Minshew, Henne staying ready as backup QBs
PHOENIX >> One play away.
For any backup quarterback in the National Football League, that’s always the case.
But, given what the San Francisco 49ers just went through in the NFC Championship Game, and just how fragile that position can be, it’s now even more magnified for both Gardner Minshew and Chad Henne heading into Super Bowl 57.
With both starter Brock Purdy and backup Josh Johnson suffering early injuries, San Francisco essentially had no actual quarterback in their most meaningful game in the season. Purdy ultimately returned but couldn’t throw past the line of scrimmage due to suffering a torn UCL in throwing elbow that required surgery.
“It’s tough, you never want those situations to happen,” Henne said. “But, at the same time, Josh Johnson, he was in my draft class and he’s had plenty of experience. For what he did coming in, he did a great job. He handled it well and I don’t think the stage was too big for him, but to see him get knocked out and Purdy couldn’t come in and throw because of his injury, that’s tough to rely all on your run game, mostly, and you rely on your defense. It’s tough to win in this league doing that.”
The 37-year-old was pressed into action in the Divisional Round earlier this postseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars, leading the Chiefs on a franchise-record 98yard drive after Patrick Mahomes was sidelined, albeit temporarily, due to a high ankle sprain.
Both with Mahomes still not at 100 percent and given that recent experience, Henne, who won a ring as Kansas City’s backup in 2020, knows all too well that his number may be called when it matters the most.
“With Patrick’s injury, you just don’t know how it’s going to go in that game if somebody falls on it differently,” he said. “It’s still ginger and stuff for him. You just never know what’s going to happen. It’s the biggest stage, and you definitely have to be more than ready for this game.”
That’s not a problem for Minshew, the 26-year-old author of “Minshew Mania” during his time in Jacksonville who eventually became the odd man out once the Jaguars drafted Trevor Lawrence.
With a big arm and the personality to match, the Eagles traded for him in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick just prior to the start of the 2021 season, a move that Minshew said had “been in the works for a little while.”
“I’d say it was pretty mutual to part ways, I guess,” he said. “I had a lot of great memories in Jacksonville, and it was definitely a bittersweet deal to leave. It was part relief, part excitement; a lot of excitement, but also a lot of expectations.”
Like Henne, Minshew has been pressed into action in numerous big situations with Philadelphia, memorably dominating the Jets on the road last year, as well as two regular season starts this season when regular starter Jalen Hurts was on the shelf with an injury; he completed 44 of his 76 pass attempts for 663 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in five total appearances in 2022.
“Getting Gardner, personally I was really excited,” said tight end Dallas Goedert. “I remember watching him in Jacksonville making plays. We were sitting there, saying like, ‘Man, this dude is nice. This dude can win a lot of games in the league, he’s a really good player.’
He came over here and he competed hard. He did everything he was supposed to do and didn’t step on anybody’s toes. His first year, his number got called against the Jets, and he had darn near a perfect game. And he threw me the ball a lot, and I love that too. But he’s an interesting guy. He’s got a personality that see you on TV, and it’s exactly him. He’s a great, fun-loving guy, and we’re lucky to have him in our locker room.”
More than his skillset — Minshew is one of a handful of current backups still regarded as one day having an opportunity to regain an NFL number one job somewhere — it’s his attitude that, despite being ultra-competitive and making no secret of those starting aspirations, has made him an asset to the team.
“All you can really do is try to learn and get better,” Minshew said. “If you’re doing that, you’re making
positive change. So, whether you’re out there on the field learning and getting better or on the practice field running scout team and getting better, that’s the goal. I feel like I’ve had a great opportunity to work against the best defense in the league every day for the last couple of years, and I’m super grateful for my time. At the end of the day, you realize you don’t need anybody else to do bad for you to do good. You don’t have to do bad for anyone else to do good. I think we have a great room and a great team this year, and we all push each other and we all want to be the best that we can be. That’s the focus more than anything.”
And the thought of perhaps getting to play on Sunday?
“Yeah, that’s pretty crazy, man. But, like I said, you try to stick to the script that got you here and be as ready as I can. I’m excited to get out there and watch Jalen tear it up.”