For First Time in Nearly a Decade, NFL May Have No Rookie QB Starters in Week 1

Despite getting reps with starters Saturday, it looks as though rookie Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff has an uphill battle to climb in the quest to start for the Rams Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers.

“Case [Keenum] is still clearly ahead,” head coach Jeff Fisher said this week of the competition between Keenum and Goff, per Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News. “Jared’s getting better.”

But again, if he doesn’t get better soon, Goff might be a backup Week 1.

Ditto for No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz, who is buried on the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart and is now dealing with a hairline rib fracture. And same for this draft’s only other first-round quarterback, Paxton Lynch, who entered the weekend in the third spot on the Denver Broncos’ depth chart.

Second-round pick Christian Hackenberg finds himself behind at least Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith on the New York Jets’ depth chart, and possibly even behind Bryce Petty. And barring an injury—or in some cases, a series of injuries—nobody else from this year’s draft class is a candidate to start Week 1.

Jimmy Garoppolo will start the first four weeks of the season for the suspended Tom Brady, but third-rounder Jacoby Brissett is at least slated to be the top backup for the New England Patriots during that stretch. Robert Griffin III is locked in as the starter for the Cleveland Browns, and veteran Josh McCown is probably still the top backup option—ahead of third-rounder Cody Kessler. Fourth-rounder Connor Cook remains far back of starter Derek Carr, and probably veteran Matt McGloin, on the Oakland Raiders’ depth chart. Fourth-rounder Dak Prescott might actually back up Tony Romo for the Dallas Cowboys, but that’s his ceiling unless something happens to the veteran starter. Fourth-rounder Cardale Jones is clearly far back of Tyrod Taylor and probably EJ Manuel on the Buffalo …

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