Incident During Practice Session

Las Vegas Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. sustained a broken leg during a practice session following a collision with star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The incident occurred on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium when running back Raheem Moster, a recent addition to the Raiders, sprinted to the right during a run play. Crosby tackled Moster and inadvertently rolled onto Johnson’s leg, leading to the injury.

Immediate Medical Response

Johnson immediately clutched his right leg in pain, prompting the medical staff to assess the situation on the field. After evaluation, he was placed on a cart and taken off the field. The scene was captured in a video shared by ESPN, highlighting the severity of the incident.

Coach and Player Reactions

Raiders’ new head coach Pete Carroll initially described the injury as a “lower leg injury” but lacked detailed information at the time. Subsequent reports confirmed that Johnson suffered a fractured fibula. Although the Raiders have not officially announced Johnson’s status, he hinted at the seriousness of his injury through social media posts. On X, Johnson expressed resilience by stating, “Imma soldier chin up chest out,” and humorously commented about possibly needing a handicap sticker.

Johnson’s NFL Journey

This marks Johnson’s seventh year in the NFL since being drafted by the Houston Texans in 2019. Despite being a high draft pick, he spent only three seasons with the Texans before moving on to play for the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers. Throughout his career, Johnson has accumulated four interceptions and 199 combined tackles over 83 games.

Impact on Raiders’ Defense

Johnson was reportedly receiving first-team defensive reps and was expected to play a rotational role this season. His absence could significantly impact the Raiders’ defensive lineup, especially with three safeties already on the field. Coach Carroll had been eager to bring Johnson into the team, having pursued him for years before finally signing him to a one-year deal.