a rapport with Teddy Bridgewater that helped him supplant Cordarrelle Patterson as the Vikings' starting split end last year.

His role with the Vikings dissipated in 2015, though, after Johnson sustained a rib injury in Week 3 against the San Diego Chargers. Stefon Diggs took over for Johnson, and became the Vikings' leading receiver in 2015 with 52 catches for 720 yards. Meanwhile, Johnson played just seven snaps in the season's final five games and was inactive again against the Green Bay Packers.

"I don't really know what's going on," he said. "I'm just supporting my teammates, doing what I can do."

Johnson, who finished the regular season with just nine catches, said he's talked with coaches about what he needs to do to get back on the field. He came up with one of the biggest grabs of the season, leaping to haul in a 35-yard pass in the Vikings' comeback victory Nov. 1 over the Chicago Bears, and it looked as though Johnson might have a role as the only receiver in the Vikings' '22' package (two running backs, two tight ends).

However, even those snaps have gone to other players in recent weeks, and the former practice squad player is again waiting for his chance.

"I want to be part of it, no doubt," he said. "Who would want a guy that's content with sitting on the sideline? I told them that -- 'I feel like I'm on a championship team, but I'm just on the ship.' I'm not doing anything to keep it going. Would you want a guy who's content with sitting on the bench, or a guy who's eager to get out there? It's just kind of the circumstances. We're winning, and I'm happy about it. I just wish I could do a little more. But I'd rather we win than be out there and we lose."