Bengals Sign Veteran QB Josh Johnson

40-year-old quarterback returns to Cincinnati for third stint with the team.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:49am

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The Cincinnati Bengals have signed veteran quarterback Josh Johnson to a contract, bringing him back to the team for a third time. Johnson, who will turn 40 in mid-May, is not yet ready to retire from the NFL and will look to serve as the backup to starting QB Joe Burrow on the Bengals' roster.

Why it matters

With the departure of Jake Browning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bengals needed to add depth at the quarterback position behind Burrow. Johnson's experience and familiarity with the team make him a logical choice to fill that backup role.

The details

Johnson has spent time with 14 different NFL teams over his lengthy career, including two previous stints with the Bengals. He will now compete with Sean Clifford, the only other quarterback currently signed to the Bengals' roster, for the backup job behind Burrow.

  • Johnson will turn 40 years old in mid-May 2026.
  • The Bengals signed Johnson to a contract on March 15, 2026.

The players

Josh Johnson

A 40-year-old veteran quarterback who has spent time with 14 different NFL teams, including two previous stints with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Joe Burrow

The starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sean Clifford

The only other quarterback currently signed to the Cincinnati Bengals' roster.

Jake Browning

The former backup quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, who has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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What’s next

The Bengals will evaluate Johnson and Clifford throughout the offseason to determine who will serve as the primary backup to Joe Burrow for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Bengals are bringing back a familiar face in Josh Johnson to provide veteran depth and experience at the quarterback position behind their star starter Joe Burrow, as they look to build on their recent success and make another playoff push.