The Washington Commanders will turn to their third starting quarterback of the season on Christmas Day, as veteran journeyman Josh Johnson gets the nod against the Dallas Cowboys. It’s the latest twist in a season that’s been defined as much by attrition as by on-field performance. Behind Johnson will be Jeff Driskel, who rejoined the team on Monday, and rookie Sam Hartman, elevated from the practice squad as the emergency third quarterback.
It’s a quarterback carousel that keeps spinning, largely out of necessity. Marcus Mariota, who had stepped in for Jayden Daniels after the rookie was shut down for the season, suffered a pair of injuries in last week’s loss to the Eagles - a right-hand gash that required six stitches and a quad injury.
He didn’t practice this week and has been ruled out for Thursday’s divisional matchup. Head coach Dan Quinn hasn’t closed the door on Mariota returning for the season finale in Philadelphia on January 4, but that’s still up in the air.
For now, the Commanders are leaning on Johnson, who’s played for nearly half the league over his NFL career and brings a wealth of experience, if not recent reps. It’s not an ideal situation, especially going into a game against a Dallas defense that thrives on pressure and turnovers, but it’s the hand Washington has been dealt.
And the quarterback position isn’t the only one hit by injuries. Linebacker Nick Bellore is also out due to a concussion, and the offensive line continues to shuffle.
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is trending toward being ruled out with an oblique injury, and defensive tackle Daron Payne is dealing with a back issue that could sideline him as well. Brandon Coleman is expected to start at left tackle again in Tunsil’s absence.
On the interior line, the Commanders are patching things together after losing right guard Sam Cosmi to a concussion. He was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, and the team is planning a rotation at the position with Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti splitting reps.
It’s been that kind of year for Washington - a team that’s seen 30 different players miss a combined 139 games due to injury, and that number will only grow after Thursday. The roster has been in a constant state of flux, and while Dan Quinn and his staff continue to preach next-man-up, the reality is that the Commanders are limping to the finish line.
Still, there’s pride on the line. A divisional game on a national stage offers a chance for players like Johnson, Coleman, and others to show what they can do.
For some, it’s an audition for 2026. For others, it’s about finishing strong in a season that’s tested this team’s depth and resilience at every turn.