Former Brownwood Lion and Texas Christian University (TCU) receiver Bart Johnson will join the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. He will join his former teammate, quarterback Andy Dalton, who was drafted by the Bengals in the second round. With the end of the NFL lockout, teams are able to begin talking to free agents who were not picked up in the NFL Draft.
Johnson finished his career at TCU with 85 total receptions for 1,098 yards and 9 touchdowns, including a touchdown in TCU’s Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin. He also recovered an onside kick during that game to help seal the victory.
Johnson will also join former Longhorn Jordan Shipley, the son of Brownwood Lions head coach Bob Shipley, on the team.
In preseason, the Bengals are set to play Detroit Lions on August 12, New York Jets August 21, Carolina Panthers on August 25, and Indianapolis Colts on September 1.
The number of pre-season players allowed per NFL team is 80. By the time the regular season starts, the team must cut its roster down to 53 players. That number does not include the practice squad.