D'Ernest

Johnson

ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes that “the only other running back on the roster is former practice squad player Terrell Jennings” (knee), who is questionable to play this evening. The Patriots will likely elevate veteran RB D’Ernest Johnson “from the practice squad for the third straight week,” and also re-signed RB Jonathan Ward to the practice squad on Tuesday, making him an elevation option alongside rookie RB Rushawn Baker. Henderson was limited by a knee injury on Monday but successfully upgraded to full participation on Tuesday and does not carry a game designation. He should handle a borderline RB1/2-level workload, and possesses the explosive traits required to finish squarely in the RB1 pool this week.

Reiss’ article was published this morning, and the Patriots signed former Cardinals practice squad player, RB D’Ernest Johnson, directly onto the active roster this afternoon, so it is possible the front office focuses on adding a pass rusher at this point. Regardless, the fact that the team has identified the running back position as an area of need is unfortunate for starting RB Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie backup RB TreVeyon Henderson. Fellow backup RB Terrell Jennings has also somewhat worked his way into the rotation, creating a fantasy-unfriendly situation. Hopefully, the Patriots stand pat with their current group and eventually allow Stevenson and Henderson to work in a usable rotation for fantasy purposes.

Johnson will go from Arizona’s practice squad directly to their 53-man roster. Johnson hasn’t seen any action in 2025 but should be active for New England once he gets up to speed on the playbook. His signing could send things from bad to worse for rookie TreVeyon Henderson, who has played sparingly this year and coughed up a fumble late in New England’s Week 8 win over the Browns.

He’s bumped D’Ernest Johnson (released from squad) from the Cardinals Backs Who Will Annoy You wiki listing. Carter was released yesterday, but it appears that was just roster manipulation. He probably isn’t set for a major role even if elevated, but check back on Monday evening when it leaks that the plan is actually to use Michael Wilson as the starting running back instead of Carter or Bam Knight.

Gaskin was brought in as a camp body by the Ravens, who have their running back room set. They now release him, along with CB Thomas Graham Jr., RB D’Ernest Johnson, WR Keith Kirkwood, WR Anthony Miller, and DL Brent Urban. They also waived WR Jahmal Banks, S Beau Brade, WR Malik Cunningham, G Darrian Dalcourt, OL Garrett Bellinger, OLB Malik Hamm, S Desmond Igbinosun, S Keondre Jackson, DL Jayson Jones, QB Devin Leary, T Gerad Lichtenhan, ILB Chandler Martin, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DL Adedayo Odeleye, DL C.J. Okoye, G Jared Penning, DL C.J. Ravenell, CB Marquise Robinson, OLB Kaimon Rucker, C Nick Samac, FB Lucas Scott, and TE Scotty Washington.

Johnson signed with the Ravens after a late July visit with the 49ers, appearing more and more like a camp body at this point in his career. It should be an uphill battle to make the final 53-man roster to begin the season considering the presence of Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Keaton Mitchell in Baltimore.

The team also brought in D’Ernest Johnson. The 49ers have Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James parked behind Christian McCaffrey right now. The two workouts could be a sign that the rookie isn’t making progress, or Kyle Shanahan could just be looking for a veteran to give the team a few extra quality reps in camp. Wilson played the first four years of his career in San Francisco and was traded to Miami in the middle of his fifth year. He rushed 16 times for 57 yards in 2024.

Johnson saw some work as a passing-downs specialist, but his role waned in the back half of the season. He was even a healthy scratch for a few weeks before returning to the lineup in December. He finished the year with 239 yards on 44 touches. Johnson is a depth option on offense but also brings special teams expertise to the table. That should be enough to get him another one-year deal in free agency this spring.

Johnson remains a healthy scratch, leaving a one-two punch of Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne in the backfield. Bigsby ran 18 times last week and is in line for an RB2 workload once again.

The Jaguars enter Week 14 with mostly healthy scratches. OL Anton Harrison will miss this week due to an illness while WR Parker Washington (shoulder) is active after popping up on the injury report earlier in the week. With Trevor Lawrence out for the rest for the rest of the season, the Jaguars will play the Titans in what has become a race for the top draft pick.