All articles tagged with #quarterback competition
Michigan QB Bryce Underwood struggled in a 13-12 win over Western Michigan, tossing a late end-of-half interception and a late fumble, while true freshman Tommy Carr impressed with poise and leadership; Carr, the backup over Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, could push for the starting job if Underwood doesn't improve, especially with Oklahoma on the horizon.
Arkansas’ new coach Ryan Silverfield is overhauling the program with obsessive attention to detail—from upgrading stadium lighting and sound to data-driven, situational scrimmages that decided the starting quarterback (KJ Jackson over AJ Hill). He rebuilt the roster with about 80 new players, restructured the staff, and formed a student leadership council, then used rigorous film sessions to fix fundamentals and discipline. Despite a tough SEC slate and a modest roster, Silverfield emphasizes alignment, accountability, and a “loser mentality” reversal as the foundation for a potential turnaround.
Kirk Cousins has been named the Raiders' starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2026 season, ending a training-camp competition with Aidan O'Connell and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. The veteran QB, entering his 15th NFL season, brings extensive experience (167 starts, 44,700 passing yards, 298 TDs, 88 wins). In two preseason appearances for Las Vegas, he completed 76.5% of his passes for 101 yards and a TD.
Dallas dropped their preseason finale to the Saints, but several players stood out: QB Sam Howell went 12-for-18 for 155 yards with two TDs and added a late 2-point run, keeping the Cowboys’ three-QB roster debate alive; WR Jordan Hudson led Dallas receivers with 97 yards on four catches including a 26-yard TD. On the downside, CB Caelen Carson drew costly penalties and TE Michael Trigg had three drops, jeopardizing their spots as Dallas trims to 53 by Aug. 31. The game also fed ongoing chatter about veteran corner additions and the QB competition alongside roster decisions heading into the regular season.
Kirk Cousins is the favorite to start for the Raiders this season after a solid preseason showing, but coach Klint Kubiak won't name a Week 1 starter yet as rookie Fernando Mendoza pushes for a role; the competition reflects a longer storyline in which Cousins left the Vikings amid a plan to replace him and signed a two-year, $12.6 million contract with Las Vegas, setting up what could be a short, veteran stopgap role while the team evaluates its long-term quarterback future.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Raiders expect Kirk Cousins to be their starting quarterback eventually, with coach Klint Kubiak delaying an official Week 1 announcement as rookie Fernando Mendoza pushes in the preseason; current signs favor Cousins taking the job, though the decision is not yet official.
Gabriel and Taylen Green flashed in Cleveland’s preseason finale, with Gabriel going 12-of-15 for 186 yards and 3 TD and Green adding 27 passing yards plus 66 rushing yards, but Todd Monken warned the Browns can’t carry four quarterbacks, leaving a tough choice between keeping Gabriel or Green as Watson starts and Sanders sits at No. 2.
Todd Monken said Shedeur Sanders will not play in Cleveland’s preseason finale to give expanded reps to Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green, while Deshaun Watson was officially named the starter. Sanders had pressured for a competition with a strong summer, but Watson’s status as starter is maintained despite uneven early preseason showings; Sanders remains a potential future option, with the Browns unlikely to rush him given the current pecking order.
Week 2 of the NFL preseason thrust Cleveland’s QB competition into the spotlight as Shedeur Sanders starred (9-for-11, 74 yards, TD) and was named a game captain, while Deshaun Watson struggled (5-for-12, 36 yards, INT), fueling chatter that Sanders could win the job. Other notable notes included Adonai Mitchell rising for the Jets, Fernando Mendoza’s rough Raiders outing (including a pick-six), Maurice Hurst II’s two-sack debut for the Commanders, Odell Beckham Jr.’s limited Giants role, Will Shipley showing as a potential Eagles No. 2 back, and the Lions’ O-line woes contrasted by the Jets’ two interceptions.
Browns coach Todd Monken is set to name the Week 1 starter on Monday, with Deshaun Watson potentially getting the first two games (on the road at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay) to prove he can reclaim the job. If the Browns go 2-0, the mood could shift ahead of Week 3 vs. the Panthers, but Monken won’t lock in a 17-game decision yet and insiders may get leaks ahead of the official announcement.
Fully cleared after an ACL injury, Michael Penix Jr. enters a real quarterback competition with Tua Tagovailoa in Atlanta, as the Falcons begin 11-on-11 practice and a crucial three-week evaluation ahead of the Sept. 13 opener vs. the Steelers, with Penix’s live arm drawing attention even as Tagovailoa remains the favorite.
J.J. McCarthy’s second preseason showing for Minnesota did little to quiet concerns about accuracy and mechanics, finishing 5-for-10 for 81 yards and missing several open red-zone targets, including a wide-open Myles Price on a fourth-down play. Despite earlier talk of growth, the same issues that haunted him last season persisted, and the Vikings’ QB competition still centers on Kyler Murray for now. McCarthy remains a long way from a ready-to-play role after limited NFL experience and recovery from injuries.
In the Browns’ quarterback competition, Sanders impressed against the Bills while Watson struggled; Watson’s postgame remarks about being disrespected by home fans could complicate his bid to win the Week 1 job, fueling talk that Sanders may have overtaken him as the starter and prompting broader discussion of Watson’s future and potential dead-money implications.
Deshaun Watson blasted Cleveland fans for booing during Saturday's preseason loss to Buffalo, calling the hostility disrespectful and personal, as he competes with Shedeur Sanders for the Browns' starting quarterback role amid injury history, a lengthy suspension, and a high-profile contract.
Dak Prescott remains the Cowboys' starter, but Joe Milton delivered a strong performance (9-of-13 for 179 yards and a TD) against the Cardinals, with Sam Howell also contributing, keeping the backup QB competition wide open and coach Brian Schottenheimer calling it 'long from over' as they head back to Frisco for more training camp days.