Bengals Duke Tobin speaks at the 2026 NFL Combine
Bengals Director of player personnel Duke Tobin speaks at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
The Cincinnati Bengals have signed backup quarterback Josh Johnson.
Johnson, 39, returns to the Bengals for a third stint after spending time in Cincinnati during the 2013 and 2015 seasons. The NFL journeyman has played for seven different teams, most recently with the Washington Commanders where he played in five games.
Johnson will serve as franchise quarterback Joe Burrow’s backup. In three of Burrow’s six seasons, he’s suffered a season-ending injury. The backup quarterback job in Cincinnati is an important one for that reason.
When the Bengals lost Burrow for nine games in 2025, they saw firsthand why it’s necessary to invest in the backup quarterback role. After Jake Browning failed to play well, the Bengals traded for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, and he kept the team in the playoff race.
Flacco remains a free agent and is hoping to land with a team where he can compete for a starting job. Browning signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week and will serve as the Buccaneers’ backup quarterback.
In 10 seasons, Johnson has completed 242 passes of his 412 attempts for 2,669 yards, 14 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
