Backup Quarterbacks Take Center Stage in NFL Week 9

The NFL’s Week 9 lineup features a surge of backup quarterbacks, with Shedeur Sanders, Joe Milton, Gardner Minshew, Drew Lock and Carson Wentz taking starting roles. Their teams range from playoff contenders to clubs below .500, and their chances to stay in the job differ widely.

Sanders is expected to start for Cleveland against New Orleans after Deshaun Watson cleared concussion protocol but was set to be inactive. Milton will make his first NFL start in Philadelphia, after Nick Sirianni moved Tanner McKee to the bench following three consecutive losses. Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve with blood clots in his lungs.

Minshew takes over in Arizona after throwing three touchdown passes in a comeback win over Dallas. His performance helped prompt the Cardinals to trade Jacoby Brissett to Baltimore, and coach Mike LaFleur named Minshew the starter going forward. Seattle’s Lock is filling in for Sam Darnold, who is out with a quadriceps injury; Darnold is expected to regain the job when healthy.

Wentz is starting for Minnesota while Kyler Murray deals with a hamstring injury. Wentz has thrown five touchdown passes in 101 snaps this season, while Murray has six in more than 300 snaps. The Vikings have also been in discussions with Indianapolis about a possible trade for the Colts’ starting quarterback.

With Joe Fagnano having started for Baltimore on Thursday, the season is expected to reach 47 different starting quarterbacks by the end of Week 9. That would be the second-highest number through that point in the past 15 seasons, behind 48 in 2019. Injuries account for many of the changes, though some teams have also made switches based on performance.