The NFL has tried its very hardest to protect quarterbacks this season; unfortunately, it hasn’t really worked out as they hoped.

Entering week five, there were 10 teams with a different projected starting quarterback than they had in the preseason. Whether it has been due to injury, or because of poor play, starting quarterbacks have not fared well to start the 2019 season.

Having a good backup quarterback is a luxury that only a few teams get. The Philadelphia Eagles had this luxury with Nick Foles for the past couple of years. Carson Wentz went down due to injury, and Nick Foles came in and won Super Bowl LII MVP.

There are a few different types of backup quarterbacks: The typical backups, the potential starters, and the prospects.

Your typical backup is the guy who has a very low chance of keeping the job, but the team hopes to still win games with him. For example, Teddy Bridgewater has a very low chance of beating Drew Brees for starting quarterback on the New Orleans Saints.

There are a lot of potential starters playing right now. Gardner Minshew, Kyle Allen, and, unfortunately, Chase Daniel are all potential starters.

Minshew has been playing very well for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the absence of Nick Foles. He does a great job at managing the game and completes his passes at a very high percentage. Through almost five games as a starter, he has nine touchdowns and one interception.

Cam Newton hasn’t looked the same since his MVP season a couple of years ago. Luckily for the Carolina Panthers, Kyle Allen has been solid in his absence. Allen now has a 3-0 record this season and with Newton’s injury history, some may wonder if he’s here to stay.

Chase Daniel is a less appealing potential starter, but with Mitchell Trubisky playing poorly, the Bears may have to consider it.

The last type of backup quarterbacks is the prospects. Right now, the main prospects are Daniel Jones, Dwayne Haskins, and possibly Mason Rudolph as well. These guys are all new to the league, and looking to keep the starting quarterback job in the long run.

Daniel Jones took the starting job for the New York Giants after two weeks of Eli Manning. Jones led the Giants to a close win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then helped in a win against the Washington Redskins. Jones is looking to prove he was worth the #6 overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Dwayne Haskins is another one of these prospects. Fresh off a spectacular year at Ohio State, Haskins looks to fend off Colt McCoy and Case Keenum for the starting quarterback job on the Washington Redskins.

After Ben Roethlisberger went down to injury, most people thought the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season was lost. Mason Rudolph is looking to change that narrative. Mike Tomlin has confidence that Rudolph can keep the Steelers in playoff contention. Unfortunately for the Steelers, Rudolph suffered an injury as well in week five, hopefully he will be back for them soon.

The life of a backup quarterback in the NFL can be changed with one play. Suddenly, the starter goes down, and the backup is now the most important player on the football field. As a backup, you always have to be ready to perform when that type of opportunity comes. If you play well enough, that starting job may be yours to keep.