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NFC East backup quarterback panic meter
"Next man up." During the 2023 season, some NFL head coaches will need to heed that motto at quarterback, the most important position in the sport. If a team doesn't have an adequate backup when a starter goes down, a season can implode.
On a scale of one to five, with one being the highest level of panic, here's where NFC East teams stand at backup QB.
Dallas Cowboys
BACKUPS: Cooper Rush, Will Grier | Know who won’t panic if Dak Prescott goes down? Owner Jerry Jones. When Prescott went down with a hand injury last September, Rush stepped in to win four of his next five starts, prompting Jones to fan the flames of a QB controversy.
"Wouldn’t it be something if you had a dilemma as to which way you go? You do that if he gets 10 wins," Jones explained.
Rush became the first quarterback in franchise history to win his first four starts, but his numbers were mediocre at best. In five starts, he threw for only five touchdowns and completed just 10 passes for 102 yards in a win against the Rams. With the league’s third-toughest schedule, per NFL Research, the Cowboys can’t afford to lose their starting quarterback. Rush will do in a pinch, but without Prescott, the team’s playoff chances are dead. Sorry, Jerry. (PANIC METER: 2)
New York Giants
BACKUPS: Tyrod Taylor, Tommy DeVito | The Giants couldn't do much better at backup than Taylor, who has played in 81 games (53 starts) over 12 seasons, throwing for 60 touchdowns and 10,794 yards. His best years came with Buffalo, where he threw for 8,857 yards and 51 touchdowns in three years as a starter.
But he last played with Buffalo in 2017. Last season, Taylor threw eight passes with the Giants, one for a touchdown and another for an interception. Luckily for Giants fans, RB Saquon Barkley is back in the fold. Taylor may be rusty, but as long as Barkley is on the field, the team should remain competitive if starter Daniel Jones goes down. (PANIC METER: 3)
Philadelphia Eagles
BACKUPS: Marcus Mariota, Ian Book | In Mariota, the Eagles have the most experienced backup quarterback in the NFC East. Since joining the league as the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the former Oregon Duck has appeared in 87 games and thrown for 15,656 yards.
In 13 games with the Falcons last season, Mariota had 15 touchdown passes and four more rushing. But after losing four of his last five starts, he was benched for Desmond Ridder, prompting him to leave the team and have knee surgery.
Mariota’s sudden exit from Atlanta wasn’t a good look, and according to multiple reports, he has looked bad in training camp, throwing four interceptions in his first four practices. But that’s expected for a player learning a new system. Assuming new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson gets him up to speed, Mariota is an upgrade over the previous backup, Gardner Minshew. (PANIC METER: 3)
Washington Commanders
BACKUPS: Jacoby Brissett, Jake Fromm | What do you do when you have the most inexperienced quarterback in the NFC East? You back him up with a veteran player like Brissett. Former fifth-round draft pick and presumed starter Sam Howell has just 19 pass attempts in his NFL career —1,567 fewer passes than Brissett. Brissett also has 75 more games than Howell, including 11 starts with the Browns last season.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin ranks the seven-year veteran as the NFL’s fourth-best backup QB, which should reassure Commanders fans worried about Howell’s lack of experience. Washington has high hopes for Howell in 2023, but if he gets injured or can’t get it done, Brissett should be seen as a lateral move. (PANIC METER: 5)
More must-reads:
- NFL HC believes one NFC East team will start multiple QBs in 2023
- Cowboys' Jerry Jones sends warning to other NFC East teams
- The '2022 NFL rushing leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Green Bay Packers Make Roster Change After Loss to Panthers
The Green Bay Packers are reeling after losing their dynamic tight end, Tucker Kraft, to an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the 2025 season. This devastating setback occurred during the team’s narrow 16-13 defeat to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Kraft, age 25, was injured midway through the third quarter while engaged in a routine blocking assignment. The severity became evident immediately as he required a cart to leave the field, signaling a serious issue for the promising player. With Kraft officially ruled out for the year, the Packers face a significant void in their offensive lineup. Team officials confirmed the news on Monday, prompting swift action to manage the roster implications. Prior to the injury, Kraft was enjoying a stellar third season with Green Bay. The ex-South Dakota State standout had amassed 32 receptions, 489 receiving yards, and six touchdowns across eight contests.His momentum was building, highlighted by a standout showing in Week 8. Kraft played a pivotal role in the Packers’ 35-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, hauling in seven passes for 143 yards and two scores. To accommodate Kraft’s placement on injured reserve, a roster spot has opened up. This development allows general manager Brian Gutekunst and the front office to explore options for a new tight end, should they deem it necessary. In the immediate aftermath, Green Bay opted for a different adjustment. On Monday, the organization revealed the release of linebacker Kristian Welch through an official statement on their website. Welch, a former Iowa Hawkeye, had been part of the practice squad all season. He earned a promotion to the active roster for the Panthers game, marking his 2025 debut, only to be cut shortly after. No further transactions tied to Welch’s departure have been disclosed yet. The Packers continue to evaluate their depth chart amid these changes. Looking ahead, Green Bay stands at 5-2-1 following the recent loss. They aim to rebound in a high-stakes Monday Night Football clash on November 10 against the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles, kicking off at 8:15 p.m. ET from the iconic Lambeau Field. This primetime showdown offers the Packers a chance to regroup without Kraft. Fans will watch closely as the team adapts to the absence of their breakout star in a crucial divisional push.
Packers linked to trade for former All-Pro to replace Kenny Clark
The Packers could look to upgrade the defense ahead of the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, especially after Panthers running back Rico Dowdle paved the way to Carolina upsetting Green Bay Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. Dowdle’s 130 yards and two touchdowns was the catalyst to an upset win over the Packers, but also served to further expose one of Green Bay’s most glaring weaknesses along the front seven. Could Packers trade for Calais Campbell? If general manager Brian Gutekunst is working the phones in hopes of replacing the run-stuffing interior lineman the Packers traded away in Kenny Clark as part of the Micah Parsons blockbuster this past summer, Calais Campbell could be an ideal fit. Ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, Pro Football Focus lists the Packers as one of Campbell’s best fits and possible trade destinations. "Even at 39, Campbell has still been an above-average player for the Cardinals this season," Bradley Locker writes for PFF. "He’s on track for a 15th straight year with a 71.0-plus overall PFF grade, and has been a well-rounded addition for Arizona’s new-look defense. Campbell has generated 11 pressures while also producing a 70.0 PFF run-defense grade. "The Cardinals’ promising start has taken a wayward turn for the worst, one that doesn’t seem especially salvageable. With Campbell at his age and on a one-year deal, shipping him away — particularly to pave the way for playing time for younger players — could be logical. Kansas City’s 28.8 run-defense grade by interior defenders is the lowest in the NFL, and a reunion in Jacksonville isn’t out of the question." So far this season, Campbell — who boasts 113.5 sacks through 18 seasons — has three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. He is still playing at a high level despite his advanced age and the trajectory of the Cardinals’ 2025 campaign. Arizona’s season has quickly fallen off a cliff, but Campbell could have the chance to chase a Super Bowl ring if the Packers pull off a trade. He would immediately become a key piece along defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s front seven.
Maxx Crosby sends inspiring message after latest Raiders loss
The Las Vegas Raiders lost a tough game to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, but Pro Bowl pass-rusher Maxx Crosby is maintaining a positive attitude amid a difficult season. The Jaguars beat the Raiders 30-29 in a thrilling Week 9 overtime game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. The Raiders took the lead with just under 2 minutes remaining when star tight end Brock Bowers caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence then led a field goal drive to force OT. The two teams traded touchdowns in OT, with Jacksonville getting the ball first and scoring. Rather than kicking an extra point to tie the game with 16 seconds left in the extra period, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll went for a two-point conversion and the win. Smith’s pass to Tyler Lockett fell incomplete, sealing the win for Jacksonville. After the game, Crosby shared an uplifting message for fans via social media. “Raider Nation I Love Yall With Everything In My Heart Soul. Yall Deserve Better. Stay As One, It Will Change,” Crosby wrote on X. The Raiders fell to 2-6 with the loss. Their first season under Carroll has been a disappointment thus far, but Crosby wants everyone to know he is not discouraged. Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with the Raiders back in March. He is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and has 5 sacks in 8 games this season. There has been some talk of Crosby being traded ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline, but that is highly unlikely to happen. Crosby has reportedly told the team he does not want to go anywhere, and his message following Sunday’s loss is consistent with that.
Packers' rough roster situation somehow gets even worse after latest injury update comes out of nowhere
The Green Bay Packers are already thin at cornerback, and the situation will get worse over the next few weeks. According to Ryan Wood from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nate Hobbs will miss at least two games with a sprained MCL — it's a grade 1 tear to the ligament. Wood mentions that the injury "is not to the same knee he had surgically repaired for a torn meniscus in training camp," which caused him to miss the regular season opener. Track record of injuries for Nate Hobbs Throughout his NFL career, Hobbs has handled multiple injuries — ankle, knee, concussion. Those forced him to miss 16 games over his final three years with the Las Vegas Raiders, and ultimately were the main reason why the team didn't re-sign him. Available in free agency, Nate Hobbs signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers with $16 million in guarantees. This is the second knee injury Hobbs suffers since joining Green Bay. The first one caused him to miss part of training camp, preseason, and the Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions. Now, he's set to miss more playing time. When available, Hobbs hasn't been effective either. So far this season, he's allowed a 123.7 passer rating when targeted, the worst number amongst Packers defensive backs. He was benched in favor of former seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine over the past two games. Even though he had primarily been a slot defender throughout his career, Hobbs has played more as a boundary corner for the Packers — 222 snaps outside and 38 in the slot. Thin at cornerback Without Nate Hobbs, a difficult situation at corner gets even more complicated. Beyond starters Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, the options are converted wide receiver Bo Melton and Kamal Hadden. Safety Javon Bullard is the starting slot. Green Bay also has Tyron Herring on the practice squad — and safety Johnathan Baldwin can play at corner as well. This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Green Bay, as "Packers' rough roster situation somehow gets even worse after latest injury update comes out of nowhere."
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