Bills, 49ers among the many NFL teams to start unreliable QBs instead of giving Colin Kaepernick a call
The Buffalo Bills are going to turn back to Nathan Peterman in Week 9. The San Francisco 49ers are considering starting Nick Mullens on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick waits for a call.
Kaepernick has remained unsigned since taking a knee in 2016. Since then, a number of other quarterbacks have been brought in over the 30-year-old Kaepernick. It’s gotten to a point where Kaepernick has filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging the league has colluded to keep him from being signed.
This season has presented Kaepernick with more examples for his case. Since the start of Week 1, six quarterbacks have been signed to active rosters over Kaepernick. That list includes: Austin Davis, Mullens, Derek Anderson, Tom Savage (twice), Matt Barkley and Landry Jones.
Combined, that group has thrown for 87 touchdowns against 84 interceptions in 79 career starts. The majority of that comes from Anderson, who has started 49 games and accounted for 60 touchdowns and 64 interceptions. Kaepernick, by comparison, has tossed 72 touchdowns against 30 interceptions in 58 starts.
Due to Kaepernick’s collusion case, coaches have been careful when discussing why they opted for one of those players over Kaepernick. On Wednesday, Bills coach Sean McDermott explained the team signed Barkley over Kaepernick because they wanted someone who “had played recently.” Anderson was signed by the Bills to be a mentor for rookie Josh Allen.
While most of those players were signed in hopes that they never see the field, there have been plenty of backup quarterbacks who have performed poorly when thrust into action this season. Peterman leads that charge, and will get yet another opportunity against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The 24-year-old Peterman has thrown for three touchdowns and nine interceptions over his career with a 45.7 completion percentage.
Other unproven quarterbacks to see game time this season include: Anderson, Blaine Gabbert, Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler and C.J. Beathard. That doesn’t include struggling starters like Blake Bortles or Eli Manning.
Some of those players will continue to see the field in Week 9. Kaepernick will continue to look for a job while his collusion case moves forward.
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