Cornerback Lonnie Johnson, Jr. is now on his third NFL team this year as the Tennessee Titans claimed him off waivers after the Kansas City Chiefs cut the 26-year-old earlier this week, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The #Titans claimed DB Lonnie Johnson Jr. off waivers from the #Chiefs, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 16, 2022
Drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Johnson spent two seasons with the team. In 44 games for the Texans, Johnson recorded 172 combined tackles, 13 passes defended, and three interceptions. However, after the team drafted LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Baylor safety Jalen Pitre in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, it was clear to Johnson that his days were numbered and the team traded him to the Chiefs in May.
The trade was somewhat ironic as Johnson’s lackluster performance in the 2020 Divisional Round against Kansas City is what many remember as one of the main causes of that comeback loss.
The Chiefs apparently didn’t feel like Johnson was living up to their expectations this summer as they waived him on Monday. However, the Titans swooped in on Tuesday to claim him and see if he can add value to their secondary.
Tennessee has been dealing with depth issues in the defensive backfield, especially since the retirement of Buster Skrine, so the addition of Johnson should at least give them some peace of mind while they try to figure their secondary out. Johnson also offers some special teams experience, having played 125 snaps on that unit for Houston last season.
