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Factoid

Mop-up men

Quarterbacks taking over late in the season

It’s been a crazy year for quarterback injuries. Who would have thunk that the small group of quarterbacks who’ve been able to start every game would include four who were among those most reasonable to be worried about – Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts?

As this crash-up derby approaches the finish line, we’re down to the point where desperate fantasy leagues are mulling whether to plug in quarterbacks like Jaren Hall (pictured), Jarrett Stidham and Jacoby Brissett. Not ideal, but that’s what fate has dealt us.

Stidham, recall, was in this exact same position a year ago and delivered shockingly good numbers, passing for 365 yards and 3 TDs against the 49ers. And many will recall Matt Flynn passing for 480 yards and 6 TDs in a game against Detroit in 2011. Nick Mullens went over 400 yards last week. It can be done.

With that kind mind, let’s unpack the stats for all previous quarterbacks of this ilk in the 32-team era.

Below see the list of all quarterbacks since 2002 who finished the season with 4 or fewer starts, but who started in the last two weeks of the season. There have been 180 of them.

As a group, the numbers aren’t pretty. They went 58-122 in those games, averaging 180 passing yards, with 170 touchdowns and 190 interceptions.

I see only 45 who threw multiple touchdowns, and only 27 who passed for at least 250 yards. I see only 18 who did both, and I’ve got them in bold. Stidham was the only such quarterback last year.

On the other hand, I see 56 quarterbacks (over 3 times as many) who both finished under 200 passing yards and failed to throw a touchdown. (I’ve got those guys in bold).

Some may be looking at these quarterbacks in terms of streaming defenses. This list of 180 quarterbacks including 40 who took at least 4 sacks and 70 who took at least 3. But the overall averages aren’t that bad (about 2.3 sacks and an interception per game).

The players are listed with the most recent first.

LATE SEASON REPLACEMENT STARTERS
YearPlayerOppResultCmpAttYdsTDIntSk
2022Jarrett Stidham, L.V.S.F.L 34-372334365320
2022Desmond Ridder, Atl.T.B.W 30-171930224202
2022Sam Ehlinger, Ind.Hou.L 31-322335209222
2022Gardner Minshew, Phil.N.O.L 10-201832274116
2022Joshua Dobbs, Ten.Dall.L 13-272039232112
2022David Blough, Ari.at Atl.L 19-202440222102
2022Jarrett Stidham, L.V.K.C.L 13-312236219116
2022David Blough, Ari.at S.F.L 13-381418180123
2022Joshua Dobbs, Ten.at Jac.L 16-202029179114
2022Sam Howell, Was.Dall.W 26-61119169113
2022Davis Webb, NYGat Phil.L 16-222340168100
2022Teddy Bridgewater, Mia.at N.E.L 21-231219161111
2022Tyler Huntley, Balt.Pitt.L 13-161421130111
2022Nathan Peterman, Chi.Min.L 13-291119114101
2022Anthony Brown, Balt.at Cin.L 16-271944286024
2022Mike White, NYJat Sea.L 6-232346240024
2022• Desmond Ridder, Atl.Ari.W 20-191926169001
2022• Skylar Thompson, Mia.NYJW 11-62031152001
2022• Joe Flacco, NYJat Mia.L 6-111833149000
2022• Nick Foles, Ind.at NYGL 10-3881381011
2021Tim Boyle, Det.at Sea.L 29-512237262230
2021Trey Lance, S.F.Hou.W 23-71623249211
2021Gardner Minshew, Phil.Dall.L 26-511933186213
2021Case Keenum, Cle.Cin.W 21-161724176211
2021Drew Lock, Den.at LACL 13-341825245101
2021Sean Mannion, Min.at G.B.L 10-372236189102
2021Brandon Allen, Cin.at Cle.L 16-211529136104
2021Jake Fromm, NYGWas.L 7-221531103123
2021• Tyler Huntley, Balt.LARL 19-202032197015
2021• Drew Lock, Den.K.C.L 24-281224162001
2021• Tyler Huntley, Balt.Pitt.L 13-161631141023
2021• Mike Glennon, NYGat Chi.L 3-2941124024
2020C.J. Beathard, S.F.at Ari.W 20-121322182303
2020Mason Rudolph, Pitt.at Cle.L 22-242239315211
2020Chad Henne, K.C.LACL 21-382332218201
2020Jalen Hurts, Phil.at Dall.L 17-372139342123
2020C.J. Beathard, S.F.Sea.L 23-262537273103
2020John Wolford, LARAri.W 18-72238231012
2020• Jalen Hurts, Phil.Was.L 14-2072072011
2019Will Grier, Car.at Ind.L 6-382744224035
2019• Sean Mannion, Min.Chi.L 19-211221126020
2019• Will Grier, Car.N.O.L 10-42184011
2018Kyle Allen, Car.at N.O.W 33-141627228200
2018Taylor Heinicke, Car.Atl.L 10-243353274132
2018Blaine Gabbert, Ten.Ind.L 17-331829165120
2018Josh Johnson, Was.at Ten.L 16-251323153122
2018Teddy Bridgewater, N.O.Car.L 14-331422118112
2018• Cody Kessler, Jac.at Mia.W 17-71217106005
2018• Josh Johnson, Was.Phil.L 0-24122791014
2017Paxton Lynch, Den.K.C.L 24-272131254225
2017Drew Stanton, Ari.NYGW 23-02034209222
2017Landry Jones, Pitt.Cle.W 28-242327239113
2017Nick Foles, Phil.Oak.W 19-101938163112
2017Drew Stanton, Ari.at Sea.W 26-241534145111
2017T.J. Yates, Hou.Pitt.L 6-3471683116
2017Patrick Mahomes, K.C.at Den.W 27-242235284012
2017Bryce Petty, NYJat N.E.L 6-261936232004
2017• Brock Osweiler, Den.at Was.L 11-272238193014
2017• Sean Mannion, LARS.F.L 13-342034169003
2017• T.J. Yates, Hou.at Ind.L 13-221424137012
2017• Bryce Petty, NYJLACL 7-141528119013
2017• Nick Foles, Phil.Dall.L 0-641139010
2016Landry Jones, Pitt.Cle.W 27-242437277314
2016Matt Moore, Mia.at Buff.W 34-311630233210
2016Matt Moore, Mia.N.E.L 14-352434205210
2016Matt Cassel, Ten.Hou.W 24-171626150114
2016• Tom Savage, Hou.Cin.W 12-101829176004
2016• EJ Manuel, Buff.at NYJL 10-3092086002
2016• Tom Savage, Hou.at Ten.L 17-245825001
2016• Matt McGloin, Oak.at Den.L 6-2461121000
2016• Bryce Petty, NYJat N.E.L 3-41030012
2015Kellen Moore, Dall.Was.L 23-343348435324
2015Brandon Weeden, Hou.at Ten.W 34-61524200201
2015Zach Mettenberger, Ten.Hou.L 6-342751234111
2015Josh Freeman, Ind.Ten.W 30-241528149111
2015Austin Davis, Cle.Pitt.L 12-282446240027
2015• Kellen Moore, Dall.at Buff.L 6-161331186010
2015• Zach Mettenberger, Ten.at Ind.L 24-3051338011
2014Ryan Lindley, Ari.at S.F.L 17-202339316232
2014Case Keenum, Hou.Jac.W 23-172535250213
2014Jimmy Clausen, Chi.Det.L 14-202339181212
2014Ryan Lindley, Ari.Sea.L 6-351844216014
2014• Case Keenum, Hou.Balt.W 25-132042185010
2014• Connor Shaw, Cle.at Balt.L 10-201428177014
2014• Chase Daniel, K.C.S.D.W 19-71627157004
2014• Johnny Manziel, Cle.at Car.L 13-173832000
2013Kyle Orton, Dall.Phil.L 22-243046358220
2013Chase Daniel, K.C.at S.D.L 24-272130200102
2013Kirk Cousins, Was.Dall.L 23-242136197110
2013• Kirk Cousins, Was.at NYGL 6-201949169023
2012Terrelle Pryor, Oak.at S.D.L 21-241328150210
2012Brian Hoyer, Ari.at S.F.L 13-271934225112
2012Thaddeus Lewis, Cle.at Pitt.L 10-242232204113
2012• Greg McElroy, NYJS.D.L 17-2714241850111
2012• Ryan Lindley, Ari.Chi.L 13-281730141012
2011Matt Flynn, G.B.Det.W 45-413144480613
2011Josh McCown, Chi.at G.B.L 21-351928242120
2011Kellen Clemens, St.L.S.F.L 27-341431226113
2011Josh McCown, Chi.at Min.W 17-131525160117
2011Seneca Wallace, Cle.at Balt.L 14-201933147112
2011Charlie Batch, Pitt.St.L.W 27-01522208010
2011• Seneca Wallace, Cle.Pitt.L 9-131641177012
2011• Kellen Clemens, St.L.at Pitt.L 0-2792491003
2010Rex Grossman, Was.NYGL 14-172644336212
2010Tim Tebow, Den.S.D.L 28-331636205223
2010Tim Tebow, Den.Hou.W 24-231629308111
2010Charlie Whitehurst, Sea.St.L.W 16-62236192100
2010John Skelton, Ari.Dall.W 27-261125183101
2010Rex Grossman, Was.at Jac.W 20-171939182111
2010Trent Edwards, Jac.at Hou.L 17-341225140112
2010Stephen McGee, Dall.at Phil.W 14-131127127102
2010John Skelton, Ari.at S.F.L 7-38142592114
2010• Joe Webb, Min.at Phil.W 24-141726195002
2010• Joe Webb, Min.at Det.L 13-202032145013
2010• Brian Brohm, Buff.at NYJL 7-381023106033
2009Charlie Frye, Oak.Balt.L 13-211825180101
2009Keith Null, St.L.at Ari.L 10-312031171134
2009Charlie Frye, Oak.at Cle.L 9-232645333034
2009• Brian Brohm, Buff.at Atl.L 3-311729146022
2009• Drew Stanton, Det.at S.F.L 6-201121130032
2009• Mark Brunell, N.O.at Car.L 10-231529102010
2009• Keith Null, St.L.S.F.L 6-2871757005
2008• Ken Dorsey, Cle.Cin.L 0-14101764032
2008• Bruce Gradkowski, Cle.at Pitt.L 0-3151618023
2007Quinn Gray, Jac.at Hou.L 28-422539302402
2007Chris Redman, Atl.Sea.W 44-411727251402
2007Shaun Hill, S.F.T.B.W 21-191124123312
2007Chris Redman, Atl.at Ari.L 27-302842315212
2007Todd Collins, Was.at Min.W 32-212229254201
2007Luke McCown, T.B.Car.L 23-312128236214
2007Charlie Batch, Pitt.at Balt.L 21-271631218220
2007Kyle Orton, Chi.N.O.W 33-251227190211
2007Matt Moore, Car.at T.B.W 31-231524174211
2007Todd Collins, Was.Dall.W 27-62231244103
2007JaMarcus Russell, Oak.S.D.L 17-302331224114
2007Troy Smith, Balt.at Sea.L 6-271633199102
2007Matt Moore, Car.Dall.L 13-201528182115
2007Troy Smith, Balt.Pitt.W 27-211627171102
2007Chris Weinke, S.F.at Cle.L 7-201322104105
2007Kyle Orton, Chi.G.B.W 35-7915104100
2006Tarvaris Jackson, Min.St.L.L 21-412034213124
2006Cleo Lemon, Mia.at Ind.L 22-271836210112
2006Tim Rattay, T.B.Sea.L 7-231627185101
2006Chris Weinke, Car.at Atl.W 10-34732103
2006Tim Rattay, T.B.at Cle.W 22-71626212013
2006• Derek Anderson, Cle.T.B.L 7-221027123042
2006• Tarvaris Jackson, Min.at G.B.L 7-9102050013
2005Todd Bouman, N.O.at T.B.L 13-272537265124
2005Rex Grossman, Chi.at G.B.W 24-171123166111
2005Todd Bouman, N.O.Det.L 12-132138233001
2005• Matt Mauck, Ten.at Jac.L 13-4071465011
2004Jon Kitna, Cin.NYGW 23-222032186213
2004Sage Rosenfels, Mia.at Balt.L 23-301638264133
2004Kelly Holcomb, Cle.at Hou.W 22-142029228121
2004Chris Simms, T.B.at Ari.L 7-121632224124
2004Doug Flutie, S.D.K.C.W 24-171322199101
2004Luke McCown, Cle.at Mia.L 7-10916161122
2004Jon Kitna, Cin.at Phil.W 38-101627160100
2004Tommy Maddox, Pitt.at Buff.W 29-241224120122
2004Koy Detmer, Phil.Cin.L 10-381731202022
2004• Matt Schaub, Atl.at N.O.L 13-261741188023
2004• Trent Dilfer, Sea.Ari.W 24-211026128011
2003Rex Grossman, Chi.Was.W 27-241932249212
2003Neil O'Donnell, Ten.T.B.W 33-131827232210
2003Josh McCown, Ari.Min.W 18-172033224218
2003Michael Vick, Atl.Jac.W 21-141222180211
2003Michael Vick, Atl.at T.B.W 30-28815119200
2003Jesse Palmer, NYGCar.L 24-371843110242
2003Josh McCown, Ari.at Sea.L 10-282540274108
2003• Jesse Palmer, NYGat Dall.L 3-191832190005
2003• Jarious Jackson, Den.at G.B.L 3-314941010
2003• Rex Grossman, Chi.at K.C.L 3-3161031001
2002Mike McMahon, Det.Min.L 36-381944293330
2002Steve Beuerlein, Den.Ari.W 37-71624203202
2002Mike McMahon, Det.at Atl.L 15-361133149233
2002• David Garrard, Jac.at Ind.L 13-201326135003
2002• Rob Johnson, T.B.at Chi.W 15-01625134005
2002• Henry Burris, Chi.T.B.L 0-1571978041
2002• Shaun King, T.B.Pitt.L 7-1792673011
2002• Scott Covington, St.L.S.F.W 31-20257002

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

—Ian Allan

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