Jaleel

Johnson

Johnson played for the Vikings, Texans, Falcons, and Titans, amassing 149 combined tackles and 7.5 sacks across 86 appearances, 25 of which were starts. He last played in 2023.

Johnson began the offseason with the Saints but was placed on injured reserve and then waived before Week 1. He has been on the Falcons’ practice squad ever since. Johnson appeared in 12 games for the Texans last year, totaling 23 tackles and a pair of TFLs.

The 27-year-old appeared in 12 games with the Texans last year, playing 40% of defensive snaps in a sub-package role. This will be Johnson’s second stint with the Saints after spending time on their 2021 practice squad.

Johnson signed with Houston in the spring but couldn’t make it past final cuts. He was then picked up by the Saints was released again and ultimately landed on their practice squad. He now rejoins the Texans, already knowing the team’s playbook after spending the summer with it. He’ll see some action on early downs for a weak Houston defensive line.

Johnson, a 16 game starter for the Vikings last year, wasn’t needed after Minnesota added Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson this offseason. He signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal with Houston before getting released at final cuts. With DT David Onyemata suspended six games, the 27-year-old will serve as depth for the Saints, who also signed DT Montravius Adams.

Johnson was a 16-game starter for the Vikings last season, but not a good one, getting exposed across the board. That includes against the run, which should be his bread and butter. He will presumably fight for a role as a 200-300 snap run plugger in Houston, which continues to add more end-of-roster talent than any team in the league.

The Vikings reportedly expect him back in the “near future.” Joseph doesn’t appear to be a candidate for injured reserve, though it’s likely he’ll sit out at least through the Vikings’ bye in Week 12. Jaleel Johnson spelled Joseph at nose tackle in Sunday night’s win at Dallas.

Johnson (6’3/316) was a two-year starter on the Hawkeyes’ defensive line, recording 18 career tackles for loss and 12 sacks and earning first-team All-Big Ten from the conference’s coaches as a senior. He proceeded to bomb the Combine, testing as a fifth-percentile athlete. A heavyweight wrestler in high school, Johnson won with relentless effort, interior bull rush, and technically-sound hand usage on college tape. Not quite powerful enough to play nose tackle or explosive enough for three technique, Johnson profiles as a No. 2/3 defensive tackle capable of providing 15-25 useful snaps per game.

None of the three should be competing for starting jobs in year one, though it’s possible Isidora could challenge on the Vikings’ up-for-grabs offensive line. Johnson figures to serve as a 10-15 snaps per game interior backup.