The Buffalo Bills string of bad luck continued, as quarterback Mitchell Trubisky reportedly suffered a knee injury during their preseason battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team announced that the quarterback is week-to-week, meaning he could miss the start of the season. Josh Allen is the unquestioned starter in Buffalo so, in a perfect world, Trubisky’s ailment won’t impact on the on-field product once the regular season begins. However, head coach Sean McDermott has always emphasized the backup quarterback job, which means they could be in the market for another passer.
As long as Mitchell Trubisky is sidelined with his injury, Ben DiNucci will be the primary backup to Josh Allen. Trubisky is admittedly not a starting-caliber quarterback, but he’s a capable backup. The same cannot be said of DiNucci, who has bounced around the league and even made a cameo with the Seattle Sea Dragons since joining the league in 2020. The Bills aren’t the only team looking for a better backup, and their inclusion in the market could be bad news for the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.
The Mitchell Trubisky Injury Could Be Bad News For Ravens, Chargers
The Ravens and Bills are in a similar situation from a quarterback perspective in that both teams have two of the top three or four quarterbacks in football with absolutely nobody behind them. If Lamar Jackson had to miss time, journeyman backup Josh Johnson would be responsible for keeping the team afloat while the reigning MVP worked his way back onto the field. The AFC is wildly competitive, especially considering each conference only has one bye week in the playoffs.
No matter who the backup quarterback is, they will not be able to replace Lamar Jackson if he has to miss an entire season. However, having a good backup could be the difference between getting the top seed and having to play on Wild Card Weekend if Jackson misses a week or two during the regular season. The Mitchell Trubisky injury means more teams will be bidding on the available quarterback talent, which is bad news for Baltimore. Perhaps the team can convince Ryan Tannehill to come to town, or maybe Baltimore will trade for an available backup.
Herbert’s Back
Justin Herbert is back on the field, which means the Chargers have a fighting chance in 2024. The quarterback made great time recovering from his plantar fascia injury, and the release of Max Duggan implies the team believes Herbert will stay healthy. However, his absence proved just how desperately Los Angeles needs a better backup. Some backup quarterbacks can keep an offense moving if surrounded by the right talent. Unfortunately, Los Angeles has the worst collection of pass-catchers in the league, with only second-round pick Ladd McConkey showing any meaningful upside.
Easton Stick and spring football legend Luis Perez are battling for the backup job, but neither player is good enough to succeed if they had to fill in for Herbert. Finding a better backup is crucial for the Chargers, and the Mitchell Trubisky injury only increases their need to add another passer.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports
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