Impact The running back didn't attempt a run in his only game Week 3 versus the Packers. After being waived by the Lions in May, Johnson joined the 49ers in September, but he will now search for a new team.
OCTOBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
KERRYON JOHNSON
Cut from practice squad Johnson was released from the 49ers practice squad Tuesday, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
Back on practice squad Johnson reverted to the 49ers' practice squad Monday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Impact With the 49ers backfield depleted by injuries, Johnson was called up to the active roster but didn't make an impact on offense this past Sunday against the Packers, being relegated to nine snaps on special teams. Trenton Cannon also was used exclusively on special teams (17 such plays), while Trey Sermon (41 snaps on offense) and Kyle Juszczyk (52 total plays) were the other backs to see action. There's hope Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) is able to do enough this week to return next Sunday versus the Seahawks, which could mean no elevation for Johnson in Week 4.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Only used on special teams Johnson only logged nine special teams snaps in Sunday's 30-28 loss to Green Bay.
Impact Johnson was promoted from the practice squad prior to Sunday's contest due to the absences of Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) and JaMycal Hasty (ankle). The veteran back was not used on offense despite the lack of active bodies, as starter Trey Sermon was the only running back to see any carries. Head coach Kyle Shanahan clearly did not want to rely on newcomers to his offensive system in an important game, opting to use fullback Kyle Juszczyk and even tight end George Kittle in shotgun running attempts ahead of all of the backup running back options. Hasty was placed on IR last week, but Mitchell hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's contest against Seattle. Either way, it appears that Johnson will not have much utility, if any at all, for Week 4.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
49ers elevate RB Kerryon Johnson to active roster, place 2 on IR The #49ers elevated RB Kerryon Johnson from their practice squad and placed 2 players on IR.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Possible promotion looming Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that there's a 'chance' Johnson could be activated from the team's practice squad this week, Keiana Martin of the 49ers' official website reports.
Impact Johnson was added to the team's practice squad after Raheem Mostert (knee) was ruled out for the season. Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) has a chance to play Week 3, but Trey Sermon (concussion) and JaMycal Hasty (ankle) will likely be unavailable against the Packers next Sunday. Trenton Cannon is currently the only healthy running back on the 49ers' active roster, so a promotion for Johnson seems inevitable. San Francisco also held a workout for veterans Lamar Miller, T.J. Yeldon and Duke Johnson on Monday.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
49ers survive season-opening trip with 2 straight wins
The San Francisco 49ers’ season-opening road trip featured a few key injuries, a near fourth-quarter collapse and an ugly offensive performanceSEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
49ers RB Raheem Mostert to undergo season-ending surgery
San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert will undergo season-ending surgery on his knee after getting injured in the season openerSEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joins Niners' practice squad Johnson agreed Tuesday to join the 49ers' practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact San Francisco's addition of Johnson comes after top running back Raheem Mostert announced earlier Tuesday that he would undergo season-ending surgery to address cartilage damage to his knee. Johnson will provide the organization with some experienced depth in the backfield, but it's not immediately clear if he'll be promoted to the 53-man active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Eagles, who coincidentally waived the 24-year-old on an injury settlement in August. Johnson is presumably healthy again after battling a knee issue in the preseason, but whether he can come close to recapturing the burst he displayed as a rookie with the Lions in 2018 remains questionable. After averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his first season in Detroit, Johnson dropped down to 3.5 YPC over his final two years with the Lions before being waived in May.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Waived with injury settlement Johnson (knee) has been waived by the Eagles with an injury settlement, independent NFL journalist Aaron Wilson reports.
Impact Johnson has seen his stock plummet from splitting time in the Lions offense over the last three seasons to looking to find a home for 2021. He reportedly was on his way to making the Eagles' roster before suffering a knee injury that left him week-to-week, so moving off of injured reserve with an injury settlement could allow him to sign with another club should injuries begin to surface elsewhere and his knee proves sound.
AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Heads to injured reserve Johnson (knee) reverted to injured reserve Wednesday after clearing waivers, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Impact The Lions, who selected Johnson in the second round of the 2018 draft, cut ties with the running back in May. He was quickly scooped up by the Eagles, and through the first two weeks of training camp he was on a path to making their regular-season roster. But Johnson injured his knee at Saturday's practice, was given a week-to-week prognosis and now resides on IR. It's unclear if he'll recover enough to be able to play this season, but in order to do so the Eagles would have to cut the running back with an injury settlement.
AUGUST 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Eagles waive RB Kerryon Johnson, C Luke Juriga, and T Casey Tucker with an injury designation The Eagles had to get to the 85-player limit by 4 PM on Tuesday.
AUGUST 17, 2021 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM
Waived by Eagles Johnson (knee) was waived/injured by the Eagles on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Impact A knee injury cost Johnson his shot to compete for a depth role in a crowded backfield. The Eagles listed the 2018 second-round pick as week-to-week on their most recent practice report, so he may be out for the rest of the preseason even if another team wants to sign him. With Johnson out of the picture, Jordan Howard has a better shot to make the Week 1 roster.
AUGUST 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Week-to-week with knee injury Johnson (knee) is listed as week-to-week on Monday's practice report, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Johnson hurt his knee Saturday in the first practice after Thursday's preseason loss to the Steelers. He took two carries for 12 yards in the contest, having a quiet night along with the rest of the Philadelphia RBs (10 total carries for 48 yards). Even if he's out for only a week or two, the missed time could hurt Johnson's chances to make the regular-season roster. With Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell all likely to have spots, the Eagles' other four running backs (Johnson, Jordan Howard, Jason Huntley, Elijah Holyfield) may just be competing for the possibility of one job.
AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Injures knee Johnson is being evaluated for a knee injury, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Impact It's not exactly clear when Johnson sustained the injury, but considering the team hasn't immediately downplayed it and it also involves his balky knee, the injury has to be at least some cause for concern. Prior to this, the former Lions back was surging up the Eagles depth chart, seemingly jumping ahead of Jordan Howard for one of the last roster spots on the team. More information regarding the severity of the injury should come in the near future.
AUGUST 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Eagles starters will play preseason opener; Dillard injured
Nick Sirianni and his staff “are still talking through” how playing time will be allocated in Philadelphia's preseason opener Thursday against the Pittsburgh SteelersAUGUST 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lions' Cabinda getting comfortable back in the backfield
Jason Cabinda knows how to make a position transitionAUGUST 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Has inside track on roster spot Johnson currently looks to be ahead of Jordan Howard for a spot on the Eagles' roster, Chris Franklin of NJ.com reports.
Impact Johnson's abilities as a receiver and pass blocker thus far have given him an advantage over the more one-dimensional Howard in camp. Additionally, the 24-year-old has quieted concerns over his health as his previously balky knee hasn't given him any trouble to date. He's also become a mentor to some of the team's younger backs. Rookie Kenneth Gainwell is generating buzz in camp as well, and the pair looks likely to fill out the running-back depth chart for Philadelphia on game days behind Miles Sanders and Boston Scott.
AUGUST 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Accepts pay cut Johnson agreed to a pay cut after the Eagles claimed him off waivers last month, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Impact Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Johnson originally was scheduled for a base salary and cap hit around $1.37 million, but he'll now settle for $920,000, the league minimum for a player with three accrued NFL seasons. The 2018 second-round pick will need to battle for a roster spot in Philadelphia, where he'll be competing for reps in a backfield that includes Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Jordan Howard and fifth-round rookie Kenneth Gainwell. There isn't a clear roster lock beyond Sanders, though it would be surprising if at least Scott didn't also make the cut.
JUNE 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Are Eagles sending Miles Sanders a message by drafting Gainwell, adding Kerryon Johnson? Miles Sanders is perceived as the Eagles' lead running back. But the Eagles have added 2 backs in the last two weeks.
MAY 15, 2021 • DELAWAREONLINE.COM
Kerryon Johnson: Release by Detroit ‘kind of scary’ The former Auburn running back has joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a waiver claim.
MAY 12, 2021 • AL.COM
Philadelphia Eagles see low-risk, high-reward with Kerryon Johnson, 3 facts Just when you thought things had gone silent around Novacare Way at the Philadelphia Eagles home base, the Birds, as they usually do, make a...
MAY 9, 2021 • INSIDETHEIGGLES.COM
NFC North news: Eagles claim former Lions RB Kerryon Johnson The writing was on the wall for Kerryon Johnson last year after the Lions invested a second-round pick on D’Andre Swift, just two years afte...
MAY 9, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Claimed by Eagles Philadelphia claimed Johnson off waivers from the Lions on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact The Eagles continue to add depth behind top tailback Miles Sanders, with Johnson joining the likes of Boston Scott, Jordan Howard and fifth-round rookie Kenneth Gainwell in the backfield. Johnson still has youth on his side -- his 24th birthday won't come until June -- and his issues with efficiency and availability over the last two seasons can largely be blamed on injury. Still, facing real competition for a limited amount of depth touches doesn't bode well for Johnson's chances of manufacturing a career resurgence in the final year of his rookie contract.
MAY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Time in Detroit comes to an end The Lions will waive Johnson on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Impact Johnson didn't quite reach expectations as a 2018 second-round pick, having been limited to 10 games as a rookie due to injuries, and then averaging fewer than 4.0 yards per carry in both 2019 and 2020. With the Lions having signed Jamaal Williams this offseason to back up D'Andre Swift before adding seventh-round pick Jermar Jefferson to the backfield, the writing has been on the wall regarding Johnson's tenure with the organization. Still heading into his age-24 campaign, Johnson could end up being claimed on waivers by a team in need of backfield depth, with the Falcons, Jets or Dolphins representing potential landing spots.
MAY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
AP source: Lions releasing running back Kerryon Johnson
A person familiar with the situation says the Detroit Lions are releasing running back Kerryon JohnsonMAY 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
