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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Eva Geitheim

Backup Quarterbacks Are Playing a Bigger Role Than Usual Early in the 2026 NFL Season

NFL Caleb Williams Joe Flacco Matthew Stafford Joe Burrow 49ers Cincinnati Bengals Seahawks Vikings Baker Mayfield

Two weeks into the 2026 NFL season, six teams have already turned to their backup quarterbacks.

The Vikings, Falcons, Bears, Seahawks, Commanders and Giants all saw their starters go down within their first two games. Tua Tagovailoa sustained a back injury before he was slated to start in Week 1 for the Falcons, who also were missing Michael Penix Jr. as he continued to work back from a torn ACL. In Week 1, the Seahawks lost Sam Darnold and the Vikings lost Kyler Murray. Then in Week 2, the Bears’ Caleb Williams, Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and Giants’ Jaxson Dart all exited due to injury.

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