Grading the NFL’s emergency QBs: Assessing all six backups currently replacing injured starters

Quarterbacks are the driving force of the NFL, but literally a dozen of the league’s regular starters could be missing from action when Week 14 gets underway. Injuries have rocked the lineups of several contenders, including the Bengals and Jets, and just this week alone, three other teams with playoff aspirations could turn to backups out of necessity.

How, exactly, are the emergency signal-callers faring? We decided to grade each of the backups currently replacing injured starters. This excludes No. 2s who have since claimed starting jobs for performance reasons — i.e. Will Levis (Titans), Bailey Zappe (Patriots), Aidan O’Connell (Raiders) — and hopefully sheds light on which insurance plans are actually panning out:

Incomplete

The following backups are poised to fill in for injured starters in Week 14:

Jameis Winston (Saints) would be up against the Panthers if Derek Carr (back, shoulder, concussion) can’t go. Winston has been mercurial in five game appearances this year, completing 53.2% of his throws with two touchdowns and three picks.C.J. Beathard (Jaguars) appears likely to replace Trevor Lawrence (high ankle sprain) against the Browns after the latter left Monday night’s loss to the Bengals. Beathard has gone 12 of 14 in relief this year. He previously logged starts as a 49ers backup.Mitch Trubisky (Steelers) is locked in at QB1 against the Patriots with Kenny Pickett (ankle) sidelined with his third different injury of the season. He went 2-3 as a fill-in starter for Pittsburgh in 2022, following five years with the Bears and Bills.

Active backups in the starting lineup

Jake Browning (Bengals)

The former undrafted Vikings prospect “lit the world on fire” by dicing up the Jaguars for an overtime upset in prime time to close Week 13, showcasing perfect touch on crunch-time shots to Ja’Marr Chase. He may have physical limitations, but through two starts in place of Joe Burrow, he’s…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/grading-the-nfls-emergency-qbs-assessing-all-six-backups-currently-replacing-injured-starters/

Author : Cody Benjamin

Publish date : 2023-12-05 18:48:20

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