8 Josh Johnson QB

Coach Jay Gruden called Johnson the Redskins' starting quarterback Week 15 at Jacksonville, Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic reports.

At the 5:31 mark of the third quarter, Johnson took over for Mark Sanchez, who led the Redskins to just 19 yards on their first 10 possessions. Thereafter, Johnson led a pair of touchdown drives en route to 195 yards, one TD and one interception on 11-of-16 passing. The performance is an impressive one with less than a week in the program, but he fared far better than Sanchez, making Gruden's decision an easy one.

The Redskins signed Johnson to a contract Wednesday.

With Alex Smith (lower leg) out for the season and Colt McCoy (lower leg) likely facing a similar fate, Johnson will step in as the backup to Mark Sanchez ahead of Washington's game Sunday against the Giants. The 32-year-old last threw a pass in an NFL regular-season game in 2011, but his familiarity with Washington's offensive scheme from having previously worked with coach Jay Gruden should help him get up to speed quickly.

Johnson is headed to the Redskins' facility and is expected to sign a contract as early as Wednesday, Josina Anderson of ESPN reports.

Johnson was connected to the team earlier Tuesday due to his familiarity with coach Jay Gruden and should officially join the team in the near future. The 32-year-old hasn't played a regular-season snap since 2013, but the Redskins are desperate following season-ending leg injuries to Alex Smith and Colt McCoy. Johnson was drafted and signed in the Alliance of American Football draft last month but has been released from said contract and cleared to join Washington, Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports. Mark Sanchez will continue as the team's starting quarterback with Johnson set to serve as a backup.

Washington hopes to sign Johnson, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A deal on that front still requires some work to be finalized, but the team needs someone to back up Mark Sanchez, with both Colt McCoy and Alex Smith out with leg injuries. Washington considered other options, but as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes, Johnson worked with coach with Jay Gruden in Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, so the signal caller should get up to speed with his (potential) new team's offense rather quickly.

Johnson was released by the Raiders on Thursday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Johnson was always viewed as a long shot to make the Raiders' final roster when he was signed back in March, as the team is fairly secure at the quarterback position with Derek Carr, EJ Manuel and Connor Cook all still on the roster. Johnson has floated around the league since being drafted back in 2008, and he could potentially still find a backup job at some point down the line if a team is in need of depth at the position.