Tag: D’Ernest Johnson

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposes two trades for the Cleveland Browns

Could the Browns bring a running back back to Cleveland for a second stint?

There is still a lot of football to be played but with the trade deadline coming up the Cleveland Browns could look to be buyers. Without Nick Chubb and looking for a spark to the offense the team could look to make a move at running back or wide receiver. However, ly would argue that they should be focusing on upgrading the struggling offensive line, especially at left tackle.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently released an article about some possible trade scenarios two of which included the Browns. His first trade involved Cleveland trading a fifth-round pick to Jacksonville for D’Ernest Johnson and a seventh-round pick.

While Johnson would provide an upgrade at running back trading a fifth-round pick for a third-string running back doesn’t make much sense. And with the way the Browns offensive line is playing an upgrade at running back wouldn’t be enough to spark the run game.

The other trade also doesn’t make much sense as he suggests a straight swap at wide receiver with the Browns sending Donovan Peoples-Jones to the Jets for Mecole Hardman. The passing games offense is struggling because of quarterback play, not the pass catchers so neither of these trades should be done by Cleveland.

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5 Jaguars bubble players who have earned a roster spot

These five Jaguars players were on the bubble at the beginning of camp, but secured their place on the 53-man roster with a strong August.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t have a ton of roster turnover during the 2023 offseason. The team kept 21 of its 22 starters, allowing only offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to leave in free agency.

Even backups like C.J. Beathard, JaMycal Hasty, Adam Gotsis, and others were brought back. That left very little room for newcomers and other bubble players to earn spots on one of the NFL’s deeper rosters.

These five Jaguars players entered August seemingly in a fight for a place on the team’s 53-man roster. But with cutdown day coming Tuesday they now have little to worry about after securing their spots in camp and preseason:

5 running backs to watch as cutdowns approach to fill RB3 void

Could the Browns find their RB3 on the waiver wire?

Nobody wants the job of the third running back on the roster for the Cleveland Browns. They have given Demetric Felton every opportunity to win the job, and he has not seized the opportunity to this point. His aiming points are consistently wide of where they should be, he is a massive liability in pass protection, and there is no real need for a scatback on the roster.

However, in just six days, every NFL team will have to cut 37 players from their roster. Could a running back on another roster fit what the Browns need in a third running back? Here are five names to keep an eye on.

5 takeaways from Jaguars’ first unofficial depth chart

The Jaguars’ first depth chart of the year shows coaches are impressed with rookie Tank Bigsby.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are just a few days from their preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys and released an unofficial depth chart ahead of the matchup.

Some of it has been affected by injuries, though. For example, former starting left guard Ben Bartch off the depth chart entirely while on the PUP list. Tyler Shatley took over starting duties last season following Bartch’s season-ending injury, but Shatley is at the bottom of the chart while recovering from an irregular heartbeat.

Still, there are some decisions from the coaching staff that jump off the page in the first depth chart. Here are five takeaways:

Fantasy football: Jacksonville Jaguars running back breakdown

Will there be anything left over after Travis Etienne gets his share?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have put together one of the quickest turnarounds in recent memory in the NFL – winning the AFC South title just two years after winning just one game and “earning” the right to draft franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The Jaguars have invested heavily in running back, using a 2021 first-round draft pick to select Travis Etienne and a third-round pick in this year’s draft to acquire Tank Bigsby.

The team has built an elite receiving corps through free agency and trades (wide receivers Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Calvin Ridley as well as tight end Evan Engram). This offense is expected to throw a lot but has a running game to complement that aerial attack to potentially make Jacksonville one of the most potent offenses in the NFL.

Jaguars 2023 roster review: RB D’Ernest Johnson

D’Ernest Johnson didn’t see many touches in Cleveland, but could play a bigger role with the Jaguars.

The brunt of the offseason is in the books and training camp is still off on the horizon. Join us in the NFL’s dead zone with a player-by-player review of the Jaguars roster ahead of the 2023 season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t enter the 2023 offseason with a massive need at running back. While the team traded away James Robinson, it has a budding star in Travis Etienne Jr. and the rest of the depth chart had promise with JaMycal Hasty and Snoop Conner.

Still, the team made two big additions at the position, drafting Tank Bigsby in the third round and adding former Cleveland Browns back D’Ernest Johnson in free agency.

Johnson saw limited time in the Cleveland offense with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt getting the bulk of the workload. But he made the most of his opportunities, averaging more than five yards per carry over his four seasons with the Browns.

With the Jaguars, Johnson has a chance to see more touches and opportunities, so long as he can prove he’s more deserving of those chances than Bigsby, Hasty, and Conner.

Contract (2023): $1.08 million base salary, $50,000 signing bonus, $102,500 roster bonus, $1,092,500 million cap hit.

Acquired: Jaguars signed Johnson to a one-year deal on March 23, 2023.

PFF grades: 

  • 66.1 (2022 – CLE)
  • 81.4 (2021 – CLE)
  • 65.1 (2020 – CLE)
  • 56.6 (2019 – CLE)

Statistics:

  • 17 rushing yards, three receptions, seven receiving yards (2022)
  • 534 rushing yards, three touchdowns, 19 receptions, 137 receiving yards (2021)
  • 166 rushing yards, three receptions, 14 receiving yards (2020)
  • 21 rushing yards, six receptions, 71 receiving yards (2019)

Highlight:

Quote: “They’ve got something special going on here, and I want to be a part of it. They’ve got a great offense, great quarterback, great wide receivers and a great running back in Travis Etienne. It’s a great team.” – Johnson

Calvin Ridley (No. 0) Travis Etienne Jr. (No. 1) Rayshawn Jenkins (No. 2) C.J. Beathard (No. 3) Tank Bigsby (No. 4) Andre Cisco (No. 5)
Chris Claybrooks (No. 6) Zay Jones (No. 7) Logan Cooke (No. 9) Parker Washington (No. 11) James McCourt (No. 12) Christian Kirk (No. 13)
Kendric Pryor (No. 14) Tim Jones (No. 15) Trevor Lawrence (No. 16) Evan Engram (No. 17) Nathan Rourke (No. 18) Sammis Reyes (No. 19)
Daniel Thomas (No. 20) Latavious Brini (No. 21) JaMycal Hasty (No. 22) Foyesade Oluokun (No. 23) Snoop Conner (No. 24) D’Ernest Johnson (No. 25)
Antonio Johnson (No. 26) Divaad Wilson (No. 27) Tevaughn Campbell (No. 29) Montaric Brown (No. 30) Darious Williams (No. 31) Tyson Campbell (No. 32)
Devin Lloyd (No. 33) Gregory Junior (No. 34) Ayo Oyelola (No. 35) Christian Braswell (No. 36) Tre Herndon (No. 37) Qadree Ollison (No. 38)
Jamal Agnew (No. 39) Erick Hallett (No. 40) Josh Allen (No. 41) Andrew Wingard (No. 42) Kaleb Hayes (No. 43) Derek Parish (No. 43)
Travon Walker (No. 44) K’Lavon Chaisson (No. 45) Ross Matiscik (No. 46) De’Shaan Dixon (No. 47) Chad Muma (No. 48) Leonard Taylor (No. 49)
Shaquille Quarterman (No. 50) Ventrell Miller (No. 51) DaVon Hamilton (No. 52) Willie Taylor III (No. 53) DJ Coleman (No. 54) Dequan Jackson (No. 55)
Yasir Abdullah (No. 56) Caleb Johnson (No. 57) Raymond Vohasek (No. 59) Darryl Williams (No. 60) Samuel Jackson (No. 62) Coy Cronk (No. 64)
Chandler Brewer (No. 67) Brandon Scherff (No. 68) Tyler Shatley (No. 69) Cole Van Lanen (No. 70) Walker Little (No. 72) Blake Hance (No. 73)
Cam Robinson (No. 74) Cooper Hodges (No. 75) Anton Harrison (No. 76) Josh Wells (No. 77) Ben Bartch (No. 78) Luke Fortner (No. 79)
Kevin Austin Jr. (No. 80) Seth Williams (No. 81) Elijah Cooks (No. 84) Brenton Strange (No. 85) Gerrit Prince (No. 86) Jaray Jenkins (No. 87)
Oliver Martin (No. 88) Luke Farrell (No. 89) Henry Mondeaux (No. 90) Jordan Smith (No. 92) Tyler Lacy (No. 93) Folorunso Fatukasi (No. 94)
Roy Robertson-Harris (No. 95) Adam Gotsis (No. 96) Nick Thurman (No. 97) Michael Dogbe (No. 98) Jeremiah Ledbetter (No. 99) Brandon McManus
Jacob Harris

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Jersey numbers revealed for newly signed Jaguars players

The Jaguars have revealed what numbers the team’s newly added free agents will wear in 2023.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t make much of a splash in free agency, but the team did add a few players ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Now the team has revealed what numbers those recently signed veterans will wear when they put on teal jerseys for the first time. Earlier in April, the Jaguars announced wide receiver Calvin Ridley — who was acquired during the 2022 season, but was ineligible to play due to a suspension — will wear the newly allowed No. 0 jersey.

Nathan Rourke, a former Canadian Football League quarterback who signed with the Jaguars in January, will be the first quarterback in team history to wear the No. 18 jersey. Only wide receivers previously donned the number, including Matt Jones, Chris Conley, and Ace Sanders.

Running back D’Ernest Johnson will inherit the No. 25 jersey that was left available after its previous owner, James Robinson, was traded to the New York Jets.

Offensive tackle Josh Wells wore No. 72 during his first stint with the Jaguars, but that number now belongs to presumed starting right tackle Walker Little.

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Jaguars waive RB Mekhi Sargent amid backfield changes

The Jaguars parted with Mekhi Sargent on Monday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Mekhi Sargent on Monday afternoon, the team announced.

Sargent, 25, joined the Jaguars in December 2021 when he was claimed off waivers by the team. He previously spent parts of his rookie season with the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams.

After joining the Jaguars, Sargent appeared in one game late in the 2021 season and had one carry for two yards. He then spent the entire 2022 season on Jacksonville’s practice squad. In January, the Jaguars retained Sargent with a reserve/future contract.

The Jaguars have made a transformation of their backfield a priority after trading James Robinson during the 2022 season. Travis Etienne Jr took the brunt of the load following that move, although JaMycal Hasty had a bigger role late in the year.

In free agency, the team added former Cleveland Browns running back D’Ernest Johnson and the Jaguars have reportedly had their eyes on several running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft class.

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Trent Baalke says Jaguars see special teams role for D’Ernest Johnson

Trent Baalke says D’Ernest Johnson’s special teams skills are a big part of why the Jaguars signed the running back.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t make a splash signing in the first two weeks of free agency. The biggest addition was running back D’Ernest Johnson who shined in limited usage with the Cleveland Browns.

While Johnson seemingly has the inside track to be the second running back on the depth chart behind Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke says the team sees a role for their new addition that goes beyond offensive contributions.

In an interview with Demetrius Harvey of Florida Times-Union, Baalke said Johnson’s special teams skills played a big factor in the signing.

“When you’re looking, especially at running backs, [a] couple of things [come into play]: free agent value [and] how they play on special teams,” Pederson said Monday at the league meetings in Arizona.

Johnson, 27, only had 141 carries in four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, although he averaged 5.2 yards per attempt. While he was on the field for just 492 offensive snaps in that four-year stretch, Johnson was in on special teams for 733 snaps.

In addition to averaging 24.8 yards on 26 kick returns and 4.4 yards on five punt returns, Johnson also recorded 14 tackles on special teams.

The Jaguars’ backfield now includes Etienne, Johnson, JaMycal Hasty, and Snoop Conner. But Johnson’s special teams skills make him one of the more valuable players for the Jaguars at that position.

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D’Ernest Johnson: ‘Something special’ is brewing in Jacksonville

New Jaguars running back D’Ernest Johnson is excited to join a team on the rise.

It took the Jacksonville Jaguars more than a week to do it, but the team finally made its first free agent addition official Thursday when running back D’Ernest Johnson signed a contract with the team.

Johnson, 27, is a Florida native who spent the last four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. While he said the chance to come back to his home state was part of the motivation for his deal with the Jaguars, he’s also excited to join a team on the rise.

“They’ve got something special going on here, and I want to be a part of it,” Johnson told Jaguars.com after signing his new deal Thursday. “They’ve got a great offense, great quarterback, great wide receivers and a great running back in Travis Etienne. It’s a great team.”

In four years with the Browns, Johnson only got 172 touches, but averaged 5.2 yards per carry and had 967 yards from scrimmage. In Jacksonville, he’ll compete with JaMycal Hasty and Snoop Conner for the second spot on the depth chart behind Etienne.

After missing his entire rookie year due to a foot injury, Etienne finished the 2022 season with 1,125 rushing yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Hasty stepped into the change-of-pace back role following the trade of James Robinson and averaged 4.2 yards per carry on 46 attempts.

The Jaguars finished the year 10th in the NFL in yards per attempt (4.7).

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