Lonnie Johnson was a valuable CB for the New Orleans Saints during his single year with the team. While he wasn’t able to provide much when it came to the stat sheet, he was a welcome presence in the locker room.
As soon as free agency began, the former Kentucky Wildcat decided to return to the team that drafted him on a team-friendly deal. However, he didn’t sign his contract without sharing his thoughts with his former team.
Lonnie Johnson says goodbye to New Orleans Saints teammates, returns to Houston Texans
Matthew Paras of nola.com reported that Johnson would be leaving the team to rejoin the Houston Texans, the same team that drafted him 54th overall in the 2019 Draft.
Paras wrote about his announcement on his social media profiles:
“Nola gonna have love for yall 4 Eva,” Johnson tweeted on X. “I tried I promise I tried we just couldn’t get it done”
In announcing his departure, Johnson also replied to safety Tyrann Mathieu, who seemingly referenced Johnson’s exit by writing “Every year you lose dawgs. Raise new dawgs!” Johnson wrote “My brudda we locked in (for life) appreciate you dawg.”
Johnson had a decent number of snaps as a member of the Saints rotation for 2023. In the games he played for New Orleans, he completed eight solo tackles, two pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and made a single interception.
Meanwhile, the Saints are moving forward without him as they offered an extension to Demario Davis.
Is time running out for Lonnie Johnson’s pro career?
While Johnson wasn’t the most stellar defensive prospect in the 2019 class, his status as a second-round selection meant that the Houston Texans were expecting him to be a high-ceiling player who could become a reliable pillar for the team’s secondary.
Things haven’t panned out for Johnson so far. In his five years in the National Football League, he only has a meager four interceptions to his name. He’s also only made a total of 15 deflections, 144 solo tackles, and one TFL.
Since he’s already 28 and only has a year with his current deal, it may become difficult for him to secure a new contract with another NFL team if his second stint with the Texans don’t work out.
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