A Cincinnati native who converted from running back to wide receiver at Ohio State and has come home to chase an NFL roster spot with the Bengals.
Xavier Johnson grew up four miles from Paycor Stadium and spent six years at Ohio State, shifting from running back to wide receiver along the way. After going undrafted in 2024 and spending his rookie year on the Texans' practice squad, he signed with his hometown Bengals late in the 2025 season.
Path to the league
Johnson was recruited to Ohio State as a running back out of Cincinnati's Summit Country Day School but moved to wide receiver during his college career. He went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent.
Career highlights
Johnson spent six seasons with the Buckeyes, was named a team captain in 2023, and contributed as both a receiver and a runner, catching 13 passes for 178 yards and adding 190 rushing yards on 28 carries in his final season. His versatility in Ohio State's offense made him a valuable depth piece during his college tenure.
2025 season recap
Johnson spent his rookie season entirely on the Houston Texans' practice squad without appearing in a regular-season game, then was waived with an injury designation in August 2025. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad in December 2025 and inked a reserve/futures contract with his hometown team in January 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Xavier Johnson (American football)
- ESPN: Xavier Johnson
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Ohio State
- Hometown
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
