LOS ANGELES – The bleachers lining the Rams' practice field at Loyola Marymount University span beyond the length of the field. Defensive back John Johnson III is one of the players making his way down the row of autograph seeking fans along the front of them.
A fan favorite within the Rams' secondary, Johnson returned for a third stint with the team after re-signing on July 8.
He wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
"It feels good," he told theRams.com after Saturday's training camp practice. "I mean, this is home, this is where I want to be."
When Johnson joined the Rams for his second stint, it was toward the end of last year's training camp – August 7, 2023 to be exact. External expectations surrounding a young Los Angeles team consisted of unknowns and uncertainties. He eventually took on a starting role in Week 12, and produced 42 total tackles, 6 passes defensed and 2 interceptions for a 10-7 Rams team that clinched a wild card playoff berth.
"I wanted to come back. I didn't want to be anywhere else," Johnson said. "I don't have to start from scratch. Everyone here, they know me here. I'm a ram, you know, so I ain't really want to go anywhere else."
Johnson and defensive coordinator Chris Shula both indicated it was just a matter of time before Johnson was brought back.
"We've always kind of had it in the back of our minds," Shula said after Friday's practice. "He's a guy that we know very well that is very familiar with the system. Obviously, he was here the first year we got with the Rams when we drafted him in 2017. Somebody that was with us the last game of the year, it kind of feels like he's been with us since."
His value to the team extends beyond his familiarity with the defense.
When fellow defensive back Quentin Lake was about Johnson's return, a smile broke across Lake's face as soon as he was brought up and before the reporter could finish the question. Lake during OTAs missed Johnson what Johnson brought to the field and the locker room, and the type of energy Johnson brought overall.
"I was happy, because JJ just brings an experience from a veteran's perspective," Lake said. "And not only that, he's a locker room guy, hilarious, brings the guys together, and that's a guy we needed. So I was super excited about that, it had me jumping out my seat. I'm excited to see what he's going to contribute to us, and just excited for what he's going to do during the season."
As Johnson continues to go through training camp and prepare for the upcoming season, he said his mindset is to "just bring value" to the team.
"Got a long way to the season. Just keep showing what I can do," Johnson said. "Keep being the same person every day. Keep bringing up being a leader. Keep making plays. When your number is called, you got to go in there, make plays. Sometimes you might not be the starter, sometimes you might not get all the reps in practice, but (when) you get an opportunity, cash in. So that's really what I want to do. And I think everyone here knows that if I do have the opportunity to go out there, I'm gonna make the most of it."
