National Football League

QB Josh Johnson playing again for his college coach, Harbaugh

Published May. 14, 2014 8:54 p.m. ET

foxsports

Quarterback Josh Johnson has returned to the San Francisco 49ers and his former college coach, Jim Harbaugh.

Johnson was cut by the 49ers before the 2012 season, then rejoined them Wednesday after being cut two days earlier by Cincinnati.

Harbaugh took a chance on the undersized Johnson at the University of San Diego, developing the 5-foot-11, 145-pound Oakland Tech prep star into a record-setting college QB. But current starter Colin Kaepernick emerged as the steady backup to Alex Smith going into 2012, and Scott Tolzien earned the No. 3 spot that year.

The 49ers traded for Blaine Gabbert in March, so he and Johnson could compete for the No. 2 job.

Also Wednesday, San Francisco released defensive tackle Christian Tupou and signed fifth-round draft pick cornerback Keith Reaser to a four-year deal.