Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Staying with Jacksonsville
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Johnson is re-signing with the Jaguars on a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson operated as the team's No. 3 running back for the majority of last season, seeing limited opportunities behind Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. It likely didn't help that the South Florida product averaged just 2.6 yards per carry on 41 attempts across his 17 appearances. He'll likely head into the Jaguars' offseason program working to hold onto his third-string role in 2024.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Finishes season in No. 3 role
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Johnson carried once for minus-one yard versus the Titans in Week 18. He played in all 17 games and had 41 rushes for 108 yards and 10 catches for 140 yards this season.
The 27-year-old opened and closed the campaign as Jacksonville's No. 3 tailback, though he did have a few weeks in the middle of the season where he worked in the No. 2 role ahead of rookie Tank Bigsby. Johnson will become a free agent during the offseason and will likely look for a new home as a backup tailback in 2024.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Diminishing role
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Johnson had three carries for zero yards and returned one kickoff for 22 yards during Sunday's 26-0 win against Carolina.
Jacksonville running backs received 29 carries in Sunday's blowout, with both Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby in double digits. Johnson played just 12 offensive snaps and may have dropped to No. 3 on the backfield depth chart.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Minimal role Week 16
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Johnson rushed once for two yards during Sunday's 30-12 loss to the Buccaneers.
Jacksonville fell behind early and rushed the ball 13 times in the blowout defeat, with just seven of those carries going to running backs. Johnson has a solid grip on the No. 2 tailback job but isn't likely to be major factor in the offense down the stretch with starter Travis Etienne healthy.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Two touches Week 15
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Johnson carried twice for five yards and wasn't targeted during Sunday's 23-7 loss against the Ravens.
The 27-year-old played 18 of 62 offensive snaps, but starter Travis Etienne was the only Jacksonville tailback to receive more than two touches. Johnson should continue to have a limited workload down the stretch as Etienne's top backup.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Limited at practice
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Johnson (knee) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Johnson was able to play through his knee injury in Jacksonville's Week 14 loss to Cleveland, so his presence on the practice field in any capacity three days later suggests that he avoided any setbacks. He'll look to increase his workload at one of the team's two remaining practice sessions ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Ravens.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Posts 28 yards from scrimmage
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Johnson carried three times for 12 yards and caught two of three targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 31-27 loss against the Browns. He also returned two kickoffs for 34 yards.
The 27-year-old suited up Sunday after being questionable with a knee injury, and he filled his usual role as Travis Etienne's top backup. Johnson eclipsed 40 yards from scrimmage in three straight contests after taking over the No. 2 role Week 10, but his average of 18.5 total yards over the past two games is likely a better representation of his expected production while Etienne is available.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Takes questionable tag into weekend
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Johnson (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns.
Johnson was listed as a limited participant in all three of the Jaguars' practices this week, but Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com relays that the 27-year-old running back is likely to play. If available, Johnson would handle his usual duties as the top backup to Travis Etienne (ribs), who is also listed as questionable but in line to play.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Bothered by knee
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Johnson was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury.
Lead back Travis Etienne (ribs) also was a limited participant, two days after playing through his injury and taking 15 touches for 79 yards and a touchdown while playing 62 percent of snaps on offense in a 34-31 overtime loss to Cincinnati. Johnson had six touches for 10 yards while playing 36 percent of snaps in the loss, and he's likely looking at a similar role this Sunday against the Browns, though the Jaguars may feature their backs more than usual with wideout Christian Kirk (groin) already ruled out and quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle) quite possibly sidelined as well. A limited practice to start Week 14 prep suggests Johnson is on track to play, at least.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Five carries Week 13
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Johnson carried five times for four yards and caught his lone target for five yards during Monday's 34-31 loss to Cincinnati.
The 27-year-old once again operated as Jacksonville's No. 2 tailback and played 25 of 69 offensive snaps, though he finished below 40 scrimmage yards for the first time since Week 8. Johnson appears to have a firm grip on the backup job but is nothing more than Travis Etienne insurance for fantasy managers.
Johnson carried seven times for 20 yards and caught his lone target for 34 yards during Sunday's 34-14 win against Tennessee.
The 27-year-old played a season-high 17 offensive snaps and didn't have much success on the ground in the blowout victory, but his 34-yard catch-and-run during the third quarter tied for Jacksonville's longest play of the day. Johnson has 10 carries for 32 yards and three catches for 62 yards over the past two games, with those 13 touches eclipsing his total from the first eight contests combined. It appears he's taken over the No. 2 RB job from rookie Tank Bigsby, though neither player has much fantasy utility while starter Travis Etienne remains healthy.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Minimal role Week 4
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Johnson had one carry for minus-2 yards during Sunday's 23-7 win over the Falcons in London.
JaMycal Hasty suited up for the first time this season as Jacksonville had all four of its tailbacks active, but starter Travis Etienne still dominated the offensive snaps with an 85 percent share. Johnson has just six carries for eight yards and three catches for 15 yards through the first four weeks of the season.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Five touches in loss
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Johnson rushed three times for six yards while catching both of his targets for six yards in Sunday's 37-17 loss to the Texans.
Johnson's three rushes and two catches were both season-highs through three weeks. Surprisingly, the veteran running back out-snapped top backup Tank Bigsby 12 to nine in the contest. Johnson was unable to produce much with his increased opportunities. Barring an injury to Travis Etienne or Bigbsy, Johnson should remain off the fantasy radar when the Jaguars host the Falcons in Week 4.
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Jaguars' D'Ernest Johnson: Buried on depth chart
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Johnson carried the ball six times for 36 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 25-7 preseason win over the Lions. He added two receptions for seven yards.
Johnson finished second on the team with six carries and he was effective, punching in scores from 15 yards and one yard away. However, he was the third back on the field even with Travis Etienne sitting out, and he didn't tally a carry until the second half. Johnson has 11 carries for 67 yards across two contests this preseason, but he appears to be fourth on the depth chart despite his effectiveness.
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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: 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.
