Both served as standard elevations at Mile High.
D’Ernest Johnson and Leonard Taylor III reverted to the New England Patriots’ practice squad on Monday after having a hand in the AFC Championship Game.
The 10-7 win at snowy Mile High marked the fifth standard elevation of the campaign for the running back. For the defensive tackle, it marked the sixth. Both made their way to organization in October and will soon make their way to Super Bowl LX.
Johnson, 29, returned a pair of kickoffs for 59 yards against the Denver Broncos. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound vested running back has appeared in 10 games altogether through stints on the practice squad and active roster in Foxborough, totaling 46 snaps on offense and 41 snaps on special teams. He reached the NFL limit in elevations during the regular season before the postseason provided a clean slate behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
Now 108 combined games into his career, Johnson stands with 228 carries for 1,014 yards, 53 catches for 467 yards, as well as three starts and three touchdowns. The product of the South Florida Bulls and Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos went undrafted 2018. He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.
Taylor, 23, blocked a 45-yard attempt by veteran kicker Wil Lutz during Sunday’s whiteout. That field goal would have made it a tie game with 4:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. Taylor saw 16 snaps on defense to go with four snaps on special teams at Empower Field. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle also reached the three-time limit by the end of the regular season, yet has since been called up for the wild card, divisional round and conference title.
Since being waived by an 0-6 New York Jets team in the fall, Taylor has also notched eight tackles and one quarterback hit elsewhere in the AFC East. A 2024 undrafted free agent by way of the Miami Hurricanes, his NFL run spans 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks and five stops for loss through 22 combined appearances.
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s practice squad currently includes two open spots after the release of defensive end Darrell Taylor was followed by the release of wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. New England also recently opened the 21-day practice windows for running back Terrell Jennings and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer to be activated from injured reserve.
For now, the last 53-man roster left in the AFC stands at capacity leading up to Super Bowl LX versus the Seattle Seahawks.
Kickoff at Levi’s Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Category: General Sports
