The Washington Commanders have preached competition while retooling their roster, even as that roster retains plenty of familiarity. On Friday, they got more of both.
Washington signed quarterback Josh Johnson to a one-year contract, reuniting him with the franchise for which he started three games in 2018. Johnson adds depth to Washington’s quarterbacks room, behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, and competition for the third spot with Sam Hartman, a second-year undrafted quarterback who spent much of last season on the practice squad. (The team did not re-sign former third-string quarterback Jeff Driskel in free agency.)
Johnson’s return to Washington is the latest stop in one of the more remarkable pro football careers. He has been with a league-record 14 NFL teams — five multiple times — and played in both the XFL (2020) and the United Football League (2012). His return to Washington is the 25th time he has changed pro teams.
“They were actually playing a little Too Short, knowing I was from Oakland,” Johnson said in a video conference call with reporters shortly after signing. “So the vibes were immaculate.”
Johnson, who will turn 39 in May, first signed with Washington in 2018 after the team lost Colt McCoy and Alex Smith to season-ending injuries. After taking over for Mark Sanchez late in a blowout loss to the New York Giants, Johnson started the final three games of the season, earning his first win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Washington’s playoff hopes that season ended with losses in its final two games.
Johnson has started only one game since leaving Washington — he threw for 304 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in place of Lamar Jackson in a Baltimore Ravens loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 — but spent time with five franchises. Twice in that span, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers, when Commanders General Manager Adam Peters was their vice president of player personnel.
Although Johnson is back with a familiar organization, little is the same in Washington — not even the team name. The 7-9 team he left six years ago has transformed into a contender with a new ownership group led by Josh Harris, a new coaching staff under Dan Quinn and a star young quarterback in Daniels, who was all of 7 years old when Johnson began his career.
“I saw the opportunity to win here,” Johnson said. “I saw an opportunity to continue to get better and be a part a system that is exciting and looks a lot of fun on tape.”
Only three players from Washington’s 2018 team remain on the roster — punter Tress Way, defensive tackle Daron Payne and safety Jeremy Reaves — while a fourth is now a part of the coaching staff, assistant linebackers coach/pass rush specialist Ryan Kerrigan.
Yet Johnson already has some ties the new group, beyond Peters. He played with assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough on the Detroit Lions in 2019, and Jim Harbaugh coached both Johnson (San Diego) and Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard (Stanford) in college.
His interactions with Daniels have been limited to a couple of minutes before the Commanders’ October loss in Baltimore, where Johnson played the past two seasons.
“I felt like he was the top quarterback coming out [in 2024],” Johnson said. “… He’s a real humble dude but also a great player. So, I’m excited to get to work with him.”
