Johnson Signs on the Dotted Line: Tiger-Cats Land Cowboys’ Linebacker
Hamilton Tiger-Cats have invested their time and resources this week to reinforce their team on the defensive side of the ball. During the 2024 CFL season, the Tiger-Cats struggled to stop their opponents. They made it difficult for the Tiger-Cats to win consistently after Hamilton had one of their best seasons on the offensive side of the ball in recent history. This week, the Tiger-Cats have added a collection of defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs to improve their product on the field.
Earlier this week, the Tiger-Cats signed linebacker Chris Russell Jr., who came to the CFL after looking for an opportunity to make an impact in the NFL. However, the Tiger-Cats were not satisfied, so according to the CFL Transactions list, they have acquired another linebacker. American linebacker Jason Johnson is the latest addition to the Tiger-Cats roster, bringing NFL experience to the CFL.
Jason Johnson comes to the CFL after spending the 2024 NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys. While Johnson prepared for the 2024 NFL Draft, several NFL scouting services listed him as a long-shot or practice player. Johnson is excellent at reading his keys but tends to over-commit to the run game, which keeps him from making plays on passes. This is a general overview of what NFL scouts thought about Jason Johnson.
Coming to the CFL gives Johnson a chance to show that he has what it takes to be a playmaker on defense, and he can continue to develop his ability to play solid football against opponents in the run game and passing game. The Tiger-Cats are in great need of linebackers who can come into the game and contain the running game of their opponents. If Hamilton’s defence can get their opponent’s behind the chains, they can force teams to throw the ball and take more risks. Risky play by opponents will allow the Tiger-Cats to force more turnovers and set their offence up for success on a shorter field.
The 6’2″, 235-pound Johnson is a native of Chicago, Illinois. Before starting his professional football career, Johnson played college football at Eastern Illinois and Central Florida. From 2022 until 2023, Johnson played in 27 games for the UCF Golden Knights, and he recorded 136 solo tackles, 108 assists, 4.5 sacks, forced two fumbles, and recovered three fumbles. Before transferring to UCF, Johnson played at NCAA FCS Eastern Illinois, where he played in 27 games from 2019 until 2021, and he registered 133 solo tackles, 102 assists, and 2.5 quarterback sacks.
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