Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Patrick Johnson earned his spot on the team’s 53-man roster after his production throughout the preseason. He finished with 13 total tackles, including four tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hits in three games played while also contributing on special teams. Making quite an impression on his new team.
"I'll give some respect and some props to Patrick Johnson," Raiders GM John Spytek said Tuesday. "This is a guy that we signed on literally the eve of training camp. . . We had followed Patrick for many years with his career in Philadelphia and respected the kind of player and teammate and special teams player he is. But every day he showed up and worked and he got better and better. And you go to the last
game against the 49ers and it's a make-or-break game for a lot of guys and who makes the first tackle on the first kickoff is Patrick Johnson."
Johnson's value increases considerably after Keyron Crawford was placed on season-ending injured reserve last Sunday. The former Super Bowl champion’s work in Las Vegas’ preseason set showed his prowess as a player with the potential to impact games for the team in 2026.
The 28-year-old Johnson opened the preseason with six tackles, including a sack and two quarterback hits in the Raiders’ 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of the preseason. He also made a major impact on special teams. He added four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in Las Vegas’ 22-20 win over the Houston Texans in Week 2 of the preseason, and made three tackles and added another tackle for loss in the final preseason game. He also forced a hurried throw while pursuing from the edge.
Johnson’s production gave the Raiders a dependable edge defender capable of providing depth in the rotation. He made infectious plays that stood out on the field time and again. Johnson more than earned his spot on the team and may even surprise next season beyond the new expectations that he carries.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Patrick Johnson emergence earned 'respect and props' from Raiders GM
