Skip to main content
Join Now

Marcus Mariota injury update: Commanders announce Josh Johnson as starting QB vs. Cowboys

Danby: Daniel Hager12/24/25DanielHagerOn3

Due to injuries to starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, veteran quarterback Josh Johnson will make his 10th career start Thursday afternoon in Washington’s Christmas Day game. It comes against the Dallas Cowboys.

Across 18 seasons with 14 different teams (the most in league history), Johnson has completed 58.1% of his passes for 2,297 yards and 13 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. He is 1-8 in his previous nine starts.

Johnson getting the start for Washington means that the three-game slate of NFL action will feature two third-string quarterbacks (Johnson and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun) and one backup quarterback (Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer). Four of the six teams hitting the field on Christmas have already been eliminated from postseason contention, with the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos being the lone exceptions.

“I thought I’d give you some clarity on the plan at quarterback,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said during his Wednesday press conference. “As we got through the week, Josh Johnson will start. Jeff Driskel will be the backup, and we’re also signing Sam Hartman to the 53-man. He’ll be the emergency third, so wanted to give you guys as much clarity as I had going through the week.”

Josh Johnson will make his fourth career start for Washington

Although Johnson has been a member of 14 organizations, he has started a game for just three of them. Johnson has started four games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (four in 2009, one in 2011), one game for the Baltimore Ravens (2021), and three for the Washington football franchise, when they were named the Redskins (2018). Thursday’s start will mark his fourth start for Washington.

The San Diego alum has appeared in 45 career games for seven of the 14 franchises he’s been a member of. All-Pro kicker Shayne Graham is the only other player in modern NFL history to be a member of at least 10 different teams.

Washington’s quarterback situation seems like a dream scenario for the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas, however, has been eliminated from playoff contention and needs to win its final two games (Washington and the New York Giants) to get to 8-8-1 on the season. It appeared as if the Cowboys could be poised to make a run at the postseason after rattling off three consecutive wins midseason (including against the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs), but three consecutive losses have dashed all hope of a Playoff appearance.