10 questions about NFL quarterbacks: Early concerns, hot starts

We’ve witnessed a tumultuous first month of the 2024 NFL season under center. The quarterback play has been up and down, as evidenced by the league’s 202.8 passing yards per game so far — the lowest four-week average in more than two decades.

Josh Allen leads the league in QBR (82.3) with four starts, followed by Sam Darnold (73.5). Jordan Love returned from an MCL injury in the season opener last weekend, while Tua Tagovailoa is on IR after suffering his third concussion as an NFL player. Andy Dalton replaced the struggling Bryce Young in Carolina, and rookie Jayden Daniels is off to a historic start. So yeah, we’ve seen it all.

We decided to check in with ten signal callers after Week 4, and our NFL Nation reporters answered big questions about key situations at the game’s most important position. Let’s start with Allen’s early success alongside a new receiving core. (The 10 questions are arranged alphabetically per team.)

Go to a team:
BEF | CLE | JAX | MIN | NO
NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | WSH

What’s the takeaway from Josh Allen’s hot start with a very different supporting cast?

Allen is still Allen, regardless of his targets. Even with the questions surrounding the Bills’ all-new wide receiver room, Allen is still showing that he is one of the best NFL quarterbacks. Sunday’s game against the Ravens was a setback for an offense that scored more than 35 points in its first three games, but the larger body of work shows Allen has adjusted well to the new targets.

He has played at an MVP level, limiting turnovers overall with no interceptions. It’s the first time he’s played the first four games without a pick, and it’s tied for his second-longest streak in a single season in his career. While there isn’t a clear No. 1 receiver like Stefon Diggs was last season, Allen shows strong ties to Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid. Rookie Keon Coleman has also racked up some impressive wins. — Alaina Getzenberg, Bills reporter

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How concerned is the Browns coaching staff about Deshaun Watson’s issues?

Watson has posted the lowest QBR of all qualified passers (23.7) and is averaging 4.9 yards per attempt through four games. But the technical staff believes that there have been great moments to build on. Against the Raiders, he threw a go-ahead touchdown that was negated by a holding penalty, and receiver Amari Cooper dropped another dime that led to an interception.

Coach Kevin Stefanski has acknowledged that Watson can do better, but he has said the same about his supporting cast, which has been plagued by falls and leaking protection. — Daniel Oyefusi, Browns reporter

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How will the Jaguars handle Trevor Lawrence’s early struggles as they try to get their first win of the season?

They’re trying to get him into a rhythm to get him rolling. Jacksonville called some short, quick throws against Houston, including play action on the goal line for a touchdown. But Lawrence’s biggest problem is that he misses normal throws that should be easy for NFL quarterbacks – like overthrowing Christian Kirk on a post route that would have been a sure touchdown and airmailing a pass to Brian Thomas Jr. . which was intercepted.

It’s a mix of taking a lot of pressure (32.6% of his dropbacks) and — as coach Doug Pederson put it — getting too excited on some plays. Navigating these two issues can help put Lawrence on the right track. And Pederson believes that once Lawrence has success, he will look like the quarterback he was in the first half of 2023, before the injuries piled up. — Michael DiRocco, Jaguars reporter

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What’s most surprising about Sam Darnold’s hot start?

Darnold played just five clicks — and only thrown two passes — as the Vikings trail. And all five photos came in the first quarter of week 1.

We already knew Darnold was coming into a quarterback-friendly spot, from coaching to personnel to scheme. But the Vikings rank second in the NFL with 38 points in the first quarter, and they’ve been good enough overall that Darnold hasn’t been overloaded with stressful situations.

Darnold obviously made some high-leverage throws and led key scoring plays late in games. The third-down passes to receivers Jalen Nailor in Week 2 and Justin Jefferson in Week 4 stand out in particular. But there is no substitute for the advantage of playing forward, because of the flexibility it gives to playcalling and the pressure it puts on opposing defenses. It is the umpteenth assist that Darnold has received from his new environment. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter

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When can we see Drake Maye get his first start?

Veteran Jacoby Brissett has 40 quarterback hits, so Maye could start as early as Week 6 if this pace continues. It’s hard to imagine Brissett getting through the season this way. As coach Jerod Mayo said Sunday, “He makes some big shots and keeps getting back up. Sometimes you think, ‘Man, is he OK?'”

If Brissett rises again, the eventual passing of the torch to Maye will depend on these factors: how Brissett plays, Maye’s continued growth behind the scenes and whether the Patriots can support the rookie with better offensive line play and consistent receiver separation . For now, it makes sense to look at things through this week-by-week snapshot. Mayo also acknowledged Monday that Brissett will remain QB1. — Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter

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What’s the most important thing Daniel Jones can do to prove he’s the Giants’ man after this year?

Win games and rack up huge numbers. It’s that simple. Jones needs to be one of the league’s best quarterbacks over the last 13 games to be the Giants’ starter after this season. Currently, he sits in the middle of the pack in QBR (55.7) and ranks 25th in completion percentage (63.2%).

The team already wanted to replace him last season. It seems almost certain that the Giants will do the same thing again next year unless Jones proves he is a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback. “This is the year for Daniel,” general manager Joe Schoen said this summer on “Hard Knocks.” “The plan was always to give him a few years. Is he our guy for the next ten years? Or should we turn around and find someone else?”

Jones needs to take his game to an unforeseen level so New York doesn’t find someone else. — Jordan Raanan, Giants reporter

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Was it ambitious to expect Aaron Rodgers to already be in top form?

Yes, it was unrealistic to expect vintage Rodgers week-to-week in the first month of the season. He is a 40-year-old quarterback who has had Achilles surgery. Did you think he’d be 2021 Rodgers out of the gate?

Rodgers ranks 19th in Total QBR (50.1). He showed his MVP form in a win over the Patriots in Week 3, highlighted by his ability to extend plays, but he looked his age against the blitz-heavy Broncos in Week 4. It could be a preview of what is coming: a dazzling one. week, pedestrian the next week. Such is life at forty. — Rich Cimini, Jets reporter

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What can the Eagles do to alleviate Jalen Hurts’ turnover issues?

Hurts threw just one interception during training camp this summer, playing mostly what he calls point guard, quickly getting the ball out of his hands with short rhythm throws to his playmakers. It’s been a different story through four games, as Hurts’ average time before throws of 3.1 seconds ranks 32nd among all quarterbacks. He has five fumbles (three lost) and four interceptions in four games.

The one constant in this offense is running back Saquon Barkley, who ranks third in rushing yards (435) and averages 6.0 yards per carry. Leaning into the ground game and putting Hurts in more favorable second- and third-down situations will help keep turnovers to a minimum. — Tim McManus, Eagles reporter

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What’s the latest on the Steelers QB1 situation moving forward? Is this officially Justin Fields’ job?

Coach Mike Tomlin won’t touch the depth chart until Russell Wilson is healthy enough to play — so Fields will be nothing more than an interim starter until then. Fields doesn’t mind being QB2; as he said, “An entry on a computer screen? No, I’m fine.”

Since aggravating his calf injury in training camp on September 5, Wilson has been limited in practice and inactive for every game. To get back on the field, he will have to be a full participant in practice and show Tomlin he is capable of being productive while protecting himself.

Fields has improved with each game, despite slow starts and recurring miscues on quick exchanges with center Zach Frazier. He has turned the ball over just once, and against the Colts he became the first player in Steelers history with 300 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a game, according to ESPN Research. — Brooke Pryor, Steelers reporter

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What three words best describe Jayden Daniels’ rookie campaign so far?

Balance, accuracy, humility.

It’s gotten to the point where coach Dan Quinn needs a thesaurus to find a word besides “balance” to describe Daniels’ presence. Case in point: Daniels didn’t back down for the Bengals, delivering a 27-yard dime to Terry McLaurin while being hit. He has completed 82.1% of his passes, but the accuracy is even more evident in his ability to lead players to more yards after the catch. Balance and accuracy also explain having one turnover.

And the humility comes through when, two days after the win in Cincinnati, he called it “just another game” and that he was only here to play his 1/11th share of the offense. That’s why teammates are drawn to him. — John Keim, Commanders Reporter