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

Rather a lot has modified for the NFL’s prime 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 12 months with a ruptured Achilles. And possibly most surprisingly, rookies Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix have all led their groups to successful information.

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

Leap to a crew:
ATL | BAL | CHI | DAL | DEN
IND | NYJ | PIT | SF | TEN

What has been the largest 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 whole 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. Vast 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 stated he was throwing the ball to the place he knew his receivers would find yourself, somewhat than making an attempt to suit it in as soon as they arrived there. The outcome? Atlanta’s first 4-0 division begin in 10 years. — Marc Raimondi, Falcons reporter

How does Lamar Jackson’s 2024 season examine 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 crew within the common season. This season, the Ravens do not have league’s greatest file, however Jackson is among the many favorites for one more MVP award with extra unprecedented numbers.

He is on tempo to turn out to be the NFL’s first participant to file 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 12 months 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 stated. “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 growth 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 prime offensive gamers concerned. That was on show towards Carolina and Jacksonville, when Williams threw six touchdowns to just one interception and averaged 265 passing yards.

It was a unique 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 stated Williams’ struggles had been associated to the timing of his progressions.

Although a few of that could be a results of poor cross 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 prime 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 after 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 stated 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? The complete offensive line must play higher.

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

play

Damien Woody: Cowboys season is over

Damien Woody says the Cowboys’ season is over due to poor efficiency, regardless of important offseason monetary investments.

What’s the largest signal of enchancment from Bo Nix via eight weeks?

Nix has steadily dealt with two of the big-ticket objects on coach Sean Payton’s to-do checklist — 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 accessible on how turnovers harm the crew’s capacity to win. The cellular 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 begin the season, however he has had solely since then.

His secure play has come on the expense of influence at occasions, 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 offered this season?

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

The Colts have been very growth or bust with Richardson, along with his 4-to-7 landing to interception ratio turning into problematic (Flacco’s is 7-to-1 in three video games this season). They will not get to learn 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 towards 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 at present on the backside of the AFC East standings. Likelihood is they are going to 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 return again?

He is not taking part in as much as his regular normal. His mobility, maybe compromised by his 2023 Achilles surgical procedure, has declined. The Jets do not have an inheritor obvious on the roster both. Rookie Jordan Travis (non-football damage checklist) is an excessive amount of of a wild card on whom to wager. 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 sluggish begin towards the Jets in Week 7, however he did not present any rust within the crew’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 a minimum of 20 air yards. Justin Fields was finishing the identical passes at a 30% charge via 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 one is aware of higher than the 49ers how briskly issues can change at quarterback. It is a crew that stumbled into Purdy due to accidents to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, so it is crucial he stays wholesome and productive to safe an enormous extension subsequent 12 months.

For now, it is not one thing Purdy is pondering, saying final week, “I am all the time looking for an edge to myself in my sport, not excited about what subsequent 12 months holds. … And that is the place my mindset is at. I am targeted on my crew, on this 12 months and that is remaining. That is it.”

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

play

Schefter updates Christian McCaffrey’s standing for Week 10

Adam Schefter experiences on Christian McCaffrey’s return to play and when the 49ers are hoping he might be again.

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 underneath middle, however the Titans knew there could be some rising pains. They’ve devoted this 12 months 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 strong and concrete analysis of [Levis] as a beginning quarterback,” Callahan stated. — Turron Davenport, Titans reporter