Sources confirm that the New York Jets have released Veteran Quarterback Josh Johnson as NFL teams start paring down their rosters to 53. Josh Johnson finds himself in a familiar position. On the outside, looking in. One that he has experienced several times in his career.
Despite a stellar performance in the Jets final preseason game this past Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Josh Johnson started a game where he led the team to two scoring drives, going 7/8 for 73 yards and touchdown. The Jets have opted to part ways with him for now. It was a performance where Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh went out of his way to praise Josh Johnson for not only his readiness to play, which Johnson found out about before the game. Saleh also talked about how you would never guess that Johnson was in his mid 30’s based on his elite physical traits.
NFL teams will be putting together their 16-player practice squads in the next couple of days. So the Jets may opt to sign Johnson to their reserve roster for insurance purposes. A year ago, Josh Johnson had a similar role on the 49ers’ practice squad.
As of press time, the New York Jets have three quarterbacks on their roster who have never thrown an NFL pass in Zach Wilson, Mike White, and James Morgan. So depending on what the Jets brass does, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Johnson could be on Gang Green’s shortlist, during the season, even if he isn’t immediately signed to their practice squad.
The 35-year-old journeyman signed on with the Jets back on August 4th. Johnson spent the 2020 NFL season with the San Francisco 49ers. Before that, Josh Johnson was a standout performer in the XFL for the Los Angeles Wildcats. In the XFL, Johnson was the highest-graded quarterback in the league by Pro Football Focus.
Upon signing with the Jets early in August, The well-traveled Josh Johnson began his 19th stint with a pro football team since being drafted in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008.
Josh Johnson, the former University of San Diego star and Oakland native, is one of the longest-tenured NFL quarterbacks from his draft class. Only Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, and Chad Henne remain in the league.
Something tells me that the journeyman’s journey is not over yet. As evidenced by his performance last week, Josh Johnson is ready to play at a high level when called upon. It’s become his calling card and rallying cry until the next team calls him again.
I am a pro football writer who has extensively covered and reported on multiple leagues over the years. I started covering the XFL back in 2001. You can follow me on Twitter @byMikeMitchell
