NFL QB questions: Aaron Rodgers’ future, Joe Flacco’s impact

Quite a bit has modified for the NFL’s high quarterbacks since we final checked in a month in the past.

Jalen Hurts (83.6) and Trevor Lawrence (81.5) lead the league in QBR over the previous 4 weeks after tough begins to the season. Tua Tagovailoa returned this previous Sunday from a concussion, whereas Deshaun Watson is out for the yr with a ruptured Achilles. And perhaps most surprisingly, rookies Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix have all led their groups to successful data.

Earlier than the second half of the season, our NFL Nation reporters answered extra large questions on 10 quarterbacks across the league. Let’s begin with Kirk Cousins’ improvement with the Falcons, who’re combating to make the postseason for the primary time in seven years. (The ten questions are listed alphabetically by staff.)

Soar to a staff:
ATL | BAL | CHI | DAL | DEN
IND | NYJ | PIT | SF | TEN

What has been the most important change for Kirk Cousins within the Falcons’ offense from Week 1 to now?

Consolation. Each along with his surgically repaired torn proper Achilles and his new receivers.

The Falcons, who did not play starters within the preseason, had been a multitude in an 18-10 Week 1 loss to the Steelers. They completed with 226 complete yards on offense and had been shut out within the second half. Issues have settled down significantly since then. Cousins is in third within the league in passing yards (2,106) and solely three quarterbacks have eclipsed his 14 landing passes. Extensive receiver Drake London is tied for fourth within the NFL in receptions (48) and tight finish Kyle Pitts is fourth amongst tight ends in receiving yards (419).

By Week 4, Cousins mentioned he was throwing the ball to the place he knew his receivers would find yourself, slightly than attempting to suit it in as soon as they arrived there. The consequence? Atlanta’s first 4-0 division begin in 10 years. — Marc Raimondi, Falcons reporter

How does Lamar Jackson’s 2024 season evaluate to his 2023 MVP-winning marketing campaign?

Jackson received the NFL MVP final season as a result of he was the perfect participant on the perfect staff within the common season. This season, the Ravens haven’t got league’s finest document, however Jackson is among the many favorites for an additional MVP award with extra unprecedented numbers.

He is on tempo to change into the NFL’s first participant to document over 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 speeding yards in the identical season. Jackson already has a league-high 501 speeding yards amongst QBs, and he is additionally flourishing as a passer in his second yr with Zay Flowers. He is fifth in passing yards (2,099) and second in landing passes (17).

“The dude is simply unimaginable,” Ravens operating again Derrick Henry mentioned. “I believe he is the GOAT, for certain.” — Jamison Hensley, Ravens reporter

What does the teaching workers nonetheless wish to see extra of from Caleb Williams?

Continued improvement as a rhythm and timing passer. The Bears’ teaching workers has emphasised this all season for Williams, who has been tasked with taking part in “level guard” to get its high offensive gamers concerned. That was on show in opposition to Carolina and Jacksonville, when Williams threw six touchdowns to just one interception and averaged 265 passing yards.

It was a special story in an 18-15 loss at Washington. The rookie quarterback had an off-target share of fifty% and 10 passes had been both underthrown or overthrown. Coach Matt Eberflus mentioned Williams’ struggles had been associated to the timing of his progressions.

Although a few of that could be a results of poor move safety and receivers being coated, Chicago needs to see continued enchancment on this space from the 2024 No. 1 choose. He nonetheless hasn’t confronted an NFC North protection, which all rank within the high 12 in factors allowed per sport. — Courtney Cronin, Bears reporter

Will the Cowboys assist Dak Prescott on the commerce deadline? Is there a WR/RB/OL transfer to be made?

The Cowboys made such a transfer in 2018 once they gave up a first-round choose to the Raiders for Amari Cooper. However Prescott was nonetheless on his rookie deal and never the highest-paid quarterback within the sport. Jerry Jones has mentioned the Cowboys are prone to be quiet on the deadline after extending Prescott and CeeDee Lamb within the offseason. So how do they assist Prescott with out a commerce? Your complete offensive line must play higher.

They’ve two Professional Bowl choices (Zack Martin, Tyler Smith), a extremely paid proper deal with (Terence Steele), a first-round choose at left deal with (Tyler Guyton) and a third-round choose at middle (Cooper Beebe) who has drawn reward. This group must play as much as its means for the offense to click on. Proper now, the road is close to the league common in move block win charge (58.7%) and run block win charge (71.0%). — Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter

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What’s the greatest signal of enchancment from Bo Nix by way of eight weeks?

Nix has steadily dealt with two of the big-ticket gadgets on coach Sean Payton’s to-do listing — do not take sacks and do not flip the ball over. Payton considers a sack very similar to a loss-of-down penalty and all the time has the info out there on how turnovers damage the staff’s means to win. The cell rookie prevented sacks in three of the Broncos’ 5 wins, and their sack charge per dropback is the bottom within the NFL (3.7%). Nix threw a mixed 4 interceptions in back-to-back losses to start out the season, however he has had solely since then.

His protected play has come on the expense of impression at instances, as he has nonetheless not had a lot success within the passing sport. He is twenty ninth in yards per try (5.9) and twenty fifth in completion share (63.2%). — Jeff Legwold, Broncos reporter

What wrinkle can Joe Flacco convey to the Colts’ offense that Anthony Richardson hasn’t supplied this season?

Benching Richardson has some long-term implications for the franchise that can’t but be totally understood. However for now, Flacco is prone to convey extra environment friendly passing, which could lead to a extra predictable general offensive efficiency.

The Colts have been very growth or bust with Richardson, along with his 4-to-7 landing to interception ratio changing into problematic (Flacco’s is 7-to-1 in three video games this season). They will not get to profit from Richardson’s rocket arm, which has produced landing passes of 69, 60 and 54 yards, however they’re banking on steadier play to maintain them in video games. Matchups in opposition to three top-10 defenses when it comes to factors allowed per sport (Minnesota, Buffalo and Detroit) await Indianapolis over the following 4 weeks. — Stephen Holder, Colts reporter

What’s the Jets’ plan for future seasons at quarterback — and is Aaron Rodgers a part of it?

Rodgers has talked about taking part in past 2024 with the group, however the panorama has remodeled since he made these feedback final December. The Jets sustained their fifth straight loss Sunday and are presently on the backside of the AFC East standings. Chances are high they’ll have a brand new teaching workers and maybe a brand new entrance workplace in 2025. Will a brand new regime wish to begin out with a 41-year-old quarterback? Will Rodgers even need to come back again?

He is not taking part in as much as his standard customary. His mobility, maybe compromised by his 2023 Achilles surgical procedure, has declined. The Jets haven’t got an inheritor obvious on the roster both. Rookie Jordan Travis (non-football harm listing) is an excessive amount of of a wild card on whom to guess. The underside line is they might have a brand new starter in 2025. — Wealthy Cimini, Jets reporter

What’s the teaching workers saying about Russell Wilson’s first two begins?

Although it is a small pattern measurement, the Steelers workers is happy with Wilson’s outings. Not solely did he get well from a gradual begin in opposition to the Jets in Week 7, however he did not present any rust within the staff’s Week 8 win over the Giants.

Wilson’s addition to the offense has additionally opened up the passing sport along with his willingness to throw deep balls. He has the fifth-highest passing yards within the NFL over the previous two weeks (542) and is 5-of-7 on makes an attempt of at the least 20 air yards. Justin Fields was finishing the identical passes at a 30% charge by way of six begins. — Brooke Pryor, Steelers reporter

Has Brock Purdy locked up an offseason extension in San Francisco along with his play this season?

The 49ers have been planning for a Purdy payday for a very long time, however no person is aware of higher than the 49ers how briskly issues can change at quarterback. This can be a staff that stumbled into Purdy due to accidents to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, so it is crucial he stays wholesome and productive to safe a large extension subsequent yr.

For now, it isn’t one thing Purdy is considering, saying final week, “I am all the time looking for an edge to myself in my sport, not enthusiastic about what subsequent yr holds. … And that is the place my mindset is at. I am centered on my staff, on this yr and that is ultimate. That is it.”

If Purdy continues to provide — he is ninth in QBR at 62.5 regardless of a tough outing in opposition to Kansas Metropolis — the remaining will handle itself. — Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter

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Will the Titans return to Will Levis as soon as wholesome? Are they dedicated to giving him this season?

Titans coach Brian Callahan has made it clear that Levis is his quarterback when wholesome. After not throwing for the previous two weeks due to a Grade 2 AC sprain in his proper shoulder, the Titans plan to get Levis again to work this week.

It clearly has been a troublesome begin for Levis, who has thrown seven interceptions in 5 video games. Tennessee’s solely win got here with backup Mason Rudolph below middle, however the Titans knew there can be some rising pains. They’ve devoted this yr to determining if Levis was able to main their franchise.

“The whole lot about what we had been hoping to get out of the season was a very stable and concrete analysis of [Levis] as a beginning quarterback,” Callahan mentioned. — Turron Davenport, Titans reporter