TIME AND TIME again, the one and only Gardner Minshew is written off. You can take a look at his college career as exhibit A for him overcoming adversity. Once again, the Washington State football great is silencing his haters and he's doing so in a way that Wazzu fans everywhere are enjoying.
This past March, Minshew signed with the Chiefs, who then turned around and signed Bailey Zappe one day later. Plenty of scribes thought the Mississippi Mustache would end up losing the battle for the QB2 job behind Patrick Mahomes. So how's that take going?
Related: Forecasting Washington State's unprecedented 2025 football season week-by-week
Minshew has fully seized the backup role and following his performances vs. the Seahawks earlier this month and against the Bears on Friday.
Minshew is in his seventh NFL season and Zappe, out of Western Kentucky, is in his fourth. Zappe has played in 15 regular-season games in his career between the Patriots and Browns, collecting 2,223 passing yards, 12 TDs and 14 INTs. Minshew has played in 59 games with the Jaguars, Eagles, Colts and Raiders, piling up 11,950 passing yards, 68 TDs and 34 INTs.
Speculation abounds that Zappe could end up getting released any day now. Minshew looks to have once again proved doubters wrong.
Gardner Minshew is closing in on winning the Chiefs backup job over Bailey Zappe
Against Seattle at Lumen Field last weekend, Minshew turned heads by completing 7-of-9 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in his two quarters of work. WSU fans on hand were blown away by his short TD pass to Robert Tonyan, which came with him throwing off his back foot -- Minshew finished that showing with an impressive 136.7 passer rating. Against the Bears, he was only on the field for a short time, completing 4-of-9 passes for 37 yards. Zappe went 4-of-6 for 26 yards vs. Chicago.
Throughout the preseason, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has praised Minshew for making smart decisions and showcasing his versatility. This included after the loss to Arizona earlier this month where he found the end zone with his legs. Zappe on the other hand tossed two interceptions in that game, further creating space between the two.
While at Wazzu suiting up for the Cougs, Minshew won over hearts during his lone season running the offense after transferring in from East Carolina. He broke multiple program and Pac-12 records, throwing for 4,779 yards and 38 touchdowns. He was a crucial part in WSU securing a program-best 11 wins, capped off with a thrilling win over Brock Purdy and Iowa State in the 2018 Alamo Bowl.
Minshew earned a Pro Bowl nod following his 2023 season with the Colts, but Indy was set on Anthony Richardson as their QB of the future and Minshew signed with the Raiders ahead of the 2024 campaign. He started nine games and appeared in 10 in Las Vegas, tossing 9 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, before going down with injury The KC offense is obviously the Mahomes show, but coach Andy Reid is building trust with Minshew and it's looking like KC fans are growing in confidence should his number ever get called during the regular season.
Chiefs quarterbacks Gardner Minshew (17) and Bailey Zappe leave the field following preseason game with the Bears on Aug. 22. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)
ANOTHER COUG IN KANSAS CITY, undrafted free agent rookie offensive lineman Esa Pole, is by all accounts turning in a solid camp but given the depth at OL it would seem a spot on the 53-man roster may be a tall order. Not the practice squad, however. ChiefsDigest.com opines that KC has been slow to move Pole up the depth chart "but that may be purposeful on the Chiefs' part to protect him from prying scouts."
IN OTHER COUGS-IN-THE-NFL news, another setback has arrived for former first-round pick Andre Dillard. The Woodinville product signed with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, but he also underwent ankle surgery.
He was recently activated off the PUP list, but it didn't take long for the 49ers to ultimately place him on injured reserve, ending his 2025 season before it could even get started. Dillard's career now appears to be in limbo, as he was hoping to have a strong year by the Bay to get things back on track. An All-American while playing for WSU, Dillard was taken No. 22 overall by Philly in 2019. He has also played for the Titans and Packers.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE LEDGER, veteran wide receiver River Cracraft has signed a new deal with the Washington Commanders. Cracraft spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins and signed with Seattle earlier this offseason. He was cut by the Hawks before camp opened.
Cracraft, entering his ninth NFL season, was a fan favorite while in the 509 and he's continued to be showered with support by the WSU fanbase ever since he made the leap to the pros. Similar to Minshew and Dillard, Cracraft has bounced around a bit in the league. In addition to the Commanders and Dolphins, he's played for the Broncos and 49ers.
MEANWHILE, ROOKIE RECEIVER Kyle Williams didn't play in the Patriots' final preseason game Thursday against the Giants, presumably as a precaution after leaving the prior game, against the Vikings, following a helmet-to-helmet shot that brought trainers onto the field.
Williams reportedly missed practice time this week. Writes CBS Sports, "Assuming he resumes practicing in short order, Williams is destined to secure a role in the Patriots offense out of the gate this season, but it may take some time before the 2025 third-rounder sees steady volume in a wideout corps that also includes Stefon Diggs (knee), DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins."
ON SATURDAY, BRENNAN JACKSON made noise for the Rams with a sack on Shedeur Sanders. For Coug fans, that no doubt prompted an instant flashback to the Cougs' 56-24 dismantling of Colorado and Shedeur in which Jackson turned in one of the all-time great defensive performances.
NOTABLE: In case you're wondering why you haven't heard old Coug Easop Winston's name during this NFL preseason, he was waived by the Jets in May and signed in July by the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League.