HOUSTON – For Lonnie Johnson Jr, a return to the Texans represents a homecoming he fully embraces.
Drafted by the Texans in the second round in 2019, Johnson rejoins the AFC South champions on a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
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A married father with a fourth child on the way, Johnson saw his first baby born here and built a home. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs two years ago and emerged as a core special teams contributor with the New Orleans Saints last season.
“It’s full circle,” Johnson told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview. “I’m very excited to be back. I’ve grown a lot as a player and as a person. I’m humble and ready to get to work. When I was in Houston the first time, we had a lot of coaching staff changes and I changed positions from corner to safety. I feel very good about the place I’m in as a player and being a part of what’s going on in Houston. I’m excited to play for DeMeco Ryans.”
Johnson provides depth at safety and has outstanding size at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds.
With the Saints, he recorded one interception with nine tackles and one fumble recovery in 12 games and no starts.
At 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, Johnson has outstanding athleticism versatility. He has recorded 192 tackles with one fumble recovery and four career interceptions.
As a rookie, he recovered a blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown against the Chiefs in a crushing AFC divisional round playoff loss.
Johnson emphasized that he saw how tight end Jordan Akins returned to the Texans and had a strong season after being promoted from the practice squad.
“I want to get a ring in Houston, I have high goals,” Johnson said. “I’ve come a long way and I’m very excited to be back where it all started. I’ve learned a lot and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
