With Matthew Stafford missing the last three games with a back injury and possibly the remainder of the season, the Detroit Lions have been desperate for help at quarterback behind incumbent starter Jeff Driskel.
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Lions were interested in bringing in quarterback Josh Johnson, but were prevented from doing so by the XFL.
Johnson was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats in the 2020 XFL supplemental draft this past October. Johnson, a fifth-round pick out of the University of San Diego by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, the 6-foot-3 quarterback has personified the term “journeyman quarterback” playing for 13 NFL teams in his 11-year career.
Prior to the season, Johnson was on the Lions and was expected to be the primary backup behind Stafford, but was subsequently released by the team on September 17, as Detroit felt confident in Driskel as the team's backup.
Johnson made his first start since 2o11 in Week 15 of the 2018 season for the Washington Redskins. In four games and three starts last year, the NFL veteran completed 52 of his 91 passes (57.14 percent) for 590 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions while also adding 120 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground.
Despite going to just 1-7 in eight career starts, Johnson has over a decade of NFL experience and is by far the most experienced signal caller in the newly revived XFL.
With the XFL season scheduled to start this February, it seems the Lions will have to look elsewhere if they want to bolster the depth chart behind Driskel and rookie David Blough while Stafford is out.
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