NFL starting QB tracker: Seahawks ‘might have two No. 1s’

There are a handful of NFL groups with quarterback competitions this summer season. 

With the preseason in full swing, let’s dive into the place the league’s quarterback battles stand. 

Seahawks to function Drew Lock in preseason finale, however Pete Carroll nonetheless noncommittal on QB1

Carroll was requested Tuesday if Drew Lock, who is anticipated to see quite a lot of motion within the workforce’s preseason finale in opposition to the Cowboys on Friday night time, may catch Geno Smith within the quarterback competitors. The gist of his lengthy response: He is “open to no matter.”

The longtime coach then reiterated he is not dedicated to asserting a starter quickly, both. With greater than two weeks between the exhibition and the season opener, Carroll would possibly use all of that point to find out who will get the Week 1 nod, stressing that he nonetheless desires to see extra of Lock. 

“I can go forward and simply name it, however I need to let guys battle and present the place they’re and allow us to get as a lot data as attainable,” he mentioned. “Geno has a carried out a extremely good job of being in that place. His voice is strong. He is on level on a regular basis. He is been very constant along with his work and all of that, and Drew has been actually sharp. 

“I do know it is not purported to be a very good scenario when you might have two quarterbacks, and it means you do not have one is the outdated saying, however I do not know, we’d have two No. 1s. We’ll see what occurs.”

Lock returned to apply Sunday after a bout with COVID-19. The fourth-year QB alternated first-team reps with Geno Smith. Lock was supposed to start out this previous Thursday in opposition to the Chicago Bears. These plans had been foiled, nonetheless, by Lock testing constructive. It robbed the 25-year-old QB of a vital alternative to push Smith for the beginning job.

Earlier Tuesday, Lock obtained prolonged reps with the primary workforce in apply and had two notable completions to Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

Since buying and selling Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, the Seahawks have had a fluid quarterback scenario with Lock and Smith, who began three video games for Seattle final season when Wilson suffered a finger harm. The scenario stays all of the extra fluid after the workforce’s loss to Pittsburgh.

Serving because the workforce’s starter, Smith completed the sport with 101 passing yards on 10-of-15 passing whereas additionally working in a 2-yard landing. The veteran seems to have the higher hand within the quarterback battle given his familiarity with the Seahawks’ offense; Smith, 31, is coming into his fourth season with Seattle. 

Then again, Lock completed the sport with 102 passing yards and two touchdowns on 11-for-15 passing. The fourth-year quarterback began on and off in Denver, often flaunting beginning potential. 

Kenny Pickett impresses in Pittsburgh Steelers’ second preseason sport

Pickett obtained extra snaps within the Steelers’ 16-15 win in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. Whereas taking part in in opposition to higher competitors, Pickett had a productive day, finishing 6-of-7 passes for 76 yards and one landing with a 151.5 passer score. 

Whereas Mitchell Trubisky obtained the beginning nod, coach Mike Tomlin made it a degree to play the rookie alongside the first-team offense. 

“We merely need to see Kenny in additional varsity motion,” Tomlin mentioned. “We all know extra about Mason [Rudolph]. Mitch has been across the skilled sport, clearly. So, it is a huge week for [Pickett] when it comes to perhaps getting within the first half of this sport and I might think about getting the chance to see frontline defenders for Jacksonville.”

Pickett has nonetheless largely taken snaps with the Steelers’ second unit in apply. 

Trubisky began the Steelers’ first preseason sport in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks, main Pittsburgh on an opening-drive landing. The drive was capped off by a 13-yard landing move to Gunner Olszewski. Trubisky completed the night time 4-for-7 on passing makes an attempt with 63 yards and the landing. 

Rudolph, coming into his fifth season with the Steelers, picked up the place Trubisky left off, finishing 9-of-15 passes for 93 yards. His night time was highlighted by a 26-yard landing move to rookie extensive receiver George Pickens. 

Pickett, the No. 20 decide within the 2022 draft, had a glowing debut. The College of Pittsburgh product completed the night time with 95 passing yards and two touchdowns on 13-for-15 passing, taking what the protection gave him. Pickett’s effectivity doubtlessly tightens Pittsburgh’s quarterback competitors.

“They moved their items,” Mike Tomlin said of his QBs. “They did the casual issues related to the place from a management and communication standpoint. They had been engaged. It was a very good first day trip for all three.”

Carolina’s Matt Corral probably out for the season

Rookie QB Matt Corral suffered a “vital” Lisfranc harm late within the Panthers’ second preseason sport in opposition to the New England Patriots this previous Friday. Coach Matt Rhule mentioned afterward that he expects the third-round decide to overlook the season. 

Corral threw for 58 yards on 9-of-15 passing and no touchdowns earlier than exiting. 

He was one in every of 4 candidates for the beginning quarterback spot coming into camp, together with Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker. Mayfiled and Darnold had been rested in Carolina’s 20-10 loss to the Pats. All 4 QBs performed within the workforce’s preseason opener in opposition to the Washington Commanders, with the veterans holding their very own.

Mayfield, who was just lately acquired from the Cleveland Browns, began for the Panthers and completed with 45 passing yards on 4-for-7 passing. Darnold, the workforce’s major quarterback in 2021, was impactful briefly reps. The fifth-year quarterback was 2-for-3, together with an 8-yard landing to Rashard Higgins. Walker, whose roster spot is in jeopardy given the workforce’s acquisition of Mayfield, obtained probably the most taking part in time of the bunch, throwing for 136 yards on 10-for-19 passing.

Corral, who Carolina traded as much as choose with the No. 94 decide within the 2022 draft, completed 1-for-9 for 11 yards. 

Head coach Rhule mentioned he would not title a starter till after the workforce’s Aug. 19 matchup with the New England Patriots.

Mayfield and Darnold look like the front-runners to start out, nonetheless, given Mayfield’s 4 years of expertise beginning for the Browns and Darnold coming into his second season with the Panthers.

“They had been each in command,” Rhule said of Mayfield and Darnold. “Sam obtained us ultimately zone, Baker led us down the sphere, so it appeared like each guys performed nicely when it comes to manufacturing. We’ll return and look and see the place they’re.”

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