Bills Reunite With Veteran Defensive Lineman Amid Injury Concerns

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Bills Reunite With Veteran Defensive Lineman Amid Injury Concerns

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By John Sparaco | Last updated Sep 23, 2026 4:03 PM ET

With injuries testing their depth at defensive tackle, the Buffalo Bills are bringing back a familiar face.

On Wednesday, the Bills announced that they had signed defensive lineman Austin Johnson to the practice squad. They did not have to make a corresponding roster move, as outside linebacker Andre Jones Jr. was signed off Buffalo’s practice squad by the Miami Dolphins earlier this week.

Signed DL Austin Johnson to the team’s practice squad. pic.twitter.com/L5ZqIl56Uq
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) September 23, 2026

Johnson, 32, previously played for Buffalo in 2024, recording 19 tackles and 0.5 sacks over 15 games. He also intercepted two passes that year, joining A.J. Epenesa (2023) and Ron McDole (1968) as the only Bills defensive linemen with multiple interceptions in a single season.

A former second-round pick, Johnson is now in his 11th NFL season. He played his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before bouncing around the league. In addition to his previous stint with the Bills, the 6-foot-4, 314-pound lineman has spent time with the New York Giants (2020-21), Los Angeles Chargers (2022-23) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2025).

Defensive tackle Austin Johnson picks off Flacco!

: #BUFvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/P6NUGRdOcu
— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

Johnson’s best statistical season came with the Giants in 2021, when he registered career highs in both tackles (72) and sacks (3.5) while starting all 17 games. He appeared in 14 games with the Jaguars last year, tallying 12 tackles and a sack in a rotational role.

Last week, Bills starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver was unexpectedly ruled inactive shortly before the team’s home opener after sustaining a hip injury during pregame warmups. T.J. Sanders (knee/illness) was also inactive, leaving the team especially shorthanded at the position.

Oliver reportedly has a chance to be back in the lineup this coming Sunday against the Chargers, but Sanders had an appendectomy Tuesday night, all but officially ruling the 2025 second-round pick out for the third consecutive week.

If the Bills opt to rest Oliver another week while Sanders is sidelined, Johnson is among the players who could be elevated to the active roster. The only other defensive lineman on Buffalo’s current practice squad is Travis Clayton, who recently converted from offensive tackle.