Las Vegas Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. faced a significant setback during practice when he suffered a broken leg due to a collision with teammate and standout edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The incident occurred during a run play involving running back Raheem Mostert, who made a sprint to the right only to be tackled by Crosby, who inadvertently rolled onto Johnson’s leg. Immediate medical attention was provided, and Johnson was seen clutching his right leg before being carted off the Allegiant Stadium turf, as depicted in a video shared by ESPN.
Initially, Raiders’ head coach Pete Carroll described Johnson’s injury as a “lower leg injury,” although specific details were not available at that time. Subsequent medical evaluations confirmed that Johnson sustained a fractured fibula. While the Raiders have not officially commented on Johnson’s status, he hinted at the seriousness of the injury through posts on X, an indication that he understands the gravity of the situation but remains optimistic.
In one of his posts, Johnson demonstrated his determination by stating, “Imma soldier chin up chest out. God got me.” He also made light of his injury the following day with a humorous post, wondering if he could get a handicap sticker, accompanied by laughing emojis. This optimism is reflective of his resilient nature, even in the face of adversity.
Johnson, now in his seventh NFL season, was originally a second-round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2019 NFL Draft. After three seasons with the Texans, he transitioned to other teams, including the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers. Over his career spanning 83 games, Johnson has accumulated four interceptions and 199 combined tackles, showcasing his skills as a player in the league.
When Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Raiders, he mentioned that Carroll had relentlessly pursued him to join the team, indicating the esteem in which the coach holds his abilities. Before the injury, Johnson was making significant strides in training camp, earning first-team defensive reps, which underscored his importance to the Raiders’ defensive strategy for the upcoming season.
As the Raiders prepare for the challenges ahead, Johnson’s injury could pose a significant hurdle for the team’s defensive lineup, especially since he was expected to play a rotational role in their system. The Raiders will need to assess their options moving forward, as the loss of a player with Johnson’s experience and skill can impact the team’s performance in the coming season.
