Jeron Johnson - Pro Football Rumors

Bills Work Out Jeron Johnson, James Ihedigbo

November 4th, 2016 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills auditioned a group of safeties on this week, including Jeron Johnson, James Ihedigbo, and Danny McCray, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The Bills already signed Sergio Brown out of that workout, so it doesn’t sound like Johnson et al will be signing with Buffalo at this time.

After serving as a reserve defensive back and a special-teamer for several years with the Seahawks, Johnson signed with the Redskins last year with the hope of getting more playing time. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the kind of burn he was hoping for. This yea, Johnson had a quiet offseason before hooking on with the Chiefs in August. They dropped him in September, leaving him to roam the workout circuit. Since then, Johnson has shown his stuff for the Giants, Ravens, and Bills but has not found a home.

After starting 21 games for the Lions over the past two seasons, safety Ihedigbo has been unable to find work this season and he hasn’t had much in the way of auditions either. His late October tryout for the Dolphins was his first known workout of the season and the Bills visit marks his second. Last year, the 32-year-old was ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 64 safety out of 69 qualifiers. However, 2014 was arguably his best season ever.

NFL Workout Updates: 10/4/16

October 4th, 2016 at 8:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’re a quarter of the way through the regular season, and clubs are constantly updating their emergency lists of players. Let’s take a look at the latest reported auditions and visits, which we’ve divided by conference due to today’s sheer volume:

AFC

The Raiders took a look at linebackers Danny Lansanah and Tyrell Adams, according to Caplan (Twitter link). Oakland eventually settled on Perry Riley as its new linebacker.
Before he signed with the Browns’ practice squad, offensive lineman Mike Liedtke worked out for the Ravens and was scheduled to audition for the Jaguars, according to his agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link). Baltimore also tried out veteran safety Shamiel Gary today, per Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Gary has also been linked to the Giants in recent days.
The Ravens didn’t stop there, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter link): Baltimore also worked out defensive backs Jeron Johnson and Ryan Murphy, linebackers Jamari Lattimore and Andy Mulumba, and guard Ian Silberman.
Former Liberty quarterback Josh Woodrum, former Tampa Bay wide receiver Kenny Bell, and long snapper Jon Akemon all worked out with the Chiefs today, according to NFL Draft Diamonds (on Twitter).
The Titans auditioned defenseive tackle Trevon Coley, wide receivers Donteea Dye and Wendall Williams, and defensive end Farrington Huguenin, tweets Balzer.

NFC

The Falcons auditioned linebacker Jayson DiManche, kicker Mike Meyer, and punter Michael Palardy, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Palardy, for his part, ended up signing with Atlanta’s practice squad, which could be an indication that active roster punter Matt Bosher is banged up.
Perhaps bracing for a Lane Johnson suspension, the Eagles today worked out former Washington offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. LeRibeus started 11 games for the Redskins in 2015, but still couldn’t make it past final cutdowns. Philadelphia also looked at guard Matt Rotheram and tackle Pearce Slater, per Balzer (Twitter link).
The Lions worked out offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds and DL/T Brian Mihalik today, per Caplan (Twitter link).
Former Denver defensive lineman David Moala worked out for the Panthers today, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Carolina also auditioned DT Bruce Gaston and DE Chris McCain, per Balzer (Twitter link).
Safety Trae Elston and Shakiel Randolph tried out for the Buccaneers today, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets.
Tight ends Rory Anderson, Joel Ruiz, and De’Runnya Wilson all worked out for the Bears today, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
In addition to defensive end Sterling Bailey, whom the Seahawks signed to their practice squad, Seattle tried out defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan, linebacker Deion Barnes, and defensive tackle Greg Milhouse, reports Balzer (Twitter link).
The Cardinals met with free agent tight end Brian Leonhardt, according to Balzer (Twitter link).

Giants To Work Out Will Allen, Jeron Johnson

October 1st, 2016 at 11:03am CST by Ben Levine

Add another pair of safeties to the Giants’ growing list of auditionees. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Giants will workout veteran defensive backs Will Allen and Jeron Johnson tomorrow. We learned yesterday that the team was also going to take a look at former Pro Bowl safety Donte Whitner and former undrafted free agent Shamiel Gary.

Allen, 34, is the oldest of the bunch, although the veteran did have a career year for the Steelers in 2015. The 12-year veteran started 13 games, collecting career-highs in tackles (80), sacks (four), forced fumbles (two) and passes defended (eight). Allen has only missed 17 games throughout his career, so he’d certainly add some dependability to a depleted Giants safety corps.

Johnson has bounced around a bit since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011. The five-year veteran had one of his best seasons with the Redskins in 2015, compiling a career-high 27 tackles. The 28-year-old caught on with the Chiefs this offseason, but he was ultimately released in early September.

The Giants secondary has been struggling with injuries. Safeties Nat Berhe and Darian Thompson are both battling various ailments and are unlikely to play on Monday night. PFR’s Dallas Robinson noted that cornerback Leon Hall could easily fill in, but the veteran will likely be required to play his natural position considering the injuries to cornerbacks Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Chiefs Release Jamell Fleming, Others

September 2nd, 2016 at 6:43pm CST by Zachary Links

6:43pm: In addition to the previously mentioned players, the Chiefs have released safety Jamell Fleming, tweets Paylor. Fleming, whom the Cardinals selected in the third round of the 2012 draft, joined the Chiefs in 2014 and appeared in 23 games in his two seasons in Kansas City. Fleming took the field for all of the Chiefs’ contests in 2015 and picked up 21 tackles.

5:06pm: The Chiefs are cutting safety Jeron Johnson, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Johnson is the latest to go today as KC works down to a 53-man roster.

After serving as a backup DB and a special-teamer for several years in Seattle, Johnson signed with Washington last year and appeared poised to get the opportunity to play more. However, things didn’t work out in D.C., and Johnson was cut by them this offseason.

Here is the updated list of cuts made by the Chiefs today:

S Jamell Fleming
S Jeron Johnson
CB Deveron Carr (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star click for Twitter links)
WR Da’Ron Brown
LB Andy Mulumba
OT Reid Fragel

With the exception of Mulumba and Johnson, each player signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chiefs in January. Mulumba inked a one-year deal with the club in April after spending the first three years of his career in Green Bay. The 26-year-old was delayed in signing anywhere because of citizenship issues, as detailed at the time by Weston Hodkiewicz of USA Today. The native of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a Canadian citizen and had been working to attain U.S. citizenship and residency, but he had to return to Canada after his work visa expired. Mulumba met with the Chiefs on a visitor visa before signing with them.

Chiefs To Sign Jeron Johnson

August 5th, 2016 at 1:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs are set to sign safety Jeron Johnson, according to a source who spoke with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

[RELATED: Chiefs Sign Nick Foles]

Kansas City is still without star safety Eric Berry as they wait for him to ink his one-year franchise tender. At minimum, Johnson can give the Chiefs an extra safety in practice as they wait for Berry to report.

After serving as a backup DB and a special-teamer for several years in Seattle, Johnson signed with Washington last year and appeared poised to get the opportunity to player more. However, things didn’t work out in D.C., and Johnson was cut earlier this month.

Johnson visited the Chiefs in late March, but left without a deal. Now, he’ll get his chance to make the team. For a look at the Chiefs’ safety depth chart, check out their page on Roster Resource.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

FA Rumors: Norman, Dolphins, Eagles, Chiefs

March 31st, 2016 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

As players like Olivier Vernon and Malik Jackson signed huge, long-term contracts earlier this month, players like Broncos pass rusher Von Miller and Panthers cornerback Josh Norman were forced to watch, unable to land lucrative new mega-deals of their own. As Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) details, Miller and Norman have been frustrated by the franchise tag system, which prevents star players from cashing in like some lesser free agents have.

In Norman’s case, fellow cornerback Janoris Jenkins got a five-year, $62.5MM as an unrestricted free agent, but according to David Newton of ESPN.com, the Panthers haven’t gone to that $12.5MM-per-year range in their extension talks with Norman. If the Carolina corner had been able to reach the open market himself, he likely would’ve surpassed easily, so it’s not a surprise that Miller and Norman would like to see the franchise tag system go away, according to Cole.

Here’s more on free agency:

The Dolphins signed Isaiah Pead today, but they continue to seek running back help, and worked out former Buccaneers back Bobby Rainey, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rainey ran for nearly 1,000 total yards in 2013 and 2014, but had just five carries last season.
After paying a visit to Pittsburgh, free agent offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski met with the Eagles today, a source tells Rapoport (Twitter link). Wisniewski is arguably the top center still on the board, though he’d be unlikely to start in the middle if he were to sign with Philadelphia.
The Chiefs hosted free agent safety Jeron Johnson for a visit on Wednesday, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). After serving as a backup DB and a special-teamer for several years in Seattle, Johnson signed with Washington last year and appeared poised to get the opportunity to player more. However, things didn’t work out in D.C., and Johnson was cut earlier this month.
In addition to having hosted Johnson, the Chiefs are bringing in another defender, linebacker Andy Mulumba, for a visit, per Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (Twitter link). Mulumba, who has played 22 games for the Packers during the last three seasons, also visited the Patriots, according to Hodkiewicz.
Free agent defensive lineman Jack Crawford is paying a visit to the Jets, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). Crawford, who visited Pittsburgh this week, picked up four sacks as a part-timer in Dallas in 2015
Todd Archer of ESPN.com explains how recently-signed free agent defensive end Benson Mayowa can opt out of his deal with the Cowboys after two seasons and hit the open market again in 2018.

Washington Releases Robert Griffin III

March 7th, 2016 at 3:05pm CST by Zachary Links

3:05pm: Washington has officially issued a press release announcing that Griffin has been cut. The team also confirmed several other cuts reported today, including Jason Hatcher and Jeron Johnson.

9:40am: Washington has released RG3, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter). A formal announcement from the team is presumably forthcoming.

9:36am: Washington will inform Robert Griffin III today of his release, sources tell Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN (on Twitter). Griffin’s salary was slated to become fully guaranteed on Wednesday.

Washington was in no rush to release Griffin since his $16.155MM salary for 2016 was to remain non-guaranteed until the start of the league year. At one time, a trade thought to be somewhat possible, but Washington apparently couldn’t find a proper deal.

In nine games in 2014, Griffin finished with 1,694 passing yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions. He added 176 yards on the ground. Last season, Griffin did not see the field as the team shifted its focus towards Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Griffin’s release has long been considered to be an inevitability.

At least two teams have talked to Washington about a trade this winter, so we can expect the Baylor product to field calls this week. Recently, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com identified the Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, Broncos, and Cowboys as possible suitors for Griffin.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Washington News: Johnson, Galette, Foster

March 7th, 2016 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Washington released safety Jeron Johnson, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com. After signing a two-year deal with Washington last offseason, Johnson served as a backup and a special teamer all season. The move, which does not come as a huge surprise, saves Washington $1MM in cap space.

Here’s the very latest from D.C.:

Free agent linebacker Junior Galette will be signing with agent Drew Rosenhaus, a source tells Keim. Galette recently fired agent Peter Schaffer. Washington wants to re-sign Galette and have the right of first refusal. Galette reportedly wants a one-year, “pillow” contract, similar to the deal he signed with Washington last season after being cut by the Saints. The club, however, has been countering with multi-year proposals featuring incentives. Schaffer was encouraging the linebacker to go with a multi-year deal, but the 27-year-old refused.
Washington is working hard to re-sign linebacker Mason Foster, Keim tweets. Foster, 27, played mainly in a reserve role last season, appearing in 13 games. In total, he racked up 34 tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Washington is still in talks to re-sign backup quarterback Colt McCoy, Mike Jones of The Washington Post tweets. Late last month, head coach Jay Gruden indicated that he wanted to keep McCoy.

East Notes: Eli, Washington, Dolphins

June 20th, 2015 at 10:32am CST by Sam Robinson

After a year in Ben McAdoo‘s offense, Eli Manning ditched the indecisiveness that plagued him at last June’s minicamp, writes the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz.

The 34-year-old Manning worked with baseball-based mechanics this offseason and has a more confident aura after a 2014 offseason — and some of the regular season — mired by inconsistency.

“It is lively, very lively,’’ Giants coach Tom Coughlin noted to reporters on Manning’s throwing arm. “He has worked hard at that. You know Eli is feeling good about himself when he says ‘I feel like I got good juice on it.'”

Here are some other notes from the Eastern divisions on Saturday morning.

Planning on an extended absence from Will Beatty after the left tackle’s recent pectoral injury, the Giants may be in better shape on their interior. According to Schwartz, Big Blue has prized 2014 acquisition Geoff Schwartz back healthy after an injury-marred season and Weston Richburg at his natural center spot following a rookie slate playing guard alongside the woeful J.D. Walton. The Giants now have former first-round right tackle Justin Pugh at guard despite Beatty’s setback. At tackle, however, the team remains thin. With newly signed Ereck Flowers now on the left side with little room for a learning curve, sub-optimal swing man Marshall Newhouse is slotting at right tackle for the time being.
Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com expects Jeron Johnson to supplant Duke Ihenacho as Washington‘s starting strong safety despite Ihenacho’s frequent work with the first team during minicamp. While anticipating the fifth-year ex-Seahawks reserve to garner his first significant role after signing a two-year, $4MM deal in March, Tandler expects Washington’s incumbent at the position, Ihenacho, to safely make the team after previously envisioning the former undrafted Ssan Jose State cog on the roster bubble.
The Dolphins remain interested in Evan Mathis, but they haven’t made a push for the now-unretired John Moffitt, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. With solid performers at tackle and center but issues at guard, the Fins have yet to make an offer for Mathis. Although they figure to be on the front line in this rare June pursuit of an All-Pro talent.

Washington Signs Jeron Johnson

March 16th, 2015 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

2:00pm: Washington has officially signed Johnson, the team announced today (via Twitter).

11:54am: Washington continues to bolster its defense through free agency, with safety Jeron Johnson announcing today (via Twitter) that he reached an agreement to join the team. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), Johnson’s new deal with Washington will be for two years and is worth $4MM.

Johnson, a Boise State product, never saw any real significant playing time on defense for a Seahawks team that featured Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, but he was a solid backup and excelled on special teams. The 26-year-old recorded eight tackles on kick and punt coverage during the 2014 season.

For Washington, Johnson represents the latest free agent addition in an offseason that has featured several defensive signings so far. Washington has bolstered its defensive line by bringing aboard Terrance Knighton, Stephen Paea, and Ricky Jean-Francois, and also signed cornerback Chris Culliver to a four-year contract.

Johnson will likely get the opportunity to compete for the strong safety spot that was manned primarily by Brandon Meriweather and Phillip Thomas in 2014. Meriweather is a free agent and won’t be back in D.C., but Thomas is still around, and Duke Ihenacho, who missed most of last season with a broken heel, is also due back.