Washington Redskins: Josh Johnson receives huge opportunity in lost season

Josh Johnson is the fourth quarterback to play in the 2018 season for the Washington Redskins as he relieved Mark Sanchez in Week 14.

The Washington Redskins’ losing streak stretched to four games after last week’s home debacle against the New York Giants. The Redskins weren’t just bad — they were historically bad. Down 34-0 at halftime, it took a late rally from recently signed journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson to rally the offense and get some points on the board and make the final score look a bit more respectable.

Sadly for Washington, there was nothing good about that performance. Not one thing.

Mark Sanchez was signed after Alex Smith went down for the season with a devastating leg injury. As he was getting up to speed, backup Colt McCoy was injured in just his second start. Suddenly, Sanchez was the man.

Predictably, it didn’t go well. However, that’s not entirely the fault of Sanchez. He looked spry in the pocket early, evading the rush and put the ball in the hands of his receivers on four different occasions. It resulted in four drops. Then, deep in his own territory, Sanchez was picked off on an RPO and the Giants easily returned it for the game’s first points.

After that, Sanchez looked directly into the rush and was sacked five times. There was no hope for this beleaguered offense. Backup tackle Ty Nsekhe was rushed into duty at guard, while another street free agent flanked him at the other guard position.

Due to that, the offense could not run the ball, despite the best efforts of Adrian Peterson.

Now, at 6-7 and still in the playoff chase, Washington’s fortunes are in the hands of a quarterback who hadn’t thrown an NFL pass since 2011. Let’s be honest, the Redskins are only mathematically still alive in the playoff race at this point because the NFC has been a massive disappointment.

Johnson gives this offense somewhat of a pulse in the sense that he can scramble around a bit. And, unlike Sanchez, Johnson wasn’t seeing the rush.

With games against Jacksonville, Tennessee and the Eagles to finish out the season, Johnson is playing for his NFL future. If he shows the same type of ability he displayed late against the Giants, he could battle for a backup spot somewhere in the NFL in 2019. Just don’t expect any miracles this season. Injuries have decimated this offense. But for a player like Johnson, it’s an opportunity and one he appears poised to take advantage of.

Johnson shouldn’t be the only player playing for his NFL future. Several current players have three weeks to show they belong in the NFL, too. And if recent performances are any indication, there could be numerous current Redskins looking for employment come March.