Like most other NFL teams, the Detroit Lions have steadfastly kept three quarterbacks on the active 53-man roster. During the COVID-19 impacted seasons of 2020 and 2021, it was a nearly league-wide requisite to keep three, and the Lions were part of that crowd.
But in 2022, that could change. At least that’s the popular take on what head coach Dan Campbell said prior to Tuesday’s practice session when asked about the prospect of keeping just two QBs.
Here is Campbell’s response when directly asked if the Lions would consider keeping just two quarterbacks,
“Well, I think most of it comes down to what else is on our roster. That’s what it’s going to come down to. Is it – are you keeping a quarterback three versus a stud special teams player? Or, someone you know is going to play 30 snaps for you on defense, he’d be a critical role player, or what – I think that’s what it’s going to come down to honestly.”
The Lions currently have a simmering camp battle going on between Tim Boyle and David Blough for the No. 2 QB gig behind Jared Goff. Both were on the roster last season and brought back this offseason as free agents, showing some dedication and commitment on the organization’s part to keep three. Blough has been in Detroit since the Lions traded for him prior to the 2019 season.
Yet neither Blough nor Boyle has performed particularly well when given chances in the regular season. Neither inspires much confidence should Goff get injured and miss multiple games. Neither has proven irreplaceable or at a distinct advantage over the other throughout the minicamp and training camp season thus far.
Would the Lions risk losing the loser of the backup battle–likely Blough–to another team if they choose to keep just two? The current free agent QB market is a shallow pool not really worth wading into. As difficult as it might be to believe, Blough (or Boyle) would float to the top of the available QB pool pretty quickly if let go. Really.
That would leave the Lions with no Plan B for the backup position. They don’t have a young camp arm, and assistant coach J.T. Barrett isn’t coming out of injury-related retirement–from the CFL–to save the day. Given that both Goff and Boyle missed time with injuries in 2021, that’s a very unsavory risk.
Yet it’s one the Lions could very well accept, based on Campbell’s criteria. If they value a promising young player they’d surely lose to another team by waiving them, Campbell and the Lions might decide to take the risk. Will they value, as a strictly hypothetical scenario, promising but raw rookie TE James Mitchell more than keeping the third QB? How about LB and special teams standout Anthony Pittman, or S Juju Hughes–both firmly on the roster bubble but with legit NFL skills and roles in Detroit?
We will find out in less than a month. Campbell opening the door to just keeping two is a new development, however, and that should indicate that it’s a real possibility.
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