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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 12: Rudi Johnson #32 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, October 12, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images) Expand

FOX 2 - A former Detroit Lions running back has died by suicide, according to published reports.

Rudi Johnson would have turned 46 next week. TMZ is reporting that Johnson died by his own hand in Florida just after midnight Tuesday.

Johnson, a star at Auburn, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2001 NFL Draft.

Although he played most of his career for the Bengals, in 2008 he was signed as a free agent by the Lions which would be final year of his career.

In 2008 Johnson was limited by injuries, playing 14 games and

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