Top Storylines for QBs in 2nd Half of 2022 NFL Season

For good reason, quarterbacks hog the spotlight. It's the most important position on the field, and NFL franchises can spend decades mired in a search for a quality long-term player.

During the latter half of the 2022 season, there's a wide variety of storylines that still deserve our attention.

And it's not simply that Patrick Mahomes is really good.

Sharp declines from Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson are well-known headlines and must be mentioned.

Also, however, lesser-known QBs like Sam Ehlinger and Davis Mills are aiming to become locked-in starters for the future. Daniel Jones and Jimmy Garoppolo are trying to earn new contracts. Geno Smith and Justin Fields are working to prove a surge isn't a fluke.

Lamar Jackson's impending contract saga is not included because those discussions will not resume until the season ends.

The well-intended trade for Matt Ryan failed miserably, and the Indianapolis Colts have since shifted to Sam Ehlinger.

After starting for Texas throughout his college career, Ehlinger tallied 18 snaps as a rookie in 2021. He served in a backup role to Ryan before assuming the starting job in Week 9.

Two games is not nearly a large enough sample size to make any determinations about his future. The chaos within the organization—the Colts fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and head coach Frank Reich in consecutive weeks—surely isn't helping Ehlinger either.

But this is the proverbial hand dealt. Ehlinger has two months to stake a claim to QB1 in Indy, even as the team is likely to sign or draft a quarterback this offseason.

What's next for Jimmy Garoppolo? Initially benched for Trey Lance, Jimmy G returned to the San Francisco 49ers' huddle when an ankle injury in Week 2 sidelined Lance for the season. Garoppolo is aiming to prove he's a starter, though whether that'll be for San Francisco in 2023 is the unknown.

Daniel Jones is facing a similar outlook. He's still not an effective high-volume passer, but he has showed off his mobility and helped the New York Giants rip off an unexpected 6-2 record. The challenge for the Giants is balancing his limitations and uneasy price tag against the risk of losing a known commodity and whiffing on a replacement.

The dilemma is less expensive for the Houston Texans, but it's nonetheless a predicament.

While second-year player Davis Mills has admirably led a bad roster, he's not exactly elevating the offense. Houston, which has mustered 16.6 points per game (fifth-fewest in the NFL), should be considering a QB in the upcoming draft.

Jared Goff is also finishing what's effectively an audition for 2023. He's likely to need a new football home because the Detroit Lions can save $20.7 million by cutting him.

To a lesser extent, Mac Jones fits the category after the New England Patriots' flirtation with rookie Bailey Zappe.

Jalen Hurts has enjoyed a breakout year to the point there's no question the Philadelphia Eagles are committed to him.

The conversation isn't as clean for Geno Smith and Justin Fields.

Smith has sparked a surprisingly fun Seattle Seahawks offense, one that is fourth in the NFL with 26.8 points per game. Seattle is leading the NFC West, and Smith may already have played his way into a new contract. If the Seahawks collapse, though, the hot start can be dismissed as a neat storyline that didn't lead to a long-term commitment.

In all likelihood, the Chicago Bears wouldn't have done anything drastic at the position this offseason. That would be a proper decision given the personnel around Fields is not particularly close to a playoff-level roster.

But before his recent run-fueled rise, an ineffective half-season made his future cloudier. Fields can quiet critics if he sustains a higher level of performance the rest of the way.

When the MVP front-runner has a potential season-altering injury, it's kind of a big deal.

Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen is dealing with an elbow issue, and the severity is unknown. Even if he doesn't miss time, there's a possibility the injury plagues him into the team's anticipated playoff bid.

Carson Wentz is nearing a return from a broken finger on his throwing hand. While the Washington Commanders could stick with Taylor Heinicke, that is improbable at best—especially if Washington drops to 4-6 after playing the rival Eagles in Week 10.

For another few weeks, it's worth monitoring Justin Herbert. Although the Los Angeles Chargers never missed a game, a rib injury altered his practice routine until this recent week, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

Deshaun Watson, who's serving an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy, is expected to start immediately when he's eligible to return in Week 13.

The season has not gone as planned for several big-name QBs.

Aaron Rodgers, the two-time reigning MVP, has trudged to a career-worst 6.6 yards per attempt as a starter. Unlike his 6.7-yard average when the Green Bay Packers finished 10-6 in 2015, they're a dismal 3-6 and have the sixth-lowest scoring offense in the league (17.1 points per game).

Matthew Stafford has struggled to connect with anyone other than Cooper Kupp, and the Rams' situation is almost identical to the Packers. Los Angeles is just 3-5 and ranks 29th in points per game (16.4), two spots behind Green Bay.

The outlook is much bleaker for a pair of AFC West signal-callers.

Both the Denver Broncos (3-5) and Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) are slipping from playoff contention. Russell Wilson is behind a Denver offense that ranks 30th in scoring (15.1 points per game), and Derek Carr's efficiency has dropped nearly a full yard despite adding star wideout Davante Adams.

For good measure, Kyler Murray has been relatively uninspiring as the Arizona Cardinals have labored to 3-6.

All five quarterbacks had legitimate playoff hopes in 2022, but it's unlikely even two of them will reach the postseason.

Aaron Rodgers fits in the previous category, but he's also in a significant group with Tom Brady.

In short: Are they finished?

Rodgers has publicly flirted with retirement, and Brady literally did (temporarily) last offseason.

Green Bay is facing an enormous problem with Rodgers unless he regains his MVP form. There's no palatable way to shed his contract—not in retirement or a trade—until next season is over. But that doesn't mean one of those options won't happen to open the door for Jordan Love anyway.

Brady, meanwhile, has already signed a 10-year, $375 million agreement with Fox that begins whenever he retires. That future is obviously closer than ever but might seem imminent if Brady—whose 6.4 yards per attempt is his lowest mark in 20 years—and the Bucs continue to struggle.

This stretch may be the final time Brady, and maybe even Rodgers, slides on a helmet.