10 NFL QB observations: Rookies, injuries and inconsistency putting position in flux at midway point of season

Quarterback is a very powerful position in sports activities. It comes with all of the glory and the largest paychecks, but additionally essentially the most grievance and power. The QB carousel is all of the communicate of the offseason, nevertheless it simplest choices up steam all over the season when injuries, efficiency and all types of drama dominate the headlines. 

This is particularly true presently as we’re ushering in a brand new generation of quarterbacks and the position is extra risky than ever. 

Check out 10 observations at the QB position presently and you’ll be able to see what I imply.

1. Injuries, injuries … and extra injuries

Week 8 used to be a backup QB bonanza and injuries took middle level, headlined by way of Kirk Cousins happening for the season with an Achilles tear. Thirteen backup QBs threw passes in Week 8 and 11 groups exited the week with harm considerations at QB1. It figures to be a distinguished storyline once more in Week 9. The highlights:

By some distance essentially the most perplexing state of affairs used to be Deshaun Watson’s in Cleveland. Watson ignored all however one quarter of the previous 4 video games with a lingering shoulder harm however will go back Sunday towards the Cardinals. 

It hasn’t in point of fact mattered who’s enjoying QB for the Browns this 12 months, they rank useless closing in the league in finishing touch fee (56%), TD-Int ratio (5-11) and passer score (61.1) this season. And in some way, they nonetheless have a 4-3 listing. They have the bottom passer score (61.1) by way of a group with a profitable listing via Week 8 in two decades (2003 Eagles). 

2. Rookie QB mania

All those injuries and an total converting of the guard at QB imply lots of adolescence and inexperience at the position, particularly in Week 9. 

As our Shanna McCarriston detailed this week, Clayton Tune will get started for the Cardinals if Kyler Murray is not in a position to go back from a torn ACL. That would imply seven rookie QBs beginning in Week 9, which might be tied for the second-most in a unmarried week since 1970, and essentially the most this early in a season.

Don’t omit Jaren Hall may be getting his first occupation get started in position of Kirk Cousins this weekend. That would make 9 other rookie beginning QBs this season, which might already tie an NFL-record. Unreal.

3. Changing of the QB guard

Safe to mention, a season of trade at this position has reached height craziness in Week 9. This is what occurs when stalwarts like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan are now not in the league, and Aaron Rodgers is harm. 

We are having a look at the youngest moderate staff of beginning QBs via Week 8 for the reason that 1970 merger (27). It’s no marvel the league is averaging its fewest yards according to finishing touch at this point in the 12 months since at least 1940. 

4. QB carousel

There’s a reason why the most productive backup QBs in the NFL — like Jacoby Brissett — make $8 million according to 12 months. About one-third of the league has already wanted them, and the remaining will sooner or later. You may need to get yourself up to speed with Cody Benjamin’s backup QB scores. 

There’s been 42 other beginning QBs this 12 months and we’re most certainly on our method to round 60 once more. There used to be an NFL-record 68 closing 12 months.

Once Taylor Heinicke, Jaren Hall and both Clayton Tune or Kyler Murray make their first begins of the 12 months in Week 9, we will have 11 other groups with a couple of beginning QBs already who have mixed to make 22 other beginning QB adjustments, led by way of the Raiders (5) and Browns (4). 

Due to injuries and deficient play the Raiders have already long past from Jimmy Garoppolo to Aidan O’Connell, again to Jimmy G, to Brian Hoyer, to Jimmy G (once more) and once more … the rookie, O’Connell. The No. 1 task for the following Raiders head trainer and GM: work out a long-term solution at QB.

5. Sorry Lamar, Desmond Ridder is for actual

The wonder QB trade of the week is the Falcons deciding to begin Taylor Heinicke over Desmond Ridder, regardless of Ridder clearing concussion protocol after being got rid of from Sunday’s sport. 

Ridder leads the NFL in turnovers, however it is unexpected to peer him no longer get an extended leash after how this offseason performed out. It simplest took mins after Lamar Jackson used to be given the non-exclusive franchise tag this offseason for studies to roll in that the Falcons would no longer be pursuing Jackson. Falcons proprietor Arthur Blank defined one of the explanation why used to be Ridder. 

Needless to mention, other people stored the receipts on social media.

This might be simply brief and possibly Ridder is again beneath middle subsequent week, however for now it is some other head scratcher for a Falcons group that already hasn’t gotten essentially the most out of its preferrred playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London this 12 months. 

6. Where’s the Love?

One of the worst puts for an NFL team to be is in QB purgatory. The Holy Grail in soccer is a franchise QB. But, despite the fact that you could have unhealthy QB play, at least the verdict is plain to transport on (cough, Raiders). 

Well, for the remaining of the league, they’re in the center, repeatedly assessing their QB play and debating whether or not to begin over or pay a lovely penny; there is no longer a lot in-between. Giants lovers know the way difficult this will also be with Daniel Jones. The poster kid for this presently is Jordan Love. He entered the 12 months as the largest thriller in the NFL after the previous first-round select subsidized up Aaron Rodgers for 3 years. Things have not gotten a lot clearer, 

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst gave a good analysis of Love’s “up-and-down” get started, which incorporates accuracy issues resulting in the worst finishing touch fee in the NFL. Green Bay has additionally gotten off to unhealthy begins, getting outscored 73-9 in the primary part of its closing 5 video games. And in case you ignored it, our Chris Trapasso broke down Love’s early-season struggles closing week. 

7. Purdy panic?

It’s no longer time to panic in Green Bay with 10 video games left, and there is not any reason why to sound the alarms in San Francisco both, even coming off a 3rd directly loss with extra turnovers from Brock Purdy.

I wrote this week about how Purdy’s occupation numbers in the grab are regarding (3 TD, 7 INT in occupation when tied or trailing in the second one part), however he should not take all of the blame for a 49ers dropping streak that comes with:

• Injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams
• Purdy’s concussion previous to throwing two fourth-quarter INT in a loss to the Vikings
• Jake Moody’s ignored 41-yard box objective that may have crushed the Browns
• A deficient defensive play name for an all-out blitz on Jordan Addison’s 60-yard TD to finish the primary part of the Vikings/49ers sport
• Back-to-back defensive letdowns towards the Vikings and Bengals

Purdy is off the hook for now because of all that and the truth that he’s nonetheless putting some in point of fact excellent throws on tape. Let’s see what he does out of the 49ers bye with a more healthy supporting solid and street journeys to 3 department leaders on faucet (Jaguars, Seahawks, Eagles). He has a possibility to turn the script and end up he can put the group on his again in the playoffs. 

8. Evolution of the QB sneak

“If not for Taylor Swift, the “Tush Push” will be the NFL’s unequalled largest storyline of the 2023 season,” wrote our Bryan DeArdo this week. 

Bryan and I tag-teamed the evolution of the QB sneak from the T-formation to the “Tush Push” as we explored Philadelphia’s exceptional luck with the play this 12 months and how lengthy it’s going to closing. 

The NFL is referred to as a copycat league and the play has perhaps reached the head of its luck. There’s a reason why some say the NFL stands for “Not For Long.” 

Between the likelihood of an offseason rule trade, injuries or defenses sooner or later adapting to the play, it is going to be attention-grabbing to peer if the frenzy play can proceed to construct steam after this season. 

9. Best QB matchup of the week: Josh Allen vs. Joe Burrow

There are in reality some nice QB matchups this week, regardless of it having a look just like the QB apocalypse available in the market. The preferrred in my ebook comes on “Sunday Night Football” between Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, arguably the second- and third-best quarterbacks in the league in the back of Patrick Mahomes. 

Most of our body of workers just like the Bengals this week, together with John Breech, who painted out a lovely convincing image of why round Allen’s turnover issues at the street and Burrow’s go back to shape. 

I’ll upload another reason. Buffalo’s protection is banged up and Cincinnati DC Lou Anarumo can dial up some other gameplan to decelerate Allen, who used to be harassed on 45% of his dropbacks in the 27-10 playoff loss closing postseason, regardless of being blitzed simplest 15% of the time. 

10. Backup QB Bowl: Taylor Heinicke vs. Jaren Hall

Raise your hand if you happen to had Vikings/Falcons Week 9 that includes a QB matchup of Taylor Heinicke vs. Jaren Hall. Most of us most certainly did not know till not too long ago that both even performed for the ones groups, or have been actual other people. 

Our Cody Benjamin presented us to Hall previous this week, who subsidized up Zach Wilson at BYU, whilst additionally enjoying baseball there. You most certainly additionally did not know this sport has some revenge enchantment. 

Heinicke used to be first of all signed by way of the Vikings as an undrafted unfastened agent out of Old Dominion in 2015. Heinicke by no means performed a snap for Minnesota (how dare they!) sooner than sooner or later bouncing across the NFL (maximum prominently touchdown in Washington) sooner than coming to Atlanta. 

Well scripted, NFL.