NFL veteran running back D’Ernest Johnson has signed a new contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Johnson spent the 2022 season with the Browns. Johnson has played for the Browns since 2019.
Former Browns’ free-agent running back D’Ernest Johnson reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 22, 2023
D’Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars, Agree to Contract
In 2022, Johnson was active in 15 games, making zero starts. In total, Johnson accumulated four rushes for 17 yards, and three receptions for seven yards.
After going undrafted out of South Florida in the 2018 NFL Draft, Johnson spent time at the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp but was ultimately left unsigned. He then spent the rest of the year fishing in Key West, Florida, with friends.
However, in 2019, Johnson played for the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football for its inaugural season. Once the AAF filed for bankruptcy in April 2019, Johnson then signed with the Cleveland Browns. After an impressive training camp, Johnson made the team’s 53-man roster, along with running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Overall, Johnson finished the season with 21 rushing yards and 71 receiving yards.
In 2020, Johnson saw an expanded role, as he registered 33 carries for 180 rushing yards. Johnson’s best performance came in a Week 4 victory over the Cowboys, in which Johnson recorded 13 carries for 95 rushing yards. Johnson also saw action in both of the team’s playoff games that season. In the postseason, Johnson had five kick return for 120 return yards.
The following season, Johnson continued to see his role expand. He finished the season with 100 carries for 534 yards and three rushing touchdowns, in addition to 19 receptions for 137 receiving yards. Johnson’s breakout game came in his first career start during a Week 7 victory against the Denver Broncos.
In the game, Johnson saw a significantly higher workload as Chubb and Hunt were both ruled out for the game with injuries. He then ran 22 times for 146 yards and a touchdown in a 17-14 win. For his efforts, Johnson was named the FedEx Ground Player of the Week.
Main Photo: David Dermer – USA Today Sports
