AUGUST 15: Johnson said in a statement the suspension stems from his decision to take a fertility medication which includes one of the league’s banned substances. Exceptions exist for therapeutic uses of such medications, but Johnson did not seek authorization from the league prior to taking it. As a result, he will be unavailable to begin the season.
AUGUST 14: The ingredients for a news-dump Friday have emerged. Minutes after the report indicating Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. will face an eight-game suspension, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky indicates cornerback Nazeeh Johnson will face a six-game ban for violating the league’s PED policy.
Johnson reunited with former Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi (now the Titans GM) this summer, signing a one-year deal worth $1.1MM. Johnson followed former teammate and 2022 draft classmate Joshua Williams to Tennessee. Both are vying to provide depth for a retooled Titans cornerback corps, which includes offseason additions Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott.
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This development certainly will hurt Johnson’s chances of landing a roster spot. Although the Titans could place Johnson on their reserve/suspended list once the roster-setting deadline comes this month, the team could also simply release him — either later this month or when he is due to come off the suspended list — due to the upcoming stretch of unavailability. Unlike Williams, Johnson received no guaranteed money to sign.
A former seventh-round pick, Johnson worked mostly as a special-teamer in Kansas City. Upon trading L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans in March 2024, the Chiefs held a competition for the cornerback post opposite Trent McDuffie. Jaylen Watson won out, but Johnson was given a chance in that battle. Watson landing on IR because of a broken leg led to more Johnson playing time. Johnson played 494 defensive snaps — far and away a career-high mark — and started in both Chiefs AFC playoff games that season.
Johnson, 28, is also coming off an injury-marred 2025 season. The Chiefs stashed him on their IR-return list, and he did not return until the sobering Chris Oladokun section of the season. Johnson came off IR in Week 17, playing only two games. That certainly hurt his market, though a few teams had him on their radar. Johnson visited the Bears, Eagles and Giants this offseason.
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