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Rookies under center: NFL's 2023 quarterback class sets record for starters in a season

ayrton ostly, usa today
·6-min read
C.J. Stroud led the Houston Texans to a thrilling win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
C.J. Stroud led the Houston Texans to a thrilling win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Week 10 of the NFL season kicks off Thursday night with the 1-7 Carolina Panthers heading on the road to take on the 2-7 Chicago Bears. Bears quarterback Justin Fields is doubtful for the game and, if he doesn't play, Thursday's game will feature two rookie starting quarterbacks.

This continues a trend this season of rookie quarterbacks playing significant time league-wide. New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll announced that rookie Tommy DeVito will start Sunday on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. DeVito's start makes it 10 rookie quarterbacks to start an NFL game this season, a new record.

The previous record was set in 2019 when nine rookie quarterbacks started at least one game. That group included:

This year's group, like the 2019 class, includes multiple first-round draft picks as well as some undrafted free agents. Here are the rookies who have started so far in 2023:

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Bryce Young (Alabama), Carolina Panthers (Weeks 1-2, Week 4-present)

The Panthers traded up with the Bears to select Young first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Young's started all but one game this season (Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks).

The Panthers have struggled in 2023 and lost their first six games in a row before a 15-13 win over the Houston Texans in Week 8. Young's steadily improved as the year's gone on but had a rough outing last week against the Indianapolis Colts in a 27-13 loss. He threw two pick-sixes and sits at 1-6 as a starter in the NFL.

C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Houston Texans (Week 1-present)

Houston drafted Stroud second overall behind Young this April and the Texans fans have to be excited about his performance this year.

He threw nearly 200 passes before his first interception in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints. Last week, he set a rookie record with 470 yards and five touchdowns in a 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans are 4-4 and Stroud is playing at a high enough level that a playoff berth isn't out of the question.

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Anthony Richardson (Florida), Indianapolis Colts (Week 1-2, Week 4-5)

Richardson made it three quarterbacks drafted in the first four selections this April when the Colts drafted him fourth overall. He left the game early after a concussion in the Week 2 win against the Texans but returned in Week 4 to put up three total touchdowns in a 29-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In Week 5, he left the win against the Tennessee Titans in the first half with a shoulder injury.

Richardson's had surgery to repair a sprained AC joint in his shoulder and will miss the rest of the 2023 season.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA), Cleveland Browns (Week 4)

A fifth-round pick in April, Thompson-Robinson looked good in preseason and filled in late for starter Deshaun Watson in Week 3's win over the Titans. A week later, Thompson-Robinson struggled in his only start against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens won 28-3 as he threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. P.J. Walker stepped into the starting role in Watson's absence after the Ravens loss.

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Aidan O'Connell (Purdue), Las Vegas Raiders (Week 4, Week 9-present)

The Raiders selected O'Connell in the fourth round of the draft and he made his first start against the Chargers in Week 4. Starter Jimmy Garoppolo's been dealing with a back injury that sidelined him multiple times in 2023. In the Chargers game, O'Connell managed just 238 yards passing while being sacked seven times in a 24-17 loss.

He rebounded to a better showing in the loss to the Raiders after Brian Hoyer started the game. Last week against the Giants, O'Connell put up 209 yards passing in the 30-6 win at home. He'll likely be the starter going forward under interim coach Antonio Pierce.

Tyson Bagent (Shepherd), Chicago Bears (Week 7-present)

Bagent stepped in for the injured Fields during the Bears' Week 6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He's started the subsequent three games, leading the Bears to a 30-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders before losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and the New Orleans Saints.

The undrafted rookie will likely start again on Thursday but may not start again in 2023 if Fields remains healthy down the stretch.

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Will Levis (Kentucky), Tennessee Titans (Week 8-present)

Levis, a second-round pick this April, stepped into a starting role in Week 8 following Ryan Tannehill's ankle injury. He proceeded to throw for four touchdowns against the Falcons in a 28-23 win.

Levis came back down to Earth a bit against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9's 20-16 loss on the road. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel announced Levis will be the starter moving forward.

"We think that’s the best opportunity for our football team right now," Vrabel said. "We’ll see where he’s at. I think Ryan will progress through this week, I think, and hopeful to be a backup for us and prepare as a starter. But that’s where we’re at right now."

Clayton Tune (Houston), Arizona Cardinals (Week 9)

For the first eight weeks of the NFL season, the Cardinals started Joshua Dobbs at quarterback. But the team traded Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings a week ago and opened the door for the fifth-round pick to start.

Unfortunately for Tune, that start came against the Cleveland Browns' fearsome defense. He completed 11 of 20 passes for 58 yards and added 28 yards on the ground but Cleveland dominated in a 27-0 win over Arizona.

Murray's been activated to the Cardinals' 53-man roster this week ahead of their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Barring another injury, Tune likely won't start another game this season.

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Jaren Hall (BYU), Minnesota Vikings (Week 9)

Hall came in for the injured Kirk Cousins late in the win over Green Bay in Week 8. In Week 9, the fifth-round draft pick started the game against the Falcons but suffered a concussion late in the first quarter. Dobbs came into the game at quarterback and led the Vikings to a 31-28 win. Hall likely won't start the remainder of the season barring a Dobbs injury.

Tommy DeVito (Illinois), New York Giants (Week 10)

The final starter to break the record, the undrafted DeVito took a combined 92 snaps on offense over the last two games: the 13-10 loss to the New York Jets and 30-6 loss to the Raiders. Daniel Jones' season-ending ACL injury in the latter loss means DeVito will start Sunday against the Cowboys and will remain the starter going forward, at least until Tyrod Taylor returns from injury.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants Tommy DeVito makes history for 2023 NFL quarterback draft class