Las Vegas Raiders sign Brandon Johnson to add Wide Receiver depth; place Corey Rucker on Reserve/Injured list

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The Raiders continue to shape their roster with an eye toward competition across the wide receiver room and special teams units.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Johnson (89) participates in drills during Minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Wednesday that they have signed free agent wide receiver Brandon Johnson. In a corresponding move, the team placed wide receiver Corey Rucker on the Reserve/Injured list. The addition gives the Silver and Black another experienced option at the position as they continue building depth during the offseason.

Brandon Johnson’s path through multiple NFL stops

Brandon Johnson brings a resume that reflects persistence in a league where opportunities often come through hard work and availability. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2022. As a rookie, he appeared in seven games with one start and recorded six receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown.

His second season in Denver marked his most productive stretch. Johnson played 13 games, started two, and posted career highs with 19 catches for 284 yards at a 14.9-yard average. He scored four touchdowns that year. His yards-per-reception mark ranked 29th league-wide and second among undrafted players.

After the Broncos waived him at final roster cuts in 2024, Johnson joined the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. He earned elevations for three games and finished with one reception for nine yards. Johnson later signed a Reserve/Future contract with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025 season. He took part in offseason workouts and training camp but did not secure a spot on the 53-man roster. He spent time on the practice squads of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos during the 2025 campaign.

Career stats and what Johnson brings

Across 23 career games with three starts, Brandon Johnson has 26 receptions for 335 yards at a 12.9-yard average and five touchdowns. His journey shows the typical grind many undrafted players face, moving between practice squads, earning short elevations, and staying ready for the next chance.

The Raiders now add a player who has seen different offensive systems and understands the daily competition required to stay in the league. Johnson’s experience could help him compete for reps or contribute on special teams while the team evaluates its receiving group.

Corresponding move: Corey Rucker to Reserve/Injured

Placing Corey Rucker on the Reserve/Injured list opens an active roster spot for Johnson. This standard NFL transaction allows Rucker to focus on recovery while the team manages its roster numbers. The move keeps the Raiders in compliance with league rules and gives them flexibility as they finalize their depth chart.

Outlook for the Las Vegas Raiders

This signing fits the pattern of teams adding veteran depth at skill positions during the offseason. Brandon Johnson’s ability to produce when elevated and his track record of bouncing back after releases make him a low-risk addition with potential upside.

About the Author

Aachal Maniyar

Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.

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