Sportsnaut
NFL training camps are finally in full swing, and that means starting quarterback competitions are underway. Three teams have yet to announce a starting QB, yet several others could get benched throughout the course of the regular season.
Below, we dive into which ten NFL quarterbacks could get benched at some point during the upcoming season, and there are more than a few surprises.
No, Joe Flacco has not officially won the Cleveland Browns’ starting QB job, yet. But we expect the grizzled vet to beat Kenny Pickett who’s missing valuable time due to injury, plus a pair of rookies. However, the Browns are in an extremely tough division. If they get off to a rough start, it wouldn’t surprise us if Kevin Stefanski wants to see what Pickett or one of the rookies can do to evaluate their options for next year.
Related: Cleveland Browns Eyeing Hall of Fame Coach, Tantalizing QB?
Tyler Shough is the leading candidate to start for the Saints, mainly because we’ve already seen a glimpse of what Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler can do, and it hasn’t been pretty. Rattler is 0-6 and Haener is 0-1. If Shough starts the season on a winless streak, it wouldn’t shock anyone if first-year head coach Kellen Moore gives Rattler or Haener another crack at the apple.
Related: New Orleans Saints Are ‘Big Fans’ of QB Not Named Tyler Shough
This one is tricky. Whoever wins between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson may not keep the job for long. Obviously it will all depend on performance, but Jones could have a short leash, only because this team has so much invested into Richardson. Yet, if Richardson wins the job, it may only be a matter of time before inconsistency and inaccuracy ruins his day.
Would the Tennessee Titans bench the No. 1 overall pick? Probably not, but second-year head coach Brian Callahan may start feeling some pressure to win after winning just three games last season. If Cam Ward experiences a lot of early growing pains, it’s possible we see the Titans turn to a more experienced option, even if its for a few games.
The New York Jets are moving forward with Justin Fields as their starting quarterback, but other teams have been here before. While he had a strong showing with the Steelers last season, Fields will also be on the run alot, which puts him at risk of getting hurt. Ultimately, it shouldn’t shock anyone if the former first-round pick experiences a rough patch in New York without a loaded group of weapons around him.
The former No. 1 overall pick took big steps toward being an above average quarterback last season. Now that the Carolina Panthers have built a stronger supporting cast, it’s time to see what Bryce Young is capable of. Andy Dalton is a more than capable backup, so if the Panthers...
