The injury bug has hit the NFL’s play callers. Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers is done for the season after suffering an elbow injury in week 2. Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints jammed his right thumb, also in week 2. Nick Foles (Philadelphia Eagles), Sam Darnold (New York Jets), and Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) are also all dealing with ailments, and recently reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs suffered a dislocated right kneecap.
With all these injuries, who are the best quarterbacks in the league right now? Big Ben, Brees, Foles, and Darnold are out of the equation, as they haven’t played enough games to merit consideration. Newton has had a down year, likely due to lingering injuries. Mahomes, on the other hand, is disqualified, as he will probably be on the shelf for the rest of the season. That leaves us with these four:
Tom Brady – New England Patriots
IMAGE CREDIT: @tombrady
The GOAT is still performing at the highest level. He has thrown for 2,251 yards, with 13 TDs and only 4 interceptions. More importantly he led his Patriots to an unbeaten 8-0 slate after week 8. At this point none of this greatness is surprising. This is the norm for Brady, and he is the reason why the Patriots are the NFL’s gold standard. They execute to near perfection, and much of it is due to Brady’s on-point play calling. Now he is looking to lead the Pats to back-to-back titles for the first time in his career. The way he has been playing, that’s a distinct possibility.
Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
IMAGE CREDIT: Facebook
Rodgers’ greatness is undeniable and is on full display this season yet again. As of week 8 he had thrown for 2,324 yards, with 16 TDs against only 2 interceptions. He has also delivered arguably the season’s most sublime performance: a 6-TD masterpiece against the Oakland Raiders in week 7. By the way, Rodgers’ Packers were 7-1 after week 8, and are looking like legit contenders.
Jacoby Brissett – Indianapolis Colts
IMAGE CREDIT: @jbrissett7
The Indianapolis Colts’ Brissett has been a revelation, leading his team to a 5-2 record. None of his stats have been eye-popping, but he has been steady, throwing for 1,590 yards with 14 TDs against only 3 interceptions. Making Brissett’s performance all the more remarkable is how he has filled the shoes of a franchise icon. Coming into the season the Colts had high hopes. They had a superstar QB, Andrew Luck, who was in year 3 of the lucrative extension he signed in 2016. It was the richest in NFL history, and enough to push Luck into 6th place on Ladbrokes’ list of the highest earning sports stars. The deal, worth $140 million over five years, was proof of the Colts’ trust in Luck, and last season Luck justified the hype by producing arguably his finest performances. This year, Luck and the Colts were supposed to be contenders. Then he retired in October, after what Sporting News describes as an injury-ravaged offseason. Enter Brissett, who the Colts acquired in 2017 to back up Luck. Thrust into the spotlight the former Patriot has played magnificently, fanning hopes of a deep playoff run for the Colts.
Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks
IMAGE CREDIT: @dangerusswilson
Wilson, once more, is doing well for the Seahawks. And he is doing damage in the air and on the ground. Wilson threw for 2,127 yards, with a NFL high of 17 passing TDs against just 1 interception. He added 182 rushing yards, too, along with 3 rushing TDs. With no more Legion of Doom to anchor an elite defense, Wilson has had to take on a bigger load. He has responded so far and is one of the best QBs currently playing.