Quarterback injuries have already forced adjustments around the NFL in 2026, but no team has yet made a straight performance-based switch under center. That could change quickly as struggling offenses head deeper into Week 6, with Tennessee, Las Vegas, Arizona, Miami, Los Angeles and Philadelphia each facing a different version of the same question: stay the course, or begin looking ahead.
Key takeaways
- Titans quarterback Cam Ward ranks last among qualifying passers in EPA per dropback at minus-0.27.
- Kirk Cousins remains productive despite the Raiders’ two-game skid, while rookie Fernando Mendoza waits behind him.
- Arizona has produced only 14 explosive plays, the fewest in the league, during Jacoby Brissett’s first five starts.
- Justin Herbert has thrown seven interceptions and taken 17 sacks as the Chargers’ offense has unraveled.
- Jalen Hurts will miss at least one game because of a superficial blood clot, putting Tanner McKee in line for a possible start.
Young starters may need time, but pressure is building
Ward’s first season in Brian Daboll’s offense has put Titans coach Robert Saleh in an uncomfortable spot. The second-year quarterback has struggled with pocket movement, processing speed and ball placement, while Tennessee’s offensive line has not provided the support expected before the season. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. has been a particular problem, but Ward has not handled pressure well enough to offset those breakdowns.
Against Houston last week, Ward completed nine of 16 passes for 70 yards and an interception when pressured. He was sacked four times in those situations. Across the season, his 37.2% success rate ranks 26th among 27 qualifying quarterbacks, and his minus-90.2% Win Probability Added is more than 10 percentage points below any other passer in the group.
The Titans must decide whether extra game reps are Ward’s best route to improvement or whether a reset on the bench could help him. Tennessee’s alternative is Mitch Trubisky, and the club spent the offseason adding pieces with the expectation that Ward would become the centerpiece of the offense. The new receivers have not fixed the attack, while the ground game and protection issues have made life harder.
Carolina provides one recent example of a young quarterback recovering after a temporary demotion. Bryce Young was benched early in Dave Canales’ first season, returned after Andy Dalton was injured and has since made significant progress. Tennessee may eventually consider a similar approach, but Ward appears more likely to retain the job through the rest of 2026. If his play does not improve, the Titans could bring in competition for 2027 or move on entirely.
In Arizona, Brissett is not the main reason for a four-game losing streak, but he has not given the Cardinals much beyond competent short-area quarterbacking. He has continued to connect with Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, yet Arizona’s passing attack has lacked vertical production.
Brissett is averaging a league-low 5.6 yards per attempt. The Cardinals have just 14 explosive plays, defined as runs of at least 10 yards or completions of 20 or more yards, and he has produced seven throws of 20-plus yards, the fewest by any quarterback with at least 100 attempts. That is a sharp contrast from last season, when he averaged nearly three such plays per game over 14 appearances.
Coach Mike LaFleur must determine whether Brissett is the right fit for an offense that needs more downfield threat. Arizona is expected to remain focused on improving its 2027 draft position, and the club could leave Brissett in place until late November or early December. But third-round rookie Carson Beck could become an option sooner if the Cardinals extend their skid to six games against the Rams and Broncos. A Week 8 trip to Dallas would offer a possible starting point for Beck.
Miami’s situation is less urgent. Malik Willis has been inefficient, posting minus-0.20 EPA per dropback, a 21st-ranked success rate and minus-1.8% completion percentage over expected. Still, the Dolphins’ limitations extend far beyond their quarterback. Their top targets are rookies, the blocking remains inconsistent and the team lost its most dynamic player for the year.
Willis has rushed 27 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns through five games, though Miami has not consistently leaned into his mobility. His passing accuracy has dipped to 56.2%, a notable decline from his time in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur, where he completed 85.7% of his passes and regularly created outside the pocket.
The Dolphins remain competitive in effort under Jeff Hafley, even if their talent level leaves little margin for error. With young players developing and losses improving draft position, there is little incentive to replace Willis with Kyle McCord. Miami signed Willis knowing he could serve as a bridge quarterback, and his uneven start has not altered that long-term plan.
Veteran decisions hinge on team context
The Raiders opened 3-0 behind strong play from Cousins, then dropped consecutive games, including a 41-17 loss in New England. The 38-year-old is tied for second in the NFL with 12 passing touchdowns, although only three have come during the past two defeats after he threw three in each of Las Vegas’ opening three games.
Cousins has shown expected physical limitations under pressure, but his overall numbers remain strong. He ranks inside the top 10 in EPA per dropback, success rate and completion percentage over expected, and he is fifth in Win Probability Added among quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts. His continued tendency to target tight end Brock Bowers is understandable given Bowers’ role in the offense.
Any eventual move to Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, would likely be driven by the Raiders’ record rather than a sudden collapse from Cousins. First-year coach Klint Kubiak may stick with the veteran if Las Vegas remains in contention, since a switch could unfairly undercut the rest of the roster. But matchups with Buffalo and the Rams could define the decision. If the Raiders are overwhelmed in both games, Mendoza could make his first start against the Jets in Week 8 before Las Vegas faces San Francisco, Seattle and Denver.
Cousins also could become attractive to a contender if its starter suffers an injury over the next several weeks. His contract status and veteran experience would make him a logical trade target for a playoff-caliber team in need of a short-term replacement.
No quarterback change appears imminent with the Chargers, despite Herbert’s alarming production. The veteran has a minus-0.20 EPA per dropback, a 37.9% success rate and minus-2.8% completion percentage over expected. He is tied for 24th in EPA per dropback, has thrown a league-high seven interceptions, and his 4.9% interception rate leads the NFL.
Herbert has absorbed 17 sacks and ranks second from the bottom in Win Probability Added at minus-78.5%, ahead of only Ward. On throws at or beyond the line of scrimmage, he owns the league’s worst passer rating at 64.3, with three touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Los Angeles has protection problems, an ineffective running game and injured or unproductive pass catchers. Those factors matter, but they do not fully excuse the play of a quarterback earning more than $50 million annually. Jim Harbaugh is not expected to bench Herbert, though a late-season injury shutdown could become sensible if the season continues to deteriorate.
A more realistic change could come with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. The Chargers have a Week 7 bye following Sunday’s game in Kansas City, and a poor showing against the Chiefs could put McDaniel’s job in jeopardy.
Philadelphia’s quarterback issue is injury-related, at least for now. Hurts has been diagnosed with a superficial blood clot and will be unavailable for a minimum of one game, with no firm return date established. Before the injury, he had posted a minus-0.16 EPA per dropback, ranking 21st, alongside a 37.8% success rate and a 57.8% completion percentage that is third lowest in the league.
Hurts remains entrenched as the Eagles’ starter, but McKee could draw heavy attention if he gets the call against Carolina. The Panthers enter the matchup ranked 29th in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed, giving McKee a favorable opportunity to show what Philadelphia has behind Hurts.
