Overcast. High around 60F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..
Tonight
Windy with evening showers evolving to a steady, soaking rain overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 54F. Winds S at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Commanders turn to 39-year-old Josh Johnson on Christmas with Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota hurt
With Jayden Daniels shut down for the regular season because of an elbow injury and backup Marcus Mariota sidelined, the Washington Commanders will start Josh Johnson against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders will start 39-year-old Josh Johnson at quarterback for their Christmas Day home game against the Dallas Cowboys, coach Dan Quinn announced Wednesday.
Washington shut down Jayden Daniels for the final four games of his injury-plagued second season following an aggravation of a previously dislocated left elbow. His replacement, Marcus Mariota, suffered a quad injury and required stitches in his throwing hand during Washington’s 29-18 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend.
The QB changes epitomize Washington’s troubled follow-up campaign after finishing 12-5 and reaching the NFC championship game last season. The Commanders, 4-11, have lost nine of their last 10 games. That includes a 44-22 setback in Dallas (6-8-1) on Oct. 19. Both teams are eliminated from postseason contention.
The Commanders are likely to be without left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique) for a second consecutive game, defensive tackle Daron Payne (back) and linebacker Nick Bellore (concussion).
Daniels, the 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, started seven games but left three early because of injuries. Mariota has eight starts and 11 appearances.
Recommended for you
Washington this week signed QB Jeff Driskel off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad to back up Johnson and is expected to sign Sam Hartman off its own practice squad as the emergency third QB. The Commanders also placed starting right guard Sam Cosmi (concussion) and rookie punt returner Jaylin Lane (ankle) on injured reserve.
Johnson, the NFL record holder for most teams played with 14, will make his 10th career start and first since playing for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. He completed 5 of 9 pass attempts for 43 yards with an interception after replacing Mariota against the Eagles.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.