As the New England Patriots prepare for their Super Bowl LX showdown against the Seattle Seahawks, they’re leaning on some familiar faces to bolster both sides of the ball. On the eve of the biggest game of the season, the team elevated running back D’Ernest Johnson and defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad-two players who’ve already played meaningful roles in this postseason run.
Let’s start with Johnson. The 29-year-old back has been a steady presence since arriving in Foxborough back in October, suiting up in 10 games and contributing in multiple phases.
He’s logged 46 snaps on offense and 41 on special teams, carving out a niche as a reliable depth option behind lead back Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson. With Terrell Jennings’ practice window now closed, Johnson’s elevation ensures the Patriots maintain a three-headed backfield heading into Sunday.
Johnson’s journey to this point is the kind of NFL story that doesn’t get told enough. Undrafted out of South Florida in 2018, he first made waves with the Orlando Apollos in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.
From there, he’s bounced around the league-Cleveland, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Arizona-before landing in New England. Across 108 career games, he’s racked up over 1,000 rushing yards, nearly 500 receiving yards, and made an impact on special teams with over 1,100 kickoff return yards.
He’s not a star, but he’s the kind of veteran who knows how to stay ready, and that matters in games like this.
On the defensive side, Leonard Taylor III is back in the mix after making a splash in the AFC Championship Game. It was his blocked field goal with under five minutes left in Denver that helped seal the Patriots’ trip to Levi’s Stadium.
The 23-year-old defensive tackle, also signed in October, has appeared in six games this season, logging eight tackles and a quarterback hit across 104 defensive snaps. He’s also chipped in on special teams, playing nine snaps in the kicking game.
Taylor’s path has been just as winding. After going undrafted in 2024, he got his first NFL look with the New York Jets before being waived in the fall. The University of Miami product has since found his footing in New England, and across 22 career games, he’s totaled 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and several plays behind the line of scrimmage-not to mention that clutch special teams play in the conference title game.
The Patriots will need every bit of that depth on Sunday. Starting linebackers Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane are both listed as questionable on the final injury report, putting added pressure on the front seven. Rookie defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, who had also been dealing with an injury, will remain on injured reserve and won’t be available against the Seahawks.
In a game where every snap counts, Johnson and Taylor may not be the headline names-but their presence could be felt in the margins. And in the Super Bowl, the margins often decide the outcome.