Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 23
Six NFC Teams Turn to Backup QBs by Week 3 as Injuries Hit Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 23

Six NFC Teams Turn to Backup QBs by Week 3 as Injuries Hit Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 23

Summary

  • Six teams could start backup quarterbacks by the end of this week after Week 2 injuries to Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart added to earlier losses of Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray.
  • That would mark the first time since at least 2000 that six teams were forced into injury-driven quarterback changes within the first three games, and the first such case since the 1970 merger involving six teams from one conference.
  • Washington has already ruled Daniels out and will start Marcus Mariota, the Giants are expected to go with Jameis Winston, and Chicago could be pushed to third-stringer Case Keenum if Williams and Tyson Bagent both remain unavailable.
  • Atlanta shows the clearest offensive fallout: the Falcons have yet to record a red-zone trip through two losses, while their quarterbacks have combined for a 38.2 passer rating.
  • The injury wave has also come in a season with almost no rookie quarterback action — no drafted rookie has taken a snap through two weeks, only the fourth such start since 1967.

Insights

As six NFC teams scramble for backup quarterbacks, which dark horse franchise will capitalize on this chaotic shift in league power?
With highly paid rookies benched and backups taking over, could this unprecedented crisis completely rewrite how teams build their rosters?
Are modern preseason routines leaving NFL quarterbacks dangerously unprepared for the brutal reality of regular season game speed?