Rams terminate Alex Johnson via injury settlement
Alex Johnson is no longer on the Rams’ roster after the team finalized an injury-settlement termination that makes the former UCLA cornerback available to sign elsewhere.
The sequence of roster moves is documented by Heavy – Los Angeles Rams, which reports the Rams agreed to an injury settlement on September 9 and terminated the contract via waivers on September 10.
Key Takeaways
- The Rams waived Alex Johnson with an injury designation, he cleared waivers and reverted to injured reserve, and the club later agreed to an injury settlement that ended the relationship via waivers.
- After the settlement and termination, Johnson is free to sign with any team once the agreed recovery window and the required league waiting period expire.
- Johnson has not appeared in a regular-season NFL game but led the Pac-12 with five interceptions in his final collegiate season.
- He played in all three Rams preseason games in 2026, finishing with seven tackles while Pro Football Focus noted struggles in coverage.
Why the Rams cut Alex Johnson
The roster sequence began when the Rams waived Johnson with an injury designation during final roster cuts, after which he cleared waivers and reverted to injured reserve.
The club and Johnson agreed to an injury settlement on September 9, and the team terminated the contract via waivers on September 10.
Johnson skill profile and roster fit
Johnson entered the pro process as a developmental undrafted free agent with positional versatility and special-teams upside, and evaluators framed him as a tall nickel corner with practice-squad potential.
The roster move removes a marginal depth piece while preserving the Rams’ flexibility to allocate active roster and practice-squad spots to other defensive-back candidates as the season opens.
Verified career and preseason context
| Context | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Final collegiate season | Led the Pac-12 with five interceptions in 2023 |
| 2026 preseason with the Rams | Played all three exhibition games and finished with seven total tackles |
| Regular-season experience | Has not appeared in a regular-season NFL game |
| Coverage evaluation | Pro Football Focus noted struggles in coverage during the preseason |
SEC recruiting signals and NFL roster construction implications
This roster move does not change SEC standings, but it underscores the churn NFL teams create at the bottom of rosters and what that turnover means for college defensive backs planning pro pathways.
For the Rams, the injury settlement converts a restricted injured-reserve situation into immediate roster and practice-squad flexibility while Johnson pursues opportunities elsewhere once medically cleared.
