Ravens sign veteran QB Josh Johnson to compete for backup role

Josh Johnson is returning to Baltimore. The 37-year-old free agent quarterback has signed with the Ravens, the team announced Monday. Johnson has played for an NFL-record 14 teams and this marks his third stint with Baltimore.

A fifth-round pick out of San Diego by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, he played for the Ravens in 2021 and was on the roster during the 2016 offseason before being released that September.

He also gives the Ravens a veteran presence in their quarterback room and will compete with Tyler Huntley, Anthony Brown and undrafted free agent Nolan Henderson for a backup role behind Lamar Jackson, who earlier this month signed a five-year extension worth a reported $260 million.

Johnson has started nine games in his NFL career, though teams were just 1-8 with him at the helm.

One of those starts was with the Ravens two years ago. After Baltimore signed him from the New York Jets’ practice squad that December, Johnson started in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, with Jackson out with an ankle injury and Huntley having tested positive for COVID-19. He completed 28 of 40 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, but the Ravens lost, 41-21.

Johnson spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers.

Other teams he has played for after spending his first three seasons in Tampa include the Sacramento Mountain Cats of the United Football League, Cleveland Browns, Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Washington, San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL and Denver Broncos.

Also on Monday, NFL owners approved a proposal allowing teams to designate one emergency third quarterback from its 53-man roster when inactive lists are announced before kickoff. This will allow a quarterback to be activated during a game if a team’s first two quarterbacks are unable to continue playing because of injury or disqualification. The emergency quarterback will not be allowed to be activated if a coach benches a quarterback, however.

In another roster move, the Ravens waived outside linebacker Daelin Hayes, a 2021 fifth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame. He injured his knee in his debut and played four total snaps in parts of two seasons with Baltimore.