(Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
The 2023 NFL season has been crazier than many predicted heading into the year.
Some teams that weren’t expected to contend are playing much better than anticipated, while others have fallen short of preseason expectations.
A lot of this has to do with the number of injuries that ravaged the league.
Significant playmakers have fallen to injury throughout the year, causing teams to modify their game plans.
While these injuries have affected every positional group, quarterbacks have especially felt this struggle.
A recent graphic from B/R Gridiron highlighted the current state of the position, as 11 backups are starting in Week 17.
Wild pic.twitter.com/jUTuJS9I3v
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 27, 2023
This is significant for several reasons: many of these quarterbacks are starting for teams with playoff aspirations.
Joe Flacco, Taylor Heinicke, Gardner Minshew, Mason Rudolph, Jake Browning, and Jarrett Stidham all have an opportunity to help bring their teams into the playoffs.
Minshew has been starting for the Indianapolis Colts for several weeks after Anthony Richardson fell to a season-ending injury.
Other quarterbacks from this list are getting their first start of the season in Week 17, as their respective teams are banking on them to play well.
Fans will be interested to see how this week plays out, especially since the playoff picture will be more apparent when all is said and done.
There are still 24 teams that have a chance to make it to the postseason, making the season’s final two weeks more chaotic than usual.
Will these backups find a way to rally the troops, helping their team to an unlikely playoff berth?
The post Graphic Shows The Long List Of Backup QBs Starting In Week 17 appeared first on The Cold Wire.