Lions host former Rams safety who was scouted by Brad Holmes, a guy Lions fans have been asking about for a while
Former Rams starter John Johnson was in Detroit visiting with the Lions Monday
The Detroit Lions are wasting no time trying to get back into good form at safety. On Monday, they signed former NFL interception leader Damontae Kazee to their practice squad. That wasn’t all they’ve done.
They also had a big visit to the building on Monday. Former Rams safety John Johnson had a visit with the Lions, per the league’s transaction wire.
Former Rams safety John Johnson visited the Lions on Monday
When Holmes took the Lions job in 2021, Johnson was a guy who basically every Lions fan wanted Detroit to sign in free agency. He was a starter in Los Angeles and was considered a big part of the Rams’ defense that helped that team get to the Super Bowl in 2018. He was someone Brad Holmes really liked coming out of Boston College in 2017.
“He was a huge John Johnson fan.” Rams GM Les Snead told the Detroit Free Press in 2021. “We had got to that late third, and some of the players at positions that we needed more were gone, so now you’re at that point, right, where, are you going to reach for need with players that maybe you have less love for, maybe like them but not as convicted? Or do you take the player that you’re really, really convicted, and maybe have less need?
“And I just remember Brad going, ‘You know what, we take John Johnson, we’re never looking back. He’s going to be good. This guy’s going to help us. Take need out of it.’ And at that point in time, you listen to the wisdom.”
Johnson signed with the Browns for big money, but when he became a free agent again in 2023, Lions fans once again asked whether he could sign with Detroit, but he went back to L.A. At this point, Johnson hasn’t played in over a year. Last season, he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 2, which kept him out for the rest of the season. The Rams did not bring him back this season despite the fact that he was their starting safety when that injury occurred.
We’ll see if the Lions look to add him this time. They say the third time’s a charm, and the Lions could really use his help right about now.
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