The Jacksonville Jaguars are re-signing running back D'Ernest Johnson to a one-year deal, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 28-year-old hit the open market on Monday but ultimately ended up coming back to the team's crowded running back room. Starter Travis Etienne has a secure spot as the lead back, while 2023 rookie Tank Bigsby is expected to see an enhanced role in 2024. This leaves Johnson in the RB3 and special teams running back role, so he'll remain off the fantasy radar next season unless both Etienne and Bigsby suffer injuries and miss time simultaneously. Johnson has rushed for just 846 yards since entering the NFL in 2019 with the Cleveland Browns.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson faces a tough Baltimore Ravens defense in Week 15. Johnson was removed from the injury report heading into the weekend after logging limited practice sessions this week, and should resume his backup role in the offense. The former Cleveland Brown appears to have usurped rookie Tank Bigsby as the No. 2 back over the past few weeks, as the latter has only played four total snaps in this time frame. This hasn't meant fantasy relevance for Johnson though, who has only seen 13 combined opportunities in these two weeks which has only led to a total of 5.2 points scored. Do not consider Johnson for any lineups in Week 15.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (knee) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Johnson has been limited in both practice sessions to begin the week. This is noteworthy because starting back Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) has also been limited this week. The absence of Etienne would likely mean that Johnson would start this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. However, they'd probably end up splitting up the snaps with Tank Bigsby. If Johnson sits, Bigsby would likely be tasked with being the primary backup, but there won't be a ton of value with the gig.
Travis Etienne Jr., D'Ernest Johnson Limited Wednesday
Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) and D'Ernest Johnson (knee) were both listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report. Etienne and Johnson were also on the injury report last week with their respective injuries but played through them in the Week 14 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Johnson has become the team's No. 2 back over Tank Bigsby and has been more involved in recent weeks, but Etienne is Jacksonville's clear lead back and will continue to be so. Etienne dominated the backfield touch share last Sunday. He had 14 carries for 35 yards and his ninth touchdown of the year while adding four catches for 37 yards. Expect that to continue this Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens. It's not an ideal matchup for the Jags offense, but Etienne will be in the low-end RB1 conversation in fantasy.
Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) and D'Ernest Johnson (knee) are both active for Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report. Etienne and Johnson were expected to play despite their questionable tags. The Jags will also surprisingly have quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle) under center for this one just six days after he suffered a high-ankle sprain on Monday night. With Lawrence's mobility likely pretty limited, the Jags could lean more on their backfield in Etienne and Johnson. However, the matchup against Cleveland's strong run defense isn't ideal. Fantasy managers should fade Etienne in DFS and consider him more of an RB2 in season-long leagues.
Travis Etienne Jr., D'Ernest Johnson Questionable Against Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) and D'Ernest Johnson (knee) are both listed as questionable for the Week 14 contest versus the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Etienne was also questionable for Monday night's overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but he ended up suiting up and saw 15 touches for 79 yards and a touchdown. How Jacksonville's offense fares against a strong Browns defense this weekend will all hinge on whether quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle) is able to play through his injury. Etienne will have less upside as an RB2 if Lawrence sits out, but the Jaguars could also lean more heavily on their ground game if backup C.J. Beathard is forced to start. Either way, the 24-year-old Etienne should be downgraded in Week 14.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. With the Jaguars having played just two days ago, the team was likely cautious with the running back to start the week. Johnson will have two more chances to upgrade his practice status before Jacksonville takes on the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. The 27-year-old back remains a great handcuff to Travis Etienne but doesn't carry much fantasy value this weekend. He is likely only a flex play in extremely deep leagues.
D'Ernest Johnson Appears To Have Taken Over No. 2 Role
After seeing a season-high eight touches in last week's win over the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson saw another eight touches in Week 12's 24-21 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Johnson carried seven times for 19 yards and caught one of his two targets for a 42-yard pickup. He played a season-high 39 percent of the offensive snaps compared to just three percent for rookie Tank Bigsby. Johnson has now played at least 21 percent of the snaps in each of the last three games and appears to have taken over the No. 2 role behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. The 27-year-old is by no means worth a starting lineup spot on his own, but he could be in line for lead-back duties in Jacksonville if Etienne were to go down with an injury.
D'Ernest Johnson Scores Two Touchdowns In Victory Against Lions
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson rushed six times for 36 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 25-7 preseason win over the Detroit Lions. He added two receptions for seven yards. Rookie camp star Tank Bigsby started over Johnson and got most of the work, with seven more carries and an additional 34 yards. Johnson was the only back to hit paydirt and lead the backfield in YPC (6.0), but he was still clearly the RB3 behind the former Auburn standout. It's also worth noting that JaMychal Hasty saw the field before Johnson, putting the ex-Brown even further from the fantasy radar than he already was.
D'Ernest Johnson Records 38 Scrimmage Yards In Preseason Win
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson finished the first preseason game with five attempts for 31 yards, also collecting one catch for seven yards on one target. It was a modest performance for the former Cleveland Brown, who saw three fewer touches than rookie Tank Bigsby. Johnson's YPC may look better than Bigsby's, but the numbers are slightly misleading, as 26 of Johnson's 31 yards came on a third-quarter scamper. Based on camp reports and opportunities given throughout this first preseason game, Johnson may be taking a back seat to the dynamic rookie. He should be avoided in all fantasy formats.
