Raiders defender in jeopardy of missing season after injury

The good luck of the Las Vegas Raiders on the injury front during training camp came to an abrupt end on Sunday.

During training camp practice, safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. broke his fibula after a collision with Maxx Crosby.

In a mock game, Johnson was attempting to make a tackle against running back Raheem Mostert. Instead, Johnson accidentally collided with Crosby, resulting in the serious injury. He was carted off the field shortly after the play.

Johnson will get an MRI to see if there is any further damage, but the injury likely guarantees Johnson will miss an extended period of time.

It is a big blow to the Raiders defense, as Johnson was competing for a starting safety role while being penciled into the defensive back rotation. He was taking first-team reps at safety alongside Isaiah Pola-Mao while Jeremy Chinn would kick over to nickel cornerback in specific defensive sets.

Should Johnson miss significant time, it is likely that Thomas Harper will fill his spot in the lineup. The Raiders could also kick Jamal Adams back to safety after experimenting with him at linebacker, as well as opening up a roster spot for the likes of JT Woods, Chris Smith and Trey Taylor.

A second-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2019, Johnson has served as a journeyman since departing Houston. The Raiders were hoping he could recreate the magic of his 2021 season, when he notched a career-high three interceptions.

Unfortunately, Johnson’s 2025 now hangs in the balance.