The Green Bay Packers have added former national champion wide receiver Cornelius Johnson to their practice squad. The team announced the signing on Wednesday, filling the roster spot vacated by running back Chris Brooks, who was promoted to the 53-man roster the day prior.
Johnson had recently worked out with the Packers’ division rivals, the Chicago Bears, on September 10, but did not secure a contract with them. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, reuniting briefly with his college coach Jim Harbaugh. During his five seasons at Michigan, Johnson caught 138 passes for 2,038 yards and 14 touchdowns. In his senior year, he posted 47 receptions for 604 yards and one touchdown, contributing to the Wolverines’ national championship run. He was also named an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team.
Despite his collegiate success, Johnson struggled during the preseason, managing only three catches for 34 yards on nine targets. As a result, he did not make the Chargers’ final roster and was signed to their practice squad before being released.
Johnson was highly regarded for his athleticism leading up to the draft, boasting an impressive Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.46. His standout performance included a 37.5-inch vertical leap, a 10-7 broad jump, a 1.52-second 10-yard split, a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, and a 6.93-second three-cone drill. At 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Johnson is also noted for his solid run-blocking abilities.
With his addition, Johnson joins fellow receivers Julian Hicks and TJ Luther on the Packers’ 16-man practice squad.
