It’s been a rough year for quarterbacks in the NFL. A record 10 rookies have started at QB across the league thanks to a rash of injuries to incumbent starters and demotions to veterans in Tennessee and Las Vegas.
On Thursday night in Baltimore, both Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson suffered injuries in a high-profile primetime QB showdown. Jackson was able to return to the field, but the Bengals were forced to play Jake Browning, who had previously attempted just one pass in his career.
These backups could be one play away from taking control of a franchise. Which teams are prepared for the unexpected, and which teams are in trouble? Let’s take a look at the next man up for every franchise entering Week 11:
Arizona Cardinals: Clayton Tune
College: Houston (2023 5th round)
NFL appearances: 3
Current starter: Kyler Murray
Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Ridder
College: Cincinnati (2022 3rd round)
NFL appearances: 13
Current starter: Taylor Heinicke
Third-string QB: Logan Woodside
Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Huntley
College: Utah (undrafted)
NFL appearances: 18
Current starter: Lamar Jackson
Third-string QB: Josh Johnson
Buffalo Bills: Kyle Allen
College: Houston (undrafted)
NFL appearances: 27
Current starter: Josh Allen
Carolina Panthers: Andy Dalton
College: TCU (2011 2nd round)
NFL appearances: 169
Current starter: Bryce Young
Chicago Bears: Tyson Bagent
College: Shepherd (undrafted)
NFL appearances: 5
Current starter: Justin Fields
Third-string QB: Nathan Peterman
Cincinnati Bengals: Jake Browning
College: Washington (undrafted)
NFL appearances: 2
Current starter: Joe Burrow
Cleveland Browns: PJ Walker
College: Temple (undrafted)
NFL appearances: 20
Current starter: Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Dallas Cowboys: Cooper Rush
College: Central Michigan (undrafted)
NFL appearances: 21
Current starter: Dak Prescott
Third-string QB: Trey Lance
Denver Broncos: Jarrett Stidham
College: Auburn (2019 4th round)
NFL appearances: 13
Current starter: Russell Wilson
Detroit Lions: Teddy Bridgewater
College: Louisville (2014 1st round)
NFL appearances: 79
Current starter: Jared Goff
Third-string QB: Hendon Hooker
Green Bay Packers: Sean Clifford
College: Penn State (2023 5th round)
NFL appearances: 1
Current starter: Jordan Love
Houston Texans: Davis Mills
College: Stanford (2021 3rd round)
NFL appearances: 28
Current starter: C.J. Stroud
Third-string QB: Case Keenum
Indianapolis Colts: Sam Ehlinger
College: Texas (2021 6th round)
NFL appearances: 7
Current starter: Gardner Minshew
Jacksonville Jaguars: C.J. Beathard
College: Iowa (2017 3rd round)
NFL appearances: 28
Current starter: Trevor Lawrence
Kansas City Chiefs: Blaine Gabbert
College: Missouri (2011 1st round)
NFL appearances: 68
Current starter: Patrick Mahomes
Las Vegas Raiders: Jimmy Garoppolo
College: Eastern Illinois (2014 2nd round)
NFL appearances: 80
Current starter: Aidan O’Connell
Third-string QB: Brian Hoyer
Los Angeles Chargers: Easton Stick
College: North Dakota State (2019 5th round)
NFL appearances: 1
Current starter: Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Rams: Carson Wentz
College: North Dakota State (2016 1st round)
NFL appearances: 93
Current starter: Matthew Stafford
Third-string QB: Stetson Bennett
Miami Dolphins: Mike White
College: Western Kentucky (2018 5th round)
NFL appearances: 10
Current starter: Tua Tagovailoa
Third-string QB: Skylar Thompson
Minnesota Vikings: Jaren Hall
College: BYU (2023 5th round)
NFL appearances: 2
Current starter: Joshua Dobbs
Third-string QB: (Both Nick Mullens and Kirk Cousins are on IR)
New England Patriots: Bailey Zappe
College: Western Kentucky (2022 4th round)
NFL appearances: 7
Current starter: Mac Jones
Third-string QB: Will Grier
New Orleans Saints: Jameis Winston
College: Florida State (2015 1st round)
NFL appearances: 90
Current starter: Derek Carr
Third-string QB: Taysom Hill
Fourth-string QB: Jake Haener
New York Giants: Matt Barkley
College: USC (2013 4th round)
NFL appearances: 19
Current starter: Tommy DeVito
Third-string QB: (Both Tyrod Taylor and Daniel Jones are on IR)
New York Jets: Tim Boyle
College: Eastern Kentucky (undrafted)
NFL appearances: 17
Current starter: Zach Wilson
Third-string QB: (Aaron Rodgers is on IR)
Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Mariota
College: Oregon (2015 1st round)
NFL appearances: 87
Current starter: Jalen Hurts
Third-string QB: Tanner McKee
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mitch Trubisky
College: North Carolina (2017 1st round)
NFL appearances: 66
Current starter: Kenny Pickett
Third-string QB: Mason Rudolph
San Francisco 49ers: Sam Darnold
College: USC (2018 1st round)
NFL appearances: 61
Current starter: Brock Purdy
Third-string QB: Brandon Allen
Seattle Seahawks: Drew Lock
College: Missouri (2019 2nd round)
NFL appearances: 25
Current starter: Geno Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kyle Trask
College: Florida (2021 2nd round)
NFL appearances: 2
Current starter: Baker Mayfield
Third-string QB: John Wolford
Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill
College: Texas A&M (2012 1st round)
NFL appearances: 151
Current starter: Will Levis
Third-string QB: Malik Willis
Washington Commanders: Jacoby Brissett
College: NC State (2016 3rd round)
NFL appearances: 76
Current starter: Sam Howell
