Tim Tebow: Backup QB Must Shine Against Carolina to Help Starter Aspirations

With news breaking (via the New York Post) that New York Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow will not play against the Philadelphia Eagles in the team's final preseason game, he has just one last chance to prove himself.

Tebow will need to show off the skills that helped him usurp the Denver starting job from Kyle Orton last season against the Carolina Panthers. That is his best chance to improve the possibility of him doing the same to Mark Sanchez.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York, the Florida alum has played a total of 51 plays so far this preseason. The results of those 51 plays add up to one interception, four sacks and just nine passes completed on 22 attempts.

To be fair to the unorthodox quarterback, completions aren't really Tebow's game. He actually won four games last season with under 10 passes completed in each contest.

Tebow needs to show head coach Rex Ryan and company that he's more than just a Wildcat or special teams option for the Jets in 2012. He has one more opportunity to become more than a benchwarmer, and it comes against a respectable Carolina defense.

Cimini did say that Sanchez will play the first three quarters of this upcoming contest, which only gives Tebow the fourth to impress. Perhaps "Tebow Time" will rear its head — even if it is just a preseason fourth quarter.

Tebow will need to treat this as a regular-season fourth quarter, because his performance through the other exhibition contests have given Ryan no reason to second-guess starting Sanchez.

Fortunately for the NFL's high-profile backup, he'll be taking on the second- and third-string options for Carolina and not the likes of Jon Beason or Thomas Davis in all likelihood.

If Tebow can put together a handful of solid drives in his short amount of playing time and at least one touchdown in the process, he'll make up for some of his earlier preseason woes.

A solid performance against a defense made up of players who may or may not start in the NFL one day should be taken with a grain of salt, but it would still significantly help his cause.

Another thing that could warm Ryan up to No. 15 is if Sanchez struggles against the Panthers' starters. There's nothing that can put more pressure on a quarterback in Sanchez's position than a poor performance in the most meaningful exhibition game while his competition impresses.

Tebow is fighting an uphill battle right now based on his own poor performance, but he can make up for that against Carolina if he gives his coaches some reasons to forget the previous games.