Backup quarterbacks are taking the spotlight early in this NFL season.
Tyrod Taylor will get the starting nod for the New York Jets, head coach Aaron Glenn announced Wednesday, replacing Justin Fields who is in the concussion protocol after suffering an injury this past weekend against the Buffalo Bills. Taylor joins a group of four other backups who will start or might start in Week 3.
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Here’s how the picture is shaking up for four other teams:
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Minnesota’s Carson Wentz is subbing for J.J. McCarthy, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain.
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The Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels (sprained knee) didn’t practice Wednesday in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels must practice this week in order to play. Marcus Mariota is the backup.
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The Cincinnati Bengals’ Jake Browning is expected to be the starter for the next three months, replacing Joe Burrow (turf toe).
“We’re looking at five [backup] quarterbacks potentially that could be out here for Week 3, which would run the total everybody up to 37 different starting quarterbacks [this season],” Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano said on Wednesday’s episode of the “Inside Coverage” podcast. “Last year we had 59 starting quarterbacks. We’re at 37 potentially heading into Week 3.”
How important are these insurance policies/backups? Yahoo Sports senior writer Jori Epstein said on “Inside Coverage” that a general manager rated the QB2 position as No. 11 overall on a team’s roster.
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Outside of Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins, Mariota carries the highest investment among NFL backup QBs at $8 million this season. Taylor isn’t too far behind at about $6 million this season.
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