Sam Hartman and Josh Johnson competed for Washington's third-string quarterback role throughout the preseason but failed to distinguish themselves, as neither flourished. Jayden Daniels played only one series and attempted no passes in three preseason games, while Marcus Mariota missed all contests. The Commanders scored 38 total points across three double-digit losses. Daniels projects as the starter and Mariota as a high-quality backup, making a permanent third quarterback on the 53-man roster unnecessary. Washington should release Hartman and Johnson, then add a more suitable emergency quarterback to the practice squad after final cuts so they can learn Kliff Kingsbury's playbook if needed.
The only reason why either Johnson or Hartman would see the field during the regular season is if Daniels and Mariota are both unavailable. It's understandable for a team to carry a third quarterback when they don't have stability with their top two options. That's not the case for Washington. Daniels is a budding superstar, and Mariota is one of the league's highest-quality backups.
In the scenario that either Daniels or Mariota is unavailable for some games, Washington would have to sign a third quarterback as a backup. By then, there will likely be many better options available once everyone else makes their cuts. What the Commanders should do here is simple. They must release both Johnson and Hartman. Once cuts are complete, the Commanders can find someone else to join the practice squad. That way, they'll be familiar enough with Kliff Kingsbury's playbook if they're called up at some point during the campaign.
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