With a surge in quarterback injuries, renowned sports agent Leigh Steinberg warns NFL teams lacking multiple backup quarterbacks risk their seasons. In just the third week of the season, five quarterbacks have sustained injuries. This includes New York Giants’ star Jaxson Dart, who is out for the regular season. Steinberg emphasizes the need for teams to have multiple backup options.
“It’s a real problem, which is why I always think that teams that don’t keep three quarterbacks are making a mistake, because the likelihood is that the starting quarterback will be hurt at some point,” Steinberg stated in a recent interview with OutKick.
Currently, teams like the Giants, who had only Dart and backup Jameis Winston, face challenges. The risk amplifies if Winston were to get injured too, leading to a dire situation without another quarterback on the active roster.
The financial constraints of the salary cap make it tough for teams to invest heavily in backup positions. Starting quarterback salaries are rising, but Steinberg cautions that not investing in quality backups is risky.
“You have bigger, stronger defensive players on the line who can inflict all sorts of harm on the quarterback. The position starts with that player, so all the action coalesces around him, and there’s just more opportunity to get hit and hurt,” Steinberg added.
Despite the NFL’s efforts to protect quarterbacks, such as the 2018 regulation against landing on them with full body weight, vulnerabilities persist. Injuries to quarterbacks not only impact their teams’ seasons but also affect the league’s viewership. Quarterbacks hold celebrity status in American sports culture, and their injuries can lead to decreased audience interest.
Steinberg reflects on the additional protective measures, acknowledging that many fans might not perceive these changes since quarterbacks continue to get injured.
“I want you to remember that every time they put in more protective rules and procedures. There’s a hue and cry from football purists that they’re taking the toughness out of the game,” Steinberg noted.
“I’m all for the most vigorous protections while retaining the competitive aspect of the game.”
Steinberg, inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, represents numerous prominent athletes in football and baseball, such as Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, and Howie Long.