All articles tagged with #backup quarterback
Russell Wilson says he’s mulling a Jets contract after a free-agent visit, weighing whether to join as a veteran backup behind Geno Smith or pursue TV analysis opportunities as the Jets seek experienced depth.
Wilson confirmed the Jets have offered him a role and he’s weighing it against possible TV work as he considers returning as Geno Smith’s backup.
Green Bay added veteran Tyrod Taylor to back up Jordan Love, bringing a 15-year NFL veteran who has started for six teams, earned a 2015 Pro Bowl with the Bills, and showed mobility and accuracy. He backed Aaron Rodgers with the Jets in 2024 and could provide a steady veteran presence in Green Bay’s QB room, with the contract signed after the draft so it won’t impact next year’s compensatory-pick formula.
Green Bay is signing veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor to serve as the primary backup behind starter Jordan Love, adding depth after Love's missed starts in recent seasons. Taylor, 36, spent 2025 with the Jets, appearing in six games with four starts and posting 779 passing yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions along with 143 rushing yards; he brings 100 career games and 62 starts to a Packers QB room that also includes Desmond Ridder, Kyle McCord and Kyron Drones.
After drafting six players and adding 11 undrafted free agents to a 91-man roster, Green Bay must sort out critical depth at quarterback and running back. Jordan Love is the starter, with Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord (plus Kyron Drones) in the mix for the backup job; the Packers haven’t added a veteran QB yet and could pursue one via free agency or a trade if Ridder/McCord falter. In the backfield, Josh Jacobs is the starter behind a group including Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez and Jaden Nixon, with health and reliability concerns around Lloyd and optimism about Brooks. The piece notes ongoing depth discussions beyond these positions, though it doesn’t detail the kicker situation.
Free agent quarterback Russell Wilson visited the New York Jets to discuss a potential backup role behind Geno Smith; Wilson, 37, has not drawn other known NFL interest since becoming a free agent, and the meeting focused on options for the Jets’ quarterback room.
The Kansas City Chiefs closed the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at No. 249, signaling a plan to groom a future backup behind Patrick Mahomes. Once viewed as a top QB, Nussmeier fell due to medical concerns, but the pick is aimed at development and potential future value, with analysts noting it’s unlikely to play in 2026 but could become a useful asset in the Chiefs’ long-term plans.
The Patriots selected Texas Tech QB Behren Morton with the 234th overall pick in Round 7 to back up Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito. Instant grades were mixed (Matt St. Jean: C, Pat Lane: D, Andrew Guindon: C+), commending Morton’s toughness and three-year starter/captain experience while noting limited athleticism and slower processing that could hinder him from making the roster as a developmental backup.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid says Patrick Mahomes’s recovery from a torn ACL means the team has a legitimate backup in Justin Fields who can win games if needed, after trading for him to cover the start of the season. Fields, who struggled with the Jets last year, is supported by Reid’s system and a strong cast around him as he aims to be prepared for 2026.
Joe Flacco, age 41, re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals for his 19th NFL season, returning as the veteran backup behind Joe Burrow after a standout stretch filling in last season. Flacco said he loves the Bengals’ building and culture, and his decision was guided by gut feeling and positive relationships with Bengals staff and teammates. The move reunites him with coach Zac Taylor and other familiar figures, following a year that included a 470-yard game against the Bears and key performances that helped secure Burrow’s workload future as Cincinnati prioritizes experienced depth behind their star quarterback.
Joe Flacco has re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year deal for 2026, securing him as the team’s QB2 behind Joe Burrow and potentially shaping the QB3 competition with Josh Johnson. The veteran brings veteran leadership and a trusted option if Burrow is sidelined again, though the defense will need to improve for Flacco to maximize the team’s fortunes.
Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Detroit Lions for a third stint, returning as Jared Goff’s primary backup and insisting he’ll compete while helping teammates develop, especially younger receivers, this spring and in the preseason. A 13‑year veteran who has played for multiple teams and even coached high school football in 2024, Bridgewater last backed up Baker Mayfield with the Buccaneers; his return adds veteran leadership as Detroit builds depth, while a Florida bill named the Teddy Bridgewater Act seeks to expand spending on student welfare in high school sports.
The Panthers signed Kenny Pickett to back up Bryce Young, and Pickett says they’re similar in playing style—both pocket passers who can make plays on the move—so they should complement the offense; he and Young have known each other since the Heisman race and are excited to learn in the Panthers' quarterback room under coach Dave Canales on a championship chase.
Las Vegas is reportedly planning to draft Fernando Mendoza in 2026 and would like a veteran quarterback to mentor him, with 41-year-old Joe Flacco identified as a potential backup/bridge behind Mendoza. Aidan O’Connell is currently the only other QB on the roster, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler floated Vegas as a possible destination for Flacco, though other teams were mentioned as well.
The New York Jets traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs for a late-round pick swap, with New York retaining most of Fields’ $10 million guaranteed 2026 salary. The move gives KC a cost-effective backup behind a recovering Patrick Mahomes, while Fields gets an offseason path to practice time; the Jets also reworked Geno Smith’s deal as part of their QB reshuffle.