Quarterback injuries have hit the NFL early, with six teams losing their opening-day starters through the first two weeks and several clubs now facing thin depth charts at the position. Atlanta, Chicago, Washington and the New York Giants have all had to adjust, while Seattle and Minnesota have stayed unbeaten behind capable reserve quarterbacks.
Key takeaways
- Michael Penix Jr. is set to start for Atlanta on Thursday night after recovering from his ACL injury.
- Jayden Daniels will miss Sunday’s game against Seattle after dislocating his elbow again, leaving Marcus Mariota in line to start.
- Jaxson Dart’s knee injury could end his season, putting Jameis Winston atop the Giants’ quarterback depth chart.
- Seattle and Minnesota are 2-0 with Drew Lock and Carson Wentz filling in for injured starters.
- Chicago has only veteran Case Keenum available on its active roster after Caleb Williams’ hamstring injury and Tyler Bagent’s concussion.
Early quarterback injuries reshape depth charts
The Falcons entered the season without Penix, who had been rehabbing an ACL injury, and then saw Tua Tagovailoa suffer a back injury shortly before the opener. Penix is now ready to return, while Tagovailoa has resumed full practice participation.
Seattle lost Sam Darnold to a glute injury in Week 1, and Minnesota’s Kyler Murray entered the concussion protocol that same week. The Seahawks expect Darnold to do at least some practice work this week, while Murray has been cleared to return.
The Week 2 quarterback losses created greater concern. Daniels suffered another dislocated elbow, affecting the same joint injured last season. X-rays found no fracture, but coach Dan Quinn did not disclose the details of Daniels’ MRI evaluation. Mariota will start against the Seahawks, as he has done in recent seasons when Daniels has been unavailable.
Washington’s problem is behind Mariota. The Commanders no longer have veteran Josh Johnson as an experienced third option, leaving seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis as the No. 3 quarterback. Kaliakmanis showed encouraging moments in preseason, but he remains inexperienced.
The Bears watched Caleb Williams leave on a cart with a hamstring injury, then placed backup Tyler Bagent in concussion protocol. Keenum is the only other quarterback on the active roster. Although the 14-year veteran has made 66 NFL starts, he has not appeared in a regular-season game since December 2023.
Atlanta’s lack of depth was exposed in its lopsided loss to Carolina. Cooper Rush, operating as the third-stringer, was pulled after throwing his fourth interception of the season. Jack Strand replaced him and threw a pick-six.
The Giants may have the most difficult decision. Dart’s knee injury was initially viewed as less serious, but he could now miss the rest of the season. Winston is expected to take over, and he is the only other quarterback on the active roster. Jake Haener, a 2023 fourth-round Saints selection, is on the practice squad.
Veterans and developmental options could draw interest
Teams seeking reinforcements will find that proven quarterbacks are scarce once the season is underway. San Francisco backup Mac Jones could be among the more appealing trade possibilities. The sixth-year passer revived his value after signing a two-year deal with the 49ers in 2025, going 5-3 as a replacement starter while posting a 69.6% completion rate, 7.4 yards per attempt and a 97.4 passer rating, each a career high. He is due to become a free agent after the season, though San Francisco may prefer to keep him behind Brock Purdy.
Jimmy Garoppolo offers a far more extensive starting résumé. The 34-year-old, a 12-year veteran and two-time Super Bowl winner, considered retirement during the offseason before remaining available. He last started in the Rams’ 2024 regular-season finale against Seattle and has not had sustained action since his Raiders stint began in 2023. Still, Garoppolo owns a 43-21 record as a starter, with a 67.4% career completion percentage and a 97.7 passer rating.
Johnson remains active on Cincinnati’s practice squad in his 19th professional season. The 40-year-old has played for a record 14 NFL franchises and knows Washington’s system, offensive coordinator David Blough and the club’s quarterback room from last year. He became the Commanders’ starter late last season after Mariota suffered a quad injury.
Johnson also has ties to Giants coach John Harbaugh and his family. During three Baltimore stints under Harbaugh, Johnson appeared in seven games, made one start and completed 69.8% of his passes for 321 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, producing a 97.1 passer rating.
Will Levis joined the Jets’ practice squad Tuesday, making him geographically convenient should the Giants seek an addition. The Titans’ 2023 second-round pick flashed potential after replacing Ryan Tannehill as a rookie, but injuries and inconsistent performance stalled his progress. He was benched late in 2024 under then-Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan, missed all of 2025 with a shoulder injury and was released last month after Mitchell Trubisky won the backup role.
Anthony Richardson is another possible trade candidate, though he may not fit a club needing an immediate starter. Indianapolis selected him fourth overall in 2023, but injuries, uneven play and questions about his readiness ended his hold on the job. Richardson lost the starting competition to Daniel Jones, requested a trade and is playing the final season of his rookie deal after the Colts declined his fifth-year option.
Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy presents a similar developmental case. The Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick missed his entire rookie campaign with a torn meniscus and sat out seven games last season because of injuries. He is now third on Minnesota’s depth chart after the team signed Murray and retained Wentz. McCarthy has made 10 starts, throwing 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, but he has long been praised by the Harbaugh family, including Jim Harbaugh, who once called him Michigan’s greatest quarterback.
Brandon Allen could also be an option for a team seeking familiarity with Callahan. The 10-year veteran spent three seasons with Callahan in Cincinnati, another in Tennessee when Callahan was head coach, and participated in the Giants’ offseason before being cut late last month.
