After Derek Carr was the lone rookie quarterback to start during Week 1 of the NFL season, the barely touted class of 2014 has begun flooding the league, with sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger the next slated to see action with the announcement that he will start for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The former LSU star is far from the most unexpected player to go under center this season, with the league having showcased an assortment of random names we’d either forgotten about or had never heard of, including:
Charlie Whitehurst
Charlie Whitehurst, aka “Clipboard Jesus”APThe man Mettenberger is replacing made his first start in three seasons this year, following an injury to Jake Locker. Now, after three losses in four games and only one performance surpassing 200 yards, “Clipboard Jesus” is back in his familiar role on the sideline.
Colt McCoy
The former Texas quarterback has thrown 30 passes since 2011, but is expected to make his first start in three seasons for the Redskins on Sunday with Washington still waiting on Robert Griffin III’s return. McCoy went 11-of-12 for 128 yards and a touchdown in relief of Kirk Cousins last week.
Austin Davis
The 25-year-old Rams rookie went undrafted out of Southern Miss in 2012 and failed to land on a 53-man roster until the middle of last season. Davis made his first start Sept. 14, leading St. Louis to a win over the Buccaneers, and is coming off a career-best game in a win over Seattle. He completed 17 of 20 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, leading Brett Favre to label him the “next Tom Brady or Kurt Warner.”
Derek Anderson
A backup in Carolina since 2011, Anderson has started one game this season — due to a Cam Newton injury — and made three other appearances. He doesn’t find it funny.
Jimmy Garoppolo
On a rare night when the Patriots were getting blown out — in Kansas City on Monday Night Football — Tom Brady was pulled and replaced by the second-round rookie out of Eastern Illinois. Garoppolo completed six of seven passes, including a touchdown, leading one reporter to actually question whether a changing of the guard could be coming in New England. Even Bill Belichick had to laugh.
And somewhere in Ohio, Johnny Manziel is still waiting for his chance.
