Four NFL teams keep four QBs on initial 53-man rosters

For most of the offseason, we’d discussed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ plan to keep four quarterbacks as an anomaly. It turns out the Steel City footballers weren't the only club to play the 4-QB card this offseason.

Following cutdown day, four NFL teams kept a quartet of signal-callers on their initial 53-man rosters.

Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush, Jack Strand

Minnesota Vikings: Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, J.J. McCarthy, Max Brosmer

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton

Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Drew Allar

A fifth team, the Cleveland Browns, kept four QBs, but with Dillon Gabriel placed on injured reserve for a back injury, he doesn’t count on the 53-man roster. With Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Taylen Green the three on the active roster, sneaking Gabriel onto IR, with the designation to return, gives the club at least four weeks to sort out the position, should a trade partner materialize.

The decisions to keep excess QBs on the initial 53-man rosters speak not only to the importance of the position, but the maneuverability provided by practice squad call-ups. In the past, clubs would have elected to keep fewer QBs on the roster, valuing those spots for potential special-teams players or as backups at positions that might be shallower but would be needed during a game. With the ability to sign veterans to the practice squad and move them up on game day, the need is less pressing than it was six or seven years ago.

In Atlanta, we still haven’t heard officially whether Tua or Penix will start Week 1. Given the injury history of both, keeping a veteran backup like Rush made sense. Strand, an undrafted free agent, flashed enough upside during preseason action that he could have been claimed by another club if waived.

For Minnesota, keeping McCarthy as QB3 could prove awkward, with Wentz as the primary backup to Murray. It’s also possible the club will trade the former No. 10 overall pick in the coming weeks. The Vikings still like Brosmer despite his struggles when thrust into duty last season.

Philly’s decision to keep four quarterbacks underscored two things: Neither Dalton nor McKee did enough to secure the backup gig behind Hurts. And two: Howie Roseman is going to give it more time to see if another club gets desperate enough to trade him anything for one of his backups.

The Steelers' decision to keep four QBs has been expected for weeks, since Howard and Allar both shined in the preseason opener. Despite struggles from both youngsters thereafter, Pittsburgh didn’t adjust the plan. With practice reps at a minimum, Howard and Allar won’t see much run until next offseason, when the real competition between the two figures to pick up.

With two weeks between the cut to the initial 53-man rosters and the first football Sunday, movement will continue to be fluid as front offices churn rosters.

When we do this exercise next offseason, we can no longer claim that clubs keeping four quarterbacks on their rosters is an odd move. It’s not the normal procedure, but it’s certainly becoming more in vogue.

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