Now three weeks into the NFL season, teams are faced with cold hard truth of injuries, and emerging as well as plateauing player performance. It’s likely that J.J. McCarthy will formally miss the Cincinnati Bengals game next Sunday. He is facing an ankle dinger. Given all of this, Carson Wentz is clearly going to be the starting quarterback. It’s a peculiar situation that begs further examination into the relative strength of backup quarterbacks around the league and how they’re performing.
Looking at what’s available now Jake Browning jumps off the page for his production stats through seven starts this year. He has only had 283 dropbacks, which places him right outside of the top 12 quarterbacks. His QBR is 60.8, and he has a very strong completion percentage over expectation of +3%. This piece will focus primarily on comparing Browning to other backup quarterbacks, such as Wentz and Kirk Cousins. It will further consider their past work and potential moving forward.
J.J. McCarthy’s Injury and Wentz’s Opportunity
J.J. McCarthy’s ankle injury leaves a significant gap for the Bengals, who will now rely on Carson Wentz to lead the offense. After spending the last two seasons with some of the most esteemed offensive minds in football, that experience will surely serve him well as he steps into this new role. As he takes on this important role, hopes and fears are swirling around what he might accomplish.
Carson Wentz’s history is both a blessing and a burden. His inside knowledge of receivers and his comfortability with offensive schemes can only make it easier to diagnose and execute plays in the right direction. Yet, he has to get past the past inconsistencies that have jumped up and haunted his career. Change can be difficult, but an advantage Wentz has is the understanding of offensive progression, which should make his transition a little smoother.
The Bengals’ coaching staff will likely focus on maximizing Wentz’s strengths while mitigating any weaknesses that have emerged in previous seasons. This strategic cherry-picking is likely to be key for any pro-reform offensive momentum to exist in McCarthy’s absence.
Evaluating Jake Browning’s Performance
Jake Browning’s numbers paint the picture of a quarterback who has proven to be pretty damn good whenever he’s gotten the chance to play. He limited NFL pass rushers to an average of 283 dropbacks through seven games. Had he only met the necessary snap count threshold, he would have finished 13th in QBR. A QBR below 60.8 indicates below average play. That is a testament to him knowing when to take control and play the game on his terms.
Browning’s CPOE is currently at +3%. That indicates that he is better than averaging out expected completion percentage would suggest on the whole. His enviably high efficiency gives him an edge over his colleagues. He looks even better when you put in the context of other backup quarterbacks who didn’t experience as much success.
As teams look for reliable backups, Browning’s performance metrics suggest he could become a valuable asset in any lineup, should an injury arise or if he is granted more playing time. His development trajectory will be one to watch as teams look to evaluate their QB depth behind starters.
The Competitive Landscape of Backup Quarterbacks
The NFL is filled with an array of backup quarterbacks, each providing their own set of gifts and obstacles. For all of that said, Kirk Cousins, at age 37, might still provide one of the best backup high floors. Despite being benched earlier in the season, his 47.0 QBR ranked 23rd in the league, showcasing a baseline level of performance that teams can rely on.
Jacoby Brissett recently signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Commanders. He wowed with flashes of brilliance throughout his stint in Cleveland. While he might be a few seasons removed from that All-Star level of production, he still provides a wealth of experience as a former starter. That experience makes him a better backup quarterback.
Among such great talent, few prospects are as fascinating as quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson has only played in 15 games in the NFL. He flashes an overall upside that few backup QB prospects ever do. His upside would be an immediate boon for whichever club seeks the best long-term quarterback investment.
Joe Flacco has put up a very solid 52.2 QBR. This extraordinary production would have placed him above names you probably just laughed at as starters like Geno Smith and Russell Wilson had he qualified. His prowess of hitting big-time plays when the chips are down only enriches his standing as a backup quarterback.
Assessing Other Notable Backup Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston career stats – promising and alarming at the same time. He’s never posted a QBR less than 50 in years where he was the primary starter, defined as starting at least five games. His propensity for interceptions—111 in 105 career games—remains a critical issue that teams must consider when evaluating his reliability as a backup.
Nick Mullens has had a tumultuous career. Combined between the last two seasons, he has started only a single game each for the Rams and Chiefs. His scant chances hardly allow for a robust assessment of his general efficacy as a backup.
Taylor Heinicke has proven himself somewhat able even during his short stints. His career QBR is 65.5 over just 47 dropbacks. Last season, he earned his stripes with his performance in a comeback win against the Giants, showing that he could shine in close contests.
Andy Dalton matters—don’t forget his experience. Despite going 1-4 in his five starts last season, he was still able to generate a respectable QBR of 52.0. This statistic is promising for Dalton, indicating that he has the ability to still be effective when his team plays poorly. That talent would be a welcome addition for any team searching for a long-term answer under center.
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