The list of injured quarterbacks keeps growing and growing

The NFL desires to do all it might probably to maintain quarterbacks wholesome. Even with aggressive enforcement of roughing the passer guidelines and lax enforcement of: (1) intentional grounding; (2) holding; and (3) unlawful process, it’s not working.

More and extra quarterbacks are injured. Quarterbacks from good groups. Quarterbacks whose groups play in prime-time, standalone video games.

Through little greater than half of the season, six starters have had season-ending accidents: Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (who might come again, however probably gained’t), Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. That’s 18.75 p.c of the league’s starters, gone and not coming again this season.

The Jets had excessive hopes and many standalone video games, none of which have been flexed. The subsequent one — the much-hyped Black Friday recreation on Amazon vs. the Dolphins — can’t be flexed.

The Vikings, Colts, Browns, and Bengals are all contenders. Whether they qualify for the playoffs will depend upon the efficiency of their backups, or the flexibility of the remainder of the workforce to beat the efficiency of their backups. (The Colts have essentially the most achieved of the bunch, in Gardner Minshew.)

Other quarterbacks have missed recreation time because of damage: Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (ankle), Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion, again), Bears quarterback Justin Fields (thumb), Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (ankle), Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (type of), Saints quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder, concussion), Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (thumb), and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee).

Others have been banged up, with out lacking video games: Bills quarterback Josh Allen (shoulder), Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (X-ray room after Week 10 loss), Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs, knee), Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle damage on Thursday evening), Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (knee damage Week 6), Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (early season shoulder situation), Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (damaged center finger on non-throwing hand), Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (hand), Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (who was by no means on the damage report however clearly had/has a knee damage), Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (finger damage at 49ers), Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder, knee), and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (concussion).

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray missed 9 video games this season because of a torn ACL from final 12 months.

Various backups have gotten injured, as soon as their alternative arose. Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor had a rib-cage damage that put him within the hospital. Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke exited final Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals with a hamstring damage. Titans quarterback Will Levis has a foot damage. Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall suffered a concussion on the primary drive of his first begin. And present Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito has left shoulder and knee accidents. Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs at present has an ankle damage.

Here are the quarterbacks who’ve been, by all appearances, totally wholesome this 12 months: Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and Packers quarterback Jordan Love. That’s 5. Out of 32.

The most superb title on that list is Tua. He’s the one participant who had the largest questions concerning sturdiness getting into the season. And he’s one of solely 5 who haven’t been on the damage report all 12 months.

Eight weeks stay within the common season, minus the Thursday evening recreation that noticed Burrow’s season finish and Jackson injure an ankle. It’s potential that the chase for the Lombardi Trophy might find yourself being, largely, a battle of attrition.