Ravens Sign Former Browns and Jaguars RB
On August 2nd, 2025, the Baltimore Ravens announced the signing of free agent running back D’Ernest Johnson. The contract is likely no more than a one-year veteran minimum deal. Johnson is not expected to take an immediate role in Baltimore’s high-powered offense. Still, the signing provides the Ravens with more depth to evaluate throughout the rest of training camp and the preseason. Johnson is now on the depth chart behind Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, and Rasheen Ali.
Undrafted out of the University of South Florida in 2018, Johnson worked out with the Saints but left New Orleans with no contract, resulting in the UDFA spending the entire 2018 season fishing down in Key West, Florida, with a friend. When the Alliance of American Football had its inaugural season in 2019, Johnson signed with the Orlando Apollos, recording almost 600 yards in eight total games. The AAF folded after one season, but Johnson showed enough talent to warrant a contract with the Cleveland Browns and eventually proved that he was worthy of a spot on Cleveland’s initial 53-man roster. Johnson was behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt on the Browns’ depth chart from 2019-2022, but was able to step up due to injuries and record a few breakout games.
Johnson recorded 95 yards on 13 carries in a 2020 win over the Dallas Cowboys. In 2021, Johnson started two games, one against the Broncos and the other against the Patriots. In the win over the Broncos, Johnson, who was filling in for the injured Chubb and Hunt, rushed for 146 yards on 25 carries, recording his first career NFL touchdown. He then almost broke 100 yards again three weeks later in New England, rushing for 99 yards on 19 carries. Johnson would only break 100 yards in a game one more time in his career, coming in a Week 18 home win over the Bengals, rushing for 123 yards and one touchdown. 2022, and his last season in Cleveland was nothing to boast about, recording an offensive statistic in only four weeks in the entire season, despite suiting up for 15 of the 17 games. In Johnson’s two years with the Jaguars, the veteran RB totaled 487 total yards and zero touchdowns, leaving him as the odd man out with Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby leading the charge for Jacksonville.
Now in Baltimore, Johnson is undoubtedly last on the depth chart, behind Henry, Hill, Mitchell, and Ali. Johnson will have to fight tooth and nail for a roster spot when the beginning of September rolls around. The perennial backup is eligible for a veteran spot on the practice squad if the Ravens choose to retain him. However, this signing could easily be a way to allow Henry and Hill to rest more during the preseason, as the duo looks to be the one-two punch in the backfield next to Lamar Jackson.
