NFL CAREER – Originally selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans out of Kentucky, Lonnie Johnson Jr. provides experience and depth to the Saints secondary and special teams units in 2023, as he will compete for snaps on both defense and in the kicking game in the offseason and the preseason. In three seasons with the Texans (2019-21) and the 2022 campaign with the Tennessee Titans, he has played in 56 regular season games with 19 starts, posting career totals of 168 tackles (122 solo), three interceptions, 13 passes defensed, 15 special teams tackles. In two postseason contests with one start for Houston in 2019, he has posted three solo tackles and one coverage stops.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a one-year contract (UFA-Ten.) by the New Orleans Saints, 3/21/23; Activated from Injured Reserve by the Tennessee Titans, 12/17/22; Placed on injured reserve by the Titans, 11/17/22; Placed on injured reserve by the Titans, 11/17/22; Awarded off waivers to the Titans from the Kansas City Chiefs, 8/16/22; Waived by the Chiefs, 8/15/22; Traded from the Houston Texans to the Chiefs in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick, 5/2/22; Reinstated by the Texans from Reserve/COVID-19, 1/5/22; Placed by the Texans on Reserve/COVID-19, 12/23/21; Signed by the Texans to a four-year contract, 5/10/19; Selected by the Texans in the second round (54th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.
2022 – Played in 12 games for the Titans, totaling nine tackles on defense and two stops on special teams…Posted three tackles in back-to-back weeks vs. Houston, Dec. 24 and vs. Dallas, Dec. 29. 2021 – Played in 14 games for Houston with seven starts, totaling 51 tackles, a career-high three interceptions, six passes defensed and four special teams stops…Started at FS at Buffalo, Oct. 3 and finished with eight tackles (five solo), first career interception, which he returned for a career-long 32 yards and a pass defense…Posted a pick for the second consecutive week, to go with four tackles and one pass defense vs. New England, Oct. 10. 2020 – Played in 16 games with five starts, opening last four games at safety and tallying a career-high 70 tackles (50 solo) and six special teams stops…Finished with three tackles (two solo) and one special teams stop in 30-14 blowout vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 11…Finished with six solo stops at Jacksonville, Nov. 8…Finished with five tackles (four solo) vs. New England, Nov. 22…Posted six tackles (four solo) and two special teams stops vs. Indianapolis, Dec. 6…Finished with four tackles (three solo) and two coverage stops at Chicago, Dec. 11…Had a career-high 11 tackles (six solo) vs. Cincinnati, Dec. 27. 2019 – Appeared in 14 regular season games (seven starts) as a rookie for Houston and tallied 38 total tackles (31 solo), a career-high seven passes defensed and added three tackles on special teams. Also appeared in both postseason contests (one start) and posted three solo tackles and one coverage stop. Saw action as reserve cornerback in NFL debut at New Orleans, Sept. 9…Logged first-career start vs. Jacksonville, Sept. 15 and recorded first three career tackles (three solo) and a pass defense…Posted six tackles and a pass defense in Week 3 win over L.A. Chargers, Sept. 22…Tallied four tackles (two solo) in his third career start vs. Atlanta, Oct. 6…Tallied two solo tackles and two passes defensed in victory at Kansas City, Oct. 13…Tied for second on team with seven solo tackles at Indianapolis, Oct. 20…Finished tied for second on team with six tackles (five solo) and added a pass defense vs. New England, Dec. 1…Posted a pass defense at Tennessee, Dec. 15, stopping a second quarter fake punt attempt…Made his first career playoff start in the Divisional Round at Kansas City, 1/12/20 and recorded three solo tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams. Recovered on a blocked punt by OLB Barkevious Mingo on Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt at the 10-yard line and scored a TD.
COLLEGE – Played two seasons (2017-18) at the University of
Kentucky after transferring from Garden City (Kan.) Community College where he played one season (2015). Also played one season (2014) at San Bernardino Valley Community College. Sat out the 2016 season to focus on academics Recorded 64 total tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 12 passes defensed, two blocked kicks, one interception and one forced fumble in 26 games (18 starts) at Kentucky…Recorded 23 tackles, four passes defensed, an interception and one forced fumble and started all 13 games as a senior…Notched his first-career interception in the Citrus Bowl vs. Penn State (1/1/19)…Recorded four tackles in 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl after senior campaign…Notched 41 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, five passes defensed and two blocked kicks after appearing in all 13 games in first season at Kentucky…Recorded six tackles and blocked a field goal vs. Missouri, Oct. 7…Tallied three tackles and first-career sack vs. Tennessee, Oct. 28…Finished with five tackles, a stop for loss and a pass defense vs. Mississippi in first career start, Nov. 4…Registered career-high seven tackles vs. Louisville, Nov. 25…Graduated with a degree in community and leadership development.
PERSONAL – Attended Gary (Ind.) West Side HS…Recorded 66 tackles, two interceptions, two blocked field goals and a blocked punt…Also caught 40 passes for 772 yards (19.3 avg.) and 14 career touchdowns…Lettered in track & field and led Gary West Side to the 2014 state championship with individual titles in the long jump and 4x100 relay.
