Indianapolis Colts cornerback and former UCLA Bruin Alex Johnson made a jaw-dropping interception. The big play came on his first pass against the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL preseason game on the league’s first full weekend of action.
Alex Johnson was undrafted in 2024. He signed with the New York Giants until he was released. He then signed with the Colts’ practice squad on October 5, 2024. The undrafted cornerback had his first live-action appearance for the Colts. He intercepted a pass near the right sideline to get his teammates hyped for the NFL season.
Veteran backup quarterback Cooper Rush started the game for the Ravens. He threw a quick pass to the right sideline for wide receiver Dayton Wade, but Johnson was ready. The speedy cornerback ran in stride with Wade, both players getting hands on one another, but Johnson saw the ball was headed toward them. The former Bruin shifted his body and caught the ball with one hand before he fell to the ground.
In the game the Colts eventually lost, 24-16, Johnson had 2 more pass deflections and one more tackle, according to ESPN.
In Pro Football Focus’s rankings of the best players on the Colts from the preseason game, Alex Johnson was ranked No. 1 with a 94.9 rating, according to Colts Wire.
According to Colts Wire, the 24-year-old was listed as the backup nickelback on the unofficial roster provided by the Colts on Aug. 4.
On July 8, Paul Bretl of Colts Wire wrote Johnson was likely to be a practice squad player, but after a season ending injury to rookie cornerback Justin Walley, he now has him making the roster on his article projecting the 53-man roster after the preseason game.
If he continues to be a ballhawk in the preseason it would continue to increase his chances of making the team, but if he for some reason does not make the 53-man roster, he will have a chance to make it on another team’s roster.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Former Bruin shines for Indianapolis Colts in NFL preseason debut
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
