NFL Quarterbacks Who Could Get Benched in 2026

There is one thing that no NFL team wants at the start of the season: Questions at quarterback. Unfortunately, not all teams can be so lucky (See: Cleveland Browns).

While some teams are fortunate enough to have one of the best NFL quarterbacks at their disposal and firmly entrenched under center, other teams have had to navigate training camp QB battles and conduct test runs for their signal callers during the preseason.

By now, most teams have named a starter. Maybe they’ve convinced themselves they have the answer, but outside observers and fans? Maybe less convinced. There are plenty of QBs who have a high chance of trading their starting job for a spot on the bench, and when that happens, only a head coach firing makes more of splash.

Let’s take a look at the NFL quarterbacks who are most at risk of being benched this season.

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NFL QBs at Risk of Being Benched in 2026

Right now, Deshaun Watson, Kirk Cousins, Jacoby Brissett, Michael Penix, Jr, Kyler Murray and Geno Smith are all facing the prospect of being benched during the 2026 regular season if they can’t turn things around or their teams quickly.

Deshaun Watson – Cleveland Browns

Though he was named the Week 1 starter, it wouldn’t be particularly surprising if Deshaun Watson doesn’t make it much further than that. Boos rained down on him in his home preseason games, the team has microscopic odds of making much of an impact this season and it’s a QB-heavy draft next year.

There’s also the fact that Watson has never played even half a season for the Browns and he has been a shadow of his former Houston Texans self when he has been on the field. He’s also got Shedeur Sanders, who put on an adequate show in his starts last season, practically salivating in the wings.

Check out the full Cleveland Browns schedule

Kirk Cousins – Las Vegas Raiders

The benching of Cousins will not be because the Raiders are losing their grip on a playoff spot or Cousins isn’t performing. It will be because the team deems it time to hand first overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza the keys to the offense.

The strategy in signing Cousins was clear from the start: The Raiders wanted to give their future franchise QB someone who has played the position for over a decade as a mentor that can help him navigate the pro game until he’s ready to take snaps, just like Jacoby Brissett did for Drake Maye in New England. It’s likely Cousins will start at least the first four games as Mendoza gets completely up to speed and is ready to hit the ground running.

Check out the full Las Vegas Raiders schedule

Jacoby Brissett – Arizona Cardinals

Speaking of Jacoby Brissett, Arizona finds itself facing down the most brutal decision in football with all eyes on 2027 and beyond. Brissett has proven to be a capable interim starter and a premiere backup. He is one of the better bridges to a team finding their next franchise QB.

It’s possible that QB is already on the roster. Arizona took Miami Hurricanes QB Carson Beck in the third round of the NFL Draft and he made a strong enough impression in the preseason to warrant playing time at some point. Beck did suffer an injury in the Hall of Fame game, but he’s been practicing.

Arizona is one of a handful of teams that will be looking for a lottery ticket in next year’s draft, but if Beck can live up to the hype he has generated in the past, they might be able to use that capital on a number of holes on the roster.

Check out the full Arizona Cardinals schedule

Michael Penix Jr. – Atlanta Falcons

In one of the most complex quarterback situations in the league, Atlanta still hasn’t officially named a started. A top ten pick just a few years ago, Michael Penix Jr is rehabbing from his third ACL tear in the last five years and is once again in a QB competition, this time with former passing leader and Miami Dolphin Tua Tagovailoa, who is also a former top ten pick.

Tagovailoa had the competition to himself with full reps in training camp and preseason, but his lackluster performance carried over from Miami and he was unable to claim the starting job outright. All indications say it’ll be Penix’s for the taking. With the NFC South completely up for grabs and first year head coach Kevin Stafanski looking to make a good first impression, the QB1 spot is a hot seat in Atlanta.

Check out the full Atlanta Falcons schedule

Geno Smith – New York Jets

Geno Smith is back with the Jets for a redemption tour after a brutal season in Las Vegas. Smith looked sharper in the preseason and he’s surrounded with more playmakers than he’s had in quite some time.

The chances of Smith being benched will likely hinge on the Jets playoff chances. If it’s clear a wild card spot won’t be in hand, the Jets might turn to rookie Cade Klubnik to see what they have in the former Clemson product. Of course, the full expectation/hope is that they put up another subpar campaign and get yet another crack at landing a franchise QB in next year’s loaded draft.

Check out the full New York Jets schedule

Kyler Murray – Minnesota Vikings

The two-time Pro Bowler and former #1 pick was released by the Cardinals after missing 12 games a year ago. Murray has played a full season just three times in seven seasons, but he gets a fresh start in Minnesota with QB whisperer Kevin O’Connell as head coach.

A low-risk/high-reward signing in the offseason, Murray beat out last year’s starter and 2024 top ten pick, J.J. McCarthy, for the starting spot in training camp. The Vikings have a legit spot at a wild card spot in a hyper-competitive division and as long as Murray keeps them in it, he’ll hang onto the job. If not, the Vikings will take a deep breath and hope McCarthy has made some massive and much-needed strides.

Check out the full Minnesota Vikings schedule

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Ready to see which of these QBs will keep their job, and which might ride off into the sunset? Catch the NFL action all season long on DIRECTV.

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