Johnson is trending toward making his first start of the season Thursday against the Cowboys after Marcus Mariota (hand/quadriceps) was a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
With the Commanders shutting down Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the season and with Mariota unlikely to be ready to play on a short week, Johnson is the next man up at quarterback. The journeyman signal-caller's last NFL start came back in 2021, when he filled in for Lamar Jackson in Week 17 during his second of three stints in the Ravens organization. Johnson has flashed some upside as a runner in his limited playing time over his previous stops during his long career, but given that he's now 39 years old, he probably can't be counted on to replicate the rushing production of Daniels or Mariota.
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Commanders' Josh Johnson: Set to start Thursday
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Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Wednesday that Johnson will start quarterback in Thursday's game against the Cowboys, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Marcus Mariota hasn't been able to practice since sustaining hand and quadriceps injuries in this past Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles and won't be available on a short week, paving the way for the well-traveled Johnson to make his first NFL start since 2021. Over 48 career appearances (nine starts) across 10 different seasons, the 39-year-old Johnson has completed 58.0 percent of his pass attempts for 6.4 yards per attempt and a 13:17 TD:INT. Per Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C., Quinn said that the Commanders have hope that Mariota might be able to return for the Jan. 4 season finale in Philadelphia, so Johnson could be headed back to the No. 2 role in Week 18.
Commanders' Josh Johnson: Steps in for injured Mariota
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Johnson completed five of nine passes for 43 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles. He also had one rush for zero yards.
Johnson has served as the Commanders' emergency quarterback for much of the season, but he was the backup to Marcus Mariota (hand) for this contest due to Jayden Daniels (elbow) being sidelined. Mariota exited the game for a concussion check and hand injury early in the third quarter, with Johnson stepping in. He was able to move Washington down the field for a touchdown during garbage time late in the fourth quarter, but it would be a significant downgrade for all of the team's skill-position players if Johnson is the starter for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.
Commanders' Josh Johnson: Emergency QB for Week 14
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Vikings but will serve as the Commanders' emergency third quarterback.
Johnson has served as the Commanders' backup quarterback behind Marcus Mariota for the past three games, but the former will revert to the QB3 role due to the return of Jayden Daniels (left elbow). As the emergency QB3, Johnson will be permitted to see the field Sunday only in the event that both Daniels and Mariota were to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.
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Commanders' Josh Johnson: Operating as emergency QB
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday night's contest against the Seahawks, but he will operate as the team's emergency third quarterback.
Johnson will be back in his familiar role as Washington's No. 3 QB in Week 9. The 39-year-old has yet to appear in a contest this season, and he'd only be able to do so if Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota are sidelined with injuries.
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Commanders' Josh Johnson: Emergency QB duties again Sunday
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive but serving as the emergency third quarterback for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
The well-traveled veteran will fill his usual role behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, namely, being available as an emergency option should both his position mates exit the contest due to injury, illness or ejection. Johnson has just five regular-season pass attempts since the start of the 2022 season, none which have come in 2025.
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Commanders' Josh Johnson: Serving as emergency QB again
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Bears but will be available as the emergency third quarterback.
Johnson has fluctuated between being the backup and third-string quarterback in Washington based on the health of Jayden Daniels. With Daniels set to start in Week 6, Johnson will be inactive for the second consecutive week.
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Commanders' Josh Johnson: Emergency QB for Week 5
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chargers and will serve as the Commanders' emergency third quarterback.
Johnson served as the Commanders' backup quarterback over the last two games due to the absence of Jayden Daniels, who was nursing a knee injury. With Daniels cleared to play Sunday, Marcus Mariota will revert to his backup role while Johnson serves as the emergency quarterback, which means he won't be allowed to see the field unless Daniels and Mariota were to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.
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Commanders' Josh Johnson: Emergency QB for Week 2
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Packers but will serve as the Commanders' emergency third-string quarterback.
As the emergency quarterback, Johnson will be allowed to see the field Thursday only if Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota become unavailable due to injury, illness or ejection.
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Commanders' Josh Johnson: Inactive as emergency QB in Week 1
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Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants and will serve as Washington's emergency third quarterback.
Johnson is third on the QB depth chart behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, so he could serve as the emergency QB frequently this season. It would take both Daniels and Mariota becoming unavailable due to injury, illness or ejection for Johnson to be eligible to enter Sunday's matchup.
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