Bengals follow Jermaine Burton’s release by signing Cincinnati native and former Ohio State team captain to their practice squad
Cincinnati adds a hometown hero to its practice squad.
The Cincinnati Bengals have signed wide receiver Xavier Johnson to their practice squad.
Johnson was originally an undrafted free agent signed by the Buffalo Bills following the 2024 NFL Draft, but he spent his entire rookie season on the Houston Texans’ practice squad. He was not a part of a club this season until the Bengals signed him.
But there’s more to Johnson than just his very young professional career and how it relates to the Queen City.
Xavier Johnson comes back home to Cincinnati
Johnson grew up in Cincinnati and attended The Summit Country Day School just 4.3 miles away from Paycor Stadium. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school after playing both running back and wideout. He was recruited by the University of Cincinnati, but landed on Ohio State and enrolled in 2018 as a walk-on.
Ohio State first played Johnson in four games during the 2019 season at RB and only five games from 2020-21. He became featured in the offense as a slot receiver in 2022, hauling in 13 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns. His second score of the year came in OSU’s Peach Bowl loss to Georgia.
Johnson’s sixth and final season in Columbus was spent as a team captain in 2023. He earned the honor of wearing the Block O jersey, which is awarded for toughness, accountability and the highest of character for working through the program. He logged another 13 receptions for 178 yards that season.
That was the last time Johnson played in Ohio, and he’ll now be practicing with his hometown NFL team as the Bengals look to finish 2025 on a high note.
Johnson’s arrival became necessary after Cincinnati waived second-year WR Jermaine Burton on Monday. Burton was suspended by the Bengals leading up to their Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and his subsequent release dropped the wide receiver room to just seven players with five on the active roster. Tee Higgins is also back in the concussion protocol, so their available bodies to practice this week went down to six including Jordan Moore and Kendric Pryor on the practice squad.
Johnson makes it three receivers on the practice squad entering the final four weeks of the season.
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