An unfortunate truth of each NFL season is that injuries will dramatically affect the outcome of every season. The early part of the 2015 slate has seen no shortage of quarterback injuries, led by a broken clavicle to Tony Romo that put him on the short-term injured reserve list.
Drew Brees (shoulder), Jay Cutler (hamstring) and Matthew Stafford (arm, chest, ribs) are also banged-up -- in fact, Brees was declared out on Friday -- putting the spotlight on reserve quarterback situations around the league.
So which teams are best equipped to handle an injury at quarterback? Let's assess the best backup situations around the league, noting that in almost every case, the situation can be tagged as either a steady veteran or a promising prospect.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "[Mike] Glennon, [Jimmy] Garoppolo and [Brock] Osweiler are probably the most talented backups," one NFL personnel man said. "You could throw [Zach] Mettenberger in there, too." Glennon has quietly put together a steady two-year résumé. He has thrown nearly twice as many touchdowns as interceptions (29-to-15) despite little support from his offensive line. He could become a trade chip for Tampa Bay, which has Jameis Winston installed as the long-term QB solution.
2. Carolina Panthers: The team recently signed Derek Anderson to a two-year extension through 2017, and wisely so. Anderson doesn't often see the field behind the durable Cam Newton, but he showed in 2014 why he's a steady No. 2: In two starts, he completed more than 66 percent of 74 throws, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions. One NFL personnel man mentioned Anderson and Chase Daniel (Chiefs) as notable veteran reserves. "Neither Anderson nor Daniel are special talents, but they've played well when they were thrown into the starting lineup."
3. Arizona Cardinals: We saw extended action from Drew Stanton last season when Carson Palmer went down with an injury. It was far from perfect (55 percent completion percentage, 7-to-5 TD-to-INT ratio), but the Cardinals' running game was anemic down the stretch. The fit matters here, as Stanton is the sturdy pocket passer coach Bruce Arians covets.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Sanchez took over for an injured Nick Foles in 2014, helping Philly stay in the playoff mix until the final week of the regular season. He completed a career-best 64.1 percent of his passes and helped the team win four of the first five games he saw extended action in.
5. New England Patriots: We almost saw Garoppolo in action to begin this season before Tom Brady had his four-game suspension lifted. Garoppolo, a former second-round pick, has a quick release, and the Patriots have a strong belief in his understanding of the offense, ability to command a huddle and approach to the craft.
6. Kansas City Chiefs: Daniel fits under the veteran backup label, but at 28, he still has some upside developmentally. He started for the Chiefs in the 2014 regular-season finale -- a game they needed to win to maintain playoff hopes - and completed 16 of 27 passes without a touchdown or interception. The Chiefs have Aaron Murray and Tyler Bray (on the non-football injury list) as other young QBs.
7. Denver Broncos: As Peyton Manning weighed whether to return to the NFL this offseason, Osweiler became a point of focus. The 6-foot-7 quarterback showed well this preseason and has natural arm talent. The 24-year-old is in the final year of his contract and will be an intriguing free agent next year.
8. Tennessee Titans: With Marcus Mariota as the centerpiece of the franchise, 2014 draft choice Mettenberger had a short-lived tenure as the starter. He has a rocket arm and an unmistakable confidence about him. A dropback pocket passer, Mettenberger has had durability concerns, but his skills intrigue. One coach noted a pair of strengths in Mettenberger's game: "[His] ability to see field. He can make every throw." Consistency is key for him.
9. Indianapolis Colts: Despite his early-season struggles, Andrew Luck remains the best young quarterback in football. But Indy's QB room also includes an invaluable veteran presence. Matt Hasselbeck offers value as a mentor to assist Luck while also being capable enough to step in on a short-term basis as needed.
10. Cleveland Browns: This one comes with a bit of a caveat, as Johnny Manziel started in Week 2 but will be back in a No. 2 role in Week 3. My opinion is Manziel should be the Browns' starter, but as a backup, he offers an interesting blend of dual-threat talents. It wouldn't be a surprise if he returns as the starter at some point this season.
Others of note: Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars.