If the Washington Commanders had a chance in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, it may have gone out the door when veteran backup quarterback Marcus Mariota was injured in a Week 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The odds got even worse for the Commanders when Mariota was ruled out for the Cowboys game and head coach Dan Quinn announced veteran backup Josh Johnson would get the start.
“The Commanders are starting QB Josh Johnson, coach Dan Quinn announced, with Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota out.” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X on Wednesday, December 24. “Jeff Driskel will be the backup.”
Johnson hasn’t started a game since he took the field for the Baltimore Ravens in a 41-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 of the 2021 regular season, with this year’s start coming just one day short of 4 years from that day.
Johnson went 28-of-40 passing against the Bengals for 304 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. In relief of Mariota, who left the game against the Eagles with a hand injury, Johnson was 5-of-9 passing for 43 yards with no touchdowns and 1 interception.
Christmas Day Games Become Running Joke
The NFL’s slate of 3 Christmas Day games — all on streaming services — seemed much more appealing before the season, with all 3 projected to have major playoff implications.
It’s a much different reality with only one team of the 6, the Denver Broncos, having secured a playoff bid and 4 of the 6 already eliminated in the Cowboys, Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.
The other team playing, the Detroit Lions, have just a 6 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to NFL.com, and 3 of the teams won’t even have their starting quarterbacks due to injuries.
“Christmas Day QB Matchups: Dak Prescott vs Josh Johnson, Jared Goff vs Max Brosmer, Bo Nix vs Chris Oladokun,” Barstool Gambling wrote on X on Wednesday, December 24. “What a gift.”
Johnson Owns Unique NFL Record
The Athletic’s Ben Standig broke news the Commanders signed Johnson to a 1-year contract on April 11.
“Reunion: The Commanders are signing QB Josh Johnson to a 1-year contract, per source,” Standig wrote on his official X account. “The ultimate NFL journeyman played four games — three starts — for Washington in 2018. Umpteen teams later, he’s back as a potential third-string backup for Jayden Daniels.”
Johnson has played for an NFL record 14 teams since he was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round (No. 160 overall) of the 2008 NFL draft.
Johnson has had 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).
Johnson is 1-8 in 9 career starts with 2,297 career passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while completing 58.1 percent of his passes. Johnson’s lone career win came with the Commanders in 2018.
“What exactly is the point of having Sam Hartman on your practice squad/roster if you’re not going to play him this week or next week?!” 7 News DC’s Scott Abraham wrote on X. “Hartman has been in the system for two years and you would rather start a 39-year-old Josh Johnson or Jeff Driskel. This makes zero sense.”
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