The 2021 season is the campaign of uncertainty at quarterback for more than a few NFL ballclubs.
With the regular season starting this week, an inordinate number of teams face one question or another regarding their situation at pro football's most important position.
Here's a look at those myriad QB problems.
Chicago Bears -- Does the Windy City go with retread vet Andy Dalton or No.1 draft pick Justin Fields? The rookie from Ohio State had made the choice a difficult one by outperforming Dalton in the pre-season.
Coach Matt Nagy has announced that the vet will open the season as the Bears starter. But it's only a matter of time before Fields takes over -- he is only one bad game or two by Dalton away from assuming the starter's role.
Nagy's future job security likely depends on one of the two doing the job well.
San Francisco 49ers -- Will talented but oft-injured incumbent Jimmy Garappolo lead the Niners this campaign? Or does sensational first round draft choice Trey Lance take over? Each performed well in the pre-season.
To start, it looks like it's Garappolo's job to lose, though San Fran may look to make use of Lance's running ability by inserting him at QB in offensive packages that utilise his all-around skill set.
Houston Texans -- With the investigation into lawsuits against Deshaun Watson regarding unwanted sexual advances still ongoing by the league, Watson's playing status is uncertain.
For the time being, Tyrod Taylor, a proven starter at QB -- though not a big winner -- for several teams takes over the reins at the position.
Philadelphia Eagles -- Jalen Hurts will start the campaign a somewhat shaky No.1.
The Eagles want to see if Hurts is indeed an NFL starter. There are doubts in some circles that his style of mobile QBing will work.
Just in case, Philly brought in vet Joe Flacco who performed quite well in the exhibition but is not the long term answer.
Just in case, the Eagles traded for Gardner Minshew of Jacksonville who had shown flashes of NFL ability for some poor Jaguar teams.
New Orleans Saints -- Does Jameis Winston really have the NFL goods after some so-so years in Tampa Bay? He gets the chance to prove it in N'Awlins after having beaten out Taysom Hill, the Saints' Swiss army knife.
Winston outperformed Hill in exhibition contests. Meantime, Hill returns to various duties on the field, including quarterback in special situations and as the starter should Winston fail.
Denver Broncos -- Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock each performed well in the pre-season giving Mile High City fans hope. Both have shown flashes in the regular season but not consistency.
Look for Bridgewater to be named starter but also the likelihood of a revolving door at Broncos QB spot until either shows he can do the job over 17 games.
New England Patriots -- After rookie Mac Jones sparkled in the pre-season, the Pats surprisingly cut Cam Newton, who had been duelling with Jones for the starting job.
Bill Belichick's coaching legacy may very well hinge on Jones' performance henceforth.
Los Angeles Rams -- Was Matthew Stafford a victim of some poor Detroit teams? Or was he part of the reason the running game-challenged Lions couldn't even make the play-offs in all but one of the seasons Stafford was their QB?
We should get an answer as Stafford takes over the reins for a team that is a proven winner still seeking to take the big step to Super Bowl champs.
Detroit Lions -- Jared Goff, who was swapped to the Motor City for Stafford, hopes to prove he was not the reason the Rams came up short several seasons in a row after making it to the Super Bowl 2018.
Goff faces an uphill challenge in turning around the fortunes of the perennial also-ran Lions.
These QB situations also exist: the debut of rookie Zack Wilson for the New York Jets, Dallas' Dak Prescott's health issues (broken leg in 2020, sore arm this summer), Joe Burrows' comeback attempt from a serious 2020 knee injury in Cincinnati and former New York Jet Sam Darnold's attempt at a career revitalisation in Carolina.
Then there is injury-prone ex-Philadelphia Eagle Carson Wentz's career reboot attempt for the Indianapolis Colts, the NY Giants still waiting for Daniel Jones to finally step up big time in his third year, the draft's top draft pick Trevor Lawrence's rookie debut as a starter in Jacksonville, and Ryan Fitzpatrick as a starter for Washington from day one rather than a save-the game/season back-up.
All these predicaments should make for one QB crazy NFL season.
Contact Wiggins' World at davwigg@gmail.com.