FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- The New England Patriots released defensive back Leonard Johnson on Wednesday.
Johnson, 25, was signed by New England last Dec. 9 after being released from Tampa Bay's injured reserve list. He appeared in four regular-season games with three starts for the Patriots in 2015 and made seven tackles with three passes defensed. Johnson was active, but did not play in either postseason game.
Johnson originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Buccaneers out of Iowa State in 2012. He has played in 52 NFL games with 20 starts and has 146 total tackles, five interceptions for 128 yards with two touchdowns, 23 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and nine special teams tackles.