Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Gets chance in Jacksonville
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Johnson agreed Wednesday with the Jaguars on a one-year contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson is coming off a quiet 2022 campaign with the Browns, but he flashed in limited opportunities back in 2021, when he handled 100 carries for 534 yards and three scores. The 27-year-old could now get a chance to complete for with the likes of JaMycal Hasty and Snoop Conner for complementary work behind No. 1 running back Travis Etienne, making him an interesting end-of-roster flier in dynasty or best-ball formats.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Quietly heads to free agency
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Johnson played 10 snaps on special teams and did not play on offense in Sunday's 28-14 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 18.
Johnson finished the year with just seven touches -- four rushes and three receptions -- and heads quietly into the offseason. It was a different tale last season, after Johnson capably filled in for injured backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, rushing 100 times for 534 yards and three touchdowns. There's very little mileage on Johnson, who turns 27 in February. The Browns are expected to go with Jerome Ford as the top backup to Chubb, and Johnson likely feels ready for a bigger role than he had in 2022. Both he and Kareem Hunt are in the final year of their deals and will entertain offers from other teams.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: No run on offense
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Johnson played 15 snaps on special teams and none on offense in Sunday's 27-14 win over Houston.
It's not surprising to see Johnson used on special teams only, but it was interesting that Jerome Ford got his first snaps and touches on offense. If an injury to Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt should occur in the final weeks of the regular season, it's not a given that Johnson would get first crack at replacing either back in the rotation.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Used on special teams only
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Johnson did not play on offense during Sunday's 31-23 loss to Buffalo.
Johnson's usage as a running back has decreased significantly, as both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have stayed healthy. He popped for 534 yards (5.3 YPC) when given an opportunity in 2021, but those that speculated on him in 2022 have been disappointed.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Season-high snap count
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Johnson caught his lone target for minus-2 yards and did not carry the ball in Sunday's 39-17 loss to the Dolphins in Week 10.
Johnson was on the field for a season-high 12 snaps, but opportunities for the running game dwindled once the Browns fell behind by three scores early in the third quarter. He'll remain outside of fantasy consideration as long as Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt stay healthy.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Week 9 Waiver Priority List
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Johnson is only listed here with the chance Kareem Hunt gets traded. If that happens, Johnson would be No. 2 on the depth chart in Cleveland behind Nick Chubb, meaning Johnson is an injury away from being a must-start Fantasy running back. In 2021, Johnson had three games with at least 19 carries for the Browns, and he scored at least 20 PPR points in all three outings. And if Johnson were to take the 30-plus snaps Hunt gets on a weekly basis, he might be a flex option in deeper leagues. We'll update this post Tuesday evening, but plan on spending at least 10 percent of your remaining FAB on Johnson if Hunt is traded.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Mops up win
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Johnson had four carries for 17 yards in Monday's 32-13 win over Cincinnati.
Johnson was given his first rushing attempts of the season, all on the game's final drive as Cleveland iced a blowout win. The Browns snapped a four-game losing streak and resuscitated their season with the victory, which may have the organization thinking about improvements for a playoff run. That means either Johnson or Kareem Hunt, both in the final year of their contracts, could be moved by Tuesday's trade deadline. If either of those events happen, Johnson's fantasy outlook should improve.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Could gain larger role soon
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Johnson's role with the Browns could change as rumors pick up about the team trading Kareem Hunt before next Tuesday's 4:00 pm trade deadline, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
The report doesn't get into specific trade partners interested in Hunt, but Cleveland is reportedly seeking a fourth-round draft pick as a starting point for discussions. Both Johnson and Hunt are on expiring contracts, making each of them a possible trade piece. Hunt's role has dwindled the last two weeks -- he has a total of 10 touches Weeks 6 and 7 after averaging more than 11 per game over the first five weeks. If the Browns trade Hunt, Johnson would move up to second on the depth chart. If Johnson is traded, the team trading for him presumably would have a bigger role waiting for him. Per usual, Johnson is listed as third at running back on the Browns' unofficial depth chart and as the primary kickoff returner for Monday night's game against the Bengals.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Gathers two catches in loss
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Johnson caught two of two targets for nine yards in Sunday's 38-15 loss to the Patriots in Week 6.
Johnson had his most significant contributions of the season yet, but he remains a fringe player on offense. As long as Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are healthy, Johnson will play a limited role.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Limited to special teams
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Johnson played 15 snaps on special teams in the Browns' 30-28 loss to the Chargers in Week 5.
The Browns have kept Johnson under wraps the first five games of the season, making him inactive the first three weeks and limiting him mostly to special-teams work in Weeks 4 and 5. He hasn't been deployed as a return man on special teams either, despite Jerome Ford (ankle) being added to injured reserve. Cleveland's backfield duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have been dominant through five games, so Johnson has no clear path to playing on offense at this time.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Gets one offensive snap
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Johnson played one snap on offense and 17 snaps on special teams in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Falcons.
Johnson, who was inactive the first two weeks, saw his first action on offense in Week 4. He also helped replace the injured Jerome Ford (ankle) on kickoff returns. With Ford hitting injured reserve Tuesday, the Browns listed Johnson as Ford's replacement on the team's unofficial depth chart for Week 5 against the Chargers.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: No offensive snaps
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Johnson played 15 special-teams snaps and did not line up on offense in Thursday's 29-17 win over the Steelers in Week 3.
Johnson was active for the first time this season, as Demetric Felton was given the night off. The former has experience as a returner, but the Browns did not have him return once, choosing to use Chester Rogers on punts and Jerome Ford or David Bell on kickoffs. It's possible the Browns don't want to expose Johnson to injury as a returner so that he can be used as a trade chip later in the season.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Suiting up Thursday
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Johnson is listed as active Thursday against the Steelers, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
For the first time this season, Johnson won't be a healthy scratch and instead will be available to the Browns offense. Still, reps will be tough to come by behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. In the seven games in which all three running backs were available last season, Johnson managed just seven touches for 38 yards from scrimmage on 28 offensive snaps.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Inactive again
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Johnson was inactive Week 2 against the Jets.
Johnson opens the season with two inactive designations in the first two games. Both Demetric Felton and Jerome Ford have been active ahead of Johnson, as each have roles in the return game. With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt healthy, having Johnson active may be seen as a luxury, but it should be noted he also has return experience and could replace either Felton or Ford.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Inactive against Carolina
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive Week 1 against the Panthers.
With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt both healthy and set to lead the backfield in the opening week, it appears the Browns won't require the services of Johnson, who racked up 534 yards and three touchdowns on the ground a season ago. Cleveland will keep fifth-round pick Jerome Ford active as the third running back, with the rookie likely poised to do more work on special teams, such as return kicks.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Logs 32 snaps
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Johnson had seven carries for 29 yards in Saturday's preseason finale against Chicago.
Johnson played in all three preseason games and logged his most time Saturday, getting on the field for 32 snaps. As was the case in the first two games, neither Nick Chubb nor Kareem Hunt played, as the Browns got a look at backs further down the depth chart. With quarterback Deshaun Watson set to miss the first 11 games of the season, Cleveland is expected to rely on its depth at running back. There had been speculation about trading Johnson or Hunt for a wide receiver to bolster a lack of proven options behind Amari Cooper, but the need for health and depth at running back might outweigh the luxury of an additional pass catcher.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Agrees to one-year deal
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Johnson and the Browns have reached an agreement on a one-year deal worth $2.43 million, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson was originally tendered by the Browns, which gave them the ability to match any other offer he received. Without any substantial offers, the running back has ultimately opted to take the deal with Cleveland. With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt the primary two backs in the offense, Johnson projects to again be the next-man-up should either go down with an injury. He averaged 5.34 yards per attempt on 100 carries for the team in 2021 while finding the end zone three times.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Eclipses century mark in win
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Johnson rushed 25 times for 123 yards and a touchdown and brought in his only target for 10 yards in the Browns' 21-16 win over the Bengals on Sunday.
With nothing to play for in terms of the postseason and backup Case Keenum helming the offense, head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to give some other reserves a chance to showcase their skills, and Johnson cashed in nicely on the opportunity. The talented 25-year-old already had demonstrated his ability to serve as a legitimate lead back when called upon earlier this season, so his strong showing against a short-handed Bengals defense looking ahead to the playoffs wasn't completely surprising. Johnson finishes the season with 534 rushing yards and another 137 yards through the air, but with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in front of him, his path to meaningful playing time could well continue to hinge on injuries in front of him if he remains in Cleveland. However, Johnson is a restricted free agent, so there's a chance he did enough this season to warrant interest from other clubs depending on the qualifying offer the Browns extend.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Available for Week 18
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Johnson is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Johnson was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, and with Kareem Hunt (ankle) inactive, the stage is set for Johnson to be available to work behind Nick Chubb in the Browns' Week 18 backfield, with Demetric Felton on hand in reserve.
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Browns' D'Ernest Johnson: Set to play
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Cleveland activated Johnson (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.
Johnson will be available for Sunday's season finale against the Bengals, though he may not be in store for a major role since lead back Nick Chubb carries no injury designation after being limited in practice all week due to rib and chest injuries. Meanwhile, No. 2 back Kareem Hunt is listed as questionable with the ankle injury that has sidelined him since Week 14. Expect more clarification on Johnson's role once Cleveland releases its inactive list prior to the team's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
