Who Should I Start? Sam Ehlinger or Graham Mertz

Tuesday, August 26, 11:29 PM

Denver Broncos quarterback Sam Ehlinger was released on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The move comes as Denver trims down its roster to 53 players, and it leaves the team with just Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham in its quarterback room. Ehlinger appeared in all three preseason games, completing 42 of 57 pass attempts for 415 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also took four sacks. The former sixth-round pick hasn't appeared in a regular season game since the 2022 campaign with the Colts. He's a candidate to join the practice squad in Denver or elsewhere, but his path to playing time includes numerous obstacles. He should be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.

Monday, August 25, 6:32 AM

Houston Texans quarterback Graham Mertz got the start in the team's preseason finale in Detroit on Sunday, and the sixth-round rookie had a very strong showing while leading his team to a 26-7 win over the Lions. With starter C.J. Stroud and primary backup Davis Mills getting the day off, Mertz completed 14 of his 16 pass attempts for an efficient 145 passing yards. He threw a touchdown to Quintez Cephus and led three scoring drives before halftime. He also added 20 rushing yards on two carries. Mertz played ahead of Kedon Slovis, who was on the Texans' practice squad last year and took over for the second half of Saturday's win. Mertz likely secured the third spot on the quarterback depth chart with his strong showing, while Slovis could be headed back to the practice squad.