Giants cut 33-year-old veteran QB Brandon Allen

If you have ever thrown a football, get an agent and have them contact the New York Giants. McCarthy and Fields join a list that, per previous reports, already included Gardner Minshew, Mac Jones, and Jimmy Garoppolo. Schefter also named Brandon Allen, who was on the Giants’ roster during training camp, as an option. Jameis Winston will get the start in Week 3, but the journeyman passer looked downright awful in relief of Jaxson Dart last week. The team will be forced to make a move at quarterback if he struggles versus the Titans today. McCarthy would be a true Hail Mary for the G-Men, but he does have a strong tie to the Harbaugh brothers via his time at Michigan.

Allen, 33, spent last season with the Titans and has previous stops with the Broncos, Bengals, and 49ers. The former sixth-round pick has seen little action since 2020, when he threw for 925-5-4 in five games with the Bengals and attempted just 30 passes for the Titans last season, throwing for 72 yards and a pick. If he were to make the 53-man roster, Allen would likely serve as the Giants’ QB3, with Jameis Winston the presumed backup to Jaxson Dart this upcoming season.

Siemian played in Tennessee’s final two preseason games after signing with the team late in the 2024 season. He had a 74.1 PFF passing grade in 34 snaps. Paul Kurharsky reports the Titans want him on their practice squad. This means Brandon Allen has won the job to be Cam Ward’s backup.

Allen is a career backup who has provided serviceable play when called upon. He joins one of the most underwhelming quarterback rooms in the league, currently headlined by Will Levis, though the Titans could soon look to add a franchise quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft. Allen is reunited with head coach Brian Callahan from their time together with Cincinnati. If Allen did somehow get into the starting conversation, he’d be a questionable starter even in superflex leagues.

Purdy sustained a right elbow contusion and nerve inflammation, but the injury has “no long-term implications.” Shanahan said the team is unsure if Josh Dobbs or Brandon Allen will start at quarterback against the Cardinals in Week 18. This is great news for Purdy, who likely finishes the season with a 3864/20/12 passing line. It was clearly not the season he had in 2023, but Purdy was able to play well in an offense stuffed with less-exciting players and took more chances down the field. Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, much of the offseason noise about Purdy will likely be about his impending contract extension.

Purdy practiced with the starters on Friday, indicating the team expected him to suit up at the time. As Schefter notes, Purdy didn’t suffer any setbacks over the weekend and should be good to go for a Sunday night date with the Bills. Having already missed a game with what was initially described as shoulder soreness, we fully expect the 49ers to take a run-heavy approach this week. Traveling to Buffalo for a windy, snow-covered game will also encourage Kyle Shanahan to lean on his ground game. Purdy will spend a game at the top of the QB2 ranks for Week 13.

Will he throw today? Shanahan told reporters: “We’ll decide when we get out there.” Purdy was reportedly observed attempting just one pass during the portion of practice open to the media. The fact that it was just a screen pass is even more concerning. We suspect Thursday and Friday’s updates will be more impactful as far as Purdy’s chances of playing through his shoulder soreness but a quarterback who isn’t really throwing at practice doesn’t strike us as particularly likely to play. It could be the Brandon Allen show for another week.

Allen’s interception occurred via a tipped pass but he earned the turnover all the same. Allen and the 49ers’ offense put on a lowlight performance that included three punts and three turnovers on 12 possessions. The in-game broadcast broke news about Allen having fractured the middle finger on his left hand two weeks ago, though Allen never once appeared on the injury report during this two-week span. No official word has been given but it would be unsurprising to see Joshua Dobbs under center if Brock Purdy (shoulder) is unable to play next week. Allen would be a low-end QB2 against the Bills in Week 13.

Today’s in-game broadcast broke the news, which probably should have come via a previous 49ers injury report. Fortunately, Allen is a right-handed thrower so the injury will not compromise his ability to throw the football but his ball security in the pocket and during the snap could be impacted. A hard snap in practice reportedly caused the initial injury.

Even Schefter, who is presumably getting this info from a source inside the 49ers’ building, had to add some words of caution to his report. He noted, “Then again, they also thought he would be able to start today at Green Bay before he couldn’t.” Kyle Shanahan and the entire 49ers organization have made a habit of downplaying the severity of injuries this year, so it can’t be taken for granted that Purdy will be back next week. Assuming Brandon Allen can’t pull off the upset versus Green Bay today, San Francisco’s Week 13 matchup with the Bills could be a make-or-break game as they fall behind in the NFC West.