Defensive back Jeremiah Johnson was one of 17 players who were released by the Houston Roughnecks on Sunday. Just two days later, Johnson finds himself back with the team at training camp.
Johnson started every game for the Houston Gamblers last season in the USFL, making 33 tackles and one interception. He also played for the Gamblers in 2022 and contributed 22 tackles and one interception.
Johnson was in the XFL in 2020, starting in the Houston Roughnecks' secondary. He made 11 tackles and one interception in five games before the league canceled the rest of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played his first professional games in 2019 with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football.
He was a star at Division II’s Concord, finishing four seasons with 191 tackles, 36 pass deflections, seven tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 44 games. Johnson was named First Team All-MEC conference honors in all four years at the school.
With some familiarity with the defense in Houston, Johnson should compete for a starting job or at least should get playing time. It’s not known why he was originally released by the team, but his return should give the Roughnecks a veteran in the secondary.
Houston will have to drop their roster to 50 players by March 23.
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