Las Vegas Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. suffered a broken leg during practice on Saturday after colliding with teammate Maxx Crosby. The incident occurred when Raheem Mostert, a new addition to the team, ran to the right and was tackled by Crosby, who then accidentally rolled over Johnson’s foot.
Immediately after the injury, Johnson clutched his right leg, prompting medical personnel to come to the field at Allegiant Stadium and assess the situation before transporting him on a cart.
Initially, Raiders’ head coach Pete Carroll described it as a “lower limb injury,” though he didn’t have all the specifics. Subsequent reports indicated that Johnson actually broke a fiber in his leg. While the Raiders haven’t officially commented on his condition, the seriousness of the injury was hinted at in posts on social media.
In a message, Johnson wrote, “Imma Soldier Chin Up Chest Out. God has got me.” In a lighter moment, he even joked about wondering if he could get a handicap sticker.
This season marks Johnson’s seventh year in the NFL, following his selection by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2019 draft. Despite high expectations, he was traded after three seasons, subsequently playing for teams like the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers.
Throughout his career, Johnson has played in 83 games, accumulating four interceptions and 199 tackles. When he signed a one-year contract with the Raiders, he mentioned that Carroll had been persistently trying to bring him onto the team, saying, “blowing my phone away.”
Johnson’s injury could pose a significant challenge for the Raiders, especially with reports indicating that three safety roles were open at the time he was taking defensive reps for the first team. He was anticipated to play a pivotal role this season.
