The Cincinnati Bengals released veteran quarterback Josh Johnson on Sunday as they trimmed their roster to 53 players ahead of the 2026 regular season.
The move ends Johnson’s third stint with the franchise and leaves Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco as the primary quarterbacks on the active roster, with Sean Clifford still in the mix for the third-string role.
Johnson signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Cincinnati in March after spending the 2025 season with the Washington Commanders. The Bengals brought him in as insurance while Flacco’s future remained unsettled. Once Flacco re-signed, Johnson slipped to No. 3 on the depth chart.
He had a solid preseason, completing 37 of 61 passes for 396 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Head coach Zac Taylor praised his professionalism, calling him “such a pro” who brought urgency to every practice and meeting. Even so, the numbers game at the deadline left no room.
Johnson, who turns 40 this year, has been in the NFL since 2009. Tampa Bay selected him in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of the University of San Diego.
He first appeared in a regular-season game the following year and has since become one of the league’s most traveled quarterbacks, suiting up for 14 different NFL teams. He has also played in the UFL, AAF and XFL.
Career regular-season totals stand at 50 games and 11 starts, with 2,669 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Last season in Washington he appeared in five games, made two starts, completed 63 percent of his throws for 372 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and added a rushing score.
This is not Johnson’s first departure from Cincinnati. He backed up Andy Dalton in 2013 without attempting a pass and was cut again in 2015 after training camp.
The latest release does not necessarily close the door. As a vested veteran he is not subject to waivers and can sign immediately with another club.
Several reports suggest the Bengals could add him to their practice squad as early as Monday, a common landing spot for a player of his experience.
For a quarterback who has spent nearly two decades bouncing from roster to roster, Sunday’s cut is familiar territory. Johnson has built a career on being ready when called, whether for a handful of snaps or an unexpected start.
With Week 1 less than two weeks away, another team needing veteran insurance at the position may give him that chance once more.
The Bengals, meanwhile, move forward with Burrow as the clear starter and Flacco as the primary backup, a pairing they believe gives them the best chance to compete in the AFC North.
