We could possibly dub this week in the NFL the weekend of the backup quarterback. Unfortunately, it’s directly related to some tough injuries that were suffered in Week 10. Among those who will be without their starter include the Steelers, 49ers, Bears, and Eagles.
In fact, Chicago and San Francisco play each other on Monday Night Football this week, where both Jay Cutler and Alex Smith will be on the sidelines.
Three of the four quarterbacks out are all because of the same injury. It’s a word that is as bad as they come in the NFL.
Concussion.
Cutler, Smith, and Michael Vick all suffered concussions in their games this past weekend, and all eventually came out of the game and did not return. the seriousness of concussions and the NFL is apparent this week, as all three are not expected to play and have been ruled out.
For Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger suffered a shoulder and a rib injury in an OT win over Kansas City on Monday Night. Roethlisberger left early in that game, and actually went to the hospital. It was later revealed that had the rib moved a bit further, it was possible to pierce his aorta and potentially be fatal.
Needless to say, the Steelers are being extremely cautious with their QB, and we don’t expect to see him back for several week, with the starting duties turned over to Byron Leftwich.
In the absence of their starting quarterbacks, these four teams will be presented with big challenges.
For the Eagles, it’s rookie Nick Foles. For Chicago, it’s at least a player with some significant starting experience in former Redskin Jason Campbell. Colin Kaepernick will go for San Francisco, and of course we already mentioned Leftwich.
At least one of these teams will get a win, with the 49ers and Bears playing each other.
Actually scratch that, we can’t say that for sure. After all, San Francisco is coming off of a tie this past weekend against St. Louis.