Lock Steve Borthwick will retain the England captaincy for their opening Six Nations rugby game against Wales early next month.
Borthwick has been Johnson's regular captain since he took over in 2008 but the big forward has been criticised in some sections of the media as the team struggled for form and results.
Johnson, who captained England to their World Cup success in 2003, has always played down the captaincy role and said that he will choose his captain on a game-by-game basis.
He has been a staunch defender of the Saracens man, though limited his comment to a simple statement that he would captain the team against Wales at Twickenham.
The England squad are in Portugal for a week's training camp where the players are being medically assessed.
