Josh

Johnson

Career journeyman Josh Johnson made two starts for the Commanders, both at the end of the season after Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota were ruled out due to injuries and Washington was eliminated. The 39-year-old passed for 372 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions over two starts and five games, adding 55 yards and a touchdown on the ground. A touch pass to John Bates in the fourth quarter of Week 18 against the Eagles was Johnson’s first touchdown pass since 2021. Johnson has been in the NFL for 18 seasons as a backup quarterback. He could certainly find work in a quarterback room once again for 2026.

Johnson! McKee! It’s Week 18! Johnson was a checkdown artist against the Cowboys in his Week 17 start and figures to continue that role against a better defense this week. Johnson might crack the QB2 superflex ranks if you’re desperate with so many quarterbacks in tenuous situations, but he isn’t someone you’d actually want to start this week.

Not much has changed since Quinn met with reporters Monday. Mariota still isn’t practicing and his coach called him a long-shot to play and even added that he’s “likely doubtful.” Barring a miraculous recovery, Josh Johnson will be under center for Washington in Week 18 against the Eagles.

Quinn did say that “there’s still hope” that Mariota can get back on the field for the finale against Philadelphia. Assuming Mariota isn’t able to get back on the field, it’ll be Josh Johnson under center again for the Commanders.

Johnson’s final stat line is a bit misleading as over 20% of his production came on a short catch-and-run completion to Deebo Samuel, who gained 41 yards on the gadget play. The Commanders ran only 41 offensive plays, leading to the low pass volume for the veteran journeyman. Washington limps to the offseason in one of the more injury-ravaged seasons in recent memory.

The well-traveled journeyman quarterback will get the nod against Dallas after Marcus Mariota sustained quad and hand injuries in Week 16 against the Eagles. Johnson represents a big-time downgrade for Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and the rest of the Washington pass catchers, even in a matchup against the burnable Cowboys secondary. Look for the Commanders to go run heavy in Week 17, making Chris Rodriguez viable as a flex option in 12-team formats.

It would seem exceedingly likely that Josh Johnson will get the start on Christmas against the Cowboys. The Commanders are seven-point underdogs at home and Johnson (wincing) could be a viable superflex QB2 against one of the worst defenses in the NFL this year.

Quinn said the team is still evaluating the injuries to Mariota’s throwing hand and quad. While that may be the case, we also can’t overlook the fact that the Commanders signed QB Jeff Driskel off the Cardinals’ practice squad earlier today, a move that suggests they are preparing to be a man down at QB this week. We’ll see where things go from here, but with a short week to prep for Thursday’s game against the Cowboys, it wouldn’t be surprising if Josh Johnson made the start while Driskel served as his backup.

Commanders beat writer Ben Standig was the first to report the move. The move to sign Driskel to the 53-man roster suggests Marcus Mariota (hand) is unlikely to play in Week 17 against the Cowboys. Driskel spent all of last season with the Commanders and should have plenty of familiarity with Kliff Kingsbury’s playbook. That said, Josh Johnson is still considered the favorite to start after taking over for Mariota in Week 16’s loss to the Eagles.

Mariota reportedly “had stitches on his right hand and is also dealing with a quad injury,” following the Commanders’ Saturday game against the Eagles. Quinn adds that the team “would not consider playing” QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) if Mariota cannot play in Week 17 against the Cowboys. Mariota is backed up by QB Josh Johnson, who would presumably start in his stead if he is unable to play.