The Titans are releasing D'Ernest Johnson, bringing an abrupt end to a brief stay for the running back after he appeared in eight games in 2025 for the Cardinals and Patriots. It is a straightforward roster move, but one that also closes another chapter in a career that has seen Johnson move through several NFL stops.
Adam Schefter reported the news, and the timing makes the move feel like part of the constant churn that defines roster building at this stage of the season. For Johnson, it comes after a year in which he was active with both the Cardinals and Patriots and carried the ball 14 times for 25 yards.
From South Florida to another NFL reset
Johnson's path has been steady rather than settled. He went undrafted out of South Florida in 2019 and later signed a rookie contract with the Browns, beginning a run of opportunities that has kept him in the league across multiple teams.
He re-signed to a one-year deal with the Browns in 2022, then moved on in 2023 when he signed with the Jaguars on a one-year, $1.2 million contract. That was followed by another one-year deal in 2024 before he joined the Ravens for training camp and was released.
What the 2025 numbers say
After that, the Cardinals signed Johnson to their practice squad, activated him for one game, and he later moved to the Patriots' practice squad. The 2025 season then ended with eight games between those two teams, along with 14 rushing attempts for 25 yards.
That production helps explain why a team might decide to move on, even if Johnson's experience still gives him value as a depth option. The Titans have now made that call, and the next step will be whether another roster sees enough in his background to bring him in again.
