Former Bengals running back and Auburn star Rudi Johnson died at the age of 45 after committing suicide a little past midnight Tuesday, police told TMZ .

The outlet reported that Johnson had been “struggling with mental health issues and the possible effects of CTE that he could not overcome.”

The Bengals drafted Johnson in the fourth round with the No. 100 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. 3

He spent seven of his eight years with the AFC North squad, appearing in 81 games with the franchise and starting 59.

Johnson had three straight years in which he rushed for at least, 1,300 yards and 12 exact touchdowns from 2004-06, earning his lone Pro Bowl bid in 2004.

He rushed for 1,454 yards that year, just four yards short of his career-high set the following season.

The Bengals

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