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Week 9 might be the worst bunch of starting quarterbacks you’ll ever see
Week 9 features an unusually weak group of starting quarterbacks, as injuries, benchings and poor form have pushed backups and inexperienced players into prominent roles. The depleted line-up highlights how injuries and inconsistency are affecting teams across the NFL.
Baltimore’s Joe Fagnano threw for 60 yards and two interceptions in a 33-10 loss, and is expected to give way to Jacoby Brissett next week. Other fill-in starters include Drew Lock, Joe Milton III, Carson Wentz and Shedeur Sanders, while Gardner Minshew and J.J. McCarthy are also set for notable starts. Several established quarterbacks are struggling too: Michael Penix Jr. threw four interceptions, and Daniel Jones and Justin Herbert each threw two.
In short
- Week 9 has several backup and inexperienced quarterbacks starting.
- Injuries and benchings have reshuffled teams’ quarterback line-ups.
- Some established starters are also coming off poor performances.
Explained simply
The NFL is the top professional American football league, and each team relies on a quarterback to lead its attack by passing or handing the ball off. Teams usually build their plans around an established starter, with a backup ready to step in if that player is injured or performs poorly.
A starter’s absence can bring an inexperienced player or a backup into a prominent role, while a coach may also change quarterbacks after a run of poor results. Injuries and uneven performances can therefore affect several teams at once, making it harder to judge how strong their attacks are from week to week.