NFL

You can never have too much insurance at quarterback in the NFL.

With how closely the position is aligned to a team’s success, and how easy it is to miss time with an injury in the league, a team is often only as great as its backup quarterback. In 2025, for example, the Broncos were forced to turn to Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship Game after a Bo Nix injury, while Patrick Mahomes, Jayden Daniels, Daniel Jones and Joe Burrow all dealt with their own injury issues.

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There are plenty of notable names at the QB2 spot across the league for 2026, from the reigning No. 1 overall pick in the draft to former stars in their older playing days.

Here’s an updated look at every NFL team’s backup quarterback for the 2026 season.

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Backup QBs for every NFL team 

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Arizona Cardinals

• QB2: Carson Beck

With Kyler Murray gone, the Cardinals are entering a clear transition year at quarterback, with veteran Jacoby Brissett set to take over full-time QB1 duties on a team without very high expectations.

Arizona, however, does have a rookie at quarterback who will likely get some playing time in 2026. Carson Beck hasn’t officially been named the backup for the Cardinals, but his youth makes him an easy candidate to see the field and show the team what he’s got as a rookie.

The Cardinals also have an established veteran in Gardner Minshew in their quarterback room, but Beck is more likely to play in 2026.

Atlanta Falcons

• QB2: TBD

The Falcons are the last remaining team that has not yet named an official QB1 for Week 1, with no clear answer as to whether it will be Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. taking starting snaps.

Regardless, Atlanta will have one of the deeper quarterback rooms in the league with two left-handed passers who have starting experience. Tagovailoa would be one of the more high-profile QB2s in the NFL, while Penix, 26, would likely be given another shot at some point.

The depth chart in Atlanta is unsettled, but Tagovailoa and Penix figure to both see the field in 2026 one way or another.

Baltimore Ravens

• QB2: Tyler Huntley

The death of the Pro Bowl for 2026 means there will no longer be some lesser-known names who are making the game simply as a replacement. Tyler Huntley’s 2022 season for the Ravens is remembered as one of those instances; while he was a solid backup for Baltimore, he made the Pro Bowl with just four starts.

Now, Huntley is in his second stint as Lamar Jackson’s backup, signing with the Ravens in the 2025 offseason and remaining in the QB2 role in 2025. He offers a similar dual-threat skillset to Jackson, giving the Ravens some insurance offensively if needed.  

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Buffalo Bills

• QB2: Kyle Allen

The Bills seem to live and die by Josh Allen’s success, and while Allen has proven durable in his NFL career, things could be drastic if he were to go down with an injury. The team’s backup for 2026, Kyle Allen, hasn’t started a game since 2022.

Allen spent the last two seasons in Pittsburgh and Detroit as a backup, also playing for the Bills in 2023. He does have some starting experience, as the 30-year-old has taken QB1 snaps on 19 occasions in his career.

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Carolina Panthers

• QB2: Kenny Pickett

Behind Bryce Young for the 2026 season is another former first-round pick. Kenny Pickett, the former Steelers starter, is now on his fourth team in as many years.

After stints in Philadelphia and Las Vegas as a backup, Pickett, who has a 16-11 record in his career, would bring some experience to the field if called upon.

Chicago Bears

• QB2: Tyson Bagent

Caleb Williams solidified himself as a rising star in 2025, but the Bears also seem to like who they have behind him. Tyson Bagent has slowly built a reputation as one of the better backups in the league, a 2023 undrafted free agent who won two games for Chicago in 2023 as a starter.

Last offseason, Bagent inked a two-year extension with the Bears. While he’s been speculated as a trade candidate, for now, he’s locked in as the top backup to Williams.

Cincinnati Bengals

• QB2: Joe Flacco

He’s not retired quite yet. Joe Flacco is still hanging around in the NFL, finding himself with starting opportunities nearly every season late in his career despite typically signing free-agent contracts as a backup.

Since parting ways with the Ravens after the 2018 season, the former Super Bowl champion has now had stints with the Broncos, Jets, Browns, Colts and Bengals. For 2026, he’s back with Cincinnati after starting six games in Joe Burrow’s absence in 2025, throwing 13 touchdown passes at age 40.

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Cleveland Browns

• QB2: Shedeur Sanders

The Browns’ quarterback situation remains one of the most unpredictable in the NFL, as the team carried four passers into the 2026 season with veteran Deshaun Watson named the starter. However, given how Cleveland’s seasons have been going in its rebuild, it appears likely that it will call upon one of its young backups at some point.

Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green could get their opportunities, but Shedeur Sanders has flashed the most talent on the field for the Browns to this point, and the former Colorado star got a few starts down the stretch of the 2025 season. 

Dallas Cowboys

• QB2: Sam Howell

For a while, the Cowboys had a project quarterback waiting in the wings behind Dak Prescott; Joe Milton III was known for his huge arm, but needed more development. But Milton was cut by Dallas before the 2026 season.

That leaves former Commanders starter Sam Howell as the go-to option behind Prescott, a far more experienced passer who has played plenty of NFC East football.

Denver Broncos

• QB2: Jarrett Stidham

Broncos fans are well familiar with Stidham, who was forced to take over the offense ahead of last year’s AFC Championship Game after a stunning injury to Nix.

While Stidham couldn’t lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl, he’s back as QB2 for 2026.

Detroit Lions

• QB2: Joshua Dobbs

Teddy Bridgewater had an exciting reunion with the Lions as a backup, but he returned to retirement after the 2025 season. Now, Detroit has added another experienced quarterback as insurance for Jared Goff.

Joshua Dobbs has made 15 starts in his career, including a 2-2 run with the Vikings in 2023. While Goff has remained healthy for years, Dobbs offers the Lions a proven ability to run an offense.

MORE: Full list of NFL’s highest-paid QBs for 2026

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Green Bay Packers

• QB2: Tyrod Taylor

The Packers seemed to find a diamond in the rough in 2025 when Malik Willis stepped in for an injured Jordan Love and proceeded to flash elite dual-threat skills. Willis performed so well that the Dolphins gave him $67.5 million in free agency.

With Willis gone, Green Bay signed another veteran known for his legs, Tyrod Taylor. The 37-year-old has made most of his NFL career out of being a backup, including 62 starts to his name.

Houston Texans

• QB2: Davis Mills

Former Texans starting quarterback Davis Mills is still around, but has taken on a backup role since C.J. Stroud’s emergence.

Mills, a former third-round pick, made three starts in 2025 for Stroud, winning all three games and looking like one of the better backups in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts

• QB2: Anthony Richardson

The Colts’ backup quarterback situation was a rollercoaster in 2025 after Jones went down, including a comeback from Philip Rivers five years after his retirement. But now, Indianapolis will have a more familiar young talent as its best backup option.

Former first-round pick Anthony Richardson lost his competition with Jones in 2025 training camp and hasn’t reclaimed the QB1 role since, being given time to develop before getting another shot at leading the Colts’ offense.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• QB2: Quinn Ewers

Days before the 2026 season, the Jaguars found a new backup to Trevor Lawrence in a cutdown-day trade with the Dolphins.

Former Texas star Quinn Ewers is now Lawrence’s understudy, bringing some pocket-passing skills in Jacksonville after making three starts for Miami in 2025.

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Kansas City Chiefs

• QB2: Justin Fields

With Mahomes coming off an ACL tear, the Chiefs made sure to add a capable backup this past offseason in former Bears, Steelers and Jets starter Justin Fields.

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Fields is undoubtedly a much different quarterback than Mahomes, primarily making an impact with his legs. But he’s still one of the more notable backups in the league, always an electric talent and a former first-rounder with 53 career starts.

Las Vegas Raiders

• QB2: Fernando Mendoza

The expectation since Klint Kubiak went out and signed Kirk Cousins in free agency has been that while the Raiders like Cousins as their QB1, it’s only a matter of time before No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza takes his first NFL snaps.

Mendoza will be learning behind Cousins to open the 2026 season, but especially if things go south for Las Vegas, don’t be surprised if the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is on the field.

Los Angeles Chargers

• QB2: Trey Lance

Former first-round pick Trey Lance remains the Chargers’ backup to Justin Herbert, the same role he held in 2025, making one start.

Lance, despite his first-round price tag, has made just six starts in his NFL career after falling out of favor with the 49ers, who turned toward Brock Purdy.

Los Angeles Rams

• QB2: Stetson Bennett

The Rams used their No. 13 overall pick on Ty Simpson in April, but all indications from Sean McVay are that Simpson will be developing throughout his rookie season unless needed as an emergency option.

That means that Stetson Bennett, who has been learning McVay’s offense for years, would likely step in for Matthew Stafford first. Still, with the way Simpson performed in preseason, he may have the talent to become QB1 in the event of a Stafford injury.

Miami Dolphins

• QB2: Kyle McCord

The Dolphins’ quarterback room has undergone a makeover in the past year, between Tagovailoa’s departure and other roster moves. With Willis starting, Miami found his top backup just ahead of Week 1 after trading Ewers.

The Dolphins acquired former Syracuse star Kyle McCord, a precise young passer who has spent time with the Eagles and Packers but has yet to receive a starting opportunity in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings

• QB2: Carson Wentz

The Vikings’ quarterback situation is another fascinating one for 2026. Kyler Murray was named QB1 ahead of the season, but if he’s benched due to performance or injuries, the Vikings seem to have two legitimate options behind him.

Carson Wentz has been named as QB2 due to his deep experience in the NFL and in Kevin O’Connell’s system in recent years, but J.J. McCarthy could get another shot at leading Minnesota after struggling in his first year as the starter in 2025.

New England Patriots

• QB2: Tommy DeVito

The Patriots seem to have found the next great NFL quarterback in Drake Maye, but if needed, they have a passer who became a fan favorite with the Giants.

Tommy DeVito is Maye’s top backup, a 2023 undrafted free agent who was signed to a two-year deal in New England, owning eight NFL starts.

New Orleans Saints

• QB2: Spencer Rattler

Before Tyler Shough proved himself as a strong option to lead the Saints in 2025, Spencer Rattler was still QB1 for New Orleans. Now, he’s taken on a backup role.

Rattler opened 2025 as the starter but has managed just one win in his 14 NFL starts, while former Jets first-round pick Zach Wilson is also on the depth chart.

New York Giants

• QB2: Jameis Winston

While he seems to be setting himself up for a TV role after his playing career, former No. 1 pick Jameis Winston is still the Giants’ lead backup, known for his up-and-down offensive attack at a high volume of passes.

Winston has 24,792 yards and 156 touchdowns in his NFL career, seeing plenty of highs and lows along the way. 

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New York Jets

• QB2: Cade Klubnik

While the Jets brought in Geno Smith for what’s expected to be a 2026 transition year at quarterback, it wouldn’t be surprising if they gave their young backup a shot.

Former Clemson star Cade Klubnik was named QB2 on the depth chart, the team’s fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft.

Philadelphia Eagles

• QB2: Tanner McKee

The Eagles had a disappointing QB2 competition in training camp after bringing in former Bengals star Andy Dalton to compete as Jalen Hurts’ top backup. While Dalton is still around in Philadelphia, it appears more likely that Tanner McKee is QB2.

McKee has flashed some arm talent in preseason and other action, but also hasn’t had many chances to prove himself as an NFL starter. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

• QB2: Mason Rudolph

Yet another team that decided to carry four quarterbacks in 2026 is the Steelers, who will be starting Aaron Rodgers, but may need some insurance for the NFL’s oldest player.

While Will Howard and Drew Allar offer some young, untapped potential, considering Pittsburgh’s expectations to win this season, it’s more likely that veteran Mason Rudolph gets the ball behind Rodgers first.

Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) rolls out against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

San Francisco 49ers

• QB2: Mac Jones

Behind Brock Purdy is a former first-round pick who has become one of the more successful backups in the league, Mac Jones.

Jones started eight games in 2025 for San Francisco due to a Purdy injury, and he’s thrived in Kyle Shanahan’s system.

Seattle Seahawks

• QB2: Drew Lock

While the Seahawks do have a high-profile former college star in Jalen Milroe behind Sam Darnold, Drew Lock is manning down the QB2 spot.

Lock is in his second stint with Seattle, a 2019 second-round pick who has occasionally had opportunities on the field.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• QB2: Jalon Daniels

One of the more surprising quarterback results from the 2026 preseason was Tampa Bay’s decision at QB2 behind Baker Mayfield.

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, a former Kansas star, won the backup job after flashing some dynamic talent before the season.

Tennessee Titans

• QB2: Mitchell Trubisky

With Will Levis gone, backing up Cam Ward in 2026 will be former Bears starter Mitchell Trubisky. 

Trubisky inked a two-year deal in free agency, a quarterback with 57 career starts who has proven himself as a capable backup.

Washington Commanders

• QB2: Marcus Mariota

With Jayden Daniels’ health becoming a theme in 2025, Washington’s backup situation remains critical for 2026, with Marcus Mariota returning to his role.

The former Titans starter has 82 starts in his career and has remained an effective dual-threat option when called upon, including during the 2025 season.

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