Kyle Allen

Allen's a journeyman quarterback that had mild success in a 13-game run with Carolina in 2019 but has played sparingly since. An ankle injury cut short his 2020 season, and he was a third-stringer for the Commanders in 2021. On board with the Texans for 2022, Allen enters training camp as the backup to Davis Mills, although Houston has two other quarterbacks on the roster. Jeff Driskel returns from last year, and the team signed Kevin Logan after the Titans let him go following the draft. Mills is far from established, which suggests an opportunity for Allen, but the team's plan is to give Mills every chance to succeed. If Mills fails to cement the top QB job or gets injured, Allen is next in line.

Allen's 2019 campaign in Carolina largely was defined by sacks and turnovers, while his 2020 season in Washington was cut short by a major ankle injury. He's back with Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner for 2021, but both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Taylor Heinicke have larger contracts, leaving Allen on the roster bubble. Allen's fate may depend on the team's decision between keeping two or three quarterbacks.

Undrafted out of the University of Houston back in 2018, Allen caught on with the Panthers and later beat out third-round pick Will Grier for the backup QB job in 2019. A Cam Newton injury in Week 2 thrust Allen into the starting role, where early success in some favorable matchups inspired discussion that he might be a long-term solution in Carolina. That now feels like a distant memory, after Allen imploded through November and December, ultimately finishing the season with 16 interceptions and 13 fumbles in 13 games. The Panthers then traded him to Washington for a fifth-round pick in the offseason, leaving Allen as the likely backup to 2019 first-rounder Dwayne Haskins, who also was one of the league's worst quarterbacks last season. It won't come as any shock if Allen makes starts this year, and he could benefit from reuniting with Washington offensive coordinator Scott Turner, formerly the QBs coach in Carolina. Things did get a bit more complicated with Alex Smith returning to practice, potentially dropping Allen down to third in the pecking order at some point.

Promoted late last season to serve as Carolina's backup quarterback, Allen made two appearances, including a Week 17 start. In that outing, he led the Panthers to victory while totaling over 240 yards and three touchdowns. Despite that finish, Allen faces an uphill battle to make the team again this season, as rookie Will Grier was drafted in the third round to be Cam Newton's long-term understudy. If Carolina decides to keep three quarterbacks around, though, Allen could remain on the 53-man roster by impressing during the preseason.