Last week, Brian Hoyer mentioned on KNBR that for the first time in his career he’s entering training camp with a starting job, and that not looking over his shoulder has helped his confidence.
On Monday, Trey Wingo of ESPN’s NFL Live was asked if based on that fact, he thinks Hoyer might be due for a break out season. Wingo didn’t rule it out, but wasn’t exactly thrilled with Hoyer’s comments about job security. In fact, he didn’t like it at all.
“My first reaction to that is that bothers me a little that that was so important to him,” Wingo said. “At the end of the day go compete. I get that you don’t want a competition at the quarterback spot, and Herm Edwards said that today. But if it takes having that sort of security, or feeling that need of security to make you play better, I have a problem with that. I want you to just go out there and say ‘screw it. If you’re not going to give it to me I’m going to earn it.’ So I guess it’s possible (Hoyer has a break out season), but in a larger context…I don’t like that sort of mentality seeping into my quarterback before we even play a game.”
Reports out of camp have Hoyer looking impressive throwing the ball, especially down the field, and say that he’s brought a steadiness to the position that has trickled down throughout the team. Even if Hoyer has a breakout season, Wingo believes he is solely acting as a placeholder for Kirk Cousins next season.
“(John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan) are waiting for that guy named Kirk Cousins to move from Washington to San Francisco in 2018. They’re slow playing right now. That’s not to say that Brian Hoyer can’t win you some games and Matt Barkley might be able to do some things, but I don’t think people are saying ‘2017 back to the postseason for San Francisco.’ If they make it that’s great, but I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation when you look at that division.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Wingo’s comments on Hoyer skip to the 11:00 minute mark.