Johnson, 27, is one of three players on the current roster who has experience calling the Rams defense (Ernest Jones, Jordan Fuller) and did so in 2020 when he started alongside then-rookie Fuller. He departed in free agency for Cleveland after the 2020 season, but was released this spring — just two years into the three-year deal he had signed with the Browns.

Veteran safeties Nick Scott and Taylor Rapp both departed the Rams in free agency this spring. Fuller is poised to start in one of the two open spots, but the game experience between him and the Rams’ younger safeties is significant even though second-year players Quentin Lake and Russ Yeast have flashed potential throughout camp. Johnson, who has started 80 of 86 career games, could help close that gap a little.