Johnson announced he is retiring from football Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson will call it a career after playing eight seasons in the NFL, though he last played during the 2022 campaign, when he appeared in five games for the Saints. The 2015 third-round pick burst onto the scene during his second season with Arizona, as he led the league with 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns across 373 touches. The one-time All-Pro's career was quickly sidetracked when he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 1 of 2017. He ultimately spent five seasons with the Cardinals before being included in the trade that brought wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona from Houston. Johnson went on to play two relatively lackluster seasons with the Texans before tacking onto the Saints' practice squad in 2022. He finishes with 4,071 rushing yards, 2,805 receiving yards and 57 total touchdowns across 92 career games.

Johnson had zero carries and gathered in both of his targets for 28 yards during Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson's modest numbers represented a season high in scrimmage yards as the Saints' offense posted yet another unremarkable outing. He also played just one more offensive snap than fellow backup running back Eno Benjamin (six). Over five games with New Orleans in 2022, Johnson recorded 12 carries for 24 yards and four receptions on four targets for 47 yards. These are by far the lowest marks of the 31-year-old's career outside of the 2017 season in which he suffered a season-ending wrist injury Week 1. Johnson joined the New Orleans practice squad in mid-November, and he was eventually signed to the active roster after Mark Ingram sustained a season-ending MCL tear in early December. With both of these aging veterans set to hit free agency, it's unlikely that either of them will factor into the Saints' future at running back.

Johnson posted seven rushes for 16 yards and caught his only target for eight yards during Saturday's 17-10 win versus Cleveland.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson's workload bumped up in the Saints' ground-and-pound offensive game plan Week 16. He also caught a pass over the middle on third down to keep New Orleans' second drive of the game going. However, the No. 2 running back still finished third in rushing attempts, as versatile quarterback Taysom Hill (nine snaps) and Alvin Kamara (20 snaps) led the team's option rushing attack. With third-string running back Eno Benjamin exclusively filling in on special teams during the absence of Dwayne Washington (illness), fullback Adam Prentice was the only other New Orleans back to record any carries with two. Johnson should continue to see the bulk of the limited carries at running back behind Kamara in Week 17 versus Philadelphia.

Johnson tallied four carries for 12 yards and lost a fumble during Sunday's 21-18 win over the Falcons.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson got off to a solid start in his first outing as the Saints' new No. 2 running back, logging four carries through the midpoint of the second quarter, but he committed the team's lone turnover when he fumbled in the red zone before halftime. While Johnson did not see a carry for the remainder of the contest, he was still the only running back to log any offensive snaps (18) other than starter Alvin Kamara (34), as Eno Benjamin (coach's decision) and Dwayne Washington (illness) were both inactive. Johnson's usage prior to the turnover is an encouraging sign, but it's possible the mistake could cost him snaps when Benjamin and/or Washington are active.

Johnson is slated to serve as the top backup to starting running back Alvin Kamara in Sunday's game against the Falcons, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Eno Benjamin (coach's decision) and Dwayne Washington (illness) inactive for the contest and with Mark Ingram (knee) on injured reserve, the Saints won't have any true running backs available this week beyond Kamara and Johnson. Even though Johnson is seemingly well positioned to fill Ingram's change-of-pace role behind Kamara, that doesn't necessarily mean that Johnson will enter the backfield whenever Kamara leaves the field. The Saints will have a fullback (Adam Prentice) active for the game that they can turn to in pass protection, and jack-of-all-trades tight end/quarterback Taysom Hill is also likely to get a few carries behind Kamara.

The Saints signed Johnson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Monday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson was elevated from the practice squad for Week 11 and rushed once for negative four yards and caught his only target for 11 yards across 10 offensive snaps. Mark Ingram is expected to miss at least a month after tearing his MCL during the Saints' Week 13 loss to Tampa Bay, so in his absence, Johnson figures to provide depth behind Alvin Kamara along with Dwayne Washington.

Johnson reverted to the Saints' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson was elevated at the first possible opportunity after signing with New Orleans' practice squad Wednesday, hauling in his lone reception for 11 yards and rushing once for a four-yard loss Week 11. The veteran running back also played 10 of the team's 57 offensive snaps, slotting in behind Alvin Kamara (40) and ahead of special teamer Dwayne Washington (six). Johnson should stand to see similar usage if No. 2 running back Mark Ingram (knee) remains out Week 12 against San Francisco.

Johnson notched one carry for minus-4 yards and gathered in his only target for 11 yards during Sunday's 27-20 victory against the Rams.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson saw a minimal role while playing 10 offensive snaps in his first game with the Saints. The 30-year-old served as the team's No. 2 running back with Mark Ingram (knee) sidelined for the third straight game, as Dwayne Washington once again primarily played on special teams. However, Johnson still played an extremely limited role behind Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, who combined for 21 carries against the Rams. Expect Johnson to be elevated from the practice squad again if Ingram remains out Week 12 against the 49ers.

Johnson was elevated to the Saints' active roster Saturday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The last time fantasy managers saw Johnson, the veteran was toiling away in the 2021 Texans backfield averaging a miniscule 3.4 yards per carry across 67 totes. The 30-year-old didn't draw much interest throughout the offseason, but he has a chance to receive a few carries with usual backup Mark Ingram (knee) out for Sunday's game.

The Saints signed Johnson to their practice squad Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson had previously met with the Saints in the offseason for an extended tryout, only to come away from the meeting without a contract. He's been on the open market ever since, but he'll finally end up in New Orleans following his most recent visit with the team. Though Johnson will initially be part of the practice squad, he could be a candidate to get elevated to the roster in advance of this Sunday's game against the Rams. The Saints are uncertain to have top backup Mark Ingram (knee) available as a depth option behind starter Alvin Kamara, and Johnson may represent a better alternative for the No. 2 role than Dwayne Washington, who is on the roster mainly for his contributions on special teams. Johnson spent the 2021 season in Houston, where he averaged a career-low 3.4 yards on 67 carries to go with 32 receptions for 225 yards over 13 games.