“It’s just an interesting situation,” Drew Lock said after the Giants benched Daniel Jones and Tommy DeVito jumped Lock on the depth chart.
The New York Giants announced this week that quarterback Daniel Jones has been benched. Surprisingly, Drew Lock is not replacing him.
Lock served as New York’s backup quarterback for the first 10 games of the season. After benching Jones, however, the Giants are turning the offense over to Tommy DeVito, not Lock.
So why was Lock listed above DeVito on the depth chart all season until Jones was benched?
“Yeah, that’s a question I might still have for myself,” Lock told reporters on Wednesday, via SNY.tv. “You know, it was expressed to me that I was going to be the [No.] 2 and, I don’t know, it’s just an interesting situation.
“Not much I can really say about it besides, again, I’m going to be here for him and we’re still communicating, we’re still very good friends, believe it or not. No, yeah, I’m going to be here for him. This team needs to get a win and if you start winning, everything gets a little better around here.”
Drew Lock is asked about not being named the starting quarterback after Daniel Jones was benched when he was told he’d be the backup:
“That’s a question that I might still have for myself. It was expressed to me that I was going to be QB2. Interesting situation..” pic.twitter.com/gFpj8SA0oc
There’s been speculation that New York is not starting Lock in part because his contract includes reachable incentives based on playing time and performance. Whatever the reason, DeVito will start for the Giants going forward.
Lock, 28, was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Missouri. He is 9-14 as a starter in the NFL.
Dalton was present at Wednesday’s practice but he did not participate in the session, according to the team’s injury report. After practice, Canales confirmed that Dalton sprained his thumb and Bryce Young is now set to start against the Broncos on Sunday.
Young, 23, was the No. 1 overall pick out of Alabama last year.
Young went 2-16 as a starter in Charlotte before being benched by the Panthers three games into his second season. Dalton, a 36-year-old veteran, went 1-4 over the last five games with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
Before being benched, Young completed 56.9% of his passes this fall for 299 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions (he did rush for one score). Young was also sacked seven times. He’s now back in the lineup for Sunday’s game at Empower Field at Mile High.
“Andy [Dalton] will be playing next week,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said of the team’s QB plan against the Broncos.
Story update: After Andy Dalton sprained his thumb in a car accident on Tuesday, the Panthers announced Wednesday that Bryce Young will start against the Broncos. See our original post below.
During a 40-7 blowout loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, the Carolina Panthers replaced veteran quarterback Andy Dalton with second-year quarterback Bryce Young for their final drive of the game.
After the game, Panthers coach Dave Canales said Dalton would remain the starter going forward. The coach was asked if there would be a point where Carolina would go back to Young.
“Right now, it’s just hypothetical,” Canales said, via Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire. “We gotta just get prepared, we gotta look at this film, get ready for the Broncos right now and Andy will be playing next week.”
Dave Canales says he committed to Andy Dalton as the Panthers’ starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/cvbMWKzt4k
Since winning his first start with the Panthers earlier this year, Dalton has since dropped four straight games. Dalton went 11-of-16 passing for 93 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions on Sunday. Young went 2-of-2 for negative four yards on the final drive of the game.
This week, Dalton will face a Broncos defense that ranks third in total yards allowed per game (282.4), fifth in passing yards allowed (170.7) and third in points allowed (15.1). That’s through seven weeks with a pair of Monday Night Football games yet to take place tonight.
Le’Veon Bell made headlines last week as he attended the Week 6 game in Vegas. He has a bold prediction about Pickens’ future production.
George Pickens has been the limelight as of late for all the wrong reasons. From drama stemming from inconsistent play a few weeks ago, to maturity issues with media availability, and more recently, ruining Mike Tomlin’s Week 7 ‘super-secret’ quarterback plan.
The news on Russell Wilson’s Week 7 start, that Pickens leaked accidentally, was unsurprising to most fans, as there were subtle hints that Justin Fields was going to be benched. However, former All-Pro Steelers’ RB Le’Veon Bell believes Wilson will open doorways for Pickens that he hasn’t had before.
Can anyone truly argue with what Bell is predicting? From his highlight reel catches, to being one of the most complete receivers in today’s game, Pickens’ talent is undeniable. Wilson, who has had extremely talented receivers unlock their potential under his signal calling before, should get more out of Pickens’ production than any previous QB has gotten before.
Tune in to watch the duo’s first start together in Week 7, as the Steelers take on the Jets on Sunday Night Football, on October 20th, at 8:20 PM EST.
Is Pittsburgh making a mistake if they start Russell Wilson?
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin opened up a big can of worms at his Tuesday press conference this week. Tomlin didn’t come right out and say Russell Wilson is planning to start this week against the New York Jets but he left the door open for it in a big way.
According to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, the Steelers plan to give Wilson first-team reps in practice this week. No mention of whether or not Wilson will get all of the reps or if it will be a split between Wilson and Justin Fields but if Wilson is healthy, the odds are Tomlin is leaning toward starting him Sunday night against the New York Jets.
Sources: The #Steelers plan to give Russell Wilson first-team reps in practice this week, putting him in line to make his season debut and start Sunday night against the #Jets.
Pittsburgh is 4-2 with Justin Fields. But Wilson’s calf is fully healed and now he gets his shot. pic.twitter.com/vrhgo7LfgO
If the Steelers go to Wilson now, there might be no going back. Fields has done everything asked of him and has the team at 4-2. Bench him now and if Wilson struggles, what is the benefit? And how would Fields respond if he’s put back into the starting lineup? This whole thing feels like a dangerous situation that could completely blow up in the Steelers face if it doesn’t work.
Wisconsin future opponent makes quarterback change entering Week 3
Wisconsin is currently occupied by its huge matchup against No. 4 Alabama this weekend. But there is a notable update for one of its future opponents.
The Northwestern Wildcats are making a quarterback change entering their Week 3 game vs. Eastern Illinois. Redshirt sophomore Jack Lausch will start in place of Mississippi State transfer Mike Wright.
Wright has struggled during Northwestern’s first two games of the season, completing just 56.9% of passes for 334 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. He led the team to score just 13 and 20 points in those games, respectively. That 20 in Week 2 against Duke even game with an overtime period. The Wright-led Northwestern offense averaged just 13 points in regulation through two weeks.
Northwestern is reportedly moving to Lausch with five weeks before hosting Wisconsin. Lausch played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2023, completing two of three pass attempts for 10 total yards while adding 80 rush yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
He will get one week of runway before Northwestern begins Big Ten play on Sept. 21 against Washington. His play will be interesting to watch for Wisconsin fans as the Badgers’ Oct. 19 trip to Evanston, Illinois nears.
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Bo Nix is the Denver Broncos’ 14th starting quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement. Here’s the full list.
The Denver Broncos have been in football purgatory following Peyton Manning’s retirement from the NFL.
Manning played in Denver from 2012-2015, posting a 45-12 record as the team’s starter. The Broncos won the AFC West in all four of Manning’s seasons and they reached two Super Bowls.
After winning Super Bowl 50, Manning retired during the 2016 offseason. Denver spent the last nine years searching for a replacement. Broncos fans now have hope that Bo Nix will finally break the team’s post-Manning quarterback curse.
Nix, who was picked by Denver in the first round of the NFL draft in April, will become the Broncos’ 14th starting quarterback since Manning’s retirement. Here’s the full list.
Broncos starting quarterbacks since Peyton Manning
Siemian was the team’s only full-time starter to post a winning record, but he wasn’t a franchise quarterback. Here’s a quick look back at each QB.
1. Trevor Siemian: 13-11
(Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)
Denver’s most successful quarterback since Manning’s retirement (in terms of record), Siemian nearly reached the playoffs in his first season under center. After spending last year as a backup with the New York Jets, Siemian is now a free agent.
2. Paxton Lynch: 1-3
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
One of the biggest busts in franchise history, Lynch went on to have unsuccessful stints in the CFL, USFL and XFL after falling out of the NFL in 2019. He’s currently a free agent.
3. Brock Osweiler: 0-4
(Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)
Osweiler was an important player for the Broncos during their Super Bowl 50 run as he filled in well for an injured Manning during the 2015 season. Osweiler’s second stint with the team did not go well, though, and he retired from the NFL in 2019.
4. Case Keenum: 6-10
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Keenum had an unremarkable one-year run with the Broncos in 2018. He’s now a backup with the Houston Texans.
5. Joe Flacco: 2-6
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Flacco joined the Broncos in 2019 and he didn’t last long in Denver. He’s now a backup with the Indianapolis Colts.
6. Brandon Allen: 1-2
(Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports)
Allen started three games in 2019 when Flacco and Drew Lock were recovering from injuries. Allen is now a backup with the San Francisco 49ers.
7. Jeff Driskel: 0-1
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Driskel started one game when Lock was injured in 2020 and it didn’t go well. He’s now a backup with the Washington Commanders.
8. Brett Rypien: 2-1
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Rypien started one game in the place of an injured Lock and two games in the place of an injured Russell Wilson. He is now a backup with the Chicago Bears.
9. Drew Lock: 8-13
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Lock had moments of strong play in Denver, but his turnovers often proved to be costly. He was sent to Seattle as part of the Wilson trade and he spent two years as a backup with the Seahawks. Lock is now a backup with the New York Gitans.
10. Kendall Hinton/Phillip Lindsay: 0-1
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
When all four of Denver’s quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play in Week 12 of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 policy, wide receiver Kendall Hinton was called up from the practice squad to play quarterback that week. Technically, the Broncos had Lindsay line up in a Wild Cat formation for the first play, so Hinton was not officially credited with a QB start, but he was Denver’s QB that day.
Hinton and Lindsay are now both out of the NFL.
11. Teddy Bridgewater: 7-7
(Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports)
Bridgewater was one of Denver’s best quarterbacks since the Manning era, but it still wasn’t enough for the Broncos to get back into playoff contention. After backup stints with the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions, Bridgewater retired from the NFL in February. He now coaches high school football in Miami.
12. Russell Wilson: 11-19
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
The Broncos paid a king’s ransom to acquire Wilson from the Seahawks in 2022 and he ended up starting just 30 games in Denver. Wilson went 4-11 in 2022 and 7-8 in 2023. Payton took on the largest dead money cap hit in NFL history to move on from Wilson this spring. He now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
13. Jarrett Stidham: 1-1
(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
After the Broncos benched Wilson last year, Stidham started the final two games of the season and split the results. He competed with Nix for Denver’s starting job this summer but wasn’t able to fend off the rookie for QB1 duties.
14. Bo Nix: 0-0
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
On paper, Nix seems to be a perfect fit for Payton’s offense. He will make his regular-season NFL debut when the Broncos go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 (Sept. 8). After eight seasons of inconsistent quarterback play, Denver now turns to Nix to get the franchise back on track.
Bo Nix is the first rookie quarterback to start for the Broncos in Week 1 since John Elway (1983).
When the Denver Broncos face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon, Bo Nix will become the team’s first rookie quarterback to start in Week 1 since John Elway started against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1983.
Elway went on to win two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame career, but he struggled in his debut. After going 1-of-8 passing for 14 yards with one interception and four sacks, Elway was benched at halftime. Steve DeBerg replaced him in the second half and Denver went on to defeat the Steelers 14-10 on the road.
Nix will aim to avoid being replaced by veteran Jarrett Stidham against the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
“It will be a special moment,” Nix said after being named the team’s starter in August. “Obviously, that’s great to share with such a great player like John Elway, but definitely want to consider going out there and doing whatever I can do ultimately for the team.
“It doesn’t matter when your first start is and doesn’t matter if you have to wait or go right now. You just want to get out there, get the first win, ultimately compete at a high level and give your team the best chance possible. That is what my goal is at the beginning. Just give our team the best chance to go out there and win games every week.”
The Broncos released their Week 1 depth chart on Wednesday. Bo Nix, of course, is listed as the starting quarterback. Jarrett Stidham is listed as the backup quarterback with Wilson listed as QB3.
The depth chart was not released until after Wednesday’s practice, so Payton has not yet commented on the team’s QB depth chart. He was asked if cornerback Riley Moss would be listed as a starter and the coach was not willing to play ball.
“We haven’t named any starters,” Payton said. “We kind of have an idea as we’re going. No announcements. You know how it is during a game week. I’m not going to talk about injuries. I’m not going to talk about lineups, with respect.”
So that’s that. Payton is scheduled to meet the media again on Friday, but judging from Wednesday’s comment, it’s probably safe to assume he won’t have much to say about the team’s backup quarterback depth chart.
Wilson and Stidham are both scheduled to become free agents in 2025. Wilson surely has more long-term upside, but Denver’s going with Stidham as the primary backup going into the 2024 campaign.
Before he starts in Week 1, here’s a look back at all of Bo Nix’s touches from preseason.
Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix impressed in his two preseason appearances this summer, going 23-of-30 passing for 205 yards with two touchdown passes, no turnovers and no sacks. Nix also showed off his dual-threat versatility, rushing six times for 29 yards.
“He’s earned the opportunity to be the starter,” general manager George Paton said earlier this week. “We’ve talked about it multiple times. Just the poise, the maturity and efficiency that he’s operated on the offense has been impressive.
“We know like every rookie, he is going to have ups and downs, but we’ll support him through that. We’re confident in Bo and just look forward to his continued growth and development.”
Check out all 36 of Nix’s throws and rushing attempts from preseason below, courtesy of the NFL’s official YouTube page:
