What NFL QBs are playing, or sitting, in Week 18?

Tracking every QB decision in the final week of the 2024 NFL season

Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season is here. While there are some significant games with playoff implications on the schedule, other games on the Week 18 slate will have little, or no, bearing on the postseason field.

With some teams already eliminated and others locked into their playoff spot, coaches are announcing who will be playing this weekend, and who will be resting ahead of the offseason, or the playoffs.

Here are the latest quarterback decisions ahead of the final week of the 2024 NFL season.

Is Anthony Richardson playing in Week 18?

The Indianapolis Colts take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18, with both teams already eliminated from the playoffs. Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has been dealing with a back injury, will be out for Sunday’s season finale. Veteran Joe Flacco will get another start for Indianapolis.

Is Tua Tagovailoa playing in Week 18?

The Miami Dolphins enter Week 18 with an outside chance at qualifying for the postseason. Miami will need a win Sunday against the New York Jets, and a loss by the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs, to clinch the No. 7 seed in the AFC.

However, they might be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa has been dealing with a hip injury, and speaking to the media Friday Miami head coach Mike McDaniel stated it was “unlikely” that Tagovailoa would play Sunday.

If Tagovailoa cannot go, Tyler Huntley will get another start for Miami.

Is Patrick Mahomes playing in Week 18?

Speaking of the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Andy Reid announced earlier this week that the Chiefs will rest starters in their season finale against Denver. Kansas City has already clinched the No. 1 seed, and home-field advantage, in the AFC.

Carson Wentz will get the start for Kansas City against the Broncos on Sunday.

Is Matthew Stafford playing in Week 18?

The Los Angeles Rams clinched the NFC West last week, thanks to a win over the Arizona Cardinals and a number of other results around the league.

Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Wednesday that Jimmy Garoppolo will start in place of Matthew Stafford in the season finale Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

This is an interesting decision, as the Rams are not locked into a seed yet in the NFC. Los Angeles will finish as the No. 3 seed in the NFC with a win or a tie against Seattle, or a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss or tie against the New Orleans Saints.

However, the Buccaneers are yet to clinch a playoff spot, and will be playing to win on Sunday. Should Tampa Bay win and the Rams lose, the Buccaneers will clinch the NFC South as well as the No. 3 seed. That would drop the Rams down to the No. 4 spot, meaning they would host the loser of Sunday night’s game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings.

Is Josh Allen playing in Week 18?

The Buffalo Bills take on the New England Patriots in their season finale. But with Buffalo locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC, head coach Sean McDermott indicated that Josh Allen will start on Sunday to keep his consecutive starts streak alive, but that his appearance in the game would be a “very, very short-lived amount of time.”

Is Drake Maye playing in Week 18?

On the other sideline this Sunday, the New England Patriots are expected to start rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Maye sustained an injury to his throwing hand in last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but will be in the lineup to begin the game Sunday.

According to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, the plan is for Maye to play the entire game.

“Drake looked good yesterday,” Van Pelt on Thursday. “He’s starting the game, for sure.”

Van Pelt was asked if the plan was to play the entire game, and the New England offensive coordinator indicated that was the plan.

“We’re playing the game to win the game for sure, we’ll see how it goes from that point, but yes, that’s the intent,” Van Pelt added.

Is Brock Purdy playing in Week 18?

The San Francisco 49ers have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and will be without starting quarterback Brock Purdy for their season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Purdy sustained an injury to the UCL in his right elbow, in San Francisco’s Week 17 loss to the Detroit Lions, but the team does not believe there will be any long-term impact. “It’s really nothing more than like when you hit your funny bone,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Friday. “He did that, and when you get an NFL helmet in the wrong place, it irritated the nerves a little.

“And so, everything’s all right. Brock’s gonna be fine, and just a deal where it’s got to quiet down.”

Josh Dobbs will start for the 49ers against the Cardinals.