Ian

Book

The team also signed WR Jacob Copeland, RB Hassan Hall, and LB Jordan Smith to reserve/futures deals. Book has bounced around the league since being waived by the Saints after training camp in 2022. He was claimed by the Eagles and spent a year on their roster but was waived again as the team cut down to their final roster for the 2023 season. Book had a cup of coffee with the Patriots this year but has been a free agent since September. He will look to catch on as the Chiefs’ third quarterback in the offseason.

This is little more than the Giants doing their due diligence while Daniel Jones continues to deal with a neck injury. Tyrod Taylor threw for 200 scoreless yards in the Giants’ Week 6 loss to the Bills, but was as serviceable as one could hope a backup to be. Barkley hasn’t started a regular season game since 2018 and hasn’t thrown a regular season pass since 2020. He’d be nothing more than a depth signing if the Giants opted to bring him in. In addition to Barkley the Giants also hosted free agent QB Ian Book and free agent WR Damiere Byrd.

Taken by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Book was picked up by the Eagles last year after being released from New Orleans. He now lands in New England, where he will likely operate as the team’s emergency quarterback.

The Eagles enter Sunday’s championship game against the 49ers with a relatively healthy roster. Despite some wear and tear to a handful of key players, the Eagles had full participation in their final practice heading into the weekend, with no player carrying an injury designation.

The Saints took a shot on Book in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL, but things didn’t work out for the Notre Dame alum. In his only start as a rookie, Book was rocked for eight sacks while tossing two interceptions. Seeing all they needed to, New Orleans waived him to reach their 53-man roster at the end of training camp. The Eagles waived quarterbacks Reid Sinnett and Carson Strong yesterday, leaving them with just Gardner Minshew to relieve Jalen Hurts. Minshew’s contract is up at the end of the year, so Book gives the team a flier as a potential backup in 2023.

Book completed 42-of-65 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks during the 2022 preseason. It was a minor step forward for a player who may have had the most disastrous start of the 2021 season when forced into action in an island game against the Dolphins. Ian Rapoport says there will be interest in him as a practice squad quarterback -- it makes sense that he’d stay with the Saints assuming there’s not a spot on a 53-man roster available for him.

Forced into starting duties with Jameis Winston on I.R. and Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian on the COVID list, fourth-round rookie Book didn’t stand a single chance in his pro debut. He was also missing starting OTs Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk, forcing fourth- and fifth-stringers into the game at one point. Book’s second pass of the game was tipped at the line, picked off, and returned for a touchdown. Things didn’t get much better, as Book was flattened for eight sacks, and later tossed a second interception right to a Miami defender. It’s clear Book isn’t any sort of long-term answer, but it’s also not fair to judge him completely off this game with such a shorthanded roster due to COVID protocols. The Saints simply have to get Hill back next week for their Week 17 date with the lowly Panthers.

With Taysom Will and Trevor Siemian on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Bortles should serve as the backup for Ian Book this week against the Dolphins. Book is only startable in deep superflex formats.

Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Book will be the first Saints rookie quarterback to start a game since Danny Wuerffel in 1997. The No. 133 overall pick of the draft, Book has yet to attempt a regular season pass, but the Saints have wisely decided they have seen all they need to of journeyman Trevor Siemian. It is a brutally bad spot for Book’s NFL debut, as the Dolphins play lockdown coverage and blitz freely. Book, of course, has no reliable targets in the passing game outside of Alvin Kamara. He will not be superflex viable.

The Saints will roll with two quarterbacks against the Packers: Starter Jameis Winston and gadget guy Taysom Hill. New Orleans will be without Michael Thomas (ankle) and Tre’Quan Smith (hamstring), both of whom were placed on IR. Marquez Callaway will operate as the team’s WR1 for now.