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Michael Johnson | Defensive Lineman

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age / DOB:  (26) / 2/7/1987
Ht / Wt:  6'7' / 267
College: Georgia Tech
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Bengals signed franchise player RE Michael Johnson to a one-year, $11.2 million contract.
Johnson's salary is now locked in, while the sides have until mid-July to hammer out a long-term agreement. Johnson is the very rare Bengals player to be making over $10 million per season. Considering Cincinnati's reluctance to hand out big-money deals, we wouldn't be holding our breath for a multi-year pact. Coming off an 11.5-sack campaign, Johnson could put himself in position for a mammoth pay-day with an equally productive 2013. Mar 15 - 11:46 AM
Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Bengals assigned the franchise tag to RE Michael Johnson.

He's the third player to be tagged on Friday, and likely not the last. Johnson will bring home $11.2 million under the tag after notching 11.5 sacks in the final year of his rookie contract. The sides have until mid-July to work out a long-term pact, but the Bengals figure to devote most of their time before free agency toward getting free agent RT Andre Smith signed to a multi-year deal.
Related: Andre Smith
Mar 1 - 1:49 PM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

CBS' Jason La Canfora reports the Bengals "have indicated" they will use the franchise tag on free agent RE Michael Johnson.

NFL.com has confirmed the report. With a reported $54 million in cap space, the Bengals can easily afford the $11.2 million price tag. Bengals.com reported earlier in the week there was "not much traction" in long-term talks with Johnson, so the Bengals will now shift their attention to locking up free agent RT Andre Smith. Coming off a breakout season where he tallied 11.5 sacks, Johnson would have commanded a pretty penny on the open market.
Related: Andre Smith
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter
Mar 1 - 12:10 PM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Bengals.com concedes the team will "probably" franchise tag free agent RE Michael Johnson if the sides can't strike a long-term deal before March 4.

As of the middle of last week, there was "not much traction" in long-term negotiations. Cincinnati's two critical free agents are Johnson and RT Andre Smith. In an ideal world, they'd re-sign Smith and affix the tag to Johnson.
Source: bengals.com
Feb 25 - 12:34 AM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

NFL.com's Albert Breer reports there's "not much traction" on a long-term deal between the Bengals and RE Michael Johnson.

Along with RT Andre Smith, Johnson is one of the Bengals' two most critical free agents. Coach Marvin Lewis says the team is undecided on using the franchise tag. The Bengals have long been known for spendthrift ways, but it would be highly surprising if neither Johnson nor Smith was tagged before the March 4 deadline. That's because it would be even more surprising if the sides hammered out a long-term deal in the next 12 days.
Related: Andre Smith
Source: Albert Breer on Twitter
Feb 20 - 2:04 PM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Free agent RE Michael Johnson hopes to re-sign with the Bengals.

"Everything will work itself out and I’ll be in the best situation — hopefully that’s in Cincinnati," he said. "We’ve got a great group of young guys and I’m a part of that, and I look forward to continuing to be a part of that." Johnson is coming off a contract-year blowup for a career-high 11.5 sacks. That would normally price him out of the stingy Bengals' price range, but the consensus is that he'll be back in the Queen City, perhaps via the franchise tag.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com
Feb 15 - 9:48 AM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Bengals.com believes re-signing impending free agent DEs Michael Johnson and Robert Geathers is the team's "first priority."

Cincinnati has plenty of free agents on defense, but none bigger than Johnson. He finished second on the team with 11.5 sacks, one behind DT Geno Atkins. Geathers, on the other hand, is more of a run-stopping end. He has spent all nine seasons of his career with the Bengals. Johnson has been mentioned as a strong franchise-tag candidate.
Related: Robert Geathers
Source: bengals.com
Feb 8 - 9:25 AM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Longtime Bengals color analyst Dave Lapham fully expects free agent RE Michael Johnson to be back with the team in 2013.

Lapham is better-sourced than most local analysts. "I think they'll get Michael Johnson done," said Lapham. "If they have to (franchise) tag him, they have to tag him. He'll definitely be back." It's become evident that the Bengals view Johnson as a higher priority than fellow free agent RT Andre Smith. "There's going to be more than one team in the league that's going to offer him premiere right tackle money," Lapham said of Smith. "They have to decide if they want to match that kind of an offer or spend it elsewhere."
Related: Andre Smith
Source: Dayton Daily News
Jan 14 - 10:41 AM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Bengals.com considers free agent RE Michael Johnson "the leader in the clubhouse" to draw the franchise tag if there's no contract extension by March.

Overshadowed by Geno Atkins, Johnson played excellent run defense while racking up 11.5 sacks of his own. Turning 26 in February, Johnson would command a mega deal on the open market. The Bengals also have Pro Football Focus' highest-rated right tackle, Andre Smith, due to hit free agency.
Source: bengals.com
Jan 7 - 10:32 AM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Bengals RE Michael Johnson (toe) is active for Thursday night's game against the Eagles.

Johnson was in a walking boot at the beginning of the week after sustaining a toe injury in last week's loss to the Cowboys. He was listed as questionable on the injury report after not practicing at all during the week. Johnson, a free agent after the season, has 8.5 sacks and 42 tackles on the year.
Source: Stacey Dales on Twitter
Thu, Dec 13, 2012 06:45:00 PM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Bengals RE Michael Johnson is in a walking boot this week after sustaining a toe injury in last week's loss to the Cowboys.

Johnson isn't practicing Tuesday, leaving his streak of 61 consecutive games in doubt. He's been excellent in run defense this season, so his absence would be good news for Bryce Brown. Backup RB Cedric Peerman (ankle) is sitting out again Tuesday.
Source: bengals.com
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 01:54:00 PM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

The Bengals plan to cut back on RE Michael Johnson's snaps in 2012.

The coaching staff loves Johnson's motor, but there are concerns that he wore down late in the season due to nagging injuries. "He plays so hard. He played more snaps than anyone on our defensive front," coach Marvin Lewis said. "We have to continue take some snaps off his plate so we can get that high level all the time."
Source: Bengals.com
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 08:50:00 AM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

The Bengals appear to have benched RE Michael Johnson for Frostee Rucker.

They made the move on their team website depth chart Wednesday. Johnson has just three sacks through 11 starts, so the writing was probably on the wall. Robert Geathers will remain the Bengals' starting left end going forward. Rucker has often struggled as a pass rusher and is unlikely to be an upgrade on Johnson. Carlos Dunlap surely would've been, of course.
Related: Frostee Rucker
Source: Joe Reedy on Twitter
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 06:59:00 PM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

Michael Johnson has replaced Antwan Odom as the Bengals' starting right defensive end.

Odom was released right after the lockout. Johnson started the final six games of last season at defensive end, tallying two sacks and 13 pressures. Now that he's fully focused on pass-rushing and not worried about being moved to linebacker, Johnson has some upside.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 10:00:00 AM
Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals

The Bengals are once again considering a position change to strong-side linebacker for DE Michael Johnson.

Rey Maualuga is tentatively on the move to the middle, leaving the SAM spot open. The Bengals could opt to move reserve Brandon Johnson into the starting lineup instead. Michael Johnson spent last offseason learning the linebacker ropes, which would conceivably ease the transition.
Related: Brandon Johnson
Source: Bengals.com
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 10:36:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Andy Dalton
2John Skelton
3Josh Johnson
4Zac Robinson
RB1BenJarvus Green-Ellis
2Giovani Bernard
3Rex Burkhead
4Cedric Peerman
5Bernard Scott
GLB1BenJarvus Green-Ellis
2Giovani Bernard
3RB1Giovani Bernard
2Rex Burkhead
FB1Chris Pressley
2John Conner
WR11A.J. Green
2Andrew Hawkins
3Ryan Whalen
4Dane Sanzenbacher
5Tyrone Goard
WR21Mohamed Sanu
2Marvin Jones
3Brandon Tate
4Cobi Hamilton
5Taveon Rogers
WR31Andrew Hawkins
TE1Jermaine Gresham
2Tyler Eifert
3Orson Charles
4Alex Smith
5Richard Quinn
K1Mike Nugent