conv.

All stories
SportsQuiet 4d · day 9

Walder ranks NFL backup QBs after early-season injuries force starters out

ESPN's analysis of second-string quarterbacks comes after Drew Lock, Carson Wentz, and others saw action in Week 1.

newest coverage 4d agosummary written 18h ago5 pieces NewswiresRedditGoogle News

What to know

  • Multiple starting QBs suffered injuries in Week 1 of 2026, forcing backup quarterbacks Drew Lock, Carson Wentz, and Cooper Rush into immediate action, with backups contributing to victories.
  • Walder ranks Mendoza (Raiders), Mariota (Commanders), and Mac Jones (49ers) as the top three backup QBs, emphasizing that backup quality varies widely and many lack recent meaningful experience.
  • The ranking exercise highlights a core NFL dilemma: teams must choose backup quarterbacks based on scarce information, yet backups can suddenly determine playoff fates if a starter goes down.

“Sure, we haven't seen Mendoza take a snap in a regular-season game, but being the No. 1 draft pick is worth enough to easily put him at the top. He has the highest upside of any QB on this list.”

Seth Walder, ESPN analyst · ESPN ↗

Seth Walder ESPN analystShedeur Mendoza Raiders backup QBMarcus MariotaMarcus Mariota Commanders backup QBMac JonesMac Jones 49ers backup QB

Walder ranks NFL backup QBs after early-season injuries force starters out
espn.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in two hours at Sep 19, 7 AM; 5 pieces over 9 days (4 articles · 1 post) Sep 19, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietSep 23, 1 AM — quietSep 23, 3 AM — quietSep 23, 5 AM — quietSep 23, 7 AM — quietSep 23, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 23, 11 AM — quietSep 23, 1 PM — quietSep 23, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 23, 5 PM — quietSep 23, 7 PM — quietSep 23, 9 PM — quietSep 23, 11 PM — quietSep 24, 1 AM — quietSep 24, 3 AM — quietSep 24, 5 AM — quietSep 24, 7 AM — quietSep 24, 9 AM — quietSep 24, 11 AM — quietSep 24, 1 PM — quietSep 24, 3 PM — quietSep 24, 5 PM — quietSep 24, 7 PM — quietSep 24, 9 PM — quietSep 24, 11 PM — quietSep 25, 1 AM — quietSep 25, 3 AM — quietSep 25, 5 AM — quietSep 25, 7 AM — quietSep 25, 9 AM — quietSep 25, 11 AM — quietSep 25, 1 PM — quietSep 25, 3 PM — quietSep 25, 5 PM — quietSep 25, 7 PM — quietSep 25, 9 PM — quietSep 25, 11 PM — quietSep 26, 1 AM — quietSep 26, 3 AM — quietSep 26, 5 AM — quietSep 26, 7 AM — quietSep 26, 9 AM — quietSep 26, 11 AM — quietSep 26, 1 PM — quietSep 26, 3 PM — quietSep 26, 5 PM — quietSep 26, 7 PM — quietSep 26, 9 PM — quietSep 26, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quiet 12
Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22Sep 23Sep 24Sep 25Sep 26now · 12:32 AM ET
  1. 2

    Yahoo Sports focuses on backup QB depth for teams hit by starter injuries

    Yahoo Sports published a follow-up analysis examining backup quarterback quality specifically for the six NFL teams most affected by early-season quarterback chaos, acknowledging that some clubs are better positioned than others to handle injuries to their starting QB.

    1. 1 outlet Next man up: Ranking the NFL's backup quarterbacks for 6 teams that have had QB1 chaos

      first by Yahoo Sports, 4d ago

  2. 3 days quiet
  3. 1

    Walder ranks all 32 NFL backup quarterbacks for 2026 season

    ESPN's Seth Walder published comprehensive rankings of every team's No. 2 quarterback, accounting for backups who have already seen action in 2026. The ranking places Shedeur Mendoza (Raiders) at No. 1, citing his draft pedigree and highest upside, followed by Marcus Mariota (Commanders) and Mac Jones (49ers). Walder acknowledges the exercise operates on limited information, as many backups lack recent meaningful playing time.

    “And if I had to ask any backup to win a few games right now, I would take Mendoza.”
    — Seth Walder
    1. 2 outlets Ranking all 32 backup quarterbacks in the NFL: Which teams can truly rely on their QB2s if needed?

      first by ESPN NFL, 8d ago · also ESPN

  4. background

    Multiple NFL starters injured in Week 1, forcing backups into action — Sam Darnold suffered an early injury in the Seahawks' season opener against the Patriots, forcing Drew Lock to take over. Later in Week 1, Kyler Murray sustained a concussion against the Packers, leading the Vikings to start Carson Wentz. Both backup QBs led their teams to victories. The Falcons also activated QB3 Cooper Rush against the Steelers with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both unavailable.