EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants and defensive tackle Austin Johnson have agreed to contract terms, pending a physical, that will enable him to stay with the team for which he was a productive reserve in 2020, according to media reports.
Johnson, who turns 27 in May, played in all 16 games on a defensive front that featured Leonard Williams (who last week received his second franchise tag), Dalvin Tomlinson (who is a pending free agent) and Dexter Lawrence. He tallied 18 tackles (eight solo), 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.
Johnson sacked the Rams' Jared Goff for an eight-yard loss in Los Angeles on Oct. 4. In that game, he forced his first career fumble by tight end Gerald Everett that was recovered by James Bradberry. Johnson was the first Giants player with a sack and forced fumble in the same game since linebacker Lorenzo Carter at New England on Oct. 10, 2019. He had a season-high three tackles (two solo) vs. Cleveland on Dec. 20.
After spending his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Johnson signed with the Giants as a free agent on March 26, 2020.
View photos of Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson.
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98)tackles Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) during a week 15 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on December 20th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98) during a week 17 regular season football game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. Rams won 17-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98) during a week 3 regular season football game against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium on September 27h, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones (27) is tackled by New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, NJ. (Michael Owens via AP)
Austin Johnson (98), Leonard Williams (99)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
New York Giants defensive lineman Austin Johnson (98) and Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) in action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Landover, Md. The Giants defeated Washington 23-20 (Amanda Bowen via AP)
Austin Johnson (98)
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98) during a NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday Sept. 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Austin Johnson (98)
New York Giants defensive lineman Austin Johnson (98) rushes during an NFL game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Landover, MD. The Giants defeated Washington 23-20. (Al Tielemans via AP)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98)tackles Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) during a week 15 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on December 20th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) and defensive tackle B.J. Hill (95) run in pursuit during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. The Giants defeated the Seahawks 17-12. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) warms-up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Austin Johnson (98)
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98) during a week 3 regular season football game against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium on September 27h, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98) looks on before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) plays the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. The Giants won 19-17. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Austin Johnson (98)
New York Giants defensive lineman Austin Johnson (98) rushes during an NFL game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Landover, MD. The Giants defeated Washington 23-20. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson (98) before a week 14 regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on December 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
Austin Johnson (98)
New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 17, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 24, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants nose tackle Austin Johnson (98) during a training camp scrimmage at Met Life Stadium on Friday August 28, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
