Johnson returned to Cincinnati midway through the 2024 season for his second stint on the Bengals' practice squad ... He previously was on the practice squad during the 2022 campaign, then spent '23 on Detroit's practice squad ... Originally entered the league as a college free agent signee of the N.Y. Giants in 2021, and played in 15 games as a rookie for New York ... He was a three-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection during four-year career at Georgia Southern University (2017-20).
Signed with N.Y. Giants as college free agent on 5-13-21 ... Waived by Giants on 5-18-22 ... Signed with Cincinnati as free agent on 7-25-22 ... Waived by Bengals on 8-30-22 ... Signed to Bengals practice squad on 8-31-22 ... Signed to Bengals roster on 1-31-23 (Reserve/Future) ... Waived by Bengals on 8-29-23 ... Signed to Detroit practice squad on 8-31-23 ... Released from Lions practice squad on 1-23-24 ... Signed with San Francisco as free agent on 2-15-24 ... Waived by 49ers on 6-4-24 ... Signed with Jacksonville as free agent on 7-30-24 ... Waived by Jaguars on 8-25-24 ... Signed to Cincinnati practice squad on 10-16-24 ... Signed to Bengals roster (Reserve/Future) on 1-7-25.
2021—Played in 15 games as a rookie for the N.Y. Giants ... Recorded four tackles (three solos), with one sack ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 12 against Denver ... Had first career sack Nov. 22 at Tampa Bay, bringing down QB Blaine Gabbert for 10-yard loss on third down to force a Buccaneers punt.
2022—Waived by N.Y. Giants during the offseason, then signed by Cincinnati prior to start of training camp ... Spent entire regular season and postseason on Bengals' practice squad.
2023—Spent season on Detroit's practice squad.
2024—Signed on Oct. 16 to Cincinnati's practice squad, where he spent final 11 games of season ... Spent offseason with San Francisco and Jacksonville, before being waived by Jaguars on final cuts ... Was not with NFL team during first six weeks of regular season.
Spent four seasons (2017-20) at Georgia Southern University, playing in 50 career games (47 starts) ... Totaled 150 tackles (76 solos), with 16.5 sacks and 36 TFLs ... Also had five PDs, two FFs and six FRs ... Selected first-team All-Sun Belt Conference as a junior and senior ... Earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors as a sophomore and honorable mention as a freshman ... As a senior, started all 13 games and tallied 38 tackles with five sacks and 14.5 TFLs.
Hometown is Sumter, S.C. ... Attended Sumter High School ... Selected to play in South Carolina's North-South All-Star Game as a senior ... Also played basketball for two seasons ... Majored in sport management at Georgia Southern.
NOTE ABOUT NFL EXPERIENCE: Johnson did not earn an accrued year of experience toward NFL free agency in 2022, '23 or '24.