The Tennessee Titans already have quite a crowded running back room, but the team decided to add to it on Wednesday. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Titans are signing veteran running back D’Ernest Johnson to a one-year contract. Johnson, 30, certainly has an uphill battle to make the Titans' 53-man roster as he joins a room that already includes the likes of Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Nicholas Singleton and Michael Carter.
His 2025 campaign isn't doing him any favors, either, as he finished the year with just 25 rushing yards and zero touchdowns with the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. However, Johnson has also proven to be a valuable special teamer with over 900 career return yards. In fact, the Patriots had him return four kicks in their 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LV.
If Johnson can provide similar value to Tennessee while proving he can step in on offense when needed, he may just find a way onto the team's active roster. Johnson began his professional career as an undrafted free agent in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was invited to the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp but was not signed.
He then signed with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football for its inaugural 2019 season and rushed for 372 yards and caught 22 passes for 220 yards in eight games. That seemed to catch the attention of the Cleveland Browns, who then signed him. Johnson made the 53-man roster after an impressive training camp and preseason, leading the Browns with 86 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Over the next four seasons, he rushed for 738 yards and three touchdowns. In 2023, Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars to serve as the backup to Travis Etienne. He rushed for 251 yards in that role from 2023-24.
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