It Has Been A Brutal Year For NFL Quarterbacks
Injuries are, and always will be a factor for every NFL Season. With injuries usually comes struggles for some teams, and the rise of breakout stars for others.
However, this year, the injury bug has infected the Quarterback position, the most difficult position to replace for any football team. Losing a Quarterback is synonymous with a death blow, as most teams can’t directly replace the production of a starting Quarterback.
So far, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Anthony Richardson, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, and Daniel Jones have been lost to significant injuries.
These teams that lost their quarterbacks were already solidified contenders (Bengals, Vikings, Browns), or had contention aspirations (Jets, Colts, Giants). Losing their starting quarterbacks created heavy adversity for each and every one of these teams. However, some have handled their adversity and succeeded, while others have not. Let’s take a look at those teams.
For the aspiring contenders, the results have been mixed, but more often than not, struggles have presented themselves.
Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin NY POST
The Jets (4-5), have had to turn back to 2021 #2 Overall Pick Zach Wilson, who has struggled, even under the tutelage of Aaron Rodgers. Although he has shown more flashes than ever before, the Wilson-led offense has mustered only 16 points per game, which sits 30th in the league. For a team that thought Aaron Rodgers would lead them to the playoffs, this is not what the Jets had in mind on the season. However, the Jets still remain in the Wild Card race thanks to their ferocious defense and seemingly might get Aaron Rodgers at some point this season. Only time will tell for the Jets.
The New York Giants (2-8) lost their 160 million-dollar quarterback Daniel Jones on two separate occasions, first to a neck injury, and then for the season when he tore his ACL in Week 10. When Jones was on the field, the team’s dysfunction and his own struggles were reflected in the stats (70.5 rating, 2/6 TD/INT ratio, 30 sacks). However, regardless of the performance, there is no question that Daniel Jones gave them their best chance to win football games, considering their QBs on the roster. Tyrod Taylor performed admirably and even triggered some Quarterback controversy, but his solid play was likely his ceiling, and he ended up getting injured as well. When the Giants were without Jones earlier in the season, the Giants faced an extreme upward battle to winning football games. Now, with young QB Tommy DeVito taking the snaps, their path to winning games looks as difficult as ever.
However, that may not be the worst thing in the World for the Giants. Their QB of the future might just be in this next draft, where their draft position will most definitely be high. Drake Maye? Caleb Williams? Michael Penix, anyone?
The Indianapolis Colts (5-5) likely didn’t see themselves as aspiring contenders going into this season, but the strong performances from electric rookie Anthony Richardson segued into stable game management from high-level backup Gardner Minshew. The Colts find themselves just a game out of the 7th seed, just behind the surging Houston Texans. There likely would have been more volatility had Richardson stayed healthy all year, but the Colts’ ceiling assuredly would have been higher than it is now. However, Minshew has been serviceable in Richardson’s place (63.7 completion %, 8/6 TD/INT ratio, 83.8 rating), allowing the Colts to fast-forward their progression from attempting to find their identity, to battling for a potential playoff spot.
It hasn’t all been smooth for The Colts, and their play has been inconsistent and not indicative of a successful playoff team, but they continue to defy expectations and impress.
In the solidified contenders’ case, each has had to turn to an young, unproven quarterback.
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The Vikings (6-4) have fared much better that most of these teams, thanks to the magical run of Quarterback Josh Dobbs. When Kirk Cousins tore his achilles, the Vikings turned to rookie and former BYU Quarterback Jaren Hall. But when Hall was concussed in his first game, Josh Dobbs was handed the reigns and proceeded to lead the Vikings to 2 straight statement wins. Dobbs has thrown for 426 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception, and rushed for 2 touchdowns in those two wins.
The Browns (6-3) will now be starting rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, rather than veteran P.J. Walker who struggled mightily in his starts. Thompson-Robinson’s first start was not ideal: 130 yards passing, 3 interceptions, and 4 sacks, but it seems as if he is ready to turn the page make the most of his opportunity: “I know what to expect now… So I’m not just going out there wide-eyed anymore. I’m going out there with the things to look at, things to focus on, and a plan to be able to attack them (The Steelers)” is what he told Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk.
The Browns are coming off an impressive win against one of the NFL’s top dogs, the Baltimore Ravens. Although former starter P.J. Walker led them to a key wins over the 49ers and the Colts, it was more in spite of his play than because of it. Rather than trotting Walker back out there (48% completion percentage, 1/5 TD/INT ratio), the Browns will hope to get some magic from Thompson-Robinson, in what seems to be an upside move.
The Bengals (5-5), might have the bleakest outlook of any team that lost their quarterback to injury.
Now sitting at last place in the AFC North, the Bengals’ high aspirations of a Super Bowl have seemingly crumbled to dust. Without their leader, and engine of the offense in Joe Burrow, the Bengals must turn to longtime Washington Husky Jake Browning, who threw the first NFL Regular Season passes of his career on Thursday. Burrow’s injury seems to be the nail in the coffin for the Bengals’ season, where the playoffs are seemingly out of reach with an 0-3 division record. Unless Browning can tap into some hidden magic, the Bengals’ season might be over, which is unfortunate for fans, staff, ownership, and players.
However, the NFL is so unpredictable. Until the Bengals are truly eliminated from contention, maybe Browning can be yet another inspiring success story in a season filled with them.
