https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/the-kirk-cousins-conundrum-sizing-up-each-teams-backup-qb-at-midseason-142442818.html
Right up until Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons had appeared to hit on an unconventional, so-crazy-it-just-might-work strategy: starting a low-salary, second-year quarterback with the mega-salaried veteran as his backup. Every team is going to spend tens of millions on their quarterback room, but there’s no rule saying the majority has to go to the starter. And if that starter does go down, who better to replace him than an elite-level veteran?
Unfortunately, the experiment blew up in Atlanta’s face Sunday. Kirk Cousins, in just the second year of a four-year, $180 million contract, stepped into the starting lineup to replace an injured Michael Penix Jr. But Cousins looked ineffective and immobile, unable to guide Atlanta anywhere down the field as the Falcons got hammered by the one-win Miami Dolphins.
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The backup quarterback is a legendary NFL role. You get a headset and a clipboard, and you make a whole lot of money to stand behind the head coach, look concerned during timeouts, maybe take a couple garbage-time snaps. But backup QBs are like first responders or middle-of-an-inning relievers: You don’t call on them when things are going along smoothly. If you’re a backup QB and you’re putting on your helmet, you need to be ready to go at full speed from the first step.
Backup QBs are backups for a reason; there’s often a sharp dropoff from starter to injury replacement. Prior to the season, our Ben Fawkes ran down just how much each team’s starter is worth in terms of points against the spread … and let’s just say Baltimore and Cincinnati fans might not want to read too far down that list.
Of course, if you’re a backup QB and everything falls just right, you could play yourself right back into a starting role. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold both saw their careers spiral from starter to backup, then managed to parlay their unexpected shots into playoff-level starting performances.
So where does each team stand right now? Who’s set up a reasonable backup plan, and who’s wrapping their starting QB in bubble wrap and storing him in a hyperbaric chamber? Designations can change from week to week, of course, but here’s the current rundown of QB2s. How confident are you feeling if your team’s top dog goes down?
Caleb Williams is the starter in Chicago, but the Bears gave backup Tyson Bagent a contract extension prior to the season for a reason. (Photo by Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The uncertains: Cross your fingers and pray
Baltimore: Tyler Huntley/Cooper Rush — The Ravens are in the unfortunate position of learning about the (lack of) QB room depth early in the season. Huntley and Rush have both struggled as Baltimore has flailed without Lamar Jackson under center, though Huntley did have some success Sunday against the Bears.
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Chicago: Tyson Bagent — The ultimate “just-give-us-something-new!” backup QB. Won much love when spot-starting in place of Justin Fields; hung around to give Bears fans something to wish for when Caleb Williams struggles.
Cleveland: Shedeur Sanders — Not to wish ill on Dillon Gabriel, but there’s no backup QB in the entire NFL with more scrutiny awaiting him than Sanders. With Gabriel struggling to get the Browns offense going, it could be Sanders’ time soon. Let’s just see what happens.
Green Bay: Malik Willis — Struggled during his time in Tennessee, but then everyone else did, too. Gets the chance to draw a paycheck in the steadiest quarterback room in the league. You could do his job … well, until you had to go into the game, of course.
Indianapolis: Anthony Richardson — Or maybe Riley Leonard, based on Richardson’s injury tendencies. Either way, stay very healthy, Daniel Jones.
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New Orleans: Tyler Shough — Might actually have played his way into the starting role on Sunday. When you’re on the Saints, the ceiling for success is about a foot above the floor of failure.
Philadelphia: Tanner McKee — Is he great? Is he terrible? Who knows? But if Philadelphia keeps tush-pushing Jalen Hurts into brick walls, we’re going to find out.
The Falcons have the most expensive backup QB in the league, but Sunday Kirk Cousins didn’t play like it.(Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
(Logan Bowles via Getty Images)
The retreads: Well, at least you know what you’re getting
Atlanta: Kirk Cousins — So much for Cousins’ trade value. Worst possible scenario for everyone involved.
Buffalo: Mitchell Trubisky — Probably never as bad as his detractors claimed nor as good as the Bears hoped, Trubisky is serviceable. Of course, when you’re replacing Josh Allen, “serviceable” is still a massive dropoff.
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Denver: Jarrett Stidham — Has been in the league since 2019, has played for three teams, but never played in more than five games in a season. Those three facts combined seem to indicate he’s settled into a solid spare-tire role.
Las Vegas: Kenny Pickett — After a starting run in Pittsburgh, has settled nicely into a backup slot for Philadelphia and Las Vegas. Got a ring with one of them, too, but probably won’t with the other.
Los Angeles Rams: Jimmy Garoppolo — One of the NFL’s interesting recent what-ifs, seemed on the cusp of superstardom but now hangs out behind Matthew Stafford. Reasonably steady throughout his career, but hasn’t played much in recent years. What will happen if/when he gets the call?
Minnesota: Carson Wentz — Already drew starts in the place of the injured J.J. McCarthy, and, well … it hasn’t gone great, but it hasn’t been awful. On his fifth team in five years after leaving Philly. A true “not-bad, not-good” situation.
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New England: Josh Dobbs — The Passtronaut had a nice little starting run a couple years back with Minnesota and Arizona. Patriots can feel reasonably comfortable in case he needs to go in, just not for long.
New York Giants: Russell Wilson — A strange one because Wilson was the starter and already got benched for the backup. Also lurking in the wings: Jameis Winston. With Jaxson Dart, the weirdest QB room in NFL history.
San Francisco: Mac Jones — The backup has become the starter, going 4-2 in six fill-in starts for Brock Purdy. Easily the most successful backup on this list; is he headed for a Mayfield/Darnold career renaissance next year?
Seattle: Drew Lock — Good enough for spot starts, not good enough for Denver, Seattle (in 2023) or the Giants to keep long-term. Hey, there are worse careers.
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Washington: Marcus Mariota — Could fit into many of these categories. Former franchise savior turned journeyman, now knows the game better than most coaches. Already been deployed several times this year thanks to Jayden Daniels’ propensity for injury.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton is about as reliable a backup QB as there is in the NFL. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The reliables: Steady as she goes
Carolina: Andy Dalton — As reliable as it gets, Dalton is ready to step in at a moment’s notice, and bring 15 years of NFL experience to bear, whenever Bryce Young struggles or gets injured. Pretty much exactly what you want out of a backup — except for the three turnovers he committed — and the seven sacks he took — in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Buffalo
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Houston: Davis Mills — Now in his fifth year in Houston. The ideal of the backup QB. Won’t take you to the playoffs, but won’t be overwhelmed by the moment, either.
Kansas City: Gardner Minshew — The NFL’s Uncle Rico seemed on the verge of a Darnold/Mayfield-style breakout for awhile there. Backing up one of the league’s most durable QBs on one of the league’s best teams is a true high-reward/high-risk proposition.
Pittsburgh: Mason Rudolph — Started his Steelers career backing up Ben Roethlisberger, which seems like forever ago. As steady as you can get in this role.
The likelies: Keep that arm loose, fella
Arizona: Jacoby Brissett — The ultimate backup; has been around everywhere (six teams) and studied under Bill Belichick … back when that meant something. Given Kyler Murray’s medical history, likely to see a fair amount of action this season.
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Cincinnati: Jake Browning — Technically the Bengals are already deep in backup territory thanks to the loss of Joe Burrow early in the year. Browning couldn’t quite hack the starting role, so Cincy grabbed the Human Duct Tape that is Joe Flacco. How long will the ageless Flacco last?
Dallas: Joe Milton III — Can throw the ball out of AT&T Stadium. Uses same force on a checkdown. Dak Prescott is having a career year, which means he’s probably due for troubles soon. Sorry, Cowboys fans, but you know I’m right.
Miami: Zach Wilson — Flamed out while playing for the Jets, which honestly is probably only slightly his fault. But of all the QBs on this list, he needs to be ready to go at every single snap.
San Francisco: Adrian Martinez — Not quite sure how to slot this one here, since ostensible starter Brock Purdy continues to stand on the sidelines and supposed backup Mac Jones continues to get starts. So if we move one notch down the ladder, we get to Martinez, the former spring football star who very well could get some playing time if Jones continues to limp off the field between series.
Trey Lance was selected No. 3 overall in 2021, but has just five starts in his NFL career. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Sean M. Haffey via Getty Images)
The holdovers: Wait, he’s still in the league?
Detroit: Kyle Allen — Six teams in eight years. There’s gotta be a reason new teams keep bringing him back to the sideline, right?
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Jacksonville: Nick Mullens — Hasn’t yet seen action this season. But will be the source of a thousand “Hang on, he’s on the Jags?” sports-bar musings when he does get into a game.
L.A. Chargers: Trey Lance — What if this guy was the greatest quarterback ever and nobody ever let him cook long enough to find out? I mean, probably not, but what if?
New York Jets: Tyrod Taylor — Or maybe Justin Fields. Nobody knows quite what the QB situation is from week to week for the Jets, which is only one of their many problems.
Tampa Bay: Teddy Bridgewater — Now on his seventh team in 11 years. Anybody can start a bunch of seasons for one team, but Bridgewater has started at least 14 games in a season for three different teams. That’s something, right?
Tennessee: Brandon Allen — Like Mullens, hasn’t thrown a pass all year. Given how Tennessee is playing, he may be in some sort of QB witness protection program.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/the-kirk-cousins-conundrum-sizing-up-each-teams-backup-qb-at-midseason-142442818.html
