Unless one is employed by — or is a fan of — the Washington Redskins next opponent, the Tennessee Titans, it’s difficult not to root for Redskins quarterback Josh Johnson. Confident, thoughtful, athletic and unabashedly grateful for his current opportunity; the 32-year-old exudes passion. So far, has shown that despite his NFL journeyman status, he might have the skills to be successful in the NFL. It is the hope of Redskins Nation that those skills will be on full display during the team’s Week 16 game against the Titans.
Watching Johnson during the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week and listening to him during his press conferences, one might easily believe that he is ready to do whatever is required to win for his new team.
Granted, he has only played a portion of one game for Washington and started one another but he did his part enough in his start against the Jacksonville Jaguars that the Redskins won the game. He got the ball out of his hands quickly and to the playmakers most of the time, he used his athleticism and mobility when he needed to and he protected the ball. And he did these things after being in Washington less than two weeks and after not playing in an NFL game since 2012.
Johnson protecting the football is a big deal. Not only does it drive coach Jay Gruden nuts when players don’t do it, the last snap Johnson took on an NFL field before coming to the DMV resulted in a turnover.
In 2012, the Cleveland Browns signed Johnson after their current starting QB, Thad Lewis was injured in Week 17 in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnson took a snap in relief of Lewis but it resulted in a sack for a fumble. He didn’t stay in Cleveland very long.
Football protection is as important to the Redskins new quarterback as it is to his coach. He knows it’s the best way for him to remain a professional quarterback.
“When you don’t turn the ball over, you’re on the grass,” Johnson said after practice. “You turn the ball over and you come sit on the bench like you all are sitting down right now. We want to be on the field. We want to be on the field, we want to be running plays, we want to be seeing how the defenses are attacking us because the more we’re out, there the more we get a feel for what’s going on and you get in a rhythm. When you turn the ball over, there is no rhythm. You’re off the field, you’re sitting there watching and you become a spectator. We’re not here to be spectators we’re here to be football players so we want to be on the field.”