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Josh Johnson (QB)

Ravens To Re-Sign QB Josh Johnson

March 14th, 2024 at 11:37am CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Johnson signed with the Ravens last offseason, kicking off a third stint with the franchise. The journeyman quarterback is set to continue his time in Baltimore moving forward.

Johnson has agreed to terms on a new one-year Ravens deal, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports. Zrebiec adds the contract has not been signed yet, but presuming that takes place the 37-year-old will be in place to compete for the backup job. Johnson did not see any playing time in 2023, with former UDFA Tyler Huntley occupying the second spot on the depth chart.

It was the latter who started Baltimore’s regular season finale, a game which had no implications for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. That contest marked Huntley’s 10th overall start (and 22nd appearance) during his Baltimore career, one which began in 2020. After playing on an RFA tender in 2023, the 26-year-old is a free agent. The Ravens’ decision to keep Johnson in the fold (coupled with the midseason addition of Malik Cunningham) points to Huntley departing.

Johnson’s nomadic pro football journey began in 2009 when he was drafted by the Buccaneers. He saw playing time with Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Washington before playing in the AAF and XFL. The San Diego alum also has UFL experience on his resume to go along with tenures with a record 14 NFL franchises. Johnson was previously with the Ravens in 2016 and 2021, making one start in the latter campaign.

Regular season action in 2024 would of course only come about if Lamar Jackson were to miss time and Johnson were to beat out Cunningham (a 2023 Patriots UDFA who was used as a receiver in New England but is viewed by Baltimore as a quarterback) or any further additions as the backup signal-caller. With Jackson’s mega-extension in Year 2, the Ravens obviously need to be frugal with respect to other QB deals. Johnson has never played on an NFL deal worth more than $1.3MM per year, and that will no doubt continue on his latest Baltimore pact.

Ravens Re-Sign QB Josh Johnson, Place WR Tylan Wallace On IR

September 25th, 2023 at 3:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 25: To little surprise, the Ravens have brought back Johnson by re-signing him to the active roster, head coach John Harbaugh announced on Monday. Releasing the veteran was simply a case of roster gymnastics and a move which allowed a healthy option at another position to dress on Sunday.

The spot allowing Johnson to return to Baltimore was opened by wideout Tylan Wallace being placed on IR, per a team announcement. The latter has appeared in 29 games across three seasons with the Ravens, playing primarily on special teams. A hamstring injury will shut down the 24-year-old for at least the next four weeks, though, while the team looks to rebound from yesterday’s overtime loss.

SEPTEMBER 23: The Ravens’ backup quarterback situation has become clearer for the time being. Josh Johnson was released on Saturday, per a team announcement.

As a result of the move, only Tyler Huntley remains on the active roster to serve as QB2 behind Lamar Jackson. Johnson’s time in the organization may not be over, however. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports Baltimore’s preference would be to retain the latter via the practice squad. In any event, this marks the latest chapter in Johnson’s journeyman tour around pro football.

The 37-year-old signed with the Ravens this offseason, beginning his third stint with the franchise. Baltimore had attempted to add him last December, while Jackson was dealing with what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury. His latest pact brought Johnson – a veteran of the NFL, UFL, AAF and XFL – back to the Ravens and gave him a chance to win the backup job in the preseason.

Huntley had been dealing with a hamstring injury to start the year, so Johnson dressed as the backup for Weeks 1 and 2. Moving on from Johnson (at least temporarily) is a sign that Huntley, the Ravens’ starter for most of the end of 2022 in Jackson’s absence, including the team’s wild-card loss, is now fully healthy. The former UDFA will resume QB2 duties beginning tomorrow.

The Ravens released Anthony Brown (who made one start for them last season) earlier this month, leaving the team without a developmental passer on the taxi squad. That adds further to the likelihood Johnson will be brought back in the near future, though as a vested veteran he is not subject to waivers. Johnson is free to sign with any interested party, and 2022 saw the latest example of him leaving one team’s practice squad (Denver) to join another’s active roster with a greater chance of playing time (San Francisco). A repeat of that move could now take place in 2023, as the Ravens move forward with the familiar Jackson-Huntley pairing under center.

QB Notes: Dak, Ravens, Lance, Dobbs, Lions

September 21st, 2023 at 1:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although a report earlier this month indicated the Cowboys and Dak Prescott had not begun contract negotiations, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe notes conversations occurred “throughout the offseason.” The Cowboys restructured Prescott’s deal in March, creating 2023 cap space but setting up a showdown of sorts in 2024. Because of the redo, Prescott carries what would be a record-shattering $59.5MM cap hit for 2024, the final year of his contract. Prescott, 30, will almost definitely not play on that number; no one has ever played on a cap number north of $45MM.

Because the Cowboys tagged Dak in 2020 and procedurally tagged him in 2021, part of the long-running negotiations that finally produced a deal in March 2021, they do not have a 2025 tag at their disposal. The Cowboys want to gain contract clarity with Prescott, Howe notes (subscription required), with CeeDee Lamb extension-eligible and Micah Parsons eligible in January. But the eighth-year QB will hold tremendous leverage, particularly if he can complete a bounce-back season, once the sides get serious about an extension.

Here is more on the QB front:

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/31/23

August 31st, 2023 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Following a busy roster deadline day on Tuesday, teams continue to reshuffle their rosters. Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

  • Placed on IR: TE Stephen Sullivan

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

The Ravens brought back a trio of veterans to their 53-man roster. Brent Urban is probably destined for the biggest role, with the veteran lineman serving as the top backup to Broderick Washington at defensive end. Urban got into 16 games for Baltimore last season, collecting 21 tackles and one sack. Veteran QB Josh Johnson will slide behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on the depth chart, and Kevon Seymour will continue his role as a key special teamer.

The Cardinals are temporarily losing some production with offensive lineman Dennis Daley and linebacker Myjai Sanders being placed on IR. Daley joined the Cardinals on a two-year deal this offseason after starting 15 of his 17 appearances for the Titans in 2022. Sanders had a productive rookie campaign, with the third-round pick collecting 23 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

Julian Okwara has turned into a productive pass-rushing option in Detroit. The former third-round pick has collected seven sacks over the past two seasons, but he’ll now be sidelined for the start of the season while recovering from a knee injury suffered during in the preseason finale.

Ravens Set 53-Man Roster

August 29th, 2023 at 10:25pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens did a bit of work in the days leading up to the roster cut deadline, including the announced release of veteran running back Melvin Gordon. Still, there was a bit of work left to be done today. Here’s the remaining moves Baltimore made in order to get down to 53 players:

Waived:

Released:

The most surprising moves here come at cornerback. Especially with the recent injury trouble facing star corner Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens choice to not only cut two reliable backups in Seymour and Worley but also to waive the fifth-round rookie draft pick Kelly is shocking. The team did reinforce with several free agent veterans like Rock Ya-Sin, Ronald Darby, and Arthur Maulet, and they’re hoping to see strong seasons from second year cornerbacks Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis, both of whom were limited in their rookie seasons due to injury. Look for them to attempt to retain Seymour and Worley on the practice squad. Kelly will have to clear waivers in order to return, a tough ask for a fifth-round talent. Williams is expected to be placed on injured reserve following the deadline, opening a door for Worley or Seymour to return to the active roster.

Brown and Johnson put forth valiant efforts throughout the preseason, essentially allowing starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and primary backup Tyler Huntley to escape the preseason without really being touched. Unfortunately, neither made a strong enough case to remain on the regular season roster. Brown is surely a candidate to return to the practice squad, if he clears waivers.

Baltimore’s tradition of scouting undrafted talent continued this year as the team saw two free agent rookies make the initial 53-man roster. Former East Carolina running back Keaton Mitchell gave some strong impressions that helped him beat out Gordon and fellow undrafted signee Wright. Malik Hamm, Lafayette’s all-time sack leader, makes the team behind as of yet unproven pass rushers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, veteran Jadeveon Clowney, and fellow rookie Tavius Robinson, a fourth-round pick out of Ole Miss.

Outside linebacker Tyus Bowser remains on the non-football injury list to start the season alongside long snapper Nick Moore, rookie guard Andrew Vorhees, and cornerback Trayvon Mullen. He’ll miss at least the first four games of the season.

Ravens, QB Josh Johnson Agree To Deal

May 22nd, 2023 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Johnson has once again landed a new deal with a familiar team. The journeyman quarterback is signing with the Ravens for a third time, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

Johnson, 37, has been a member of an NFL-record 14 teams over the span of his career, also spending time in the UFL, AAF and XFL along the way. His previous stints in Baltimore came in 2016 and 2021; it was during the latter campaign that he made his only start as a Raven. Given the team’s current depth chart, it would come as a surprise if he were to see any game action this time around.

Baltimore has Lamar Jackson on the books for the next five years after they brought his contract saga to an end earlier this offseason. That will allow the team to move forward with certainty at the top of the depth chart, but the former MVP has been sidelined to close out the season in each of the past two years. That leaves their backup and third-string options a point of interest.

The Ravens tendered restricted free agent Tyler Huntley at the low-round level ($2.63MM). The former UDFA would have been able to head elsewhere on an offer sheet which would not have put Baltimore in line for compensation, but Huntley ultimately signed the one-year deal. The 25-year-old has made four starts in each of the past two regular seasons, and started the team’s wild-card loss to the Bengals in 2022.

Johnson – who began last season on the Broncos’ practice squad before signing with the 49ers amidst their quarterback injuries – will likely be competing for the third-string role in training camp. That spot currently belongs to Anthony Brown, a UDFA who made one start as a rookie last season. The Ravens also included one signal-caller (Nolan Henderson) in this year’s group of undrafted rookie signings. Johnson will look to outperform those two as a means of at least earning a spot on the Ravens’ practice squad.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo Out For Season

December 4th, 2022 at 8:30pm CST by Ely Allen

8:30pm: With Garoppolo likely headed to injured reserve, the 49ers plan to sign veteran journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson off of the Broncos’ practice squad, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. This will be Johnson’s fourth stint in San Francisco after spending the 2012 offseason with the 49ers, constantly being signed and released by the team throughout the 2014 season, and spending the 2020 season on San Francisco’s practice squad.

Johnson has been a member of more NFL teams than he has played years in the league, playing with 14 teams over 13 years. He signed with the Broncos at the beginning of this past offseason and was temporarily on the team’s active roster after an injury to starter Russell Wilson.

He last appeared in a game last season for the Ravens when he started in place of an injured Lamar Jackson and an absent Tyler Huntley, who had tested positive for COVID-19. The Ravens lost that game despite Johnson completing 28 of 40 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite his three previous tenures with the organization, Johnson has never appeared in a game for the 49ers. That trend may continue as the rookie seventh-round pick, Purdy, showed he may have what it takes to pilot the 49ers offense. Johnson is likely being brought in for emergency backup duties only, considering Purdy has spent the entire season with 49ers.

6:53pm: Following this afternoon’s win over the Dolphins that saw quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo leave in the first quarter with a reported ankle injury, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has told reporters that Garoppolo will be out for the remainder of the season, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. With season opener starter Trey Lance already on season-ending injured reserve with his own ankle injury, the 49ers will be down to third-stringer Brock Purdy to lead the team for the remainder of the season.

Shanahan explained to reporters that Garoppolo actually suffered a broken foot, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, telling the media, “He’ll be out. He’ll need surgery. (He) broke a few things in there.”

Heaps of drama surrounded Garoppolo’s situation coming into the season as the veteran quarterback sought a departure from his team of the last six years. In the end, San Francisco decided to hold on to Garoppolo, hoping his trade value would increase as the season went on. The move would prove to immediately benefit the 49ers when their chosen starter to open the season, Lance, suffered a broken right ankle and underwent season-ending surgery.

Since taking over, Garoppolo has a 7-3 record as the 49ers’ starter, helping to lead the team to an 8-4 record overall, good for first place in the NFC West and a current No. 4 seed in the conference. Garoppolo has done what he always seems to do as a starter, which is simply win football games.

When Garoppolo left today’s game after only one drive, the 49ers had to reach deep into their pockets. This year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Purdy entered Week 13 as the only other quarterback on San Francisco’s active roster. Purdy not only performed admirably but was a huge contributor in helping the 49ers pull out a win against a Dolphins team that would currently sit atop the AFC if it had won today.

San Francisco faces an intriguing stretch over the last five weeks of the season. Next week will pit the seventh-round rookie against the all-time veteran as the team hosts Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Then a short week will send them to Seattle for a Thursday night matchup against the Seahawks that could very well decide the division. They’ll come back home to face a red-hot Commanders team before closing the season with a road trip to Vegas and another division matchup versus the Cardinals.

As for Garoppolo, a quick recovery is paramount for the 31-year-old. The injury could not have come at a worse time for Garoppolo as reports came out just this morning that the veteran was open to a new contract that would keep him in San Francisco. A perceived value that was riding high at an estimated $35MM per year may take a hit now due to the injury.

Upcoming updates should reveal the severity of the damage and the seriousness of the surgery, giving us an idea of what an expected timeline for recovery will look like. With Lance likely on track to be ready for the 2023 season, Garoppolo may find himself, once again, questioning his place in San Francisco.

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.

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