Matt

Barkley

The Jaguars are signing Barkley to their active roster off the Giants’ practice squad. Barkley has spent the year with both the Bills and the Giants and now ends up in Jacksonville, where Trevor Lawrence is dealing with a shoulder injury. The Jaguars are attempting to make a playoff push and Barkley will provide depth.

Barkley was signed to the active roster after injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor. His release signals the likely return of Taylor, who should enter the starting lineup under center for the Giants coming out of their Week 13 bye.

The Giants are entering QB hell with Daniel Jones (knee) done for the season and Tyrod Taylor dealing with a lingering rib injury. Barkley has 11 touchdowns and 22 interceptions over 19 games — including seven starts — in the NFL. The Giants could roll out some combination of Barkley and Tommy DeVito in Week 10 against the heavily-favored Cowboys.

The Giants are looking for more quarterback depth behind Daniel Jones with Tyrod Taylor dealing with a rib injury. Tommy DeVito has proven unreliable thus far so Barkley will get a chance to latch on in New York.

This is little more than the Giants doing their due diligence while Daniel Jones continues to deal with a neck injury. Tyrod Taylor threw for 200 scoreless yards in the Giants’ Week 6 loss to the Bills, but was as serviceable as one could hope a backup to be. Barkley hasn’t started a regular season game since 2018 and hasn’t thrown a regular season pass since 2020. He’d be nothing more than a depth signing if the Giants opted to bring him in. In addition to Barkley the Giants also hosted free agent QB Ian Book and free agent WR Damiere Byrd.

Buffalo placed Barkley on injured reserve because of a right elbow injury he suffered during the preseason. He would have been stuck on injured reserve for the entire season had he and the team not agreed to an injury settlement. Now he is free to sign anywhere, though his recovery from the elbow issue will ultimately determine when he gets his next opportunity.

The former fourth-round pick did not get in a game during the 2022 season and has not started an NFL game since 2018. USC’s finest will continue to function as Buffalo’s break glass in case of emergency backup plan at quarterback. The Bills also signed reserve/future contracts with OL Alec Anderson, LB Eli Ankou, DT Cortez Broughton, DT Brandin Bryant, TE Zach Davidson, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, WR KeeSean Johnson, EDGE Kingsley Jonathan, OL Greg Mancz, DB Kyler McMichael, WR Dezmon Patton, OL Ryan Van Demark

The Bills opted to only carry Case Keenum behind Josh Allen. Also released/waived by the Bills were OL Greg Mancz, OL Luke Tenuta, OL Alec Anderson, RB Raheem Blackshear, RB Duke Johnson, WR Tanner Gentry, WR Isaiah Hodgins, TE O.J. Howard, DE Mike Love, DE Kingsley Jonathan, DT Brandin Bryant, DT Prince Emili, DT C.J. Brewer, LB Joe Giles-Harris, DB Nick McCloud, DB Ja’Marcus Ingram and Eli Ankou.

Barkley served as Josh Allen’s backup from mid-2010 through 2020. He then signed with the Titans, was cut, and landed with the Panthers. With Mitchell Trubisky now in Pittsburgh, the Bills’ backup quarterback job is open once again. However, the Bills just sent a seventh-round pick to the Browns for Case Keenum, who should still be viewed as the favorite to win backup duties. Ultimately, Barkley’s familiarity with the Bills offense could give him a leg up.

There had been some talk of the Panthers trying to bring Barkley back after P.J. Walker was sent to the COVID list Wednesday. Instead, he’ll go to Atlanta where Falcons backup QB Feleipe Franks is on the COVID list.