With 5 quarterbacks anticipated to make their season debuts in Week 18, a complete of 66 QBs could have began an NFL sport in 2023, tying the NFL report for many to play in a season throughout a non-strike yr.
The Cleveland Browns have began a league-high 5 totally different signal-callers this season, adopted by the New York Jets with 4. Solely 9 groups – the Buffalo Payments, Tampa Bay Bucs, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Inexperienced Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints – have had the identical starter for all 17 video games so far, per the Sporting News.
Listed here are 5 quarterbacks who might go from backup to starter in 2024:
1. Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals
Many had written the Bengals off when Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending harm in Week 11, however Browning has stepped in and been pretty much as good, if not higher than Burrow throughout his six-game run as Cincy’s starter. He has a 3-3 report and he’s thrown for 1,780 yards, 9 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in reduction responsibility, together with three video games with 320 or extra passing yards.
Since Week 12, Browning leads the NFL in completion share (69.9) and ranks ninth in passer score (96.5). Browning is 27 years outdated and a free agent on the finish of the season. He would make sense as a transitional starter for a crew just like the Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings or New England Patriots.
2. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
It’s loopy to suppose Flacco spent the primary 11 weeks of the season watching video games from his sofa earlier than signing with the Browns on the finish of November. Although he’s solely performed in 5 contests, Flacco has extra touchdowns passes (13) than Aiden O’Connell (10), Kenny Pickett (six), Desmond Ridder (10), Zach Wilson (eight) and Bryce Younger (10) – all of whom have began 10 or extra video games.
Although he’s 38, Flacco has proven he nonetheless has one thing left within the tank, throwing for 1,618 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his 5 begins, together with 4 straight video games with 300 or extra yards and three video games with three landing passes. Flacco might stick round in Cleveland as Plan B to Deshaun Watson in 2024 or he might begin for a crew breaking in a rookie QB.
3. Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts
When Anthony Richardson went down with a season-ending shoulder harm in Week 5, not many anticipated the Colts to experience Minshew to a 9-7 report with a shot at not solely making the playoffs but in addition profitable the AFC South.
The 27-year-old Washington State product has confirmed he’s nonetheless able to enjoying at a strong stage as a starter, throwing for 3,164 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Minshew has had six video games with a passer score over 100 and three video games with 300 yards or extra. He’s a free agent after the season ends and like Browning and Flacco, may very well be in line to function a bridge starter for a crew that drafts a quarterback in April.
4. Sam Darnold, San Francisco 49ers
Although Darnold has had extraordinarily restricted enjoying time this season, he’s proven he nonetheless has one thing to supply. After beating out Trey Lance and Brandon Allen for the No. 2 job throughout coaching camp and the preseason, Darnold noticed his first actual motion two weeks in the past in opposition to Baltimore. He accomplished 8-of-14 passes for 81 yards, a landing and an interception, main the 49ers on a scoring drive late within the fourth quarter and almost engineering one other one within the last 4 minutes earlier than he was picked off on a tipped cross.
Darnold will begin the 49ers season finale in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams and a robust displaying in that sport might entice one other crew to offer the 26-year-old one other shot subsequent season. His scenario isn’t dissimilar to Mitch Trubisky’s a couple of years in the past. Trubisky parlayed his one yr because the backup in Buffalo right into a beginning gig in Pittsburgh the next yr.
5. Davis Mills, Houston Texans
There was loads of curiosity in Mills in the course of the preseason after C.J. Stroud was named Houston’s starter, however the Texans held onto him simply in case. With Stroud sidelined by a concussion, the crew turned to Case Keenum over Mills for 2 video games, although he did take over for Keenum in opposition to the Browns two weeks in the past.
Mills, who is just 25 years outdated, has two years of beginning expertise underneath his belt and his total numbers aren’t horrible – 5,955 yards, 35 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, 62.8 completion share. It’s doable a crew just like the Broncos, Falcons or Vikings might give him a shot for a yr or two whereas they fight to determine a extra long-term resolution on the place.
