As a former seventh-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft, it was always a longshot that Patrick Johnson would make any major impact on the Philadelphia Eagles roster.
The former Tulane product hasn't recorded a sack in his four-year career with the Eagles and New York Giants despite recording both a fumble forced and recovered. Back with the Eagles after a stay with New York, though, Johnson is hoping that Philly can give him a quality shot to make the roster in 2025.
There is reason to suspect he can.
Philadelphia lost Josh Sweat to free agency and Brandon Graham to retirement in the last two weeks. The team may have signed Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari in free agency, but none are guaranteed to make the roster this season.
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It will come down to whoever makes a better impact on the coaching staff. For Johnson, the coaching staff is one of the main reasons he wanted to return even after being released earlier in the year last year.
"I would say, just maturing, realizing and really looking in depth of where I need to improve at as a player and what I can bring to the table moving forward that doesn't allow me to be put back in that position," Johnson said in reference to being waived before Week 2.
"That's another reason why I came back here because I knew the coaches and stuff here could help me improve as a player and get me back to where I know I can make a huge impact."
Johnson isn't guaranteed a roster spot moving forward, but that's ok by him.
He'll just have to continue to prove his worth when the pads come back on.
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This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM.