(SportsRadio 610) - Texans third-year defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. is making his second position change in as many seasons.
The former second-round pick by Houston in 2019 was drafted as a cornerback out of Kentucky and struggled at the position as a rookie that year. In 2020, the Bill O'Brien coaching staff, with Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator, switched Johnson from corner to safety with the idea his body type (6'2", 213 pounds) and background as a corner would make it work.
Johnson, however, has never been comfortable at safety. That's despite recording three interceptions over a four-game stretch this season and a pick-6 in the preseason.
"He's basically having to relearn that (position) again and get acclimated to being a corner again," Culley said Wednesday of moving Johnson back from safety to corner. "But we feel good about Lonnie being there. As he starts to get more comfortable there, if we feel like we need play Lonnie within that group, we'll put Lonnie out there."
As a rookie in 2019, Johnson started in seven of the 14 games he played in as a corner. Last season, he started five of 16 games at safety. This season, Johnson's started five of eight games and was inactive Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Johnson's three interceptions this season leads Houston.