| Johnson with the Washington Commanders in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 – Washington Commanders | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 15, 1986 Oakland, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 214 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Oakland Tech | ||||||||||||||||||
| College | San Diego (2004–2007) | ||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2008: 5th round, 160th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Joshua Javon Johnson (born May 15, 1986) is an American professional football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Johnson has been a member of 14 different NFL teams, the most in league history. [1] [2] [3] He also played in the United Football League (UFL) and XFL.
Johnson played college football for the San Diego Toreros and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft. Primarily a backup during his career, he has started games for the Buccaneers, Commanders, and Baltimore Ravens, while also seeing playing time with the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers. [4]
Johnson was born on May 15, 1986, in Oakland, California. He attended Oakland Technical High School and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track & field. In football, as a senior, Johnson was named the team's Most Improved Player, was a first-team All-City selection, and led his team to the Oakland Athletic League Championship. He was also a teammate of cousin Marshawn Lynch.
Johnson enrolled at University of San Diego in 2004, where he played for the Toreros as a backup quarterback to Todd Mortensen. Johnson finished with 135 passing yards on the season.
Johnson earned the starting job after Mortensen's departure for the 2005 season and earned some All-American honors after breaking numerous records. Johnson, who earned three conference player of the week honors, totaled eight games with four or more passing touchdowns. His best game of the season came against Valparaiso, when he threw for a school-record seven touchdowns (all coming in the first half). Johnson also had five touchdowns and 375 yards against Morehead State in the Pioneer Football League Championship victory. He finished the season with 3,256 yards and 36 touchdowns, completing 70.1% of his passes en route to being named team MVP.
After his record-setting sophomore season, Johnson was named third-team Associated Press All-America on his junior season. He was also named PFL Offensive Player of the Year as he led San Diego to a 10–0 start. Johnson also led San Diego to their first Top 25 appearance in school history. He finished the season with 3,320 yards and 34 touchdowns passing, and 720 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. Johnson led the FCS in total offense, passing efficiency, passing yards, and points responsible for. He totaled four games with over 300 yards passing, while his season-best was a 384-yard performance against Jacksonville. Johnson also had a 25-yard reception touchdown on the season. In the victory over Jacksonville, he set a school-record with 470 total yards of offense. Johnson finished sixth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, for the best player in the FCS.
After two highly productive seasons, Johnson entered the 2007 campaign on the Walter Payton Award watch list and was named a Preseason All-American. He was suspended for the season opener against Azusa Pacific for violating team rules. [5]
Making his season debut the following week against Marist, Johnson completed 24 of 28 passes for a then career-high 403 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. He followed that performance with consecutive six-touchdown passing games against Northern Colorado and Butler. In the latter contest, Johnson became the Toreros’ all-time leader in career passing yards. [6]
Against Davidson College, he threw for a career-high 428 yards and six touchdowns. Johnson finished the season with 2,988 passing yards and a school-record 43 touchdown passes, along with a career-high 726 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He set school records for career touchdown passes and passing yards, in addition to already holding the career completions record. Johnson was named a third-team FCS All-American and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, finishing third in the voting behind winner Jayson Foster. He also holds the record for the highest career passer efficiency (176.68) in NCAA Division I football history. [7]
Following his senior season, Johnson was invited to play in the 2008 East–West Shrine Game in Houston, Texas, where he was named the game's Offensive MVP after completing five of 11 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 103 yards on three attempts. [8]
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2004 | San Diego | 8 | 0 | — | 12 | 22 | 54.5 | 135 | 6.1 | 0 | 1 | 97.0 | 13 | 39 | 3.0 | 2 | |
| 2005 | San Diego | 12 | 12 | 11–1 | 260 | 371 | 70.1 | 3,256 | 8.8 | 36 | 8 | 171.5 | 86 | 379 | 4.4 | 4 | |
| 2006 | San Diego | 12 | 12 | 11–1 | 246 | 371 | 66.3 | 3,320 | 8.9 | 34 | 5 | 169.0 | 107 | 720 | 6.7 | 11 | |
| 2007 | San Diego | 10 | 10 | 8–2 | 206 | 301 | 68.4 | 2,988 | 9.9 | 43 | 1 | 198.3 | 101 | 726 | 7.2 | 2 | |
| Career | 43 | 34 | 30–4 | 724 | 1,065 | 68.0 | 9,699 | 9.1 | 113 | 15 | 176.7 | 307 | 1,864 | 6.1 | 19 | ||
| Source: [9] | |||||||||||||||||
Despite his small school background, Johnson had his name on many teams' draft boards. Johnson was aided by his impressive NFL Combine performances, in which he posted the best 40-yard dash time (4.53 [10] ) and vertical jump of any quarterback in the 2008 NFL Combine. [11]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+3⁄4 in (1.90 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9 in (0.23 m) | 4.53 s | 1.58 s | 2.63 s | 4.42 s | 7.56 s | 33.5 in (0.85 m) | 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) | 24 [12] | |
| All values from NFL Combine [13] [14] | ||||||||||||
Johnson was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round (160th overall) of the 2008 NFL draft. [15]
Johnson made his first appearance in a regular season NFL game in Week 3 against the New York Giants. When Johnson replaced Byron Leftwich as Tampa Bay's quarterback with 9:33 remaining, the Buccaneers had accumulated only 35 total yards and one first down against the favored Giants. Taking his first pro snap, Johnson found Antonio Bryant for six yards, marking the afternoon's first reception by a Tampa Bay wide receiver. Johnson ran for 15 yards and added three more completions for 30 yards as the Buccaneers finished with 86 yards in a 24–0 loss. Johnson drove the Buccaneers from their own 24 to the New York five-yard line in his only possession. One of Johnson's passes zipped through Michael Clayton's hands in the end zone. [16] Johnson was named the starting quarterback on September 28, 2009. During a Week 4 16–13 loss to the Washington Redskins, he made his first start and threw his first career touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant on his first pass of the game. [17]
During the 2010 season, Johnson notched a 95.6 passer rating as backup quarterback and also made appearances in the offense's wildcat formation. He was a backup to Josh Freeman, completing 14 of 16 passes for 111 yards. [18]
On December 4, 2011, Johnson started in place of the injured Josh Freeman against the Carolina Panthers. Johnson completed 16 of 27 passes for 229 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the 38–19 loss. He also made a brief appearance the following week, but attempted only two passes, one for three yards, and the other an interception. [19]
On March 22, 2012, Johnson signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, reuniting with his coach from the University of San Diego, Jim Harbaugh. [20] On August 31, Johnson was one of 21 players cut as the 49ers trimmed their roster to the 53-man limit for the regular season. [21]
Johnson tried out for the Chicago Bears on December 12, 2012. [22]
Johnson signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League on September 19, 2012. [23] He started the season opener against the Omaha Nighthawks but exited the game with a knee contusion, causing him to miss the next two weeks. [24] Johnson returned to start against the Virginia Destroyers, completing 13 of 22 passes for 159 yards in a 20–17 victory. [25] He appeared in two games overall during the 2012 season before the league suspended operations following Week 4. [26]
On December 26, 2012, the Cleveland Browns announced they signed Johnson after injuries to Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy. [27] After an injury to starter Thad Lewis, Johnson played for one snap in the Week 17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The single snap resulted in a sack fumble. [28] [29]
On March 21, 2013, Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. [30] He was released on May 12, 2014. [31]
Johnson signed with the 49ers in May 2014. [32] He was released on September 20, but was re-signed three days later. Johnson was released again on October 10, and was re-signed four days later. [33] Johnson was repeatedly signed and released to give the 49ers a 54th roster spot. [34] [35] [36]
Johnson was signed by the Bengals on April 2, 2015. [37] He was released on August 25. [38]
Johnson signed with the New York Jets on August 27, 2015. [39] He was released by the Jets nine days later. [40]
On October 2, 2015, Johnson signed with the Indianapolis Colts due to an injury to starter Andrew Luck. [41] He was released three days later. [42] Johnson was re-signed on October 7, 2015, and was released yet again five days later. [43] [44]
On October 13, 2015, Johnson signed with the Buffalo Bills. [45]
Johnson signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 15, 2016. [46] He was released on September 3. [47]
Johnson was signed by the New York Giants on September 5, 2016. [48] He was active for only two games during the regular season due to injuries to backup quarterback Ryan Nassib. [49]
On March 17, 2017, Johnson signed a two-year contract with the Giants. [50] On September 2, he was released during preseason cuts. [51]
Johnson was signed by the Houston Texans on November 7, 2017, after the release of Matt McGloin. [52] [53] Johnson was released by the Texans on November 22. [54] He was re-signed on December 27, after an injury to Taylor Heinicke. [55] [56]
On March 19, 2018, Johnson signed with the Oakland Raiders. [57] He was released on May 20. [58]
In 2018, Johnson was assigned to the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football. In November, he was protected by the team in the 2019 AAF QB Draft with the first overall pick. [59] Shortly afterwards, Johnson was signed by the Washington Redskins before the AAF season began and never played for the team.
On December 5, 2018, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Redskins to be a backup to Mark Sanchez after season-ending injuries to Colt McCoy and Alex Smith. [60] Johnson said that he played a Madden NFL video game to help learn the names of his new teammates. [61]
On December 9, 2018, Johnson appeared in his first game after Sanchez was benched against the Giants in the third quarter of a 40–16 loss. It was Johnson's first appearance in an NFL game since 2013 with the Bengals. [62] He finished the game completing 11 of 16 passes for 195 yards, a touchdown (his first touchdown since 2011 with the Buccaneers) and an interception. Johnson also rushed for 45 yards and his first career rushing touchdown on seven attempts. [63] After the game, it was announced that Johnson would be the starter for the next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game resulted in a 16–13 victory, his first career win as a starting quarterback in the NFL. [64] The following week, the Redskins faced the Tennessee Titans in a crucial Week 16 match-up to maintain their playoff hopes. Despite leading for most of the game, Washington's defense allowed a costly go-ahead touchdown with about four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Down 19–16, Johnson attempted to lead the Redskins down the field for a potential game-tying drive, but was intercepted first by safety Kevin Byard and then by Malcolm Butler after the Redskins managed to get the ball back with 14 seconds remaining. Washington would go on to lose 25–16, essentially ending their playoff chances. Johnson finished going 13-of-23 with 153 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. [65] He started the Week 17 finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson threw for 91 yards and an interception in the 24–0 loss. [66] He had ankle surgery after the season and was unable to return to the Fleet when his contract with the Redskins expired. [67]
On August 10, 2019, Johnson was signed by the Detroit Lions. [68] He was active the first two games as the backup up to Matthew Stafford, but was released after the signing of Jeff Driskel on September 17. [69]
On November 22, 2019, Johnson was allocated to the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL as part of the 2020 XFL Supplemental Draft. [70] Three days later, the Detroit Lions tried to re-sign Johnson but the XFL did not allow him to leave his contract with the Wildcats. [71] Despite the Wildcats finishing 2–3 in the five-game COVID-19 pandemic shortened season in 2020, Johnson performed admirably in four games (missing Week 1 with an injury) [72] by converting 60 percent of his passes, completing 81 out of 135 passes for 1,076 yards for 11 touchdowns against only two interceptions for a passer rating of 106.3. As a result, Johnson was named the highest graded quarterback in the XFL by Pro Football Focus. [73] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020. [74]
Johnson was signed to the 49ers' practice squad on November 11, 2020. [75] He was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list by the team on December 22, [76] and restored to the practice squad nine days later. [77] Johnson signed a reserve/future contract on January 15, 2021. [78] On June 1, Johnson was released by the 49ers. [79]
On August 4, 2021, Johnson signed with the Jets. [80] He was released on August 31, but was re-signed to the practice squad the next day. [81] [82]
After starting quarterback Zach Wilson suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in Week 7, Johnson was elevated to the active roster as the second option behind Mike White. While White was being evaluated for a potential injury in the following week's game against the Bengals, Johnson took the field during the third quarter, his first NFL appearance since 2018. He completed 2 of 4 passes for 17 yards, setting up a game-tying field goal, before White returned on New York's next possession. The Jets subsequently won 34–31. [83] During Week 9 against the Colts, Johnson again relieved an injured White during the Jets second drive. He threw for a career high 317 yards and three touchdowns, but was also intercepted on New York's final drive in the 45–30 loss. [84] Johnson was reverted to the Jets' practice squad following the game against the Colts. [85]
On December 15, 2021, Johnson was signed from the Jets' practice squad by the Ravens. [86] He was forced into the starting role in Week 16 against the Bengals due to Lamar Jackson having an ankle injury and Tyler Huntley testing positive for COVID-19. [87] He went 28 for 40 for 304 yards and two touchdowns and an interception and also rushed for 10 yards, but the Ravens lost the game 21–41. [88]
On March 18, 2022, Johnson signed with the Denver Broncos. [89] He was released on August 30, and signed to the practice squad the next day. [90] [91]
On October 22, Johnson was elevated to the team's active roster following an injury to starting quarterback Russell Wilson. [92]
On December 4, 2022, Johnson was signed to the 49ers active roster after a foot injury to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. [93] On January 29, 2023, Johnson played in his first playoff game in the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles in relief of injured quarterback Brock Purdy, who tore his ulnar collateral ligament. [94] [95] Johnson exited the game after sustaining a concussion in the third quarter and was replaced by the injured Purdy. [96] He completed seven of 13 passes for 74 yards with a lost fumble in the 31–7 road loss. [97]
On May 22, 2023, Johnson signed with the Ravens. [98] He was released on August 29, but was re-signed two days later. The Ravens released Johnson for a second time on September 23, but again re-signed him two days later. [99] Johnson was the third-string quarterback behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley and did not make an appearance during the regular season or postseason. [100]
On March 14, 2024, Johnson re-signed with the Ravens. [101] He ended up being second on the depth chart behind Jackson after Huntley signed with the Cleveland Browns during the offseason. His first action of the season came in the fourth quarter of the Week 4 35–10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. He handed off to Derrick Henry twice before throwing a one-yard pass to him with the drive ending with a punt. [102] Johnson appeared in his fifth game of 2024 against the Houston Texans on December 25.
On April 11, 2025, Johnson signed a one-year contract to return to the Washington franchise, now renamed the Washington Commanders. [103] On December 25, Johnson was named the starter for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. [104]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2009 | TB | 6 | 4 | 0–4 | 63 | 125 | 50.4 | 685 | 5.5 | 35 | 4 | 8 | 50.9 | 22 | 148 | 6.7 | 29 | 0 | 11 | 59 | 7 | 1 |
| 2010 | TB | 11 | 0 | — | 14 | 16 | 87.5 | 111 | 6.9 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 95.6 | 4 | 39 | 9.8 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | TB | 9 | 1 | 0–1 | 19 | 36 | 52.8 | 246 | 6.8 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 60.6 | 11 | 67 | 6.1 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | CLE | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | CIN | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 20 | 2.9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | SF | 0 | 0 | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | IND | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| BUF | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | NYG | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | HOU | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | WAS | 4 | 3 | 1–2 | 52 | 91 | 57.1 | 590 | 6.5 | 79 | 3 | 4 | 69.4 | 23 | 120 | 5.2 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 67 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | DET | 0 | 0 | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | NYJ | 3 | 0 | — | 29 | 45 | 64.4 | 334 | 7.4 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 99.7 | 4 | 18 | 4.5 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| BAL | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 28 | 40 | 70.0 | 304 | 7.6 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 98.3 | 5 | 10 | 2.0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022 | SF | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 10 | 5.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 64.6 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | BAL | 0 | 0 | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | BAL | 6 | 0 | — | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 17 | 5.7 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 81.2 | 4 | 1 | 0.3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 45 | 9 | 1–8 | 208 | 358 | 58.1 | 2,297 | 6.4 | 79 | 13 | 16 | 70.7 | 82 | 426 | 5.2 | 29 | 1 | 30 | 194 | 14 | 3 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2013 | CIN | 0 | 0 | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | SF | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 13 | 53.8 | 74 | 5.7 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 70.7 | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | BAL | 0 | 0 | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | BAL | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 13 | 53.8 | 74 | 5.7 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 70.7 | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 1 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | ||
| 2012 | SAC | 2 | 2 | 1–1 | 28 | 48 | 58.3 | 397 | 8.3 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 90.4 | 10 | 54 | 5.4 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 1–1 | 28 | 48 | 58.3 | 397 | 8.3 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 90.4 | 10 | 54 | 5.4 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | ||
| 2020 | LA | 4 | 4 | 2–2 | 81 | 135 | 60.0 | 1,092 | 8.1 | 54 | 11 | 2 | 106.8 | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 22 |
| Career | 4 | 4 | 2–2 | 81 | 135 | 60.0 | 1,092 | 8.1 | 54 | 11 | 2 | 106.8 | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 22 | |