Wave of Quarterback Injuries Reshapes NFL Picture Entering Week 3
The short version
- Sam Darnold, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Tua Tagovailoa and Jaxson Dart have all been injured this season
- Jameis Winston could start for the Giants the rest of the season after a rough Monday night outing
- Kirk Cousins is tied for the league lead with six touchdown passes and has Las Vegas at 2-0
- Tyson Bagent takes over in Chicago and has not thrown a touchdown pass since 2023
- Justin Herbert has more interceptions than touchdowns for the 0-2 Chargers
Sam Darnold, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Tua Tagovailoa and Jaxson Dart are among the quarterbacks sidelined as backups take over across the league.
Injuries have hit the quarterback position hard just two weeks into the NFL season. Sam Darnold, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Tua Tagovailoa and Jaxson Dart have all been knocked out of the lineup to this point, though some are expected to return in the near term.
The absences have pushed backups into prominent roles. Jameis Winston, who has not been a regular starter since 2019, completed 40.7% of his passes and threw an interception in a Monday night loss for the Giants, and he could remain the starter for the rest of the season.
In Chicago, Tyson Bagent steps in with Caleb Williams unavailable, though Bagent has not thrown a touchdown pass since 2023. Washington turns to Marcus Mariota while Jayden Daniels is out; the Commanders went 2-6 in games Mariota started last season.
Some healthier starters have produced despite the churn. Kirk Cousins is tied for the league lead with six touchdown passes and has the Raiders at 2-0. Drew Lock has thrown four touchdowns without an interception since relieving in Week 1, posting the league's fifth-best completion percentage.
Not everyone has fared well. Justin Herbert sits 23rd in passing yards with more interceptions than touchdowns for the 0-2 Chargers, while Kyler Murray was concussed after throwing a pick in Week 1.
