The Bengals signed Johnson to a contract Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson will turn 40 in mid-May, but he's not yet ready to hang up his cleats. This will be his third stint with the Bengals, who are one of 14 teams he's spent time with during his NFL career. Johnson should have a path to working as the backup to QB Joe Burrow, as Sean Clifford is the only other QB currently signed to Cincinnati's roster following the departure of Jake Browning to Tampa Bay.

Johnson completed 14 of 22 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Eagles. He added nine rushes for 45 yards with an additional score and a lost fumble.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson drew his second consecutive start in the absence of both Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Marcus Mariota (hand). He effectively managed the offense for most of the game and orchestrated a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, which he capped off with a two-yard passing score and a one-yard rushing touchdown, to give the Commanders the win. Johnson will become a free agent this offseason, though retirement is also a possibility as he just concluded his 11th season and is set to turn 40 in May.

Johnson will start Sunday's game against the Eagles, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Commanders coach Dan Quinn named Johnson as his Week 18 starter Friday, ruling out Marcus Mariota (hand) for a second straight week. Washington also will be missing LT Laremy Tunsil (oblique) against an Eagles team that's expected to rest many starters.

Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards without a touchdown or an interception in the Commanders' 30-23 loss to the Cowboys on Christmas Day. He added 10 rushing yards on two carries.

EDGE Analysis

Getting his first NFL start since 2021 with both Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Marcus Mariota (hand) unavailable, the 39-year-old Johnson was an effective game-manager for Washington but nothing more, even in a matchup against a weak Dallas defense. Daniels has already been ruled out for the rest of the season, but Mariota could be cleared to return in Week 18. If not, Johnson will likely be under center again versus the Eagles.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Wednesday that Johnson will start quarterback in Thursday's game against the Cowboys, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Marcus Mariota hasn't been able to practice since sustaining hand and quadriceps injuries in this past Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles and won't be available on a short week, paving the way for the well-traveled Johnson to make his first NFL start since 2021. Over 48 career appearances (nine starts) across 10 different seasons, the 39-year-old Johnson has completed 58.0 percent of his pass attempts for 6.4 yards per attempt and a 13:17 TD:INT. Per Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C., Quinn said that the Commanders have hope that Mariota might be able to return for the Jan. 4 season finale in Philadelphia, so Johnson could be headed back to the No. 2 role in Week 18.

Johnson is "trending" toward making his first start of the season Thursday against the Cowboys after Marcus Mariota (hand/quadriceps) was a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the Commanders shutting down Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the season and with Mariota unlikely to be ready to play on a short week after exiting last Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles with a pair of injuries, Johnson is the next man up at quarterback. The journeyman signal-caller's last NFL start came back in 2021, when he filled in for Lamar Jackson in Week 17 during his second of three stints in the Ravens organization. Johnson has flashed some upside as a runner in his limited playing time over his previous stops during his long career, but given that he's now 39 years old, he probably can't be counted on to replicate the rushing production of Daniels and Mariota.

Johnson completed five of nine passes for 43 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles. He also had one rush for zero yards.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson has served as the Commanders' emergency quarterback of the season, but he was the backup to Marcus Mariota (hand) for this contest with Jayden Daniels (elbow) sidelined. Mariota exited the game for a concussion check and hand injury early in the third quarter, with Johnson stepping in. He was able to move Washington down the field for a touchdown during garbage time late in the fourth quarter, but it would be a significant negative for all of the team's skill-position players if Johnson is the starter for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.

Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Vikings but will serve as the Commanders' emergency third quarterback.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson has served as the Commanders' backup quarterback behind Marcus Mariota for the past three games, but the former will revert to the QB3 role due to the return of Jayden Daniels (left elbow). As the emergency QB3, Johnson will be permitted to see the field Sunday only in the event that both Daniels and Mariota were to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday night's contest against the Seahawks, but he will operate as the team's emergency third quarterback.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson will be back in his familiar role as Washington's No. 3 QB in Week 9. The 39-year-old has yet to appear in a contest this season, and he'd only be able to do so if Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota are sidelined with injuries.

Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive but serving as the emergency third quarterback for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

EDGE Analysis

The well-traveled veteran will fill his usual role behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, namely, being available as an emergency option should both his position mates exit the contest due to injury, illness or ejection. Johnson has just five regular-season pass attempts since the start of the 2022 season, none which have come in 2025.