Here's a full list of NFL backup quarterbacks for 2021 originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Cleveland Browns’ disappointing season will wrap up in Week 18 without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick, will get a head start on offseason shoulder surgery and miss the final game of the season with the Browns already eliminated from playoff contention.
He has been playing with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder since Week 2, and his game has clearly suffered. In Week 17, Mayfield was sacked nine times in Cleveland’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. After throwing six interceptions in the Browns’ last two games, Mayfield and the team finally decided it was time for the surgery.
Looking across the league, several other backup quarterbacks could be in action for regular season finales. Jimmy Garoppolo’s status is unclear after he missed Week 17 with a thumb injury, as the San Francisco 49ers turned to rookie Trey Lance. Lamar Jackson could return for the Baltimore Ravens after sitting out the last three games due to an ankle injury.
The Minnesota Vikings could also be without their starting quarterback again after Kirk Cousins was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week. Sean Mannion started in his place for Week 17, but Cousins could return if he is asymptomatic by Sunday. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will also miss Week 18 after Cincy locked up the AFC North title, and Brandon Allen is expected to start.
Who is each NFL team’s backup quarterback?
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There are 27 signal-callers who have made at least one start after entering the 2021 season as a backup: Seattle's Geno Smith, Washington’s Taylor Heinicke and Garrett Gilbert, Houston’s Davis Mills, Miami’s Jacoby Brissett, Chicago’s Justin Fields and Nick Foles, San Francisco’s Trey Lance, Cleveland's Case Keenum and Nick Mullens, Dallas' Cooper Rush, New York's Mike White and Joe Flacco, New Orleans' Trevor Siemian, Taysom Hill and Ian Book, Green Bay's Jordan Love, Arizona's Colt McCoy, Carolina's P.J. Walker and Cam Newton, Pittsburgh's Mason Rudolph, Detroit’s Tim Boyle, Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley and Josh Johnson, New York's Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm and Philadelphia's Gardner Minshew.
Here’s an updated look at all of the quarterback rooms across the NFL (* = backup currently filling in for injured starter):
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Arizona Cardinals
Starter: Kyler Murray
Backups: Colt McCoy, Chris Streveler
Atlanta Falcons
Starter: Matt Ryan
Backups: Josh Rosen, Feleipe Franks, AJ McCarron (IR)
Baltimore Ravens
Starter: Lamar Jackson
Backup: Tyler Huntley, Josh Johnson
Buffalo Bills
Starter: Josh Allen
Backup: Mitch Trubisky
Carolina Panthers
Starter: Sam Darnold
Backup: Cam Newton, P.J. Walker
Chicago Bears
Starter: Justin Fields (out with COVID-19)
Backups: Andy Dalton*, Nick Foles
Cincinnati Bengals
Starter: Joe Burrow (out for Week 18)
Backup: Brandon Allen*
Cleveland Browns
Starter: Baker Mayfield (out with injury)
Backup: Case Keenum*, Nick Mullens
Dallas Cowboys
Starter: Dak Prescott
Backups: Cooper Rush, Will Grier
Denver Broncos
Starter: Teddy Bridgewater (out with injury)
Backups: Drew Lock*, Brett Rypien
Detroit Lions
Starter: Jared Goff (out with injury)
Backups: David Blough, Tim Boyle*
Green Bay Packers
Starter: Aaron Rodgers
Backup: Jordan Love
Houston Texans
Starter: Davis Mills
Backups: Tyrod Taylor, Deshaun Watson
Indianapolis Colts
Starter: Carson Wentz
Backups: Brett Hundley, Sam Ehlinger
Jacksonville Jaguars
Starter: Trevor Lawrence
Backup: C.J. Beathard
Kansas City Chiefs
Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Backup: Chad Henne
Las Vegas Raiders
Starter: Derek Carr
Backups: Nathan Peterman, Marcus Mariota
Los Angeles Chargers
Starter: Justin Herbert
Backups: Chase Daniel, Easton Stick
Los Angeles Rams
Starter: Matthew Stafford
Backups: John Wolford, Bryce Perkins
Miami Dolphins
Starter: Tua Tagovailoa
Backups: Jacoby Brissett
Minnesota Vikings
Starter: Kirk Cousins (reserve/COVID-19 list)
Backups: Sean Mannion*, Kellen Mond, Kyle Sloter, Nate Stanley (IR)
New England Patriots
Starter: Mac Jones
Backups: Brian Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham
New Orleans Saints
Starter: Jameis Winston (IR)
Backups: Taysom Hill*, Trevor Siemian, Ian Book
New York Giants
Starter: Daniel Jones (IR)
Backup: Mike Glennon, Jake Fromm*
New York Jets
Starter: Zach Wilson
Backups: Mike White, Joe Flacco
Philadelphia Eagles
Starter: Jalen Hurts
Backup: Gardner Minshew II, Reid Sinnett
Pittsburgh Steelers
Starter: Ben Roethlisberger
Backups: Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins, Joshua Dobbs (IR)
San Francisco 49ers
Starter: Jimmy Garoppolo
Backup: Trey Lance*
Seattle Seahawks
Starter: Russell Wilson
Backup: Geno Smith, Jacob Eason
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Starter: Tom Brady
Backups: Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask
Tennessee Titans
Starter: Ryan Tannehill
Backup: Logan Woodside
Washington Football Team
Starter: Ryan Fitzpatrick (IR)
Backups: Taylor Heinicke*, Kyle Allen, Garrett Gilbert