FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced that they have signed RB D'Ernest Johnson to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and placed RB Terrell Jennings on injured reserve. In addition, the Patriots elevated DL Leonard Taylor III to the active roster from the practice squad.
Johnson, 29, was elevated by the Patriots to the active roster for three straight games and played vs. Atlanta (11/2), at Tampa Bay (11/9) and vs. the New York Jets (11/13). He is in his seventh NFL season after spending time with the Cleveland Browns (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars (2023-24), Baltimore Ravens (2025) and the Arizona Cardinals (2025). The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Cleveland out of South Florida in 2019 and played with the Browns through the 2022 season. He signed with Jacksonville as an unrestricted free agent in 2023 and then with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025. Johnson spent time on the Ravens and Cardinals practice squads earlier this season. He was released by Arizona from the practice squad on Oct. 28, 2025, after being elevated for one game with the Cardinals and then signed with New England on Oct. 29. Overall, he has played in 99 games with three starts and has 219 rushing attempts for 996 yards with 3 touchdowns and 53 receptions for 465 yards. Johnson has also returned 33 kicks for 772 yards.
Taylor, 23, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Oct. 16, 2025. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the New York Jets out of Miami (Fla.) in 2024. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder, has played in 16 NFL games and has 27 total tackles, 1½ sacks and 2 passes defensed. He was released by the Jets on Oct. 14, 2025 after seeing action in two games in 2025.
