On Thursday, the Indianapolis Colts revealed they have claimed defensive tackle off waivers and, in a related roster move, waived international safety Marcel Dabo.
Johnson, who was originally selected by the Colts in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft, was picked up by the New England Patriots off waivers last year following Indianapolis’s final roster cuts to 53 players.
The Colts had hoped to add him to their practice squad last season but were unsuccessful.
Now, the Colts are returning the favor by claiming Johnson back from New England.
In 2024, Johnson played in 11 games for the Patriots, tallying 17 tackles (including 2 solo) and 4 quarterback pressures. Pro Football Focus rated him with an overall grade of +54.2 last season.
We have claimed DT Eric Johnson II off waivers (from NE) and waived S Marcel Dabo.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 15, 2025
During his previous two years with Indianapolis, Johnson served as a reliable rotational backup on the defensive line. What stood out most was his relentless effort — often refusing to give up on plays and helping bring down ball carriers through sheer determination.
That kind of hustle is something the Colts coaching staff values highly, especially from their backups and special teams players. Welcome back, Johnson!
Regarding Dabo, he joined the Colts in 2022 through the NFL International Player Pathway Program. Although he has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game, he spent the last three seasons on Indianapolis’s practice squad.
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