40-year-old journeyman QB Josh Johnson leads Bengals to 27-9 preseason victory over Bears

CINCINNATI — With Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco and the rest of Cincinnati's starters and key backups watching in street clothes, 40-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson led the Bengals to a 27-9 preseason victory over the Chicago Bears on Saturday night.

After directing a 14-play, 67-yard drive against Chicago’s starting defense to open the game, Johnson threw a pair of touchdown passes late in the second quarter to give the Bengals (2-0) an 11-point lead and ending his night.

Johnson went 15 of 23 for 156 yards with touchdown passes of 17 yards to rookie wide receiver Colbie Young and 6 to veteran tight end Tanner Hudson, the latter coming with 23 seconds left in the first half.

Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of the Bears' starters made their preseason debuts in cameo fashion, playing just the opening series.

Williams was 2 of 5 for 28 yards, with all three incompletions coming after Chicago (1-1) drove into the red zone only to have a holding penalty set up first-and-20 at the Bengals 27.

After the back-to-back-to-back incompletions — the second of which was off target to a wide-open Colston Loveland inside the 10 — Cairo Santos kicked a 45-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Santos added field goals of 26 and 44 yards but missed from 53. Cincinnati's Evan McPherson hit from 58 and 25 yards.

Case Keenum replaced Williams and played until halftime, going 9 of 17 for 119 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Cincinnati first-year receiver Dohnte Meyers, a Canadian Football League import, continued to make an impressive case for a spot on the 53-man roster with five catches for 41 yards, a 9-yard rush, kick returns of 29 and 25 yards and punt returns of 25 and 9 yards.

Sean Clifford replaced Johnson in the second half and immediately led a scoring drive, hitting rookie wide receiver Noah Thomas for a 20-yard touchdown that upped the Bengals’ lead to 24-9.

It's the first time since coach Zac Taylor was hired in 2019 that the Bengals have won more than one preseason game.

Injuries

Bears: LB Nephi Sewell was carted off late in the first half. Nearly all of the Bears players circled the cart to wish him well before he was taken into the locker room.

Bengals: LB Joe Giles-Harris was evaluated for a concussion.

Up next

Bears: Play their final preseason game at Tennessee next Saturday.