Lonnie Johnson Jr. breaks leg ahead of debut season with Raiders

NFL: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints — Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) walks off the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Expectations were high for Lonnie Johnson Jr., who had gotten off to a hot start in Las Vegas ahead of his debut season with the Raiders. The former Kentucky standout was already firmly in the rotation with a shot at a starting job — he was taking first-team reps in three-safety looks during training camp.

Then he suffered a broken fibula during the team’s scrimmage at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The six-year pro was carted off the field following a collision with star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby during a tackle attempt on running back Raheem Mostert. Now, his season is up in the air with an MRI coming to determine if there is additional damage. Traditional fibula injuries take four-plus months to return to game action — likely December for Johnson, at the earliest.

#Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. left the team's mock game on a cart.

Competing to be a starter, the six-season veteran who signed with Las Vegas this offseason had his ankle rolled up on by Maxx Crosby on this play. pic.twitter.com/qhOPxx1HUr
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) August 2, 2025

Johnson, who spent two seasons in Lexington in 2017 and 2018, was drafted in the second round by the Houston Texans in 2019 and appeared in 44 games with 19 starts in three seasons. From there, he played for the Tennessee Titans for one year, the New Orleans Saints for one year and the Carolina Panthers for one year.

Set to turn 30 years old in November, this new chapter in Vegas was scheduled to be his seventh season in the NFL.

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Johnson has racked up 199 career tackles (150 solo) with 15 pass deflections, four interceptions, one fumble recovery and one tackle for loss in 83 games and 20 starts. He’s become a strong special teams contributor in recent years, logging 339 snaps on special teams with the Panthers last season compared to just 13 defensive snaps.

We have an injury on the field. Lonnie Johnson Jr. is being taken off of the field on a cart.

🎥: @MikeDixon_VST #RaiderNation | #Raiders pic.twitter.com/IGWJQ0kgUM
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) August 2, 2025

During his two-year career at Kentucky, Johnson accumulated 64 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, 12 pass breakups, two blocked kicks, one interception and one forced fumble. He started in 18 games across 26 total appearances in blue and white, including 18 straight starts to close out his career.

He came to Kentucky as a four-star prospect in the JUCO ranks. Representing the Wildcats well in the NFL up to this point, he’s now got a long road to recovery ahead of him.

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