All articles tagged with #backup quarterback
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.
With Patrick Mahomes sidelined by an ACL injury, the Chiefs are finalizing a trade for Justin Fields from the Jets, sending a 2027 sixth-round pick while KC covers about $3 million of Fields' $10 million 2026 guarantee to bolster the QB room.
The Baltimore Ravens re-signed quarterback Tyler Huntley to a two-year contract worth up to $11 million, keeping him as the team's No. 2 quarterback for the 2026 season. Huntley has started 11 regular-season games and one playoff game for Baltimore, posting a 7-9 record with 3,212 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in his career.
Green Bay is reportedly weighing a mid-to-late-round trade for Colts QB Anthony Richardson to back up Jordan Love, seeing Richardson’s high ceiling as a low-risk upgrade over Malik Willis, with development potential and an easy exit after one season if it doesn’t pan out (per ESPN's Stephen Holder).
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, now 41, says he’d consider playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026 if the opportunity arises, keeping the door open for a potential AFC North reunion after a career that includes a Ravens Super Bowl and stops in Denver, New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. In 2024 he backed up Anthony Richardson with the Colts and started six games; in 2025 he filled in for an injured Joe Burrow with Cincinnati, helping the Bengals win a primetime clash with Pittsburgh and finishing the season with 15 TDs and 10 INTs. With his age and backup status, his market may be limited, but he remains eager to play if a team calls.
The article outlines a four-step blueprint for playoff success with a backup quarterback: (1) have a Hall of Fame‑caliber coach to guide the process, (2) earn locker-room trust, (3) keep the offense largely intact and tailor it to the backup’s strengths, and (4) avoid getting emotionally tied to the backup if the starter returns. Applied to Denver’s Jarrett Stidham stepping in for Bo Nix, it argues that while rare, a championship run is possible with strong leadership, respected teammates, and a stable game plan, citing past backups who reached or won the Super Bowl.
Kyle Shanahan said he’d be very surprised if Mac Jones isn’t with the 49ers next season, noting Jones performed well when Brock Purdy was unavailable and that Jones is under contract for 2026, making a release unlikely; while a trade could be discussed, the team values Jones as a dependable backup and will likely keep him at least for next year.
With Bo Nix sidelined, Denver faces six days of questions about Jarrett Stidham stepping in for the AFC Championship. The piece frames Stidham as an unproven option behind a high-stakes matchup, notes his background and two-year Broncos deal after a standout preseason, and contrasts his limited action with CJ Stroud’s playoff difficulties, while acknowledging the difficulty of relying on a backup quarterback in a must-win game.
Lamar Jackson is inactive due to a back injury, leading to a backup quarterback battle between Tyler Huntley for the Ravens and Malik Willis for the Packers, as both teams face key players' absences in a crucial game.