Following a challenging performance against the Eagles, Josh Johnson delivered a flawless performance against the Atlanta Falcons. The 37-year-old quarterback played most of the first half, completing all 11 of his passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens’ 13-12 victory at M&T Bank Stadium during their second preseason game.
This strong showing was a significant improvement from last week and demonstrated why the Ravens have confidence in him as their 2024 backup.
“Josh played really well,” said Head Coach John Harbaugh. “He did a great job.”
Johnson struggled to advance the ball against Philadelphia but made several key plays on Saturday. He connected with veteran receiver Keith Kirkwood for a 26-yard gain along the left sideline and followed up with a 31-yard completion to Tylan Wallace, setting up a first-and-goal from the five. His final pass found running back Owen Wright in the flat, leading to a touchdown.
“It feels good to execute,” Johnson said after the game. “We focused on execution this week, paying attention to timing, route details, and quarterback mechanics. We translated our practice work to the field, and I felt good about that.”
The offense had a minor setback when center Ben Cleveland’s errant snap led to a turnover, but the Ravens quickly regained their momentum. “We know what we’re capable of, but consistency is key,” Johnson said. “When you make mistakes, you focus on making the necessary adjustments and get back to what you need to do.”
After a less-than-ideal debut where Johnson went 4-of-12, there were discussions about bringing in another veteran backup. However, Harbaugh and Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken remained supportive of Johnson. His performance against Atlanta reaffirmed their belief in his ability to manage the offense effectively if needed during the regular season.
“I was frustrated last week,” Johnson, who has played for 14 teams throughout his career, admitted. “I expect more from myself and this offense. We needed to improve as a unit, and I felt we made progress. We faced a tough day, but we moved on and improved. Now, we need to keep building.”