The Cincinnati Bengals have several question marks throughout their roster, primarily on defense. However, their backup quarterback spot was also up for grabs entering the offseason with veteran Joe Flacco hitting the open market.

Cincinnati may have found its answer in that regard on Saturday, as it signed fellow veteran Josh Johnson, per its social media. The 2008 fifth-round pick has been on an NFL-record 14 teams, including a stint with the Bengals in 2013.

Johnson made five appearances (two starts) for the Washington Commanders in 2025, completing 34-of-54 passes (63%) for 372 yards with one touchdown and two picks. The 39-year-old also rushed for 55 yards on 12 carries with one score and one fumble lost. 

Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Bengals (per the team's website) and is now their most accomplished quarterback not named Joe Burrow. Their only other signal-caller is 27-year-old Sean Clifford, who has thrown one career pass.

Johnson has never been a full-time starter in the NFL, but his resilience has helped him stay in the league for 18 years. The Oakland native's best season was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009, when he started a career-high four of six appearances and completed 63-of-125 passes (50.4%) for 685 yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 148 yards on 22 carries.

After that, Johnson only started one NFL game until 2018. The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder went to the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions and then back to the NFL with the Cleveland Browns in 2012, the Bengals in 2013, the San Francisco 49ers in 2014, the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills in 2015, the New York Giants in 2016, the Houston Texans in 2017, Washington in 2018, and the Detroit Lions in 2019.

Johnson then briefly left the NFL again in 2020 for a brief stint with the XFL's Los Angeles Wildcats before spending time with the 49ers' practice squad to finish out the season. He then played for the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens in 2021, the Denver Broncos and 49ers in 2022, the Ravens again in 2023 and 2024, and the Commanders in 2025.

Ideally, Johnson won't have to play much for Cincinnati, as the team needs Burrow healthy after his second injury-shortened season in the past three years. However, he's an experienced backup option should the superstar miss time again.