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Matt Leinart | Quarterback

Team: Unsigned Free Agent
Age / DOB:  (30) / 5/11/1983
Ht / Wt:  6'5' / 227
College: USC
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

ESPN's Ed Werder reports the Seahawks are expected to decide between free agents Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn following Monday's QB tryout.
Werder tentatively predicts Leinart will get the contract after a workout that also included Tyler Thigpen and Seneca Wallace. Leinart, though, is the least like Russell Wilson without any hint of mobility or athleticism. We would have predicted Thigpen or Wallace getting a deal, but they may have not impressed. Apr 8 - 5:52 PM

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Player News

Date:

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Seahawks will consider free agent Matt Leinart as Russell Wilson's backup.

It's the first we've heard of Leinart since the Raiders decided to move on at backup quarterback, and likely doesn't have a very strong possibility of happening. The Seahawks have also been connected to Tyler Thigpen, who would be a much better fit for their evolving read-option offense. Leinart was passed over by Terrelle Pryor for a Week 17 start, and has time and again failed to make the most of his generous amount of opportunities.
Apr 1 - 12:55 PM

Free agent Matt Leinart is not expected back with Oakland in 2013.

Continuing to confirm himself as a top-ten draft bust, Leinart completed just 16-of-33 passes for 115 yards and an interception in two 2012 appearances off the bench. He was passed by mega-project Terrelle Pryor late in the year. Leinart turns 30 in May, and it's fair to wonder if his NFL career has reached its end.
Jan 26 - 1:12 AM

Coach Dennis Allen declined to name a Week 17 starter Monday.

Carson Palmer is out with cracked ribs and a bruised lung, leaving Allen to decide between Matt Leinart and Terrelle Pryor. Even though Leinart has no long-term upside and managed just 115 yards with an interception in relief last week, we're still expecting him to get the nod. Allen hasn't been shy about publicly saying Pryor isn't ready to play quarterback at the NFL level yet -- even in a meaningless Week 17 game for a 4-11 team.
Tue, Dec 25, 2012 10:34:00 AM

Matt Leinart replaced Carson Palmer (ribs) in the first quarter of Week 16 and completed 16-of-32 passes for 115 yards and an interception.

Terrelle Pryor finished with just one pass attempt. Leinart got the nod under center with Palmer out, and was captain checkdown as he's been throughout his underwhelming, third-string caliber NFL career. The Raiders head to San Diego in Week 17. They'll have a very difficult time generating any passing success if Leinart gets the start.
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 04:10:00 PM

According to SI's Peter King, the Texans believed Matt Leinart was "just getting it" before breaking his collarbone last season.

King says Texans coach Gary Kubiak expected to be "offensively explosive" under Leinart after losing Matt Schaub to a Lisfranc fracture, and believed he was "just turning around his disappointing career." Now backing up Carson Palmer in Oakland, King believes Leinart will be "one of the best insurance policies in the NFL" this season. Four days shy of his 29th birthday, Leinart has completed only 350-of-608 passes (57.6%) in 31 career games, posting a 15:20 TD:INT ratio.
Mon, May 7, 2012 09:51:00 AM

Raiders signed QB Matt Leinart.

It's a logical fit. Carson Palmer lacks an established backup, and new offensive boss Gregg Knapp worked with Leinart as Texans QBs coach the past two years. Terrelle Pryor will spend another season in the No. 3 developmental role. Leinart is getting the call over Jim Sorgi, who also worked out for the Raiders.
Tue, May 1, 2012 06:13:00 PM

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie is characterizing free agent Matt Leinart's visit with the team this week as a "workout" only.

The Raiders may simply be doing due diligence by checking out Leinart's rehab from last year's broken collarbone. ESPN's Adam Schefter did report over the weekend that Leinart would "likely" sign with the Raiders. We shall see.
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 05:15:00 PM

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports free agent Matt Leinart will visit the Raiders this week, and "likely" sign to be Carson Palmer's backup.

It will be Leinart's first known visit since he was released by the Texans last month. The Raiders currently have just Terrelle Pryor and Rhett Bomar behind Palmer. If Leinart indeed signs, he'll be lucky to be getting another backup opportunity after seeing his latest chance end after just 13 throws last season. New Raiders OC Greg Knapp was the Texans QBs coach the past two seasons.
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 09:33:00 AM

ESPN's Bill Williamson calls free agent Matt Leinart a "likely" target for the Raiders' backup quarterback job.

Leinart and Carson Palmer have a USC connection. They're also both big, tall, unathletic quarterbacks. The Raiders could probably do better than Leinart, though. Aside from Peyton Manning, QBs left on the free agent market include David Garrard, Vince Young, Byron Leftwich, Donovan McNabb, and Billy Volek.
Source: ESPN.com
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 05:40:00 PM

Texans released QB Matt Leinart.

The move clears $1.75 million in salary. Leinart (clavicle) reportedly failed his physical. He spent two seasons with the Texans, but only made it into two games. He became expendable following 2011 rookie T.J. Yates' late-season emergence as Matt Schaub's long-term backup. Leinart drew little interest from old college coach Pete Carroll in free agency last year. It might be time for him to take up another profession.
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 09:20:00 PM

Coach Gary Kubiak indicated that Matt Leinart and T.J. Yates will compete "side-by-side" for the No. 2 job this year.

Yates won the respect of his teammates and coaching staff with his solid play down the stretch last season. Leinart isn't clearly a better option than Yates, so there's little reason to keep his salary on a cap-strapped roster.
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 01:06:00 PM

Matt Leinart will undergo surgery to repair his broken collarbone Thursday in Los Angeles.

The fact that Leinart needed surgery hints at a displaced fracture, but his recovery timetable won't be overly long. He'll be fine to function as Matt Schaub's backup once again when 2012 training camps roll around.
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 10:07:00 AM

The Texans have confirmed that Matt Leinart's injury is a broken collarbone, and that he will undergo season-ending surgery.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Leinart should go under-the-knife sometime in the next week. The news at least temporarily begins the T.J. Yates era in Houston, though Kubiak confirmed the Texans will sign another veteran to back up Yates and Kellen Clemens. Sage Rosenfels, who is still under contract with the Dolphins, is the most likely candidate. Yates should start in Week 13 after keeping his head above water in yesterday's win, but there are likely no guarantees beyond this week. Yates is not a fantasy option in two-QB leagues.
Mon, Nov 28, 2011 04:36:00 PM

A source confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter that "all indications" are Matt Leinart's left collarbone is broken.

The Texans will perform more tests when they arrive in Houston on Monday, but for now the expectation is that Leinart's season is over. Lance Zierlein of the Houston Chronicle expects the Texans to stay the course with rookie T.J. Yates at quarterback, and probably sign a veteran street free agent to challenge Kellen Clemens for the backup role. Look for Leinart to be placed on season-ending injured reserve by Tuesday of next week.
Sun, Nov 27, 2011 06:35:00 PM

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4Curtis Brinkley
5Jamie Harper
6Brandon Saine
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8Richard Murphy
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10Darren Evans
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4Curtis Brinkley
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3Curtis Brinkley
FB1Lousaka Polite
2Montell Owens
3Spencer Larsen
4Brit Miller
5Brock Bolen
6Tony Fiammetta
7Owen Schmitt
8Robert Hughes
9Nate Eachus
10Jourdan Brooks
11Ryan Roberson
12Eddie Williams
13Ryan D'Imperio
14Patrick DiMarco
WR11Titus Young
2Jabar Gaffney
3Laurent Robinson
4Steve Breaston
5Ben Obomanu
6Emmanuel Arceneaux
7Kassim Osgood
8Justin Hilton
9Bert Reed
10Cole McKenzie
11Chris Denton
12Rashaard Carter
WR21Brandon Lloyd
2Early Doucet
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4Brandon Banks
5Darius Hanks
6Lavasier Tuinei
7Duke Calhoun
8Seyi Ajirotutu
9Michael Calvin
10Ronald Johnson
11DeMarco Sampson
12Javone Lawson
13Jason Thompson
WR31Jabar Gaffney
2Laurent Robinson
3Steve Breaston
TE1Randy McMichael
2David Thomas
3Kevin Boss
4Josh Baker
5Steve Watson
6Daniel Graham
7Dedrick Epps
8Joe Sawyer
9Martin Rucker
10Evan Moore
11Logan Brock
12Taylor Cook
K1John Potter
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