TWO MORE NEWBIE QBS THROWN INTO THE FIRE
And into the fire go two more.
Injuries Sunday to their replacement second-string quarterbacks are forcing the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns to start raw, rookie, third-string backups this week.
That’ll raise the number of newbie QB starters in the NFL to four, just three weeks into the season.
The Patriots play host to Houston on Thursday night. While the team did not confirm as much, it seems certain the Pats will start Jacoby Brissett, the fifth passer taken in April’s draft, in the third round, 91st overall.
The idea had been for Jimmy Garoppolo to temp until Tom Brady returns from his Deflategate suspension in Week 5, but Garoppolo sprained the AC joint of his right throwing shoulder upon being slammed hard into the turf in Sunday’s victory over Miami, reports said.
The Pats hope Garoppolo, Brady’s backup since 2014, can heal fast enough to start one more time — a week from Sunday, when the division-rival Buffalo Bills wobble into Foxboro. Garoppolo had been nothing short of dazzling in nearly six quarters of action. What of Brissett? “(A backup QB is) going to prepare for the game the same way, regardless of whether he’s going to start,” head coach Bill Belichick said Monday, when asked if Brissett will alter his practice routine this week. “By the second play of the game he could be in there, so it’s not like there is any part of the game he can’t not prepare for (anyway).”
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is sure to streamline the playbook for Brissett, to protect him from the likes of Texans pass rushers J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, as much as to help him succeed.
The Pats had not signed an emergency backup QB by late Monday afternoon. If they don’t, they’d likely insert WR Julian Edelman, or some other skill player with quarterbacking experience, should Brissett get hurt Thursday.
As for the Browns, it looks like head coach Hue Jackson is going with the sixth QB taken in April’s draft on Sunday at Miami. That’s Cody Kessler from Southern Cal.
The fourth QB in Cleveland’s employ is another untried rookie, Kevin Hogan — the 10th passer taken, in the fifth round by Kansas City. The Chiefs released Hogan at the end of training camp, and the Browns signed him.
Kessler and Brissett join Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz (the No. 2 overall pick) and Dallas’ Dak Prescott (the eighth QB taken, in the fourth round) as rookie passers starting less than one month into their pro careers.
Meantime, No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff continues to develop slowly. Apparently he’ll remain a rotating backup to Case Keenum on the offensively inert Los Angeles Rams.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Hard to believe a starting running back on Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks could run seven times for minus-seven yards.
Yet that was Thomas Rawls’ output against the Rams at Los Angeles. His backup, Christine Michael, gained 60 yards on 10 carries but fumbled the game away late in a 9-3 loss.
Beyond just rushing, the Seahawks offence has been one of the NFL’s worst. Only LA’s has scored fewer points than Seattle’s 15 through two games. What’s more, Seattle has scored one touchdown in 22 possessions, has reached the red zone only three times and ranks fourth-last in yards per play (4.9).
HERO Sam Bradford, QB, Minnesota Vikings.
He had just two weeks, after his trade from Philly, to digest Norv Turner’s unique offensive playbook. You wouldn’t have known it by the way Bradford looked so comfortable and — yeah — good in the Vikings’ 17-14 defeat of Green Bay on Sunday night. He was 22-of-31 (71 per cent) for 286 yards, two TDs and no picks on a night when the Pack allowed just 30 yards rushing.
ZERO Jacksonville Jaguars.
Warned you in my season-preview package not to believe the out-of-control hype enveloping this team in the summer. Talented, yes. Well coached, no. After Sunday’s 38-14 loss in San Diego, the Jags dropped to 0-2, and Gus Bradley’s record in Year 4 plopped to 12-38 (. 240). How much longer can he remain employed? QB Blake Bortles remains the King of Garbage Time Yards, too. Be sure always to view his prolific numbers through that lens.
STOCK UP Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings.
Bradford would not have looked nearly as good if it weren’t for Diggs, who caught nine of Bradford’s throws for 182 yards and the winning touchdown. The second-year wideout from the University of Maryland caught 84 passes for four TDs as a rookie. Only age 22, Diggs is fast overachieving.