How many quarterbacks have been on the injured reserve this season in the NFL?

With the Jacksonville Jaguars the latest team to see their signal caller go down with an injury, one could be forgiven for thinking that there is a curse on quarterbacks this season. We’re taking a look at those who have been sidelined so far and exactly what happened to them.

NFL starting quarterbacks lost to injury

It’s been a rough time for quarterbacks in the NFL in 2023 and quite frankly it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Just earlier this week the Jacksonville Jaguars saw their starter Trevor Lawrence add his name to the growing list of quarterbacks who have seen their seasons derailed by injury. With that said, it should be noted that Lawrence unlike most others on that list has not been ruled out for the entire season. Needless to say, the unavailability of these players has wreaked havoc on the Super Bowl ambitions of their respective teams. Who are they? Let’s take a look.

Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets)

It was the blockbuster move of the offseason and if we’re honest, probably the biggest we’ve seen in quite some time. The former Green Bay Packers star and former MVP, Aaron Rodgers, was traded to the New York Jets and with that the talk of the team being contenders began immediately. Sadly, that dream came to a screeching halt in the first quarter of the team’s Week 1 game when the 40-year-old tore his Achilles tendon following a low hit by Buffalo Bills linebacker Leonard Floyd. While there has been talk of Rodgers returning before season’s end there’s been no indication that it will actually happen, and given the Jets’ current record of 4-8, it probably won’t matter if he does.

Daniel Jones (New York Giants)

It’s hard not to feel some degree of sympathy for the Buffalo Bills and their quarterback. Indeed, it was during a 30-6 loss on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders last month, when Daniel Jones went down with a knee injury. What made the situation even worse was that it was the 26-year-old’s first game back following another injury. Jones has since undergone surgery and according to his own comments won’t be back on the field for at least 8-10 months. The Bills are currently 6-6 with Tommy Devito under center i.e., still in the playoff picture but with work to do.

Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings)

2023 was supposed to be the year that the Minnesota Vikings stepped up to the next level after winning the NFC North last season. Unfortunately, a 1-4 start to the campaign demonstrated early on that it wasn’t going to be that kind of year. To their credit, the Vikings responded by winning five consecutive games but that stretch came at a cost. Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in the fourth quarter of the team’s clash with the Green Bay Packers and that as they say, was that. As per reports, Cousins will be out for somewhere between 9 and 12 months due to the fact that he opted against the implementation of a “speed bridge.”

Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts)

Though it might shock you to know, the Indianapolis Colts are very much on track to secure a playoff spot. What’s even more impressive is that it’s not due to their starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Indeed, the former Florida star sprained his AC joint back in Week 5 during a game against the Tennessee Titans. Though there was an initial debate as to how he and the team would proceed, the decision was taken to operate on his shoulder, and with that, his season came to an end. It is now understood that he faces a six-month minimum before he can throw a football again. If there’s been one silver lining in the situation, it’s the emergence of Richardson’s replacement, Gardner Minshew, who has kept the Colts in the hunt for a postseason ticket.

Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)

The Cleveland Browns quarterback has gone from the league’s highest-paid player to a pariah, to having a shot at redemption and is now sadly, absent. Regardless of where you stand on Deshaun Watson and the controversy that surrounded him over the last year, the 28-year-old is without a doubt a talented playmaker. That’s precisely why it was a major blow to the team when his troublesome shoulder finally gave out during a win over the Houston Texans. Watson broke a bone in his shoulder that day and incredibly, continued to play. Just three days later, the Browns announced that he would require surgery and so it was that his campaign came to an end. Per reports, his rehab will take between six and nine months.

Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)

Having won two straight AFC North titles the Bengals and their starting quarterback, Joe Burrow, entered this season with high expectations. That was of course before they made him the highest-paid player in NFL history with a mammoth five-year extension worth $275 million. Yet, as you’ve probably noticed the trend of this list by now, that was not how the cookie crumbled. Following a slow start to the campaign with a 1-3 start, Burrow and Co. managed to go on a four-game winning streak, but during a Week 10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, that all came crashing down as the 26-year-old tore a ligament in his right wrist during the first half. The Bengals and their fans will now have to wait a minimum of six months before they see their signal caller on the field again.

Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)

While the Jaguars quarterback is not expected to be out for the rest of the season, seeing him forced off the field in last week’s loss to the Bengals brought immediate concern. With just six minutes left on the clock in the fourth quarter, Lawrence was sacked on a third-and-long by Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, but it was actually the quarterback’s teammate, left tackle Walker Little, who inadvertently stepped on Lawrence’s ankle, which caused the QB’s leg to twist as he went to the ground. The Jaguars are hopeful that his absence won’t be a long one, but Lawrence’s inclusion on this list is a stark reminder of how much quarterbacks have suffered this season. The question now is, will we see more before the season is over?