USA TODAY International Edition
NFL QB situations near resolution
Starting, backup jobs on the line
With two weeks left until the NFL season kicks off, three teams are waiting to make a call on their starting quarterback. But there’s plenty of uncertainty at the position elsewhere in the league.
The third week of the preseason, which begins Thursday, is often the last proving ground for position battles before the regular season begins. For these 10 teams, significant uncertainty at quarterback could be resolved in the coming days.
DENVER BRONCOS
Mark Sanchez once appeared to be the default successor to Peyton Manning on the defending Super Bowl champions, but Trevor Siemian could be one solid outing from seizing the job. The second- year pro, whose lone NFL snap last year was a kneel- down, will start Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams despite a sore shoulder, and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak expects to name a starter for the season opener next week.
Siemian must avoid the mistakes that have plagued turnoverprone Sanchez, as both quarterbacks had costly errors last week against the San Francisco 49ers. Rookie Paxton Lynch might take over at some point, but Siemian could at least be a bridge starter until the first- round pick is ready. LOS ANGELES RAMS After trading up to select Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick, the Rams might begin this season the same way they ended the last one: with Case Keenum running the offense. Goff hasn’t found his rhythm with his receivers in the preseason, and his internal clock hasn’t fully adjusted to account for the speed of NFL pass rushers.
Unless Goff shows significant progress against the Broncos and beyond, Keenum looks to be on track to hold on to his role. The veteran’s presence should help the franchise buy time until the rookie is ready to take the reins. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Even with the season approaching, San Francisco’s quarterback competition has yet to begin in earnest. Colin Kaepernick has been sidelined for nearly two weeks with fatigue in his shoulder, but he should see extended time Friday against the Green Bay Packers.
Blaine Gabbert, who supplanted Kaepernick as the starter last season, has been steady but unspectacular this preseason. If Kaepernick is to reclaim his starting role, he’ll have to show a convincing command of first- year coach Chip Kelly’s offense over the next two weeks. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Friday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers might be the only on- field sighting of Tom Brady until October. The two- time MVP has yet to play this preseason after slicing his thumb in pregame last week, and his four- game Deflategate suspension awaits once the regular season begins.
Jimmy Garoppolo should see plenty of action as he continues to prepare for his run as Brady’s fillin. The third- year pro has settled in by relying mostly on quick outs rather than downfield throws, but he has been without his primary weapons in tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Julian Edelman.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett, a thirdround pick from North Carolina State, will be Garoppolo’s backup in Weeks 1- 4 and is being broken in with a healthy workload late in games. NEW YORK JETS Gang Green has a logjam to sort out behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. With second- round pick Christian Hackenberg a near lock to be kept, Geno Smith and Bryce Petty appear to be engaged in a battle for the backup job and a spot on the roster.
Jets coach Todd Bowles has declined to say Smith is the backup, prompting questions about the former starter’s standing. Smith, however, will be the No. 2 on Saturday against the New York Giants. Petty, a fourth- round pick in 2015, is the long shot in the competition but can continue his push with another strong outing. CLEVELAND BROWNS Robert Griffin III will be the Week 1 starter, but this is a situation to always keep on the radar.
In his first two preseason outings, Griffin has shown the playmaking ability that was missing in Cleveland last season. On Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he should have the opportunity to connect with two of his most explosive targets.
Wide receivers Josh Gordon ( quadriceps) and Corey Coleman ( hamstring) are expected to make their preseason debuts, as long as they don’t aggravate their injuries. Gordon is suspended until Week 5 but led the NFL in receiving yards in 2013, while rookie Coleman has drawn high praise from coaches for his strong work in training camp. GREEN BAY PACKERS Aaron Rodgers is on track to make his first preseason appearance against the 49ers. But with the two- time MVP in the fold, the more important play to monitor will be from the backups. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said this week that he didn’t expect Brett Hundley to play after he reinjured his left ankle in last week’s preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.
Green Bay is counting on Hundley to be the No. 2 behind Rodgers, but the second- year pro needs all of the reps he can get. An extensive workload in the preseason finale is likely, while Joe Callahan and possibly Marquise Williams step in Friday. BALTIMORE RAVENS Joe Flacco announced that he would play Saturday against the Detroit Lions, marking his first game action since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee in November. Flacco is still wearing a brace and says his knee isn’t 100%, but he hasn’t had any setbacks.
Baltimore’s backups also bear watching. Ryan Mallett is the presumed favorite for the No. 2 role, but John Harbaugh has said Josh Johnson is very much in the competition amid a strong preseason. DALLAS COWBOYS With two nearly flawless games leading Dallas’ first- team offense, Dak Prescott has taken the mantle of the preseason’s breakout player. The fourth- round pick from Mississippi State has displayed composure and comfort far beyond what many expected from him at this point.
That development comes as welcome news to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who has rethought the need to find a veteran backup to Tony Romo after Kellen Moore broke his ankle. A solid showing by Prescott on Thursday against the Seattle Seahawks should remove any lingering doubts about the No. 2 job. MINNESOTA VIKINGS Minnesota sparked somewhat of a mystery with Teddy Bridgewater’s absence from last week’s preseason game. Coach Mike Zimmer didn’t confirm a report that Bridgewater was held out because of a sore shoulder but said, “I’m always going to protect the players.”
Bridgewater resumed throwing Tuesday, but Zimmer has not said whether his starter will play Friday against the San Diego Chargers. Veteran backup Shaun Hill should see significant action either way.