NFL Player News

The Redskins signed Johnson to a contract Wednesday.

With Alex Smith (lower leg) out for the season and Colt McCoy (lower leg) likely facing a similar fate, Johnson will step in as the backup to Mark Sanchez ahead of Washington's game Sunday against the Giants. The 32-year-old last threw a pass in an NFL regular-season game in 2011, but his familiarity with Washington's offensive scheme from having previously worked with coach Jay Gruden should help him get up to speed quickly.

Johnson is headed to the Redskins' facility and is expected to sign a contract as early as Wednesday, Josina Anderson of ESPN reports.

Johnson was connected to the team earlier Tuesday due to his familiarity with coach Jay Gruden and should officially join the team in the near future. The 32-year-old hasn't played a regular-season snap since 2013, but the Redskins are desperate following season-ending leg injuries to Alex Smith and Colt McCoy. Johnson was drafted and signed in the Alliance of American Football draft last month but has been released from said contract and cleared to join Washington, Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports. Mark Sanchez will continue as the team's starting quarterback with Johnson set to serve as a backup.

Washington hopes to sign Johnson, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A deal on that front still requires some work to be finalized, but the team needs someone to back up Mark Sanchez, with both Colt McCoy and Alex Smith out with leg injuries. Washington considered other options, but as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes, Johnson worked with coach with Jay Gruden in Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, so the signal caller should get up to speed with his (potential) new team's offense rather quickly.

Updating a previous report, Mariota (right hand) practiced fully Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Mariota's assertions that his Week 14 status is not in jeopardy were validated by Tuesday's official injury report in advance of Thursday night's game against the Jaguars. He's put up solid fantasy numbers over his last two games, but Mariota faces a challenge this week while going up against a Jacksonville defense that dominated the Colts in a 6-0 victory in Week 13.

Though he was limited in practice Tuesday, Mariota (hand) indicated that there are no doubts about his status for Thursday's game against the Jaguars, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

We'll have to see if the QB ends up with an injury designation for the contest or is removed from the Titans' Week 14 injury report altogether come Wednesday, but based on Mariota's comments, it looks safe to roll with him as usual in fantasy lineups this week.

Coach Jay Gruden noted Tuesday that, for now, Washington will refrain from placing McCoy (fibula) on injured reserve, with the hope that the QB could return before the end of the team's season.

The team's final regular-season contest is Dec. 30, and a return before then seems unrealistic for McCoy. That said, at 6-6, Washington is in the NFC playoff hunt, and if the team qualifies for the postseason, McCoy could re-enter the team's QB mix.

McCoy underwent surgery on his fractured fibula Tuesday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Given that only four games remain on his team's 2018 slate, McCoy probably is done for the regular season. With previous starter Alex Smith (fibula) already on injured reserve, Mark Sanchez is currently the team's only healthy QB. A depth signing (or two) to address the position is therefore imminent.

McCoy underwent X-rays after exiting Monday's game against the Eagles and was diagnosed with a fractured right fibula, Lisa Salters reported on the ESPN broadcast.

As a result, McCoy's 2018 campaign is over only two weeks after No. 1 signal-caller Alex Smith (lower leg) suffered a season-ending injury of his own. Those absences leave Mark Sanchez as the only healthy quarterback on the roster, but the team will almost certainly add another option to the roster by Wednesday. The 32-year-old McCoy faces an uncertain future in the NFL in light of his age and the severity of his injury.

McCoy (lower leg) has been downgraded to out for the remainder of Monday's game against the Eagles.

McCoy will finish the game four of four for 50 yards passing. Mark Sanchez will take over under center for the rest of Monday's contest, but if McCoy is out for an extended period, it seems likely that the Redskins will scan free agency in the coming week for either a starting quarterback or a backup to Sanchez. More will be known about the severity of McCoy's lower leg injury in the near future.

McCoy is questionable to return to Monday's game against the Eagles with a right lower leg injury.

McCoy slipped awkwardly in the first quarter before taking a sack and came up limping. He worked with the training staff on the sidelines but ultimately headed to the locker room for further evaluation. Mark Sanchez will take over the Redskins offense with both McCoy and Alex Smith (leg) on the shelf.