The Detroit Lions may, and should, look to outside backup quarterback options and these three may fit.
After finishing up this preseason with a 19-9 loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Detroit Lions coaching staff and general manager Brad Holmes have some difficult decisions ahead of them.
Perhaps the most frustrating of them all is what to do about the No. 2 quarterback spot behind starter Jared Goff.
The two initial candidates, Tim Boyle and David Blough each had up and down preseasons. Going into the game against the Steelers, head coach Dan Campbell said he wanted one of the two to win the job outright (“take the reigns”) with a strong performance.
Instead of that, Boyle and Blough both underwhelmed. Blough was the better quarterback against Pittsburgh, going 17-for-32 for 160 yards a touchdown while Boyle went 5-for-15 for 64 yards and an ugly interception.
Despite Blough winning the internal backup battle heading toward final cutdown day, since Boyle was cut, the Lions would be wise to be looking at available options as other teams narrow their rosters.
Here’s are three possible backup quarterback option for the Lions.
3 potential backup quarterback options for the Detroit Lions
Brett Rypien, Denver Broncos
2022 Preseason Stats: 44-for-65, 67.7%, 441 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
The Denver Broncos have had an ongoing battle for the backup quarterback spot, much like Detroit. Unlike Detroit, however, the battle has been close in a good way with both Rypien and Josh Johnson playing fairly well. Johnson may get the nod.
Rypien showed interesting potential in college at Boise State, but has not been able to cement himself as the No. 2 quarterback in Denver. Detroit could present an open door to that chance.
If Denver may cut Rypien, but the Lions could consider parting with a conditional late-round pick to get him.
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals
2022 Preseason Stats: 42-for-64, 65.6%, 452 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 33 rushing yards
Here’s another interesting option the Lions could put in a call on and check out. Browning’s star in college faded after he got Heisman votes as a sophomore in 2016, and after a couple years with the Minnesota Vikings he landed with the Bengals last year. He hasn not appeared in an NFL regular season game.
Not only has Browning had a strong preseason, but he’s also arguably performed better than incumbent No. 2 quarterback Brandon Allen. Despite Allen having the trust of the coaching staff, writers who cover the team have speculated about the legitimate possibility of an upset when it comes to who’s backing up Joe Burrow.
Browning showed poise and promise on the field this preseason, and looks like he would be a clear upgrade over Blough. It shouldn’t take much to get him considering the Bengals already clearly like Allen. Offering a guy who is a fringe roster player like guard Logan Stenberg could get the job done.
Cincinnati has a hole in their current starting offensive line at left guard, which happens to be where Stenberg plays. Right now, the Bengals have an unheralded rookie slated to start.
Stenberg really came on in the last two preseason games, looking like a bulldozer in the run game and looking adequate in pass protection. For a team that is unlikely to keep eight lineman, getting a backup quarterback upgrade for Stenberg could be a better option for Detroit than just cutting him and hoping he makes it through waivers.
Anthony Brown, Baltimore Ravens
2022 Preseason Stats: 35-for-47, 74.5%, 464 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 22 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Now we get to the top possible backup quarterback option who would interest me if I were running things in Detroit. Brown was an undrafted free agent this year, and he probably could’ve or should’ve been drafted.
Brown offers dual threat ability, but isn’t going to just run at the first opportunity. During the preseason he showed accuracy to all levels to field, capping off his preseason with a highlight throw to receiver Demarcus Robinson for a long touchdown.
Brown’s youth and developmental potential could make him a hot commodity should he hit waivers. Luckily the Lions have the second-highest waiver priority. But just in case someone else is reaching out to the Ravens about Brown, it might be smart for Brad Holmes to reach out himself and offer a wide receiver like Trinity Benson, Quintez Cephus or Maurice Alexander.
Cephus probably holds the most trade value of the aforementioned trio, if the Lions want to go there. The Ravens have a need at wide receiver after Rashod Bateman, and Cephus looks to be a good fit as well as a likely immediate starter. A swap of pieces to fill needs could come here if the Lions want Brown badly enough.
Other potential backup quarterback options for the Lions: Chris Streveler, Carson Strong, Jack Coan, Ben DiNucci