Josh Johnson is set to make his first start at quarterback for Washington since 2018 with clarity setting in at quarterback for the Washington Commanders
After a whirlwind few days addressing the quarterback position on a short week, head coach Dan Quinn announced that Josh Johnson will start at quarterback on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys.
With that, Marcus Mariota has also been ruled out on Thursday after leaving in the opening minutes of the third quarter in Saturday's 29-18 loss against Philadelphia.
"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 roster]. He will be emergency third [quarterback]," Quinn announced during Wednesday's press conference.
Thursday also marks Johnson's first start with the Commanders since 2018 after finishing 5-of-9 for 42 yards and one interception in relief of Mariota during the second half last week. While the addition of Jeff Driskel added a complex level of familiarity to what has proven to be a revolving quarterback room for the Commanders through the 2025 season, the chance to stack days in practice gives the Commanders confidence in pulling out the upset at home against its hated divisional rival.
"Obviously it won't look exactly the same with Josh under compared to Marcus and Jayden [Daniels] in that space. He's got lots of versatility and so we want to make sure when you're going into it, when you're getting the reps as a starter, what can we do to feature the things that allow you to be that? All these guys bring different things to the table. We'll try like hell to feature Josh in that way as well. Plenty of experience but we will try to tailor the gameplan towards Josh now that he took the lion's share of reps during the week.
While Hartman has also been added to the active roster, Quinn explained why he was not considered for his first NFL start this week, instead pointing to the possibility of next week's finale.
"We just thought as we're going into it, didn't get a lot of team reps when you're kind of going through the season as the four. Thought Jeff would add a different dimension to us. And next week we'll play out their place and so that was what we decided was the best thing this week on a short one, but everything's open as we discussed with Sam as we head into next week's game."
Quinn also added "we hope" that Mariota would be available to make a return heading into next week's regular season finale.
"As we're going through it, just wasn't ready to turn more for the quad than the hand as it went. I'll have a better sense for it next week but I'm hopeful for that. But I don't know exactly - it was just not able to go turn now. I think after this, it'll be three more days. As we get into Monday of next week, we'll have a better sense of okay, let's push it to make it to there."
Linebacker Nick Bellore "likely won't make it back for Thursday's game," per Quinn, while DL Daron Payne (back) and OT Laremy Tunsil (oblique) are both "unlikely." Quinn added that Brandon Coleman took Tunsil's reps in practice while Nick Allegretti and Andrew Wylie in at guard with Sam Cosmi sidelined.
Thursday will mark Washington's first-ever game on Christmas Day.