3 NFL QBs who lost their starting jobs to backups in 2022 ft. Carson Wentz

The quarterback position in the NFL is by far the most important position on the field, as good quarterback play can often push your team to victory.

11 weeks into the 2022 NFL season, we’ve seen some excellent quarterback play from the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen as they look to make it to the Super Bowl in February. However, some of the men tasked with starting for their teams at the beginning of the season have lost their jobs to the backup. This could be down to an injury to the starter, or the first choice simply isn’t playing well enough.

Here are NFL quarterbacks who lost their starting jobs in 2022.

#1 - Carson Wentz

NFL - Washington Commanders v Chicago Bears

The Washington Commanders traded a second, a third, and a conditional draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts for quarterback Carson Wentz.

Wentz was supposed to be the long-term starter for Washington, but after finding himself on Injured Reserve due to a finger injury, he may have lost his job to backup Taylor Heinicke.

Wentz was 2-4 when he went down injured. Heinicke has won four of the five games he’s started for the Commanders this season, passing for five touchdowns and 1,031 yards.

Although Heinicke’s stats are not mind-blowing, he’s an excellent game manager, and Wentz may struggle to regain the starting role on his return.

#2 - Trey Lance

NFL - Seattle Seahawks v San Francisco 49ers

Trey Lance was named the San Francisco 49ers’ starter for the 2022 season by head coach Kyle Shanahan before the year began.

Jimmy Garoppolo was demoted to backup after the team failed to trade him, but a season-ending injury to Lance put Jimmy G back in the starting role.

Garoppolo has passed for 15 touchdowns against four interceptions in 2022 and thrown for 2,159 total yards.

Garoppolo is an excellent game manager, as he’s led the Niners to a Super Bowl and NFC Championship in 2019 and 2021 respectively, despite never being an elite quarterback.

He’s also popular among his teammates, as was shown after the 49ers' victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City.

#3 - Jameis Winston

NFL - New Orleans Saints v Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston is another NFL quarterback who lost his starting role in 2022.

Winston's role as a starter was usurped by veteran Andy Dalton after the former injured his back in the Saints’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Dalton has been a starter for New Orleans since their loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London in October, passing for 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight games.

The Saints have gone 3-5 in those matches, but head coach Dennis Allen announced that they’d be moving forward with Dalton, much to the dismay of Winston.