Quarterback Josh Johnson Signs with 13th NFL Team
Veteran quarterback Josh Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions to compete for the backup quarterback role behind starter Matthew Stafford.
The 33-year old quarterback last season played with the Washington Redskins. During the season, he started three games completing 52 passes for 590 yards, 3 TDs and 4 interceptions.
Johnson was drafted in 2008 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round and has bounced around the NFL throughout his playing career. Signing with Detroit marks the 13th different NFL team Johnson has played for.
Johnson’s playing career includes playing in 33 NFL games with eight starts. The quarterback’s career statistics are 148 completions for 1,632 yards, 8 TDs and 14 interceptions.
While with Tampa Bay, Johnson saw his most significant playing time when he started five games and appeared in 26. Tampa Bay did not win any of Johnson’s five starts. Johnson did not win an NFL game until last season while with the Redskins.
The Lions needed another quarterback in camp after Tom Savage went down with an undisclosed injury Thursday night when Detroit lost to New England 31-3. Savage was expected to back up Stafford, but was put on concussion protocol, said Lions coach Matt Patricia on Saturday.
In 2016, 2017 and now 2019, Savage spent time in concussion protocol. During 2017, his concussion was looked at by the league after protocol protections came under question following the hit that put him on injured reserve.
After it became clear there was no exact timetable for his return to the Lions, Detroit needed to sign another quarterback as only Stafford and David Fales were in camp.
Johnson is familiar with Sean Ryan the quarterback coach with the Lions from a brief period the two were both in Houston when Johnson played for the Texans in 2017.
