The jersey number 23 brings us to one of the newest Panthers in CB Leonard Johnson. Johnson is currently practicing but is on the Active/Non-football injury list. What the hell is that I asked myself? (and maybe you did too). So I looked it up:
Non-Football Injury (NFI) List
The NFL has a second injury list that is similar to the PUP list, but is based on different timing of injuries. The Non-Football Injury list has rules that closely adhere to those in the Active/PUP and Reserve/PUP, but it is classified differently. The most obvious inclusion would be injuries suffered off the football field (game AND practice fields). If a player gets hurt away from team activities, the team would be eligible to place him on the NFI list.
There’s a couple differences between the PUP and NFI which I’ll give you the crib notes version. First, the team doesn’t have to pay the full salary, it is instead negotiated. Second, the player must be removed from the list and added to the active roster by the end of the preseason or the player will have to sit out the first 6 weeks of the training camp (today if this is correct). Okay so now that we got those details out of the way, here’s more details on Johnson.
First some details on his injury and why he landed on the NFI:
Johnson began training camp on the active/non-football injury list with an Achilles injury. Johnson suffered the injury last season when he was with the Patriots but did not undergo surgery until this offseason. The cornerback can be removed from the list at any point and rejoin the team on the field. There will be plenty of reps for young Panthers' defensive backs to begin camp with Johnson and fellow corner Bene Benwikere (ankle) both on the sidelines.
He’s a 5th year player having spent his first three seasons with the Bucs getting 17 starts while playing in all 48 games. Johnson has experience playing both on the outside and at the nickel. His best season was 2013:
2013: Played in 16 games with eight starts for Tampa Bay...Recorded 61 tackles, one interception, eight passes defensed and one forced fumble...Added one special teams tackle...Started the first four games at cornerback in addition to making four starts at nickel back...At New York Jets (9/8): Collected a career-high nine tackles...Vs. Arizona (9/29): Caused a fumble by Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall to set up a touchdown...At Detroit (11/24): Picked off a pass by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown.
Most recently last season Johnson played for the Patriots down the stretch getting 3 starts at nickel back but did not make the post-season roster. He was released by the Patriots once the season was over.
Johnson was a UDFA out of Iowa State in 2011:
College
Played in 50 games with 43 starts at Iowa State...Two-time second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection...Totaled 247 tackles, six interceptions, 26 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries...Named first-team freshman All-American as a kick returner in 2008.
So is there a place on this roster for Johnson? That seems very unlikely given his iffy health and the players listed in front of him on the depth chart. He’s currently listed fourth at RCB behind Worley, Benwikere, and McClain. Of course I doubt the Panthers would sign a player they see no chance of making the roster, so there is at least some chance.
So does anyone think he can make the roster?