Quarterback injuries and slow starts shape NFL Week 3 landscape

Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are sidelined as several teams, including Washington and Houston, enter Week 3 winless.

Injuries to two third-year starting quarterbacks are among the biggest storylines as the NFL heads into Week 3. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring issue, while Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is sidelined by a dislocated left elbow, a non-throwing injury.

The Bears' start has been a stark swing. After scoring 59 points in Week 1, they managed only a field goal on Sunday. Washington, meanwhile, sits at 0-2 following the loss of Daniels and now looks vulnerable in the NFC East, where Dallas rebounded from an opening-week loss to beat the Commanders.

Several other teams are still searching for a first win. The Houston Texans dropped home games against Buffalo and Cincinnati and travel to Indianapolis to face a Colts team that is also 0-2. Tampa Bay, also winless, hosts the 2-0 Vikings in a game the Buccaneers can ill afford to lose, while the Colts-Texans matchup carries similar urgency.

The Los Angeles Chargers have fallen two games behind Kansas City and Las Vegas in the division and face a difficult stretch that includes trips to Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City, plus a home game against Denver. Baltimore lost at home to New Orleans despite holding an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter.

Elsewhere, Cleveland won at Tampa Bay 23-19 for its first victory of the season, and the New York Giants are 1-1 after losing Jaxson Dart to injury on their opening drive in a road game against the Rams.