The 2023 NFL season has become known as the year of the backup quarterback, as a seemingly unprecedented amount of injuries knocked out starting signal-callers across the league.
Because of these injuries, many teams across the league have had to scrap and scrounge to find quality fill-ins who could keep their teams alive in the race for the postseason. That has led to some breakout, high-water moments for the likes of Joshua Dobbs, Jake Browning, Drew Lock and even Joe Flacco.
That said, the 2023 NFL season has mostly been a desert of inconsistent quarterback play despite these oases. Former MVPs like Patrick Mahomes have struggled; interceptions have been up while scoring has been down; and because of the lack of consistency at quarterback the MVP leader seemed to flip-flop every week until Lamar Jackson took control of it in the final sixth of the season.
That lack of consistency has led to many quarterback changes. As a result, the NFL is on the verge of breaking the record for quarterbacks started in a non-strike season for the second consecutive year. It all depends on how many teams opt to sit their starters in Week 18 as several teams look to keep their top quarterbacks healthy for the postseason.
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Here's what to know about the NFL's record-tying quarterback usage as the league continues to shuffle through passers at a high rate.
How many different NFL quarterbacks have started in 2023?
There are set to be five new starting quarterbacks for the final week of the 2023 NFL season, which will bring the total number of starters for the 2023 campaign to 66. That ties the record for a non-strike year, set in the 2022 NFL season during which 66 players made starts at quarterback.
The new starters in Week 18 will be Tyler Huntley, Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold, Jeff Driskel and Blaine Gabbert. All are poised to draw into lineups to preserve the health of starters as their respective teams look to make postseason pushes.
Most NFL QBs to start a game in one season
The strike-impacted 1987 NFL season still reigns supreme as the season that saw the most different starting quarterbacks. Fittingly, 87 players started at quarterback during that season. That mark will be difficult for the NFL to top in a single campaign barring another work stoppage.
Only nine NFL teams are currently projected to start the same quarterback in every game during the season. Several others — like the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs — could have were they not locked into their respective playoff spots, and that number could dwindle if more teams opt to rest starters.
Regardless of which starters rest, the Browns have had the most turbulent season at quarterback. Their decision to start Driskel in Week 18 gives them a whopping five different starters at the position for 2023. Despite this, they are going to make the playoffs as the top wild-card team in the AFC thanks to a resurgent stretch from Joe Flacco.
The Vikings and Jets both used four quarterbacks during the 2023 NFL season as well. Each lost their starter — Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers respectively — to a torn Achilles and shuffled through backups looking for a long-term solution. Neither quite found one and barring a miracle for the Vikings, each will miss the playoffs.
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NFL starting QBs 2023 season
Below is the full list of all 66 quarterbacks that have started — or are poised to start — at least one game during the 2023 NFL season. This list includes projected starters for Week 18.
| Player | Team | Starts |
| Brock Purdy | 49ers | 16 |
| Sam Darnold | 49ers | 1 |
| Tyson Bagent | Bears | 4 |
| Justin Fields | Bears | 13 |
| Jake Browning | Bengals | 7 |
| Joe Burrow | Bengals | 10 |
| Josh Allen | Bills | 17 |
| Jarrett Stidham | Broncos | 2 |
| Russell Wilson | Broncos | 15 |
| Joe Flacco | Browns | 5 |
| Dorian Thompson-Robinson | Browns | 3 |
| P.J. Walker | Browns | 2 |
| Deshaun Watson | Browns | 6 |
| Jeff Driskel | Browns | 1 |
| Baker Mayfield | Buccaneers | 17 |
| Kyler Murray | Cardinals | 8 |
| Clayton Tune | Cardinals | 1 |
| Joshua Dobbs | Cardinals/Vikings | 12 |
| Justin Herbert | Chargers | 13 |
| Easton Stick | Chargers | 4 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | 16 |
| Blaine Gabbert | Chiefs | 1 |
| Gardner Minshew II | Colts | 13 |
| Anthony Richardson | Colts | 4 |
| Sam Howell | Commanders | 17 |
| Dak Prescott | Cowboys | 17 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | Dolphins | 17 |
| Jalen Hurts | Eagles | 17 |
| Taylor Heinicke | Falcons | 5 |
| Desmond Ridder | Falcons | 12 |
| Tommy DeVito | Giants | 6 |
| Daniel Jones | Giants | 6 |
| Tyrod Taylor | Giants | 5 |
| C.J. Beathard | Jaguars | 1 |
| Trevor Lawrence | Jaguars | 16 |
| Tim Boyle | Jets | 2 |
| Aaron Rodgers | Jets | 1 |
| Trevor Siemian | Jets | 3 |
| Zach Wilson | Jets | 11 |
| Jared Goff | Lions | 17 |
| Jordan Love | Packers | 17 |
| Andy Dalton | Panthers | 1 |
| Bryce Young | Panthers | 16 |
| Mac Jones | Patriots | 11 |
| Bailey Zappe | Patriots | 6 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | Raiders | 6 |
| Brian Hoyer | Raiders | 1 |
| Aidan O'Connell | Raiders | 10 |
| Brett Rypien | Rams | 1 |
| Matthew Stafford | Rams | 15 |
| Carson Wentz | Rams | 1 |
| Lamar Jackson | Ravens | 16 |
| Tyler Huntley | Ravens | 1 |
| Derek Carr | Saints | 17 |
| Drew Lock | Seahawks | 2 |
| Geno Smith | Seahawks | 15 |
| Kenny Pickett | Steelers | 12 |
| Mason Rudolph | Steelers | 3 |
| Mitchell Trubisky | Steelers | 2 |
| Case Keenum | Texans | 2 |
| C.J. Stroud | Texans | 15 |
| Will Levis | Titans | 9 |
| Ryan Tannehill | Titans | 8 |
| Kirk Cousins | Vikings | 8 |
| Jaren Hall | Vikings | 2 |
| Nick Mullens | Vikings | 3 |
It should also be noted that Taysom Hill has technically been credited with six starts this season. While his official position on the Saints' roster is quarterback, he hasn't actually started at quarterback over Derek Carr at any point this season. As such, Hill is being omitted from this list.
It's also noteworthy that the Commanders had planned to start Jacoby Brissett at quarterback in Week 17, but the veteran suffered a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the game that prevented him from playing. So, Washington could have easily become the 24th team to start at least two quarterbacks in 2023.