The Cincinnati Bengals enter 2026 with the addition of a familiar face to their locker room. Joe Burrow remains the starter, and the team signed veteran Josh Johnson to a one-year deal to provide depth and experience. The move comes ahead of Johnson’s 15th NFL season and 19th season of his football career.
Johnson’s return marks his third time in Cincinnati after brief stays in 2012 and 2019. This deal was reported by Adam Schefter and fits the Bengals’ immediate need for veteran insurance at the position. Johnson arrives as a cheap, experienced option for Burrow who can step in if the unexpected happens.
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Johnson’s career is one of the most circuitous in modern professional football. Since being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, he has logged 22 individual appearances for 17 professional teams and in multiple leagues, according to USA Today.
Josh’s stops include Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Cleveland, Baltimore, New York (Giants and Jets), Houston, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Oakland, Detroit, Washington, Denver and the Bengals, and he has also played for the UFL’s Sacramento Mountain Lions, the AAF’s San Diego Fleet and the XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats.
Josh Johnson agreed to a trade with the Bengals. @AdamSchefter.
This will be the QB’s third career with the Bengals and 22nd with an NFL team 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gLPc0Hr1JW
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 14, 2026
Statistically, Johnson is more trusted as a backup. He has 11 career starts in the NFL and has a 2-9 record in those games. His career totals include 2,669 passing yards, 14 touchdown passes, and 18 interceptions. He completed 58.7% of his passes for a career passing percentage of 71.1 and 6.5 yards per attempt. We also noted 481 yards of carries and two rushing touchdowns (averaging 5.1 yards per carry).
Cincinnati’s projected depth chart now features Joe Burrow, Josh Johnson, and Sean Clifford. For Burrow and the offense, Johnson provides steady hands and a veteran spirit. He is not a long-term starter. He is a reliable emergency option and a skilled locker room presence.
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