Josh Johnson (QB) - Pro Football Rumors

NFC Rumors: Redskins, Childress, 49ers

March 9th, 2019 at 4:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of Eric Weddle‘s many suitors came from the NFC East. The Redskins inquired about the safety, according to NBC Sports Washington’s Ben Standig, but Weddle preferred the Rams’ proposal. Washington may be a spot for one of the many starter-caliber safeties on this year’s market, with the team having waived D.J. Swearinger and with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix‘s contract having expired.

Here is the latest from Washington, along with other NFC teams, with the legal tampering period less than 48 hours away.

The Redskins’ Case Keenum trade frees them up to make more competitive offers to non-quarterbacks in free agency, instead of seeing Teddy Bridgewater or Tyrod Taylor proposals complicate the team’s plan. However, Washington is still expected to add at this spot this offseason, and Standig notes it won’t be a Josh Johnson reunion — barring a Colt McCoy departure. Another Johnson pact was previously mentioned as a possibility, but that may no longer be in the cards. Washington profiles as a possible quarterback destination in this year’s draft, but in picking at No. 15 and unlikely to trade up, this may be one of the teams that waits for 2020’s higher-profile group of quarterbacks.
The rumors of Markus Golden hitting the market look accurate, with AZCardinals.com’s Mike Jurecki tweeting the veteran edge rusher is set for free agency. The Cardinals and Golden engaged in talks earlier this offseason, but nothing of consequence emerged from those discussions. While Golden stands to benefit from the franchise tags handed out to the top-tier pass rushers who could have hit the market, and Jurecki posits a possible Golden reunion with former Cards DC James Bettcher via Giants signing, the former second-round pick has not been productive since the 2016 season. Golden’s ACL tear in 2017 sidetracked his career, halting the momentum he’d created with a 12.5-sack 2016.
Brad Childress may be ready to circle back to the Bears. Affiliated with Matt Nagy‘s first Bears staff briefly, Childress then bolted for the Alliance of American Football. But he did not last until the AAF’s opener. However, Childress looks set to rejoin Nagy in Chicago, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweeting the former Vikings HC is expected to serve in an offensive consulting role under Nagy. Childress and Nagy worked together with the Chiefs. Childress also retired after the 2017 season, but that turned out to be quite short-lived.
The 49ers still want to bring back Jimmie Ward, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, but it doesn’t appear their interest goes beyond the one-year offer they were dangling for the 2014 first-round pick. Ward was thought to be on the outs in San Francisco, but the team did not receive much consistency from its secondary last season. San Francisco’s staff graded the versatile defensive back as the team’s best secondary cog, Maiocco adds, prior to his season-ending injury in November, Maiocco adds.
The contract the 49ers gave kicker Jonathan Brown is a two-year deal, the team announced. San Francisco used its franchise tag on Robbie Gould. Brown was with the Bengals during the past three training camps but has yet to play in a regular-season game.

NFC Notes: Johnson, Redskins, Falcons, Cardinals

February 1st, 2019 at 8:44pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

One of the best stories of the 2018 NFL season was Josh Johnson. The longtime journeyman quarterback finally got a chance to start his first game since the 2011 season, and immediately sparked the slumping Redskins. The injuries Washington had suffered ultimately proved too severe to overcome, but Johnson still looked pretty good for someone seeing his first live action in seven years who was signed cold off the street. Now, it looks like Johnson could be back with Washington next year.

The team is working on bringing Johnson back, Redskins team president Bruce Allen told JP Finlay of NBC Sports (Twitter link). Word came out recently that the Redskins were expecting Alex Smith to miss the entire 2019 season, so it’s not surprising they’d want to have as many bodies at quarterback as possible. With only Colt McCoy on the roster, it’s not inconceivable that Johnson could have a chance to be Washington’s starter next year.

Here’s more from the NFC:

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff again reiterated the team’s desire to lockup defensive tackle Grady Jarrett with a longterm deal this week at the Super Bowl, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’ve had a number of conversations. We still have a ways to go but we are confident he’s going to be here for years to come”, Dimitroff said. Jarrett is set to be a free agent this March, but it looks like he won’t ever hit the open market.
Speaking of the Falcons, don’t expect them to be big spenders in free agency. Dimitroff said he doesn’t anticipate being that aggressive in pursuing guys from other teams, declaring “I don’t think necessarily we need to make a whole bunch of bold moves.” While he acknowledged that the team has some “regrouping to do” after their disappointing season, he expressed confidence in the group of players currently in the building, and said he doesn’t foresee himself “dropping a ton of money in free agency.”
New Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury isn’t just retaining one member of last year’s coaching staff, he’s promoting him. Kingsbury will promote Chris Achuff, who was an assistant defensive line coach on Steve Wilks’ staff last year, to be his defensive line coach, a source told Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Achuff had been with Baylor for nine years before joining the Cardinals, so perhaps he had some familiarity with Kingsbury from their Big 12 days.

Josh Johnson Will Start For Redskins Moving Forward

December 9th, 2018 at 6:04pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Redskins are making a quarterback change. The Mark Sanchez-era is over just after it got started, as the team will start Josh Johnson moving forward, coach Jay Gruden announced after the game (link via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk).

Sanchez played awfully and put up zero points by the time he was benched, tossing two interceptions. Johnson came into the game and immediately provided a spark, leading two scoring drives and putting 16 points on the board to make the loss slightly less lopsided. Redskins players immediately responded to and rallied around Johnson, so the permanent switch to him isn’t a surprise.

Incredibly, Johnson hadn’t thrown a regular season pass since 2011 when he was suddenly thrust into the game. Johnson was only signed off the street less than two weeks ago after Colt McCoy‘s season ending injury, so his play was impressive. Johnson, who had been all set to join the San Diego Fleet of the upstart AAF league before getting the call from the Redskins, completed 11 of 16 passes for 195 yards, one touchdown and an interception, good for 12.2 yards per attempt.

Sanchez was six of 14 for 38 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six, before exiting. He also struggled mightily last week when he came on in relief of McCoy on Monday Night Football. The Redskins’ season is quickly circling the drain after a surprising 6-3 start as they’ve been crippled by injuries. While still technically alive in the NFC East race, their playoff hopes have rapidly diminished, but perhaps inserting Johnson into the lineup can create some momentum and help them finish strong.

Redskins To Sign QB Josh Johnson

December 5th, 2018 at 8:23am CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins reached agreement on a deal with quarterback Josh Johnson, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Johnson auditioned alongside several other QBs on Tuesday and emerged as the best option of the bunch.

Johsnon now becomes the Redskins’ second healthy quarterback, joining Mark Sanchez. After losing both Alex Smith and Colt McCoy to injury, the Redskins are hoping to get by, somehow, with a duo of journeymen.

Johnson, 29, was quickly chosen over E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, Landry Jones, and Ryan Mallett, but the Redskins had some hurdles to clear first. Johnson was the first pick of the AAF’s San Diego franchise just last week, but AAF co-founder Bill Polian confirmed that Johnson will be released from his deal so that he can sign with Washington.

Sanchez struggled against the Eagles last week, but he’ll start this week against the Giants as the Redskins fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. Johnson, who has history with coach Jay Gruden thanks to their time in Tampa and Cincinnati, might have an opportunity to get in the game if Sanchez falters again.

Redskins Hope To Sign QB Josh Johnson

December 4th, 2018 at 5:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Following season-ending injuries to starting quarterback Alex Smith and backup Colt McCoy, the Redskins are naturally seeking some help behind Mark Sanchez. We learned earlier today that the team was set to audition a handful of signal-callers, and now there are two more names to add to the list. JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports (via Twitter) that Washington will work out quarterbacks Landry Jones and Ryan Mallett today.

However, it sounds like the organization already has their eye on one quarterback in particular: Josh Johnson. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Redskins are hoping to sign the veteran. There are some hurdles that both sides need to overcome, including Johnson’s status as the recent number-one overall pick of the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football.

The 32-year-old Johnson has bounced around the NFL and UFL since being selected by the Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. The veteran’s last NFL action came in 2013, when he ran for 20 yards on seven carries in two games with the Bengals (he didn’t attempt a pass during his time in Cincy). His last extended look came back in 2011 during his final year in Tampa, when he completed 19 of his 36 pass attempts for 246 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions (to go along with 67 rushing yards).

Working in Johnson’s favor is his relative familiarity with the Redskins’ system. Head coach Jay Gruden was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator during Johnson’s stint in Cincinnati, and Gruden was also an offensive assistant with the Buccaneers during the quarterback’s rookie campaign. Johnson is obviously a different game manager than both Smith and McCoy, but the Redskins may be enticed by the free agent’s presumed ability to quickly learn the playbook.

Mallett had spent the past three seasons in Baltimore as Joe Flacco‘s backup, but he’s yet to find a new gig since hitting free agency. Meanwhile, Jones had a brief stint with the Jaguars this season, although he didn’t end up seeing the field for Jacksonville. The team is also reportedly set to audition E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, and others.

Redskins To Work Out Free Agent QBs

December 4th, 2018 at 2:33pm CST by Zachary Links

After losing their top two quarterbacks to injury, the Redskins are in the market for another signal caller. The Redskins will once again audition E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, Josh Johnson, and others as they look to support de facto starter Mark Sanchez, coach Jay Gruden announced.

Naturally, reporters pressed Gruden on whether Colin Kaepernick is or was a consideration for the team. Gruden acknowledged that Kaepernick was discussed, but it doesn’t sound as though he was a real candidate for the Redskins.

“[There’s] not a lot of time to get a brand new QB and a system installed and taught in a couple days. He’s been talked about and discussed, but we’ll probably go in a different direction,” Gruden said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim).

Backup Colt McCoy stepped in when Alex Smith was lost to a scary leg injury, but McCoy was knocked out of action this week when he suffered a broken fibula of his own. McCoy is holding out hope that he can return in a matter of weeks, but that will be a moot point unless Sanchez can lead the Redskins to a winning streak that will put them in the playoff mix.

The 6-6 Redskins have a 26% chance of reaching the playoffs and a 7% chance of bypassing the Cowboys and Eagles for the divisional crown. It’ll be an uphill battle, however, with Sanchez under center behind a depleted offensive line.

Seahawks Work Out QB Josh Johnson

August 10th, 2018 at 4:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks will work out quarterback Josh Johnson on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Johnson was most recently with the Raiders, though his stint in Oakland lasted only a couple of months.

Johnson has not thrown a pass in a game since 2011, but he’s remained on rosters as a backup. Last year, the Texans added him after Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending injury. He’s traveled all over since 2009 and has taken snaps for the Bucs, Browns, Bengals, and 49ers.

The Seahawks’ QB depth chart currently consists of star Russell Wilson, backup Austin Davis, and seventh-round pick Alex McGough. The Seahawks obviously like McGough after selecting him just a few months ago, but they may feel that they can sign a veteran such as Johnson, sneak McGough through waivers, and then sign the rookie to the practice squad.

Raiders Cut QB Josh Johnson

May 10th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have cut veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It was a short stay in Oakland for the veteran as he was signed less than two months ago.

Johnson was one of Jon Gruden‘s final draft picks as the Buccaneers’ head coach. Despite Gruden’s nostalgic streak, there apparently wasn’t room for Johnson on the roster moving forward.

The Raiders’ QB depth chart is headlined by starter Derek Carr followed by E.J. Manuel and Connor Cook. It stands to reason that the Raiders will look into adding a fourth QB as a camp arm. It’s not yet clear who the Raiders are looking to sign, but 46-year-old Kurt Warner is down to play if Gruden wants to continue adding veterans (we’re kidding…we think).

Johnson has not thrown a pass in a game since 2011, but he’s remained on rosters as a backup. Most recently, the Texans added him after Deshaun Watson‘s injury.

Raiders Sign QB Josh Johnson

March 19th, 2018 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of Jon Gruden‘s final draft picks as Buccaneers head coach was a fifth-round selection of Josh Johnson in 2008, and the quarterback still being active opened the door to a reunion now that Gruden is coaching again.

The Raiders signed Johnson on Monday, according to agent Doug Hendrickson (Twitter link). An Oakland native, Johnson will return to his hometown and rejoin a Gruden staff to continue a nomadic career.

While Johnson has not thrown a pass in a game since 2011, he’s remained on rosters as a backup. Most recently, the Texans added him after Deshaun Watson‘s injury. Johnson’s rookie year came under Gruden, but he didn’t throw his first NFL pass until 2009.

The 31-year-old signal-caller could be in line to become Oakland’s third-string quarterback, behind Derek Carr and Connor Cook.

Texans Sign QB Josh Johnson

December 28th, 2017 at 10:31am CST by GregGoldstein

With the Texans suffering more injuries to their quarterback depth chart on Monday, the team has signed veteran signal caller Josh Johnson for their regular season finale, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Houston placed safety Corey Moore on injured reserve with a sprained medial collateral ligament to make room for Johnson on the active roster.

Texans QB’s T.J. Yates and Taylor Heinicke both suffered concussions in the team’s blowout loss to the Steelers in Week 16. While Yates was able to return to the game after Heinicke was forced to exit, Houston obviously wanted more insurance on the roster to able to take some snaps should another injury occur this weekend.

At 31 years old, Johnson hasn’t seen regular season playing time since 2013 with the Bengals. His most extensive game action came in 2009 with the Bucs as the former fifth round pick completed 63 of 125 pass attempts for four touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Johnson has been a journeyman QB for most of his career was cut by the Giants before the start of this regular season. He had since signed with the Texans in the middle of the year before being released in November.