If you want the Washington Commanders to suck it up, display some rare-in-supply pride and perform a regular season reverse Yahtzee by going from 12-5 in the 2024 regular season to 5-12 in 2025 with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the regular season finale, then starting Josh Johnson at quarterback is probably bad news.
If you’re a practical thinker and are now solely concerned about where the Commanders pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, then Johnson starting over an injured Marcus Mariota is probably good news.
It’s all about perspective.
In this case, the practical thinkers look like they might get their way — which is no doubt the best thing for the franchise moving forward — and Johnson will start against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles as they try to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs.
“Josh Johnson would start at Philly if Marcus Mariota is out,” Commanders reporter Ben Standig wrote on X on Monday, December 29.
“Looking like another week of Josh Johnson for the Commanders … ” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X.
Johnson Played Game Manager vs. Cowboys
Johnson, who has played for an NFL record 14 teams, made his first start since 2021 in Week 17 for the Commanders against the Dallas Cowboys.
Playing in a game manager role more than anything else, Johnson went 15-of-28 passing for 198 yards, no touchdowns and no interception. He was only sacked once and had 2 carries for 10 yards in a 30-23 loss.
The Commanders have been eliminated from the playoffs since a Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and are desperate to close out the 2025 regular season after starting the year as Super Bowl contenders.
Johnson was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round (No. 160 overall) of the 2008 NFL draft. He has 4 separate stints with the San Francisco 49ers, 3 with the Ravens, and 2 each with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Commanders.
He also spent time in 3 other professional football leagues with the Sacramento Lions (UFL), San Diego Fleet (AAF) and Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL).
Injuries Picked Apart Commanders in 2025
The story of the season for the Commanders is one of injuries taking out the most important players on the roster.
Star quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, will have missed 10 regular season games due to a variety of injuries; sprained knee (2 games), hamstring (1 game) and a dislocated left elbow (7 games).
While Daniels attempted to return from his elbow injury late in the year, the Commanders ultimately made the decision to shut him down with 3 games remaining in the regular season.
NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin will end the season with a career high 7 games missed this season due to a quad injury and will have career lows across the board with 34 receptions for 525 yards and 3 touchdowns headed into the regular season finale against the Eagles.
In 2024, McLaurin had 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and a franchise record 13 touchdowns in 17 games. He signed a 3-year, $97 million contract extension just one week before the regular season opener.
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