Tag: Johnson

F the Packers? Bears’ brass believes it needs to be a rivalry

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Beat the Packers is a drumbeat battlecry for the Chicago Bears every season. First-year coach Ben Johnson made it reality.

The Bears are moving on to the divisional round on the heels of their first playoff win in 15 years on Saturday night over the rival Green Bay Packers. For the second time in a month, the Bears rallied to beat the Packers after falling behind by two-plus scores.

Johnson celebrated in the locker room with a fiery, expletive-laced speech. Video captured reached social media platforms and Johnson is seen red-faced shouting “Man, F— the Packers. F— Them! F—— hate those guys!”

The origin of the disdain for Green Bay is not a topic Johnson wanted to discuss after the game, but it’s not the first time he brought up beating Green Bay. The former Lions offensive coordinator went 0-2 against Detroit this season, but pointed out at his introductory press conference how much he “enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year” while working for the Lions.

The tone and tenor from Johnson, nearly as much as the result, has been a big hit in Chicago.

Chicago was 2-1 against the Packers this season without even taking an offensive snap with the lead.

Quarterback Caleb Williams already has three wins against the Packers. Before he arrived and dating back to Brett Favre starting for the Packers in 1992, Chicago had only 15 total wins against Green Bay.

Pressed Monday about exploring the roots of his budding rivalry with LaFleur and Green Bay, Johnson introduced no apologies or regrets for his foul language.

“Like I said before, there’s a rivalry that exists between these two teams,” Johnson said. “Something I fully recognize and I’m a part of. I don’t like that team. (Bears chairman and controlling owner) George (McCaskey) and I have talked, and we’re on the same page.”

–Field Level Media

Marcus Mariota still ailing, Josh Johnson could start again for Commanders

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Marcus Mariota could be unavailable in Week 18 due to his injuries, giving veteran quarterback Josh Johnson his second straight start when the Washington Commanders close the season against the host Philadelphia Eagles.

Mariota injured his throwing hand and quadriceps in Week 16 against the Eagles and missed last week’s 30-23 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He’s dealing with stitches in his right hand.

Washington coach Dan Quinn termed it as “still a stretch” on Monday per whether Mariota might be able to play. He said he will have a better idea on Wednesday.

“There’s still hope,” Quinn said.

Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards against Dallas as the Commanders dropped to 4-12. It was his first start since 2021 with the Baltimore Ravens. The 39-yard-old is 1-9 as an NFL starter.

In four appearances this season, Johnson has passed for 241 yards and one interception.

If Johnson starts, journeyman Jeff Driskel would be the No. 2 quarterback against the Eagles.

The 32-year-old has a 1-10 record while starting games for five different teams. He has not thrown a pass in two seasons with the Commanders.

Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) played in just seven games this season. He initially hurt the elbow on Nov. 2 against the Seattle Seahawks and aggravated it upon his return against the Minnesota Vikings five weeks later.

Center Tyler Biadasz (ankle/knee) will likely miss the finale but Quinn said he won’t require surgery for either of his injuries. He was injured against Dallas.

–Field Level Media

Veteran QB Josh Johnson to start for Commanders vs. Cowboys

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson will start for the Washington Commanders in their Christmas Day home game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Washington coach Dan Quinn also confirmed Wednesday that Jeff Driskel, who signed with the team on Monday, will back up Johnson. The Commanders are signing practice squad QB Sam Hartman to the 53-man roster to serve as the emergency third quarterback.

The Commanders put starter Jayden Daniels on injured reserve on Dec. 15, deciding to shut him down for the season after a variety of injuries limited him to seven games this season.

Veteran Marcus Mariota, Daniels’ backup, suffered both hand and quad injuries during last Saturday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and will not play. Quinn said there is a chance Mariota could return in the Week 18 finale, also against the Eagles.

Johnson finished 5-of-9 passing for 43 yards and an interception in relief of Mariota last week. The 39-year-old, in his 10th NFL season dating back to his debut in 2009, has played in 48 games with a 1-8 record in nine career starts. That win came in 2018 with Washington.

The Commanders (4-11) and Cowboys (6-8-1) have both been eliminated from playoff contention.

–Field Level Media

Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99), Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 2025, could debut Sunday. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images

Steelers LB Alex Highsmith out, DT Derrick Harmon might debut

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith is out for Week 3 with an ankle injury but should avoid a longer absence necessitating an injured reserve stint.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Highsmith “can be classified as out” with a sprained ankle. He was injured Sunday in Pittsburgh’s 31-17 loss to the Seahawks and won’t be on the field this week at New England.

The Steelers are waiting to see rookie first-round pick Derrick Harmon on the practice field before determining his status. A defensive tackle at Oregon, Harmon can play multiple spots on the 3-4 front but missed the first two games of the season with a knee injury. His debut this week would be a timely return as the Steelers (1-1) already ruled defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk out with a high-ankle sprain.

Linebacker Patrick Queen (oblique) and defensive back Darius Slay (shoulder) are dealing with injuries but likely to play, Tomlin said. Safety DeShon Elliott (knee) and cornerback Joey Porter (hamstring) are questionable.

Rookie running back Kaleb Johnson wasn’t ruled out, but Tomlin indicated he was demoted from the kickoff return role. Johnson did not field a kickoff that bounced in front of him in Sunday’s loss, which resulted in a Seahawks recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.

Kenneth Gainwell filled the role after Johnson’s error, and Tomlin said it’s no longer Johnson’s job.

“Probably not in the short term,” Tomlin said. “I’m certainly going to give him an opportunity to work his way back. I believe in his talent, he’s a sharp young man, he’s a hard worker. You leave a light on for him to give him an opportunity to move on from it. But he has to do that, he has to display that with his daily work, and he’s gotta earn himself back into position to be a participant.”

–Field Level Media

NFL Chicago Bears defensive back Jaylon Johnson

Bears bracing for CB Jaylon Johnson to miss extended time

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson aggravated the groin injury that limited him in the offseason and is facing an extended absence, which rates as bad news for the NFL’s worst defense.

Quarterbacks are completing 75 percent of their passes against the Bears (0-2) through two weeks with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys up next.

ESPN reported Johnson was out “indefinitely” and the Bears are evaluating the severity of the injury.

Johnson, the No. 1 cornerback on a Chicago defense hit for 39.5 points per game and 7.15 yards per play through two weeks, did not play in the opener against the Vikings and left the Week 2 loss at Detroit after diving to break up a pass intended for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Johnson remained on the turf at Ford Field after the whistle and was helped to the sideline by team trainers.

Last week, Johnson described the severity of the injury that limited him throughout the offseason to “The Pivot” podcast, saying he tore his adductor muscle from the pelvic bone. He was on the non-football injury list in training camp and said the injury occurred while training.

Like Johnson, linebacker TJ Edwards was not available due to injury Week 1. He also left the 52-21 loss to the Lions with a hamstring injury.

The Bears are also dead last allowing 9.75 yards per pass play and point differential (17 per game). They’ve allowed 10 touchdowns in two games.

Prescott is completing 68.6 percent of his passes (59 of 86, 549 yards) for the Cowboys (1-1) in an offense that features wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson.

Johnson, 26, was the 50th overall pick in the 2020 draft. He signed a four-year, $76 million contract extension with the Bears in March 2024.

Edwards had 129 tackles and four sacks last season in 17 games.

–Field Level Media

Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Fox Sports NFL Studio analyst Rob Gronkowski during a Fox Sports media party in advance of Super Bowl LIX at Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Rob Gronkowski to replace retired Jimmy Johnson on Fox pregame show

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Fox Sports confirmed Friday that retired All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski will become a full-time member of the “Fox NFL Sunday” crew, replacing Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson.

Johnson, 82, announced his retirement in March. Gronkowski previously made guest appearances on the pregame show.

The 36-year-old Gronkowski won four Super Bowl rings, three with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the Fox show, he will join host Curt Menefee and Pro Football Hall of Fame members Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Michael Strahan. NFL insider Jay Glazer also returns.

The show is entering its 32nd season. Bradshaw and Long are original members of the group.

Fox also announced Friday that its No. 1 broadcast team — play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, analyst Tom Brady and sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi — will have the Week 1 call on Sept. 7 of the game between the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.

The following week, they will be in Kansas City for the Super Bowl LIX rematch between the Chiefs and champion Philadelphia Eagles.

–Field Level Media

Defensive tackle Austin Johnson is reportedly joining the Jaguars.

Report: Jaguars signing veteran DT Austin Johnson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing veteran defensive tackle Austin Johnson, NFL Network reported on Monday.

Johnson, 31, has played in 131 NFL games (56 starts) since being drafted in the second round by Tennessee in 2016.

He recorded 19 tackles and the first two interceptions of his career in 15 games (one start) for Buffalo in 2024.

Johnson has 260 tackles and 8.5 sacks over nine seasons with the Titans (2016-19), New York Giants (2020-21), Los Angeles Chargers (2022-23) and Bills.

His arrival provides interior depth with Arik Armstead (back) working through an injury and Maason Smith on the active/physically unable to perform list.

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New York Jets owner Woody Johnson walks onto the field prior to the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Jets owner Woody Johnson buys stake in Crystal Palace FC

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New York Jets co-owner Woody Johnson is purchasing a 43 percent stake in Crystal Palace FC, the Premier League club confirmed Monday.

Johnson signed a legally binding contract to purchase American businessman John Textor’s holding in the club, with multiple outlets reporting the value of the deal at $254 million.

“Whilst the completion is pending approval from the Premier League and Women’s Super League, we do not envisage any issues and look forward to welcoming Woody as a partner and director of the club,” Crystal Palace added in a statement.

The South London-based Crystal Palace is controlled by chairman Steve Parish and American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer.

The sale could clear the way for Crystal Palace, the 2024-25 FA Cup champions, to compete in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

The club has not yet been cleared because Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings Group also has a controlling interest in the French side Lyon. There are UEFA rules that prevent two teams with the same ownership from competing in the same event.

Johnson, 78, purchased the Jets in 2000 and served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017-21 during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. He made a failed attempt to purchase the Premier League club Chelsea in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Trayveon Williams (32) reacts after a play against the Cleveland Browns in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Patriots sign free agent RB Trayveon Williams

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots on Wednesday announced the signing of free agent running back Trayveon Williams.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Williams, 27, primarily a special teams player in Cincinnati, has rushed for 307 yards in 68 career games (zero starts) since the Bengals selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. He also has 15 catches for 74 yards.

In a corresponding move, the Patriots released defensive tackle Eric Johnson II, who was claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts last August.

Johnson, 26, recorded 17 tackles in 11 games (zero starts) for the Pats last season.

–Field Level Media

The New York Jets' first-round picks Jermaine Johnson, Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and Garrett Wilson are introduced at a press conference. Syndication The Record

Jets pick up options for three 2022 first-round picks

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The New York Jets are picking up the fifth-year options on all three of their 2022 first-round draft picks, general manager Darren Mougey said Monday.

The fully guaranteed 2026 options are worth $20.1 million for cornerback Sauce Gardner (fourth overall pick), $16.8 million for wide receiver Garrett Wilson (10th) and $13.4 million for linebacker Jermaine Johnson (26th).

Gardner, 24, has earned two Pro Bowl and two All-Pro first-team selections and was the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has recorded three interceptions, 40 passes defensed and 181 tackles in 48 games (all starts).

Wilson, 24, has posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons and was the NFL’s 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has collected 279 catches for 3,249 yards and 14 touchdowns in 51 games (46 starts).

Johnson, 26, made the Pro Bowl in 2023 but missed the final 15 games last season with a torn Achilles tendon. He has 10 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, one interception and one fumble recovery in 33 games (19 starts).

–Field Level Media