Status as of Wednesday, September 23, 2026. We’ll update this post as practice reports come in.
Week 2 put three young starting quarterbacks on the injury report in about 30 hours. Jaxson Dart is done for the year. Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams are week-to-week with no return date. Each case below covers the diagnosis, the new starter, and what to do with your roster. The waiver options are at the bottom.
Case 1: Jaxson Dart, Giants (Knee)
The injury. Two Rams defenders hit Dart on the Giants’ opening drive Monday night, and his left leg bent awkwardly under him. He didn’t return, and New York lost 28-6.
The diagnosis. The MRI showed damage to the MCL, PCL and meniscus. The ACL is intact, but the meniscus needs a surgical repair, and that recovery runs four to six months. John Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that Dart will have season-ending surgery. He left the door open for a playoff return, and the team expects Dart to be ready for 2027.
Prognosis. Jameis Winston starts from here, beginning Sunday against Tennessee. His relief outing Monday was rough: 11-of-27 for 111 yards, an interception and two sacks. The Giants gave him a two-year, $13 million extension before Week 1, and Harbaugh said they will bring in another quarterback. Jake Haener moves up from the practice squad to back Winston up in the meantime.
Treatment plan. Drop Dart in redraft leagues. Winston belongs on superflex rosters as a QB3 and nowhere near a one-QB lineup. The Giant with the best chance to come out ahead is Malik Nabers, because Winston has a long history of feeding his top receiver. Nabers’ right shoulder popped out Monday. He popped it back in himself and returned the next series, so watch his practice status this week.
Case 2: Jayden Daniels, Commanders (Elbow)
The injury. On the last play of the first half in Dallas, left guard Chris Paul accidentally stepped on Daniels’ foot. Daniels stumbled, braced his fall with his left arm, and dislocated his left elbow. It’s the same elbow he dislocated multiple times in 2025.
The diagnosis. Initial X-rays showed no fracture. Daniels had imaging Monday and is meeting with specialists Tuesday and Wednesday, and Dan Quinn won’t put a timeline on his return until that process wraps up. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the big decision is whether Daniels goes on injured reserve or tries to return inside the four-week IR window, likely wearing a brace.
Prognosis. Marcus Mariota starts Sunday against Seattle, and Rapoport expects him to start multiple games. Mariota went 11-of-16 for 111 yards and a touchdown in relief Sunday. Washington is 0-2, hosts the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks this week, then flies to London to face the Colts.
Treatment plan. Bench Daniels, and move him to an IR slot if Washington places him there. Mariota’s legs give him a usable floor in superflex leagues, but a date with Seattle’s defense is a bad spot to trust him in a one-QB league.
Case 3: Caleb Williams, Bears (Hamstring)
The injury. Williams pulled up untouched on a fourth-quarter scramble near the Vikings’ goal line and was carted off in Chicago’s 9-3 loss.
The diagnosis. The MRI showed a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. Ben Johnson calls him week-to-week, said he will “likely miss some time,” and doesn’t expect him to practice this week. Johnson also hasn’t ruled him out for Monday night against Philadelphia, and a Monday game gives Williams an extra day.
Prognosis. The backup plan took a hit too. Tyson Bagent is in the concussion protocol, and neither he nor Williams practiced Wednesday. That leaves third-stringer Case Keenum as the most likely starter against the Eagles. The Bears file their first official injury report Thursday.
Treatment plan. Plan on Williams sitting. Even if he suits up, a strained hamstring takes away the scrambling that drives his fantasy value. Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland were already underperforming through two weeks, and a backup quarterback makes all three riskier. Johnson could lean on D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai in the meantime. Because Chicago plays Monday, line up your replacement before Sunday’s games lock.
The Replacement Pool: QBs to Add for Week 3
| Player | Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough, Saints | One-QB streamer | Top-8 QB in both games so far: 410 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit, then 252 yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the upset at Baltimore. He’s still available in about half of leagues. Week 3 is tougher, since the Raiders have allowed one passing touchdown all season. |
| Bryce Young, Panthers | One-QB streamer | Threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in Week 2’s win over Atlanta. |
| Drew Lock, Seahawks | Short-term streamer | Three touchdowns and no interceptions against Arizona while filling in for Sam Darnold, and now faces a Washington team starting Mariota. Darnold’s absence could last up to four weeks, so treat Lock as a rental. |
| Michael Penix Jr., Falcons | Superflex | Expected to make his season debut Thursday at Green Bay after sitting out two weeks while finishing his recovery from last year’s torn ACL. Confirm he’s cleared before you start him. |
| Marcus Mariota, Commanders | Superflex | Multiple starts likely while Daniels decides on IR. His rushing gives him a floor. |
| Jameis Winston, Giants | Deep superflex | The Giants’ starter for the rest of the season, with a home game against Tennessee this week. |
For our full Week 3 waiver board with FAAB bids and drops, see Free Agent Triage: Week 3. For every other injury on the Week 3 slate, check our Injury Reports page.
About This Report
We’ll update this post when Washington announces a decision on Daniels and when the Bears release Thursday’s injury report on Williams and Bagent.
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