Cleveland is hoping to work its way into the playoffs, and it will need to take the next step without its starting quarterback. Or his backup. Both Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum have tested positive for COVID-19, making it likely that Nick Mullens will be starting on Saturday against the Raiders.
The Browns have experience in this area. Since 2010, six times they’ve gotten down to starting their third-string quarterback. (But never with the stakes this high.) And this time, they’ll also be playing without another 15 or so players, depending on how the COVID testing goes. Jarvis Landry, Austin Hooper and two starting linemen are also currently on the COVID-19 reserve list.
If you’re going to a third-string quarterback, Nick Mullens at least appears to be one of the better ones. He, recall, broke a bunch of Brett Favre’s records at Southern Miss, and he put up shocking numbers for the 49ers back in 2018. Starting the second half of that season, he averaged 285 passing yards, with 13 TD passes in the eight games he started. He also threw 10 interceptions in those games, but he is, after all, a third-string quarterback.
Over the last dozen years, 2018 Nick Mullens was arguably the most impressive third-string quarterback in the league. Only two others (Kellen Moore, Taylor Heinicke) put up better per-game numbers, but they didn’t play all that much. Mullens put in a full half season, and his numbers that year were better than starter Jimmy Garoppolo’s.
Below see the per-game stats for all third-string quarterbacks since 2010. Well, most of them; I think there were a few guys who played for multiple teams that slipped through the cracks the way I put together the numbers. Also, there were some decisions to be made with various situations. Garoppolo, for example, was traded to the 49ers during the 2017 season. Is he a third-string quarterback? Or do I downgrade one of the first two guys they used? Similarly with the 2011 Colts; they knew Peyton Manning was going to miss that season, so was their opening day starter their first- or second-string quarterback?
But below I’ll get you a stab at it. Here’s hoping that COVID issues don’t force us to see more third-string quarterbacks the rest of the way.
| THIRD- AND FOURTH-STRING QUARTERBACKS AS STARTERS | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | St | Pass | TDP | Int | Run | TDR | Pts |
| 2015 | Kellen Moore, Dall. | 2 | 311 | 1.50 | 1.50 | -1 | .00 | 21.5 |
| 2018 | Taylor Heinicke, Car. | 1 | 274 | 1.00 | 3.00 | 33 | .00 | 21.0 |
| 2018 | Nick Mullens, S.F. | 8 | 285 | 1.63 | 1.25 | -2 | .00 | 20.8 |
| 2020 | C.J. Beathard, S.F. | 2 | 228 | 2.00 | .00 | 14 | .00 | 20.8 |
| 2020 | Brett Rypien, Den. | 1 | 242 | 2.00 | 3.00 | -5 | .00 | 19.6 |
| 2018 | Matt Barkley, Buff. | 1 | 232 | 2.00 | .00 | -2 | .00 | 19.4 |
| 2013 | • Jason Campbell, Clev. | 8 | 251 | 1.38 | 1.00 | 13 | .00 | 19.4 |
| 2016 | Matt Barkley, Chi. | 6 | 255 | 1.33 | 2.00 | 1 | .17 | 19.1 |
| 2020 | Garrett Gilbert, Dall. | 1 | 243 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 28 | .00 | 19.0 |
| 2014 | Christian Ponder, Min. | 1 | 222 | .00 | 2.00 | 15 | 1.00 | 18.6 |
| 2013 | Matt Flynn, G.B. | 4 | 232 | 1.50 | 1.00 | 9 | .00 | 18.5 |
| 2010 | Drew Stanton, Det. | 3 | 182 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 27 | .33 | 17.8 |
| 2017 | Blaine Gabbert, Ariz. | 5 | 217 | 1.20 | 1.20 | 16 | .00 | 17.7 |
| 2014 | Colt McCoy, Was. | 4 | 232 | .75 | .75 | 16 | .25 | 17.7 |
| 2014 | Ryan Lindley, Ariz. | 2 | 266 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0 | .00 | 17.3 |
| 2013 | Jeff Tuel, Buff. | 1 | 229 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 17 | .00 | 17.2 |
| 2014 | Zach Mettenberger, Ten. | 6 | 233 | 1.33 | 1.00 | 1 | .00 | 17.0 |
| 2016 | • Robert Griffin, Clev. | 5 | 177 | .40 | .60 | 38 | .40 | 16.7 |
| 2014 | Case Keenum, Hou. | 2 | 218 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 18 | .00 | 16.6 |
| 2012 | Brian Hoyer, Ariz. | 1 | 225 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 6 | .00 | 15.9 |
| 2010 | Stephen McGee, Dall. | 1 | 127 | 1.00 | .00 | 55 | .00 | 15.9 |
| 2013 | Scott Tolzien, G.B. | 2 | 219 | .00 | 1.50 | 18 | .50 | 15.7 |
| 2011 | Dan Orlovsky, Ind. | 5 | 216 | 1.20 | .80 | 1 | .00 | 15.7 |
| 2020 | Jake Luton, Jac. | 3 | 208 | .67 | 2.00 | 4 | .33 | 15.5 |
| 2010 | • Colt McCoy, Clev. | 8 | 197 | .75 | 1.13 | 17 | .13 | 15.3 |
| 2011 | Kellen Clemens, St.L. | 3 | 182 | .67 | .33 | 12 | .33 | 15.0 |
| 2019 | David Blough, Det. | 5 | 197 | .80 | 1.20 | 6 | .20 | 14.9 |
| 2010 | Joe Webb, Min. | 2 | 170 | .00 | .50 | 33 | .50 | 14.8 |
| 2016 | Jacoby Brissett, N.E. | 2 | 154 | .00 | .00 | 36 | .50 | 14.3 |
| 2019 | Brandon Allen, Den. | 3 | 172 | 1.00 | .67 | 13 | .00 | 13.9 |
| 2012 | Charlie Batch, Pitt. | 2 | 238 | .50 | 2.00 | 0 | .00 | 13.9 |
| 2015 | Josh Freeman, Ind. | 1 | 149 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 24 | .00 | 13.9 |
| 2020 | Brandon Allen, Cin. | 5 | 185 | 1.00 | .80 | 5 | .00 | 13.8 |
| 2011 | Curtis Painter, Ind. | 8 | 185 | .75 | 1.13 | 13 | .00 | 13.6 |
| 2020 | Alex Smith, Was. | 6 | 203 | .83 | .83 | 0 | .00 | 13.5 |
| 2011 | Caleb Hanie, Chi. | 4 | 153 | .75 | 2.25 | 25 | .00 | 13.1 |
| 2015 | • Austin Davis, Clev. | 2 | 235 | .00 | 1.50 | 13 | .00 | 13.1 |
| 2017 | Paxton Lynch, Den. | 2 | 148 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 15 | .00 | 12.9 |
| 2010 | Brian St. Pierre, Car. | 1 | 173 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0 | .00 | 12.7 |
| 2011 | T.J. Yates, Hou. | 5 | 176 | .60 | .60 | 12 | .00 | 12.4 |
| 2010 | Tyler Thigpen, Mia. | 1 | 187 | .00 | 1.00 | 27 | .00 | 12.1 |
| 2018 | Josh Johnson, Was. | 3 | 132 | .67 | 1.00 | 25 | .00 | 11.8 |
| 2020 | Ben DiNucci, Dall. | 1 | 180 | .00 | .00 | 22 | .00 | 11.2 |
| 2016 | Bryce Petty, NYJ | 4 | 164 | .50 | 1.25 | 5 | .00 | 11.2 |
| 2019 | Devlin Hodges, Pitt. | 6 | 146 | .67 | 1.33 | 8 | .00 | 10.8 |
| 2018 | Nathan Peterman, Buff. | 2 | 106 | .00 | 2.50 | 24 | .50 | 10.7 |
| 2014 | • Connor Shaw, Clev. | 1 | 177 | .00 | 1.00 | 9 | .00 | 9.8 |
| 2017 | T.J. Yates, Hou. | 3 | 116 | .67 | 1.00 | 7 | .00 | 9.1 |
| 2012 | Ryan Lindley, Ariz. | 4 | 172 | .00 | 1.75 | 2 | .00 | 8.8 |
| 2010 | Dennis Dixon, Pitt. | 2 | 127 | .00 | .50 | 16 | .00 | 8.0 |
| 2018 | Mark Sanchez, Was. | 1 | 138 | .00 | 3.00 | 8 | .00 | 7.7 |
| 2015 | Landry Jones, Pitt. | 2 | 116 | .50 | 1.00 | -1 | .00 | 7.7 |
| 2019 | Colt McCoy, Was. | 1 | 122 | .00 | 1.00 | 14 | .00 | 7.5 |
| 2010 | Rusty Smith, Ten. | 1 | 138 | .00 | 3.00 | 0 | .00 | 6.9 |
| 2019 | Will Grier, Car. | 2 | 114 | .00 | 2.00 | 11 | .00 | 6.8 |
| 2011 | Kyle Boller, Oak. | 1 | 61 | .00 | 3.00 | 29 | .00 | 6.0 |
| 2010 | Max Hall, Ariz. | 3 | 92 | .33 | 1.33 | -2 | .00 | 5.8 |
| 2019 | Luke Falk, NYJ | 2 | 109 | .00 | 1.50 | 0 | .00 | 5.5 |
| 2010 | Brian Brohm, Buff. | 1 | 106 | .00 | 3.00 | 0 | .00 | 5.3 |
| 2020 | Kendall Hinton, Den. | 1 | 13 | .00 | 2.00 | 7 | .00 | 1.4 |
—Ian Allan