The Los Angeles Rams have terminated their contract with cornerback Alex Johnson, waiving the UCLA product from injured reserve Wednesday with an injury settlement, via the NFL transaction log.
The move makes Johnson an unrestricted free agent once he is healthy enough to sign elsewhere.
Johnson, 25, never appeared in a regular-season NFL game. The Rams waived him with an injury designation during final roster cuts on Aug. 29. After he cleared waivers, he reverted to injured reserve, keeping him on the club’s books without occupying a 53-man roster spot.
An injury settlement now ends that arrangement and frees a small amount of cap space as the Rams open the 2026 season.
The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back is a Los Angeles native who starred at Loyola High School before walking on at UCLA. Over 55 college games, he recorded 55 tackles, five interceptions, six pass breakups, and a defensive touchdown.
After going undrafted in 2024, he signed with the New York Giants, then spent time on the practice squads of the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Rams. Los Angeles signed him to a reserve/future deal in February 2026, giving him a chance to compete in training camp.
He played in all three preseason games and posted eight tackles while allowing three receptions for 24 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
For a hometown player, the Rams relationship was a natural fit that never quite stuck. Johnson bounced on and off the practice squad late last season before earning the futures contract. Depth at cornerback, an undisclosed injury, and the need to finalize a 53-man roster ultimately closed the door.
Johnson can now shop himself around the league. Athletic measurables that include a 4.44-second 40-yard dash and a 37-inch vertical remain part of his résumé.
Teams looking for a cheap, experienced practice-squad or developmental corner may take a look once he is medically cleared. For the Rams, the transaction is a routine piece of September housekeeping rather than a statement about the secondary.
Los Angeles enters the year with a remade defense and limited roster spots for unproven players. Johnson’s exit is another reminder of how quickly camp invitations can end.
He leaves still searching for his first regular-season snap, but with a clean slate and local roots that could appeal to another NFC West or AFC club.
