Week 14: John Johnson III, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns safety John Johnson III, who attended Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week.

Johnson made a season-high seven tackles (six solo) and had half a sack as the Browns beat the Baltimore Ravens, 24-22, to improve to 7-6 and keep their playoff hopes alive.

A fifth-year pro, Johnson played at Boston College and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He started 48 of the 51 games he played during four seasons for the Rams, twice making more than 100 tackles in a season and intercepting a career-high four passes in 2018 as Los Angeles advanced to Super Bowl LII.

Johnson signed a three-year, $33.75 million contract with the Browns this past offseason. In 13 games, he has made 54 tackles, intercepted three passes and forced one fumble as Cleveland tries to make consecutive playoff appearance for the first time in 32 years.

“You want to know what a wise man once told me? Every third down [is] like the Super Bowl, bruh,” Johnson said after signing with the Browns. “If you [are] the weak link on third down, you [are] not gonna last long in this league.

“You make the biggest plays on third down when the offense needs you. You may not make a spectacular play, but you at least gotta do your job.”