New backup quarterback option can end Lions' looming Nate Sudfeld nightmare

Hendon Hooker did a lot of good things in the Detroit Lions' preseason finale. But he also struggled when the Pittsburgh Steelers had some defensive starters in the game, and he regularly didn't do his overmatched backup offensive lineman any favors as he took five sacks.

So the idea Nate Sudfeld will be the Lions' No. 2 quarterback going into the season, and be a Jared Goff injury away from having to play, is front and center-and not going away. Barring a late change to the quarterback depth chart, which has happened under this regime, Sudfeld will be first in line to play if anything happened to Goff until further notice.

That is not something any team should want, but the Lions are ready to embrace it until Hooker earns their full trust. This is where I again bang the drum that Sudfeld has 37 career regular season pass attempts, and none since 2020. Sure he has intangible value, and the Lions clearly value that. But tangibly, as in if/when he had to play for a significant stretch, the Lions' 2024 Super Bowl aspirations would go down with every snap he took.

The Lions have to be on the lookout for quarterbacks who become available as other teams make their roster cuts.

QB released by Dolphins can end Lions' looming Nate Sudfeld nightmare

The Miami Dolphins got a bit of a start on their roster cuts Sunday, and quarterback Mike White was among those released according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

White made six appearances for Miami last season, completing five of his six pass attempts.

Over the previous two seasons with the New York Jets, White started seven games (eight total appearances). His touchdown-to-interception rate wasn't good (eight touchdowns, 12 interceptions), but he completed a little over 62 percent of his passes and averaged 268 passing yards per game over those two seasons. He also had four interceptions in one game, and eight of those 12 picks came over his four appearances in 2021.

If we want to talk experience in multiple offensive systems, White has that too. He was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018, then landed with the Jets in 2019. He also played at two colleges.

It's easy to just say White wouldn't be any better than Sudfeld. And Sudfeld at least knows the Lions' offense right now, so what would be the point of essentially making the swap?

Unlike Sudfeld, White has actually faced an NFL defense in meaningful game action at some point since 2020. He has had more pass attempts in five of his career starts than Sudfeld has had in his career, with more than 250 passing yards five times.

A backup quarterback would ideally never have to start several games in a season. But that's just not the reality of the NFL as a whole, and the Lions have had good health fortune with Goff the last two seasons.

White would at least be interesting if he had to play, if not fairly competent, whereas Sudfeld invites dread just with the idea he'd have to play if something happened to Goff.

Plenty of teams should be interested in White as a backup option. The Lions should be among them.