BREAKING: Commanders hand Christmas Day start to Josh Johnson
The Washington Commanders are turning to a seasoned hand on the biggest stage of their season. I have confirmed the team has named Josh Johnson the starting quarterback for Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day. The veteran steps in for a high-pressure divisional game that will shape the final weeks and the locker room’s outlook.
This is not a cameo. It is a clear reset at the game’s most important spot. In a year of hard choices, Washington is betting on experience, quick decisions, and calm under fire.
Josh Johnson will start at quarterback for Washington on Christmas Day against Dallas.
Johnson has walked into chaos before and delivered poise. He started late-season games for Washington in a previous run and has logged years as a trusted backup across the league. He knows how to get a huddle settled, get the ball out, and keep the chains moving. That matters against Dallas, a defense that punishes hesitation.
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Why Washington turned to Johnson
This move signals three priorities. First, protect the football. Second, get the offense on schedule. Third, evaluate the roster without risking more wear on banged-up starters. A short week and a holiday spotlight only raise the stakes. Coaches want a quarterback who can master Tuesday’s install by Wednesday’s walkthrough. Johnson has made a career out of exactly that.
He is not a big-armed gambler. He is a rhythm passer with enough mobility to escape, enough savvy to change protections, and the toughness to stand in against free runners. That profile fits a plan built on quick-game timing, screens, and play action. It also helps stabilize a pass protection unit that has been tested.
This decision also sends a message to the locker room. Every snap still matters. Veterans see the staff choosing the most dependable option for this moment, not just a long-range experiment. That can steady a team that has been searching for a clean, complete game.
The matchup: Johnson vs a fast Dallas front
Dallas brings speed at every level. The Cowboys win with rush and rally. They chase from the backside, close windows in zone, and turn mistakes into points. Micah Parsons sets the tone with burst and bend, and the rest of the front feeds off his chaos. For Washington, the antidote is timing, misdirection, and decisive throws to first reads.
Expect a plan that moves the pocket, layers quick routes, and asks Johnson to read half the field. Tight end chips on the edge, backs releasing late, and receivers winning on slants and crossers will be key. Johnson’s eyes must be calm and fast. Throw it on time or throw it away. Live for third and three, not third and thirteen.
Dallas thrives on negative plays. Avoid sacks, avoid strip attempts, and finish drives with kicks.
What the Commanders will ask him to do
- Set protections and beat the blitz with hot throws
- Lean on play action, boots, and sprint outs to slow the rush
- Feed the backs and tight ends to stay on schedule
- Take selective deep shots off max protection
Washington’s receivers can help him. Win early off the line, finish through contact, and convert contested catches. The running backs must protect first, then punish light boxes. If the offense stacks four and five yard gains, the explosive plays will come.
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Short term stakes and long term messages
Short term, the goal is simple. Play clean, play complementary, and give the defense a chance to rush Dak Prescott with a lead. A steady first quarter would change the entire feel of this game. Crowd energy, clock control, and field position all tilt off that opening stretch.
Long term, this start updates the depth chart. Johnson becomes more than an emergency plan. He becomes proof of concept for the system. If the offense stabilizes with him, coaches can isolate what is scheme, what is personnel, and what is quarterback dependent. That helps drive offseason choices at receiver, on the interior line, and in the quarterback room.
There is also value in showing the locker room that performance earns opportunities. Young quarterbacks take notes. So do veterans who grind on special teams. Washington is putting a trusted pro under center and asking the rest of the roster to match his standard.
Early tempo, safe throws, and a heavy dose of play action can keep Dallas on its heels.
Washington wanted clarity, not chaos, on Christmas. Josh Johnson gives them that. He is steady, he is prepared, and he understands how to navigate a defense that hunts mistakes. The Cowboys will test every snap. The margin will be thin. But Washington believes the veteran’s calm can carry the moment. A clean game gives the Commanders a real shot to spoil a rival’s holiday and reshape the final week of their season. 🏈
