Johnson to COVID list

Browns RB D'Ernest Johnson was placed on the COVID list on Monday. We'll see if he can get cleared in time for Sunday's finale vs. the Bengals. Johnson surprisingly out-snapped RB Nick Chubb 39 to 30 in the Week 17 loss to Pittsburgh but finished with just 14 yards on 6 touches. He'll be off the fantasy radar if RB Kareem Hunt returns from his ankle injury.

The Jaguars signed RB D'Ernest Johnson to a one-year deal. Johnson was excellent in a trio of spot starts back in 2021, posting 22-146-1, 19-99-0, and 25-123-1 rushing lines. He led all 50 qualifying RBs in 2021 Pro Football Focus rushing grades. Johnson got on the field for just 35 offensive snaps this past season, though, with both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt healthy. Johnson now joins JaMycal Hasty behind Travis Etienne in Jacksonville's backfield. Neither guy is likely to have standalone fantasy value. But, if Etienne misses time, we'd expect Johnson to lead in carries, with Hasty handling passing-down work.

ESPN’s Jake Trotter writes that Browns RB D'Ernest Johnson “could be the odd man out” in the backfield. Trotter points out that Johnson's due a reasonable $900K in guaranteed money, so the contract isn’t an issue. Cleveland also spent a Round 5 pick on Cincinnati RB Jerome Ford. In what could be a lost season for Cleveland — pending the length of Deshaun Watson’s suspension — it might make the most sense to get something in return for Johnson. Note that Kareem Hunt enters a contract season; Nick Chubb is signed through 2024.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns and RB D’Ernest Johnson have agreed to a 1-year deal worth up to $2.43 million. He’ll get ~900K in guaranteed cash. Johnson is currently Cleveland's third-string RB, but there's still a possibility -- albeit a small one -- that the team trades Kareem Hunt prior to Week 1.

The Browns plan to tender restricted free agent RB D'Ernest Johnson at the "right of 1st refusal" level, according to multiple reports. That tells us the team wants to see what the market is for the 26-year-old RB and doesn't fear the prospect of losing him. We'll see what the market determines. Johnson, of course, delivered several big games with Nick Chubb and/or Kareem Hunt out last season. He has just 165 total touches through 4 pro seasons, though.

Browns RB D'Ernest Johnson has been activated from the COVID list and is eligible to play vs. the Bengals on Sunday. We'll see if RB Kareem Hunt, who's questionable with his ankle injury, ends up playing.