Xavier Johnson Comes Full Circle, Joins Bengals Practice Squad: “I Don’t Think I’ve Played My Best Football Yet”
Sometimes, the football gods write a story you just can’t script - but for Xavier Johnson, this one’s been years in the making. The Cincinnati native and Summit Country Day alum got the call he’d been waiting on earlier this week while training in a Houston gym.
On the other end of the line? The Cincinnati Bengals.
The team officially signed Johnson to the practice squad on Wednesday, giving the versatile former Ohio State standout his first NFL opportunity since being waived by the Houston Texans with an injury designation back in August.
And yes, it’s personal.
“Just to be in the NFL is a blessing,” Johnson said. “Let alone playing for the team you grew up cheering on.”
Cincinnati Roots, East Side Education
Johnson grew up on the city’s west side, but his journey took a turn east in third grade when he enrolled at Summit Country Day - a move driven by his family’s deep commitment to education. Both of his parents are educators, and it was a cousin’s positive experience at the school that helped pave the way.
“Once I got over there I fell in love with it and fell in love with the community,” Johnson said. “Then once I got to high school there was a decision to be made, and my mother valued the education more than anything else. It ended up being the best fit for me.”
At Summit, Johnson was a two-sport star who made a name for himself on the football field and basketball court. His senior football season in 2017 was electric: 32 catches for 766 yards and eight touchdowns, 623 rushing yards and 10 more scores, plus five return touchdowns and a pick-six. Wherever the ball was, Johnson was probably making a play.
Betting on Himself at Ohio State
Despite a productive high school career, Johnson didn’t have a long list of offers by signing day. North Dakota State was the only school with a scholarship on the table. Instead, he made the bold call to walk on at Ohio State - a decision that raised some eyebrows, but one he never wavered from.
“Against counsel and wisdom, my family trusted in my decision,” Johnson said. “It was a choice between going somewhere and being highly touted or going somewhere to grind, lean on others, and learn. I chose to embrace the process.”
And embrace it he did. Johnson spent six seasons with the Buckeyes - aided by the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility extension - and became one of only three players in program history to letter five times.
His role changed often: wide receiver, running back, cornerback, special teams ace, return man. Wherever the Buckeyes needed him, he stepped up.
His most productive offensive years came in 2022 and 2023, when he caught 13 passes in each season and added 146 and 190 rushing yards, respectively. He earned a scholarship and was eventually named a team captain - a testament to his persistence and leadership.
“It showed the work you are doing is recognized,” Johnson said. “To be put in a position to help the team in a different and more robust capacity was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Off the field, Johnson earned his degree in consumer and family financial services in 2021 and was working toward a master’s in translational data analytics in 2024. He didn’t just grind on the field - he put in the same work in the classroom.
Bengals Kept Tabs on the Local Product
The Bengals had already seen Johnson up close. He participated in their local pre-draft workout in April, and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said the team stayed in touch throughout the process.
“I remember he had a good workout for us,” Pitcher said. “It’s a local guy who comes highly recommended from a character standpoint. He looked good when we had him here in the building.”
When draft weekend came and went without Johnson’s name being called, he weighed his options. The Bengals were in the mix, but he ultimately chose to sign with the Houston Texans, where he spent time on the practice squad before being waived in August.
“There was a lot of conversation [with the Bengals], and I was in communication with the receivers coach,” Johnson said. “It was just a thing where me and my agent looked at what we thought was the best fit and the best opportunity at the time. We went a different direction.”
Still, Cincinnati was always in the back of his mind.
“When they were calling, it was definitely something that was enticing,” he added. “But it was a situation where I trusted my agent’s counsel. Looking at numbers and different things was the only reason I didn’t ultimately come home earlier.”
Coming Home - and Wearing No. 18
Now, he’s back - and wearing No. 18, the number made iconic by Bengals legend A.J. Green.
That connection runs deeper than just a jersey. Johnson remembers meeting Green during a visit to Summit Country Day when he was in high school.
“I was a captain and another one of our captains, we met him, gave him a ball and made pleasantries,” Johnson recalled. “He was very warm.
His wife was nice to talk to as well. It was just a warm experience.”
Now, Johnson’s the one walking the halls of Paycor Stadium, chasing his own NFL dream in the same city where it all started.
“Always had aspirations of putting on a helmet with stripes on it,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve played my best football yet, and that’s what’s exciting and gratifying for me.”
Final Word
Xavier Johnson’s story is a reminder that the road to the NFL isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes it takes detours, tough decisions, and a whole lot of faith.
But now, the kid from Cincinnati who once handed A.J. Green a football is wearing the same jersey - and writing a new chapter with the Bengals.
And if you ask him, the best is still to come.