The Los Angeles Rams finally took the plunge and signed an outside free agent this offseason, bringing aboard former Buccaneers wide receiver Tyler Johnson. They announced the move on Tuesday, their very first free-agent signing of 2023.
Johnson has three years of NFL experience and was a fifth-round pick in 2020, playing six career playoff games with the Buccaneers, as well. So who is the Rams’ new receiver? Here are five things to know.
1
He scored 25 touchdowns in his final 2 seasons at Minnesota
Johnson was a standout player at Minnesota, particularly in his junior and senior seasons. In 2018, he caught 78 passes for 1,169 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, posting six games with at least 100 yards. He got even better as a senior, hauling in 86 passes for 1,318 yards and 13 touchdowns, giving him a total of 25 touchdowns in his final two seasons. He also had six 100-yard games in 2019 and three in 2017, so he topped the century mark in 15 of his final 36 college games.
2
He helped send the Bucs to the Super Bowl LV
Johnson only had one catch for 16 yards in the 2021 NFC Championship Game against the Packers, but he did make a pivotal play without even hauling in a reception. With 1:46 left in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers were facing a third-and-4 from their own 37-yard line. Leading 31-26, all they needed was a couple of first downs to run out the clock and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Johnson drew a pass interference penalty on that pivotal third-down play to give the Bucs 15 yards and a first down, eventually holding on to win four plays later.
A very late flag to basically lock up the NFC title for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. pic.twitter.com/VZeXaIHuQS
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 24, 2021
3
His career-high is 65 yards on 5 receptions
Johnson hasn’t had a true breakout game in the NFL yet, never topping 65 yards in a single contest. His best game came in 2021 against the Saints when he caught five passes for 65 yards on six targets. That’s just one of two games he’s had with at least five receptions and one of three games with 60-plus yards.
4
He’s caught 6 passes in 3 career games against the Rams
Johnson has played three games against the Rams in his career, one of which came in the playoffs following the 2021 regular season. His 63 yards against the Rams in Week 3 of the 2021 season are the second-most yards he’s had in a single game, hauling in three passes in that 34-24 loss to Los Angeles. He also had three receptions for 15 yards in the Bucs’ playoff loss to the Rams in the divisional round during L.A.’s Super Bowl run.
5
QBs have a passer rating of 101.7 when targeting him
Johnson has never been the targeted receiver on an interception in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, which is part of the reason his passer rating when targeted is an impressive 101.7 in his career. He scored two touchdowns as a rookie but none in 2021, forcing three missed tackles in each season. He did drop three passes in 2021 after dropping one in 2020, too.
