Training camps are in full swing as teams are getting ready for their first preseason game of the year. The Houston Texans will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings for their first game of the summer. This will give the coaching staff a better look at some of the depth options and position battles before they have to make their final decision for the 53-man roster.
This process is taking place across the league as players vie for starting jobs and roster spots. The unfortunate part of the process, as always, is the injuries. One former Houston Texan faced that harsh reality on Saturday. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Lonnie Johnson Jr. suffered a broken fibula during Raiders practice at Allegiant Stadium after he collided with star defensive end Maxx Crosby.
#Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. suffered a broken fibula at practice Saturday, per source. The six-year vet is getting an MRI to determine if additional damage. Johnson was in the mix for a rotational role in Vegas.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 3, 2025
Former Texans Stud Suffers Devastating Training Camp Injury
This is a devastating outcome for Johnson, who has been competing for a starting role in Las Vegas. The veteran defender had received first-team reps at certain points of the offseason after signing with the Raiders earlier in the spring.
Fowler reported that Johnson will get an MRI to determine "if there is additional damage", but it's safe to assume that the former second-round pick of the Texans will likely miss the entire 2025 season.
This is the latest misfortune for the 29-year-old defensive back whose career has been on the decline since leaving Houston. After starting 19 games in three years in Houston and being an important part of the secondary, Johnson has been bouncing around the league over the last couple of seasons, spending time with the Titans, Saints, and the Panthers. He was initially traded to the Chiefs by the Texans in the 2022 offseason but failed to make the roster, thus kicking off his journeyman career.
Last season with the Panthers, Johnson spent some time on the practice squad before getting elevated to the active roster. He was almost exclusively used on the special teams.
The reports out of Las Vegas this offseason suggested that Johnson could turn things around and revive his career, but this latest injury will make things difficult for the former Kentucky standout. Let's hope that he makes a full recovery and returns to the NFL for another opportunity.