Five NFL quarterbacks on the brink of being benched

With the 2025 NFL season in full swing, we’ve seen veteran quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott continue to dominate, while young up-and-comers like Drake Maye and Jaxson Dart are staking their claims for long-term starting roles.

Yet in the shadows of that progress lurk several signal-callers who have fallen severely short of expectations and now find themselves on the brink of losing their jobs.

Here are five quarterbacks whose starting days may be numbered.

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Geno Smith, QB - Las Vegas Raiders

Geno Smith arrived in Las Vegas with a reputation for steady play, but through seven weeks in 2025, he finds himself tied for the most interceptions in the league with ten.

Coupled with that is a shutout at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, a result that raised serious questions about his ability to lead the offense.

With his TD-to-INT ratio now turning one-sided and trust eroding in the huddle, Smith’s status as the starter is under serious threat.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

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Tagovailoa heads into the mid-season juncture also carrying ten interceptions – matching Smith atop the unwelcome list. Miami’s season has begun with a 1-6 record under his watch, and the team’s offense has too often looked disjointed.

Ridicule and rumour have begun swirling about whether the Dolphins’ brass will give him one more chance or turn elsewhere. The fact is, a continuing slide would make the decision almost unavoidable.

Justin Fields, New York Jets

After signing a lucrative free-agent deal in the off-season, Fields’ move to the Jets has been nothing short of disastrous.

He posts the second-lowest quarterback rating of anyone with more than three starts this season (31.7), with rookie Cam Ward the only passer with a lower mark (23.9).

This, combined with his winless start to the year, has put the Jets in an unenviable position: stick with the investment, or pull the plug early and hope to acquire a future franchise star via the draft.

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Once a Pro Bowler and dual-threat dynamo, Murray again finds himself yet again mired in inconsistency in 2025.

When Jacoby Brissett replaced him in Week 7 due to injury, the veteran journeyman delivered 279 passing yards and a 110.8 passer rating in a tight loss to the Green Bay Packers – outperforming anything Murray has managed all season in those statistical categories.

With the franchise’s patience thinning, Murray may have to win quickly or hand over the reins.

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

After benefitting from last year’s turnover of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, Penix’s 2025 campaign is under growing scrutiny. He has thrown just five passing touchdowns in six starts and sports a QBR of 48.3 – among the lowest for regular starters.

If the Falcons feel the veteran route might deliver a steadier hand, Penix could find himself watching from the bench sooner than planned as Cousins retakes the reins.

Final thoughts

In an NFL season where elite quarterback performances are setting the pace, these five names stand out for all the wrong reasons.

The margin for error is vanishingly thin, and for some teams, the decision of whether to stay the course or make a change at the most important position is already looming large.