Connect with us

Steelers Transactions

Steelers Release DB Isaiah Johnson from IR with Injury Settlement

Published

on

Steelers DB Isaiah Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers gave cornerback Isaiah Johnson his release from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement, according to the NFL transactions page for Friday.

Johnson had been waived with an injury designation in May, cleared waivers, and reverted to the team’s injured reserve list. Because Johnson was placed on injured reserve before the start of the season, he would have been ineligible to be activated from the IR at any point in 2022.

Instead, the Steelers and Johnson reached a settlement what will pay him through the expected end of his injury. Johnson is now a free agent and can sign with another team to resume his career elsewhere if he chooses to. He can re-sign with the Steelers, but cannot do so until three weeks beyond the time he is expected to miss with injury have passed.

Johnson is the second young defensive back to go through the injury waivers process so far this offseason, joining Bryce Watts, who also cleared after being waived/injured, reverted to the injured reserve and was released from the list with a settlement.

Johnson suffered an undisclosed, football-related injury before he waived. He spent one week on the Steelers’ practice squad last season in December before the team released him. He signed a future contract with the Steelers in January for the 2022 season.

Johnson came out of Houston as a fourth-round draft pick in 2019 for the Oakland Raiders. He played in 19 games over two seasons for the Raiders, making 15 tackles and defending five passes. 

The Raiders waived Johnson at the end of training camp before the 2021 season. He spent a week with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squads in October before joining the Steelers on Dec. 14. After the Steelers waived him, he spent another week on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.

The Steelers did not draft a defensive back with any of their seven selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, instead choosing to bring in undrafted free agents Chris Steele, Watts and rookie camp tryout Carlins Platel.