We’re two weeks into the NFL season and the games have looked more like pre-season games than actual regular season football, but there are a couple of things that we’ve learned from these first two weeks.
The Miami Dolphins are the worse team in the NFL by a wide margin. It’s quite clear that the Dolphins are tanking this season and they’re doing such a good job of it they may go 0-16 when it’s all said and done.
It will be interesting to see how this rebuild goes for Miami. After the trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Pittsburgh Steelers this week the Dolphins have five 1st round pick in the next two drafts. It also looks like the Dolphins will have quite a bit of cap room to try and signed free agents. Is it possible that this could be a quick turn around for the Dolphins?
Of course the Dolphins still have 14 more games to go this season and you have to wonder if there are other players that would be interested in being traded. It’s possible the Dolphins could add even more draft capital before the end of the season.
The other thing that I think we’ve learned in these first two weeks is that the New York Jets are going to have no luck this season.
It looked like the Jets where on their way to getting a win in Week 1 and then C.J. Mosley got injured. After Mosley went out the Buffalo Bills where able to come back and get a win in Week 1.
Then after that Week 1 game it was announced that Jet starting quarterback Sam Darnold would be out multiple weeks as he recovers from mononucleosis. That target week for his return is Week 5.
With Darnold out Trevor Siemian took over as starting quarterback for Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns. Siemian started 14 games for the Denver Broncos over the last two seasons and while he’s not really looked at as a starter anymore he has to be considered a quality back up.
Well Siemian’s time as the Jets starting quarterback didn’t last very long. On his 6th pass attempt against the Browns Siemian suffered a ankle injury that will cost hi the rest of this season.
So who did the Jets turn to at quarterback? Well that would be Luke Falk who was signed to the active roster just hours before the Monday night game against Cleveland.
If Darnold does make it back in time for Week 5 Falk will only have to make one start; this week in New England against the Patriots. The Jets have a Week 4 Bye and then they’ll on the road for Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mosley missed Monday nights game with a groin injury and we’ll have to see if he’ll be available to lead the Jets defense against the Patriots this Sunday. Jets rookie defensive lineman Quinnen Williams also missed Monday nights game with an ankle injury; so we’ll have to see if he’ll be ready to play against the Patriots.
Now we already know that the Jets are headed to New England and it looks like they’ll be starting the season 0-3. Miami is on the road as well this week. The Dolphins take on the Dallas Cowboys; so it looks like they’ll be 0-3 as well.
Coming out of Week 2 we also had a couple of big quarterback injuries and one team made a change at quarterback. Let’s start with the injuries.
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a season ending elbow injury. This was a non-contact injury as Roethlisberger injured his elbow throwing the football. The original report was that he torn the UCL ligament in his right elbow.
There where some reports that mentioned it was possible that Roethlisberger might just retire instead of going through surgery and rehabilitation, but Roethlisberger has said that he is planning to comeback next season.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was also injured in Week 2. Brees has a torn ligament in the right thumb and Brees is right handed. Surgery is required to repair his thumb ligament and it looks as though Brees will be out 6 to 8 weeks.
Brees was injured when he hit his hand on Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald’s hand during their Week 2 game.
If you’re looking for a fantasy pick up at quarterback Mason Rudolph will be taking over as Steelers starting quarterback. In New Orleans Teddy Bridgewater will get the first shot at filling in for Brees, but there has already been some talk that at the first sign of struggle by Bridgewater they’ll go to Taysom Hill.
After an 0-2 start the New York Giants have decided to make a change at quarterback. Eli Manning is out and 1st round draft pick Daniel Jones will be taking over.
Manning had completed 62.9% of his passes for 556 yards. He had thrown 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
You have to wonder if this is the last we’ve seen of Manning as the Giants starting quarterback. Once Jones gets into the starting line up you’d have to think that the only reason to not start him would be an injury. Manning does have a no trade clause, but even if he did agree to allow a trade is there a team out there that he’d be an upgrade for at the quarterback position?
It’s possible if Rudolph doesn’t look good as the Steelers starter and if they think they’re a playoff contender maybe Manning fits there. He’d be an upgrade for the Jets, but with Darnold a few weeks away from returning does it make sense for the Jets to trade for Manning. With Manning’s connection to Tom Coughlan you would’ve thought that the Jacksonville Jaquars would be a good landing spot for him, but Gardner Minshew has played well in Nick Foles absence; so I don’t know if they’d be interested in acquiring Manning.
What do you think happens with Manning this season? Does he get traded or even possibly released and end up with a new team or will he just end up being Jones’ back up for the rest of this season.
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