Getty Quarterback Joe Webb
The New York Giants aren’t quite done with “Mr. Do It All” Joe Webb.
Released prior to the final game of the 2020 regular season to free up space for the return of starting linebacker Kyler Fackrell, the dual-threat quarterback-receiver has returned to New York, inking a reserve/future deal on Friday, according to the team.
Webb was initially brought on board in early December as an insurance policy, with starting quarterback Daniel Jones hobbled by injury. Initially a practice squad signing, the 11-year veteran was quickly elevated to the active roster, appearing in two of Big Blue’s final three games.
Despite injuries at the quarterback position and experience moonlighting as a wide receiver, Webb failed to log an offensive snap with the Giants in 2020. However, he did work his way into a somewhat sizeable special teams role, logging 13 total snaps, including playing 39% of the special teams snaps in the team’s Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
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Examining Webb’s Role With Giants Moving Forward
Webb, 34, will likely have an uphill battle attempting to make next season’s 53-man roster, though that’s not to say it’s impossible. Whether it’s to push Daniel Jones or to solidify the depth behind him, New York is expected to bring in more competition at the position this offseason.
Second-stringer Colt McCoy is an impending free agent. While he, at times, proved capable of not losing games this season, chances are the Giants would like to find a player who can go out and win games should Jones miss more time with injuries down the road. That’s not out of the question considering last year’s No. 6 overall pick has missed two games in each of his first two seasons in the league.
Is Webb the answer to that? It’s hard to sell a player who hasn’t attempted a regular season pass since 2017. With that said, his versatility, especially under a coach like Joe Judge who comes from a special teams background, gives Webb a fighter’s chance to stick around as a No. 3 quarterback or super utility player.
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Webb’s Versatile Skill Set
Webb is likely best known for drawing a playoff start in 2012 for the Minnesota Vikings as an injury replacement for then-starter Christian Ponder. In a losing effort to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card round, Webb totaled 248 yards from scrimmage (180 passing, 68 rushing). Furthermore, he’s also Minnesota’s franchise record holder for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game (109 yards in Week 14 of 2011).
In total, Webb has appeared in 104 games over his NFL career, with four starts at quarterback). The Birmingham, Alabama native has completed 90-of-159 passes for 888 yards and three touchdown passes over that span. He’s also chipped in 326 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground, plus 10 receptions for 74 yards receiving.
Webb’s most extensive usage came in 2018 as a member of the Houston Texans, where he logged 312 special teams snaps. A 2010 sixth-round pick by the Vikings, Webb has also spent time with the Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.
A standout during his days at UAB, Webb accounted for 5,771 passing yards, 2,774 rushing yards and 471 receiving yards over his collegiate career. His 1,021 rushing yards in 2008 broke a C-USA single-season record for most rushing yards by a quarterback.
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