Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones: Four QBs Facing Pressure After Week 1

As the 2024 season unfolds, several quarterbacks are feeling the heat following a tough Week 1. Among them, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew faced a challenging debut that left fans with high expectations feeling underwhelmed. Despite securing a start over teammate Aidan O’Connell, Minshew’s performance in a 22-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers was marked by mistakes that overshadowed any initial promise.

Minshew’s outing included an unfortunate fumble resulting from a pump fake and a pass that was deflected, leading to an interception. He finished the game with 25 completions on 33 attempts for 257 yards, accompanied by one touchdown and one interception. Minshew was also sacked four times, contributing to a lack of offensive rhythm.

“A lot to clean up. I feel like we beat ourselves a lot of the game. Hats off to them, they played a great game; they played hard,” Minshew remarked. “We still have very high expectations of what we can do as an offense, but that execution was not up to our standard.”

Joining Minshew in the spotlight is Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who struggled in his first game back after a shoulder injury sidelined him last season. Watson’s performance was far from impressive, as he grappled with errant throws and an inefficient offense. The Browns failed to secure a first down in the first half, and Watson was sacked six times, resulting in two interceptions.

“I’m gonna take the blame and get the guys on the same page. We got to be better next week,” Watson stated. “We just got to go out there and execute when we are all on the field together.” The stakes are high for Watson, who signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. Since leaving Houston, his performance has not matched the expectations that come with such a hefty deal.

Another quarterback under scrutiny is Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers. The start of Young’s sophomore season did not go as planned, with the first pass resulting in an interception. The Panthers were overpowered by the New Orleans Saints, losing 47-10. Young’s stats revealed a dismal outing, completing 13 of 30 passes for 161 yards, two interceptions, and four sacks, ultimately ending the game with a passer rating of just 32.8.

“Systematically, just doing a better job with the operation,” Young noted after the game. “That starts with me.” The pressure is mounting for Young, who has yet to inspire confidence in the team’s fan base.

Lastly, Daniel Jones of the New York Giants is also feeling the heat after a disappointing performance in his first regular-season outing since a knee injury last November. Jones threw two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six, as the Giants fell to the Minnesota Vikings 28-6. His lack of production drew boos from the home crowd, with the team only managing six points throughout the contest.

“Obviously not good enough. Didn’t get in the end zone and scored six points. Didn’t create much rhythm and flow for ourselves. I got to be better,” Jones admitted. Since signing a four-year, $160 million contract prior to the 2023 season, Jones has been struggling, with only two touchdowns and eight interceptions in games he has started.

The pressure is building for these quarterbacks, as the 2024 season continues to unfold. As they look to improve their performances and meet expectations, fans will be watching closely to see if any of them can turn around their fortunes in the weeks to come.

Source: USA TODAY