Matt Piper gave the visitors the lead at Ewood Park on 32 minutes but Johnson equalised for Rovers just before half time.
Daryl Murphy then gave Sunderland a second half lead but Joel Byram scored from a 25-yard free kick to earn Rovers a point.
Final score 2-2.
Blackburn: Lee, Taylor, Harkins, Nolan, Gray, Welch, Flitcroft (Thomson, h/t), Byrom, Peter (Treacy, 80), Dickov (Barker, 25), Johnson. Subs: Drench, Stopforth.
Daryl Murphy then gave Sunderland a second half lead but Joel Byram scored from a 25-yard free kick to earn Rovers a point.
Final score 2-2.
Blackburn: Lee, Taylor, Harkins, Nolan, Gray, Welch, Flitcroft (Thomson, h/t), Byrom, Peter (Treacy, 80), Dickov (Barker, 25), Johnson. Subs: Drench, Stopforth.
Sunderland: Alnwick, Taylor, Caldwell, D Collins, (Christensen, 68), D Smith, Lawrence, Robinson, Woods, Welsh, Piper, Gray (D Murphy, h/t). Subs: J Murphy, Martin, Graham.