Sophomore Cedric Johnson returned to the defensive line rotation after a calf strain suffered in training camp. He has made an immediate impact for the Cincinnati Bengals, particularly on a defense that badly needed juice off the edge. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Ole Miss, and he was impressive as a rookie, showing flashes of a quick first step off the line of scrimmage. Johnson has good length and size at 6’3″ and 264 pounds, as he played in nine games in 2024 with six tackles and one sack. Al Golden is currently looking for all possible contributors without All-Pro Trey Hendrickson in the lineup to support Joe Burrow in keeping points off the board. The former Rebel returned against the New England Patriots and had a solid debut in creating several pressures on Drake Maye. Cincinnati hopes these trends continue not only for Johnson but also for the entire defense.
Cedric Johnson Is Contributing to the Bengals’ Defensive Line
College Days
Johnson was a solid college prospect while in Oxford. He saved his best season for last, and as a senior, saw action in 12 games with 10 starts on the Ole Miss defensive line and earned honorable mention All-SEC accolades by the College Football Network. In 2023, he tallied 40 total tackles on the season, with 6.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, and led the team with 12 quarterback hurries.
After being drafted, Johnson was asked about how versatile a player he is and noted, “Very versatile. I’ve played a zero-technique, three-technique, all kinds from a zero to a five. I can do it all. I feel like I’m going to add a lot of versatility to the team.”
Baby Steps
It’s a shame that Johnson was injured before the season began because he showed potential as a rookie, and it seemed the team had plans to showcase him more in 2025. While speed is his calling card, he can also win with a powerful push that’s underrated and was evident against the Baltimore Ravens.
Didn’t count because of a penalty in the secondary but Bengals rookie Cedric Johnson (#52) showcasing his power here.
Sixth-round pick out of Ole Miss has shined in preseason. pic.twitter.com/goh6Au9J0i
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) August 23, 2024
Now that he’s fully healthy and with Hendrickson’s absence, Johnson should receive more opportunities each week to show that he can be a player the Bengals can count on for the remaining five games and heading into next year.
Supporting Cast
Head coach Zac Taylor is all-in on the youth movement on defense, and this extends to the DL, where Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy are finally turning a corner. Throw in Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson, and Johnson, and you have a nice foundation to build on as this side of the ball gains more confidence with every snap.
The NFL is a what have you done for me lately business, and Johnson is proving to be a valuable commodity at the perfect time with the return of Burrow. The question is, can Johnson be consistent enough to keep Cincinnati’s playoff dreams alive?
Main Photo: Phil Didion/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The post Cedric Johnson Is Contributing to the Bengals’ Defensive Line appeared first on Last Word on NFL.