Former Penn State football defensive lineman Austin Johnson has signed a practice squad contract with the Buffalo Bills, the team announced Wednesday.

Johnson was drafted No. 43 overall in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans and has since played a part in 10 NFL seasons for five different teams.

Johnson recently played for Buffalo in 2024, where he recorded 19 tackles and 0.5 sacks in 15 games. In 2025, Johnson played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, appearing in 14 games for the reigning AFC South champs.

In his collegiate career for the Nittany Lions, Johnson racked up an impressive stat line, including 154 total tackles, 24 Tackles for Loss, and 8.5 sacks in 36 games from 2013-2015.

Johnson represents the Bills alongside two other former Nittany Lions, defensive lineman Zane Durant and offensive lineman Connor McGovern.

The three Bills players are part of 50 who currently represent Penn State in the NFL through active rosters, injured reserve, and practice squads.

About the Author

Emery Molnar

Emery is a first-year Journalism student with a focus on writing about all thing's sports. He's a huge Pittsburgh Sports fan and lifelong hockey player/fan. You can reach him at ejm6943@psu.edu.

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