Packers Sign Former Draft Pick, Visitor Eric Johnson Ii

After releasing receiver Chris Hilton Jr., the Green Bay Packers had three open spots on their practice squad. The Packers will be filling at least one of those spots on the roster this week, as Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber has reported that the team will sign defensive lineman Eric Johnson II.

Johnson is an interesting name, as we highlighted him as a possibility for Green Bay after cutdowns, since he was a pre-draft visitor for the team in 2022, when the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the fifth round. At the cutdown deadline, there seemed to be little reason for the addition of Johnson, but clearly things changed when Nazir Stackhouse was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans and Jaden Crumedy was signed off the Packers’ practice squad by the Houston Texans, leaving Green Bay with no bodies on the defensive line on the practice squad.

In his NFL career, Johnson has played 51 games in the regular season (40 for the Indianapolis Colts and 11 for the New England Patriots) and has recorded 700 defensive snaps and 132 special teams snaps (mostly on field goal block). This is Johnson’s fourth NFL team, as he was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons (the Packers’ Week 3 Thursday Night Football opponent) during training camp.

Johnson is one of eight players who have worked out with the Packers this week so far. In total, the team brought in three interior defensive linemen, three wide receivers, a quarterback and an international edge defender for tryouts. I would not be surprised if the practice squad is filled with two other signings by Wednesday’s practice.