The Bengals have signed QB Josh Johnson to a 1 year deal.
Johnson, who turns 40 in a couple of months, is a journeyman who has been on quite the tour over the course of his career. Since entering the league as a 5th round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, he has spent time with 14 different NFL franchises, as well as some teams in other leagues.
He spent the 2013 season with the Bengals, backing up Andy Dalton. That season, he rushed for 20 yards on 7 attempts. He was again in the mix leading up to the 2015 season, but failed to make the team out of camp.
Since his Cincinnati days, Johnson has made several stops, and has gotten to start some games, including a handful with the Ravens and Commanders, respectively.
Now in his third stint with the Bengals, Johnson will again have to compete for a spot. They would still like to retain Joe Flacco, but he is still waiting to see if he can land an opportunity to compete for a starting spot.
While they wait, it is smart for them to add a cheap veteran to the room, as you don’t want to be waiting forever and have all the options dry up.
Johnson isn’t someone who would prevent them from going after someone like Flacco, or another veteran QB. Nor would he prevent them from drafting one. But he does give the Bengals some insurance. In time, we’ll know if he is competing for the backup job, or a spot on the practice squad.
Thumbnail Image Via: Navin Rajagopalan (CC)