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Josh Johnson (QB)

Broncos QB Russell Wilson Ruled Out, Brett Rypien Will Start

October 22nd, 2022 at 3:32pm CST by Ely Allen

After Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett initially asserted that quarterback Russell Wilson would be a gametime decision, the first-year head coach decided to exercise caution today and announce that the team would hold back their big-money passer in order to allow his hamstring injury to heal and prevent a lingering issue down the line, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Denver will turn to third-year quarterback Brett Rypien to start in Wilson’s absence.

Wilson suffered the injury in last week’s overtime loss to the Chargers but was able to stay in and complete the game. Wilson felt he could play this week against the Jets, but Hackett will err on the side of caution and hold him out. Schefter also reports that Wilson’s injury will be re-evaluated next week to determine if he will even be able to return against the Jaguars when the Broncos travel to London.

Rypien will start his first game since his rookie season in 2020. Oddly enough, Rypien’s first start was also against the Jets. Rypien gave the Broncos their first win of the season that year with a performance that showcased both some good and some bad. In the lone start, Rypien completed 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns but also gave away three interceptions. Regardless, he led the Broncos to a nine-point win over the Jets and will hope for a similar outcome tomorrow.

In a related move, the Broncos have used one of their gameday elevations on veteran, journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson to back up Rypien. Johnson started a game as recently as last year, when he subbed in on an injury-riddled Ravens offense that was without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Johnson put forth an impressive performance in that game completing 28 of 40 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns, along with one interception.

The team will utilize their second gameday promotion on practice squad long snapper Mitchell Fraboni.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West

August 31st, 2022 at 3:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Denver Broncos

Re-signed:

Signed to practice squad:

Kansas City Chiefs

Signed to practice squad:

Las Vegas Raiders

Released from IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed: 

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Broncos To Release QB Josh Johnson

August 30th, 2022 at 11:28am CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos look to be going with a younger backup quarterback, with Mike Klis of 9News reporting (via Twitter) the team is releasing veteran Josh Johnson.

While this is old hat for Johnson, one of American sports’ great journeymen, Klis adds the Broncos would like him back on their practice squad. Johnson returning to Denver would mean a de facto spot as the team’s third-string quarterback. Brett Rypien remains on Denver’s roster as Russell Wilson‘s backup.

Despite Johnson’s historically nomadic journey — a sojourn that has passed through four leagues (NFL, United Football League, Alliance of American Football, XFL 2.0) — and age (36), the Broncos signed him early in free agency. The one-year, $1.22MM deal only guaranteed Johnson $100K.

Rypien has been with the Broncos since arriving as a 2019 UDFA, having made one start (in 2020) and attempted 42 regular-season passes.

Johnson does not have to pass through waivers; he can stay in Denver if he chooses. Teams can begin setting practice squads Wednesday afternoon. Although Johnson would make sense as a third QB for the Broncos, he does have a history of changing teams. For those curious, here is Johnson’s journey, in full: Buccaneers, 49ers, Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL), Browns, Bengals, 49ers again, Bengals again, Jets, Colts, Bills, Ravens, Giants, Texans, Raiders, Washington, San Diego Fleet (AAF), Lions, Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL), 49ers again, Jets again, Ravens again, Broncos.

Broncos Sign QB Josh Johnson

March 18th, 2022 at 6:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Johnson‘s historically nomadic career looks set to continue in yet another city. The Broncos are signing the veteran quarterback, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The team has announced the move.

While Johnson has completed reunion trips to certain teams, the Broncos represent new territory. They will be his 14th NFL team. Considering Johnson has also been affiliated with the XFL, AAF and the United Football League of the early 2010s, he has authored a team-hopping run for the ages.

The Broncos are revamping their quarterback room, having traded for Russell Wilson and included Drew Lock in the deal. Although Wilson has missed just three starts in his 10-year career, his thumb injury did alter the Seahawks’ path last season. Denver also has Brett Rypien on its roster. The Broncos might not be done adding to their QB room, but Johnson did perform decently last season.

Johnson, 36 in May, spent last year, naturally, with three teams. He was with the 49ers for part of 2021 but saw game action with the Jets and Ravens, appearing in three games with New York and starting one with Baltimore. For those curious, Johnson’s team list is as follows: Buccaneers, 49ers, Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL), Browns, Bengals, 49ers again, Bengals again, Jets, Colts, Bills, Ravens, Giants, Texans, Raiders, Washington, San Diego Fleet (AAF), Lions, Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL), 49ers again, Jets again, Ravens again.

The former fifth-round Bucs pick relieved an injured Mike White during a Jets nationally televised game last season; he threw for 317 yards in a loss to the Colts. With the Ravens down Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley against the Bengals later in the season, Johnson stepped in and threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns, completing 70% of his passes.

Ravens To Sign Josh Johnson

December 15th, 2021 at 10:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are signing quarterback Josh Johnson off of the Jets’ practice squad (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The veteran will provide extra insurance for Baltimore this week if Lamar Jackson is unable to play. 

Johnson, 35, has signed with nearly half of the league at this point. His career has seen long stretches of inactivity and stints with startup football leagues. After getting into four games for Washington in 2018, he spent ’19 with the San Diego Fleet in the Alliance of American Football. In 2020, he was under center for the XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats, until the league shuttered midway through it’s re-inaugural year.

This year, the Jets cycled him between the practice squad and active roster. He appeared in three games while Zach Wilson was sidelined, completing 64.4% of his throws for three touchdowns against one interception.

While Johnson will provide depth, the Ravens anticipate that Jackson will be able to go against the Packers on Sunday.

“The plans are right now, in my mind, for Lamar to be out there. So we’ll see where it goes this week. If he can go, he’ll go,” head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday. “If not, Tyler [Huntley] will be the quarterback. That’s where we’re at.”

Jets To Start Mike White In Week 8

October 27th, 2021 at 11:25am CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Flacco‘s return to the Big Apple will not result in an immediate starting role. Mike White will take over for the injured Zach Wilson in Week 8, Robert Saleh said Wednesday (via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, on Twitter).

Reacquired from the Eagles on Monday, Flacco will not return to the Jets’ facility until Friday, Saleh added. It is unlikely the 36-year-old quarterback will dress Sunday, Brian Costello of the New York Post notes (on Twitter). Josh Johnson is expected to be active to serve as White’s backup.

[RELATED: Jets’ Wilson To Miss 2-4 Weeks]

White took over for the injured Wilson in Week 7’s blowout loss to the Patriots but has never started an NFL game. Sunday marked the Western Kentucky alum’s first regular-season action since the Cowboys drafted him in the 2018 fifth round. The Jets faced scrutiny this offseason for not adding a veteran to serve as a Wilson mentor/QB2. While they rectified that shortly after Wilson went down, Flacco has a new system to learn after playing under Adam Gase in 2020.

White completed 20 of 32 passes for 202 yards against New England, throwing one touchdown pass and two picks. The Jets host the Bengals in Week 8. An extremely well-traveled veteran, Johnson has not thrown a regular-season pass since making three starts with Washington in 2018. Prior to that, Johnson went six years without throwing a pass in a regular-season game.

Jets Sign Josh Johnson To Practice Squad

September 1st, 2021 at 1:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets are set to sign Josh Johnson to their 16-man practice squad, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).

Johnson‘s second Jets stint came to an end on Tuesday, leaving Mike White as Zach Wilson‘s primary backup. White has yet to attempt a regular season pass, so it only makes sense for the Jets to keep Johnson around. The journeyman QB hasn’t had consistent playing time throughout his career (to put it mildly), but he has played/practiced with nearly half of the NFL. He’s also got an XFL stint under his belt, for what it’s worth.

The 35-year-old has famously been with nearly half the league’s teams. The 2008 fifth-round draft choice last played with Washington in 2018, and those three starts came five years after his previous game action. He will be back in free agency soon.

Johnson, a 2008 fifth-round draft pick, last played with Washington in 2018. He started in three games for D.C., ending a five-year drought of live action.

Jets Cut 26 Players, Get To Roster Limit

August 31st, 2021 at 9:21pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets let go of 27 players today, reducing their roster to the 53-man limit. The team made the following moves:

Released

Waived

Placed on Reserve/PUP list

The Jets added Johnson earlier this month. While the 35-year-old hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2018, there was some optimism that he could compete for a spot as Zach Wilson‘s backup. That ultimately wasn’t the case, and with James Morgan also getting waived, the team will roll with Mike White as the second QB.

Jets To Release QB Josh Johnson

August 31st, 2021 at 10:50am CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Johnson‘s second Jets stint has come to an end. The journeyman quarterback received word he did not make the team’s 53-man roster and will be released, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.

The Jets added Johnson during the first week of training camp but are going forward without a veteran backup. Mike White is in line to be Zach Wilson‘s primary backup, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

Neither White nor 2020 fourth-round pick James Morgan have attempted a regular-season pass, inserting some risk into the Jets’ quarterback situation. Gang Green drafted Wilson second overall, and the rookie’s grip on the QB1 gig was never in question. But the Jets will have no game experience behind the highly touted BYU product.

White has been with the Jets since 2019, heading to the Big Apple after a Cowboys cut. The Cowboys drafted White in the 2018 fifth round out of Western Kentucky. The 26-year-old passer will now be a Wilson injury away from action.

Johnson, 35, has famously been with nearly half the league’s teams. The 2008 fifth-round draft choice last played with Washington in 2018, and those three starts came five years after his previous game action. He will be back in free agency soon.

Jets To Sign Josh Johnson

August 4th, 2021 at 9:50am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have signed veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, per his agent (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Johnson could provide depth behind No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson, who finally put pen to paper last week. 

[RELATED: Jets Sign Zach Wilson]

Johnson, pictured here in one of his many NFL jerseys, has now signed deals with roughly half of the league. The 35-year-old spent November 2020 — May 2021 with the 49ers but didn’t take a snap during his time there. His last live action came with the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL and he hasn’t attempted an NFL pass since 2018, when he started in three games for Washington.

Despite the stop-and-go nature of it all, Johnson always seems to be in demand as a backup arm. Neither of New York’s other QB2 candidates — 2020 fourth-round pick James Morgan and former UDFA Mike White — have taken a regular-season snap.

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