Johnson, who opted for a hybrid-LARS reconstruction in August after his first traditional knee reconstruction was unsuccessful, is progressing at a similar rate to Shaw, who ruptured his ACL in the Swans round 22 clash with Geelong.
Swans physiotherapist Matt Cameron said the club’s medical team were happy with the pair’s progress this pre-season.
“Rhyce and Alex are actually quite close together in terms of where they’re at,” Cameron told SwansTV on Friday.
“Their operations happened quite close together and (with) both of them having a LARS procedure (it) means that they are really tracking pretty closely together.
“Rhyce has had a really, really good off-season and he’s even started some agility work now and in January should be doing some ball work.
“Alex is doing fitness running, he’s beginning to do some agility work too, and we’re also hoping to have him join skills training in January.”
Tracking just behind Johnson and Shaw is Tom Mitchell, who suffered an ankle injury in the Swans’ semi-final win over Carlton.
Cameron said Mitchell required time on crutches over the off-season following ankle surgery, but was now easing his way back into his running program.
“Tommy is going well,” he said.
“He had to have six or so weeks on crutches and he’s come off them now and he’s just started running on the grass today.
“We’re really happy with him, but he’ll probably be a bit behind the other guys, so it will be a bit later in January before he hits the skill work, but he’ll certainly be fitness running over Christmas.”
Kurt Tippett, who also suffered a season-ending injury in the Swans’ semi final, has resumed running after overcoming a lower leg injury.
“He hurt his knee-ankle area in the semi and he’s recovered from that injury, which took a few weeks during the off-season,” Cameron said.
“We’re now just bringing him back into training and he’s running.”
Following a long rehabilitation program to recover from a serious hamstring injury suffered in the Swans’ round 10 clash with Essendon, Swans tall Tommy Walsh is progressing at a slower-pace this pre-season.
Cameron said regaining strength in the affected area was Walsh’s main focus ahead of the Christmas break.
“Tommy’s coming along but unfortunately, because his hamstring ruptured and had to be sewn back on, he’s had some issues getting the necessary strength into that muscle,” he said.
“He’s working really hard on that at the moment and we’re not pushing his running while we’re trying to get the strength gains.
“We just can’t do too much at once.”
Swans ruckman Mike Pyke is on a modified training program after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee during the off-season.
“Mike had to have a knee arthroscope after the season finished just to have a look inside his knee because he had a little bit of damage to clean up,” Cameron said.
“Because he’s got a little bit of damage in there, we’ve modified his pre-season training and he’s just about to start running now.
“He’s had a couple of months where he hasn’t run, deliberately to allow some full recovery inside the knee joint.”
Pyke will join Adam Goodes and Lewis Roberts-Thomson on modified programs before stepping up in the New Year.
“Adam and Lewis Roberts-Thomson, they both finished the year with some damage inside their knees, but they were up and training,” Cameron said.
“In order to look after them going into the season, we’ve given them a period of time of not running.
“Pyke, Goodes, and Lewis will all start running together in the next week and will get stuck into their fitness running over the Christmas break.”
After only playing 10 minutes of football after round nine last season with successive quad injuries, Sam Reid is another player who has to get some miles in his legs before getting into skills training.
"After an extended healing time, Sam resumed running and is currently working on his fitness levels," Cameron said.
"Due to the long duration without playing in 2013, his fitness levels have become a priority and he should return to full skill training in January."
