Johnson (elbow) will undergo his third Tommy John surgery and attempt to make a comeback, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

It's an unfortunate outcome for Johnson, who left a rehab appearance Sept. 5 due to discomfort. It's not as difficult to come back from a single Tommy John surgery as it used to be, but returning from a third is uncharted territory. The news will end his 2015 season, and will likely keep him out through 2016 as well.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Josh Johnson will undergo a third Tommy John surgery and attempt to make a comeback, according to CBS Sports.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Josh Johnson will undergo a third Tommy John surgery and attempt to make a comeback, according to CBS Sports. Johnson, who has not pitched since the 2013 season when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays, appeared to be closing in on a return, but he felt discomfort in his elbow during his last rehab appearance Sept 5. The injury will likely keep him out through all of the 2016 season, though Johnson is apparently planning on continuing his comeback to the majors. He broke in with the Florida Marlins back in 2005, and he spent eight seasons with the organization before being part of the trade that sent shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Mark Buehrle to Toronto. He struggled in his single season with the Blue Jays, going 2-8 with a 6.20 ERA in 81.1 innings.

Johnson felt discomfort in his elbow and forearm during his rehab appearance with High-A Lake Elsinore on Friday, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Making his first appearance in a game in close to two years, Johnson gave up a single to the first batter he faced Friday and was then forced to leave the game. He will head to San Diego to meet with doctors, but a return to the Padres this season is in doubt in light of his latest setback with the elbow.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson felt discomfort in his elbow and forearm during his rehab outing with High-A Elsinore on Friday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson felt discomfort in his elbow and forearm during his rehab outing with High-A Elsinore on Friday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The outing was potentially going to be Johnson's last hurdle after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career last April, but it now appears his return to the major leagues will be put on hold, as he will head back to San Diego to visit doctors. Johnson, who has not pitched in a major league game since August 2013 as a result of injuries, said he was doing everything he could to pitch out of the bullpen in the final month of the season. "It'd mean everything," Johnson said. "Just being here, showing up every day, working hard, it'd help make that a little bit easier to go through. It's been a tough road. Things happen for a reason – I don't know why right now – but it's all part of it."

Johnson (elbow) left his rehab appearance with High-A Lake Elsinore on Friday after facing just one batter, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Johnson's return to active competition after nearly two years away from the game was short-lived, as he gave up a leadoff single and promptly left the game. The right-hander has already had several setbacks in his recovery from a second Tommy John surgery.

Johnson (elbow) will pitch one inning for High-A Lake Elsinore on Friday.

His recovery from Tommy John surgery No. 2 has, predictably, been a slow one, as several setbacks have kept him off the mound entirely to this point in the season. Johnson will finally pitch for an affiliate Friday, and it seems the Padres may look to get him on the major league roster at some point in the final month, but it's impossible to know what he'll bring to the table after nearly two years away from the game.

Johnson (elbow) will throw a simulated game during the Padres' impending road trip, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Johnson has already completed two bullpen sessions without incident in his return from a second career Tommy John surgery. The 31-year-old continues to set his sights on making his first appearance with the Padres in a relief role at some point during September.

Johnson (elbow) is set to increase his throwing distance Sunday from 120 feet to 180 feet, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Johnson is still probably a week or more away from throwing off a mound, which will probably prevent him from joining the Padres until at least September. The oft-injured right-hander is aiming to prepare for a relief role in order to speed up his return timetable.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson will throw from 180 feet Sunday as part of his recovery from an elbow injury, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson will throw from 180 feet Sunday as part of his recovery from an elbow injury, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Johnson has yet to throw a pitch for the Padres after signing with the team in January, but he could join the big club in September if he can complete a rehab assignment free of setbacks. “We're always hopeful,” assistant general manager Fred Uhlman Jr. said. “He’s just starting to ramp up, so we can't answer that until he gets back up on a mound.” Johnson has started all but two games he has appeared in over his major league career, but it seems as though he will be worked out as a reliever in order to hasten his return. “I like starting,” Johnson said. “But whatever I can do to help the team.”

Johnson (elbow) is preparing to rejoin the Padres in a relief role as he works his way through the rehab process, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Johnson resumed playing catch from 60 feet over the weekend, after a setback earlier this season further delayed his return from a second Tommy John operation. With Johnson having yet to pitch in a competitive setting since 2013 with the Blue Jays, at this point, it appears the 31-year-old just wants to get back on the mound in some capacity, and relieving won't require as arduous of a rehabilitation. Johnson is expected to steadily increase his catching distance in the coming days and remains hopeful that he'll be healthy enough to join the big club by September.

Johnson (elbow) is expected to begin throwing again later this week, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.

Johnson's rehab program was temporarily tabled in mid-June after he experienced a tingling sensation in his fingers during a simulated game, but after an MRI showed nothing overly concerning, the right-hander will resume activities after a month-long rest. The 2015 outlook still appears fairly bleak for Johnson as he works his way back from his second Tommy John surgery, with an activation by the Padres when rosters expand in September probably representing his best possible outcome.

Johnson (elbow) indicated that his MRI results were inconclusive due to the scar tissue from his earlier Tommy John surgery, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. He began strength exercises again Sunday.

Johnson continues to work his way back from his second Tommy John surgery, but it's a slow process that could threaten to end his career if not done cautiously. The veteran hurler hasn't pitched in a game since 2013, but will continue rehabbing with the hopes of joining the Padres' rotation at some point this season.

Johnson's MRI will not be read until Monday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The right-hander remains in limbo after being limited to just three pitches in a simulated game Monday, with the team having to wait to have the MRI results analyzed. Johnson, who is working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery, experienced tingling in his fingers during the sim game.

Johnson (elbow) will undergo testing Wednesday after being limited to just three pitches in a simulated game Monday, Jeff Sanders of the Union-Tribune reports.

This is concerning new for Johnson, who is trying to make a comeback from his second career Tommy John surgery. Sanders reported that Johnson's fingers were tingling during the simulated game, which forced him from the outing. Johnson's status should become more clear following Wednesday's testing.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson will undergo testing Wednesday after leaving a simulated game Monday because he experienced tingling in his fingers, according to San Diego Union-Tribune.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson will undergo testing Wednesday after leaving a simulated game Monday because he experienced tingling in his fingers, according to San Diego Union-Tribune. Johnson was attempting to restart his recovery from Tommy John surgery after being shut down due to soreness in late May, but he was able to throw just three pitches before having to cut his appearance short. He said after his last setback that he understands that he will have to be patient as he attempts to recover from the second Tommy John surgery of his career. "I just want to make sure and take it a little bit slower," Johnson said. "I said that from the beginning and it went so well that it’s kind of hard to do, is to take it slower than what it was. I might as well just continue to be patient, knowing that it’s still a long road."

Johnson (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday and has a simulated game scheduled for Monday, the Union-Tribune's Jeff Sanders reports.

Following the sim game there should be more information about how close Johnson is to going on a rehab assignment. If Johnson can make it all the way back to The Show he could challenge Odrisamer Despaigne for the No. 5 starter spot.

Johnson (elbow) hopes to resume playing catch later this week, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Johnson was forced to skip a scheduled throwing session over the weekend after emerging from his last bullpen with what he described as "general soreness." It's a step back in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but the right-hander seems convinced it will be a relatively small one.

Johnson (elbow) experienced some soreness after his bullpen session Tuesday, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The Padres opted to cancel Johnson's scheduled throwing session Saturday, but the extent of this setback is uncertain. Johnson, who was transferred to the 60-day DL on Saturday, felt some soreness after a simulated game earlier this month as well.

Johnson (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day DL on Saturday.

This is merely a procedural move to free up a 40-man roster spot, as Johnson has missed close to 60 days already. Johnson, who is working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery, experienced a bit of setback earlier this month but could throw a simulated game at some point next week.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Saturday while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

San Diego Padres pitcher Josh Johnson was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Saturday while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Johnson said he felt good after throwing a 32-pitch bullpen session last week, but he does not have a timetable for return while rehabbing his second Tommy John surgery. The outing was the first time Johnson had been on the mound since experiencing tightness in his triceps during a simulated game in late April, but he said he does not feel he suffered a setback. “Not really a setback," he told the San Diego Union-Tribune after his most recent session. "I just kind of went after it a little too much. ... Maybe just a little too much bulk and facing hitters for the first time facing hitters the adrenaline’s going, so you’re going to put a little more into it.” Johnson could throw a simulated game next week.