Johnson announced Sunday via his personal Instagram account that he has retired from professional football.
After the Browns selected him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Johnson played eight seasons in the league, totaling 532 carries for 2,265 yards and 11 touchdowns along with 311 receptions for 2,870 yards and 12 scores over 97 games. Johnson spent most of his time in the NFL with the Browns, and he also played for Houston, Miami and Buffalo. In his final NFL campaign, the running back got into just one game with the Bills, accumulating 157 kick-return yards and four rushing yards in 2022.
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Duke Johnson: Heads back to practice squad
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Johnson reverted to Buffalo's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Johnson was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's Week 10 loss to Minnesota and logged five snaps on offense, finishing with two carries for four yards. While he trailed Devin Singletary (54), James Cook (13) and Nyheim Hines (six) among running back snaps, Johnson was very active on special teams, churning out 157 yards on seven kick returns. Buffalo has plenty of healthy ball carriers at its disposal, so Johnson's path back to the active roster is likely through his ability as a return man.
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Bills' Duke Johnson: Added to backfield mix
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Buffalo elevated Johnson from its practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game versus the Vikings, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
After joining the Bills' practice squad back in August, Johnson is poised to potentially make his 2022 debut in Week 10. With five running backs in total suiting up for Sunday's game for Buffalo, Johnson doesn't have a clear path to much rushing volume right away.
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Duke Johnson: Inks practice squad deal
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The Bills signed Johnson to their practice squad Wednesday, Alec White of the team's official site reports.
Johnson faced an uphill battle to make the team's initial 53-man roster, but he returns to the organization to serve as emergency depth on the practice squad. The 28-year-old running back has been a productive running back in every season of his seven-year career, but barring injury, he likely won't be fantasy relevant to start the 2022 campaign.
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Duke Johnson: Let go by Bills
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The Bills are releasing Johnson, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson worked behind Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and James Cook during the preseason, likely needing an injury ahead of him to make the 53-man roster. The Bills hope to keep him on their practice squad instead.
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Bills' Duke Johnson: Gets work in preseason finale
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Johnson rushed six times for 20 yards and caught one of two targets for two yards during Buffalo's preseason loss to Carolina on Friday.
The versatile veteran is no lock to make the team given that Devin Singletary, rookie James Cook and Zack Moss all appear to be locks, plus Taiwan Jones is a special teams ace and has been with the team for years. That said, it's that versatility that could land Johnson a possible spot as a No. 4/5 running back in a dynamic offense. This is a loaded team, so his name will be one to watch when the Bills make their final roster cuts.
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Bills' Duke Johnson: Getting reps with receivers
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Johnson worked with the wide receivers in practice Thursday to improve his route running and footwork, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Johnson's on the roster bubble in Buffalo, but if he makes it, it will be due to his pass-catching ability. He and rookie second-round pick James Cook were both used with the wide receivers Thursday to flesh out their receiving skills while Devin Singletary and Zack Moss worked with the running backs as usual.
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Bills' Duke Johnson: Signing with Bills
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Johnson agreed to a one-year deal with the Bills on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After coming close to landing J.D. McKissic in free agency, the Bills instead have brought in Johnson, who handled a key role for the Dolphins down the stretch last season. The 28-year-old will provide his new team with valuable veteran depth, while Johnson's ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield should make him worthy of PPR consideration while working behind Buffalo's top back Devin Singletary. The Bills also have Zack Moss under contract for the next two seasons.
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Dolphins' Duke Johnson: Gallops to finish line
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Johnson carried the ball 25 times for 117 yards and a touchdown and caught his only target for five yards in Sunday's 33-24 win over the Patriots.
It was another dazzling performance from the veteran back, and Johnson capped his day with a one-yard TD plunge in the third quarter that gave the Dolphins a 24-10 lead. After barely seeing the field for most of the season, he seized the No. 1 job for Miami over the final month and piled up 353 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. A free agent in the offseason, it's not clear whether the Dolphins will even want Johnson back or whether they'll look for younger options in the backfield, but the 28-year-old may have at least earned himself another chance at a significant role with some team in 2022.
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Dolphins' Duke Johnson: Paces team in rushing again
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Johnson rushed seven times for 49 yards and brought in two of three targets for 16 yards in the Dolphins' 34-3 loss to the Titans on Sunday.
Johnson again led the Dolphins in rushing yards in an efficient performance, and the veteran recorded multiple grabs for the first time in four games with the Dolphins. The 28-year-old logged two more carries than Myles Gaskin, and he could again helm the ground attack in Week 18 against the Patriots.
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Dolphins' Duke Johnson: Tops team in rushing
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Johnson rushed 13 times for 39 yards in Monday night's 20-3 win over the Saints.
Johnson didn't approach his production from last week's 107-yard, two-touchdown outburst, but he still led the Dolphins in rushing against a stout Saints front seven. That being said, Phillip Lindsay matched his 13 carries and managed just three fewer rushing yards, working in tandem with Johnson in his first appearance since Week 12. With Myles Gaskin around as well, it'll be interesting to see how Miami divides its backfield snaps in Week 17 versus the Titans, but Johnson's role the past couple contests suggests he'll at least get the chance to establish himself.
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Dolphins' Duke Johnson: Excels in lead role
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Johnson rushed 22 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 31-24 win over the Jets. He also caught his only target for 20 yards.
Johnson worked as Miami's lead back over Myles Gaskin, who recently returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list. The former Browns and Texans running back scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 9 of last season from one yard out in the second quarter, then found paydirt again on a six-yard run in the third. Miami's running game faced one of the league's most generous run defenses in this one but will draw one of the toughest assignments in that regard in Week 16 against the Saints.
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Dolphins' Duke Johnson: Active for Week 15
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Johnson is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Jets, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.
As are Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. Johnson is on hand to provide backfield depth with Phillip Lindsay (reserve/COVID-19 list) and Malcolm Brown (quad/IR-R) unavailable for the contest.
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Duke Johnson: Back to practice squad
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Johnson has reverted back to the Dolphins' practice squad, per the NFL's transaction report.
Johnson joined Miami's practice squad in late October. He was called up to its active roster prior to Sunday's victory over the Jets. The veteran ended up playing just six offensive snaps, but he made use of them by accumulating 18 yards on four carries.
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Dolphins' Duke Johnson: Elevated to active roster
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Johnson was elevated from the Dolphins' practice squad ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Johnson joined the practice squad in late October and will provide additional depth at running back against the Jets. The 28-year-old logged 77 carries for 235 yards and a touchdown last year but has yet to make his 2021 debut.
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Duke Johnson: Finds new team
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Johnson was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson was cut by the Texans on Feb. 26. He joined the Jaguars' practice squad once Travis Etienne (foot) was placed on IR, but he was ultimately let go less than two weeks later. Since then, Johnson has worked out for San Francisco and Carolina, but he has finally latched onto a new team. With Malcolm Brown (quadriceps) on IR, Johnson will try to work his way to the active roster to potentially replace Brown on the Dolphins' depth chart.
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Duke Johnson: Working out for Panthers
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Johnson has a workout scheduled with the Panthers on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Carolina's looking to bolster its backfield after Christian McCaffrey strained his hamstring in Thursday's win over the Texans. The Panthers already have rookie Chuba Hubbard and Royce Freeman on hand, but Johnson's receiving skills make him an appealing option for Carolina considering their playbook leans heavily on passes to running backs. Prior to last year's 28-catch season in Houston, Johnson had between 44 and 74 receptions in each of his first five NFL campaigns.
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Duke Johnson: Visiting San Francisco
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The 49ers are hosting Johnson for a visit, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson spent time on Jacksonville's practice squad during the first week of the 2021 season, and he now may get a chance to compete for a role with the 49ers. In San Francisco, Raheem Mostert (knee) has been lost for the season, while Trey Sermon (concussion), Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) and JaMycal Hasty (ankle) are all dealing with injuries of their own. Johnson's dual-threat skill set therefore could be valuable to the 49ers, who also are bringing in Lamar Miller for a tryout.
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Duke Johnson: Parts ways with Jags
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Johnson was released off Jacksonville's practice squad Thursday.
Johnson was signed to the Jaguars' practice squad last week, but he apparently didn't make enough of an impression over the past week-plus to warrant a longer look. The 27-year-old is now in search of a new team, as James Robinson and Carlos Hyde will continue to lead Jacksonville's backfield.
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Duke Johnson: Joins Jacksonville's practice squad
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Johnson is slated to join the Jaguars' practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
With Travis Etienne on IR due to a foot injury, Johnson gives the Jaguars some added backfield depth behind James Robinson, Carlos Hyde and Dare Ogunbowale. Though Johnson, who turns 28 later this month, had an off year with the Texans in 2020, it's not hard to imagine him being promoted to Jacksonville's roster in the coming weeks, and in such a scenario the 5-foot-9, 210-pounder could emerge as a change-of-pace option behind Robinson.
