NFL Quarterback Uncertainty: Giants Explore Options as Bears Debate Week 3 Starter

Wednesday brought clarity for one team’s quarterback situation, while others remain filled with uncertainty as franchises finalized their Week 3 injury reports.

The Atlanta Falcons received positive news ahead of their Thursday night matchup against the Green Bay Packers, while two other franchises are still determining their starting quarterbacks for the weekend.

Tua Tagovailoa is healthy and cleared to back up Michael Penix Jr. on Thursday, but the New York Giants are evaluating all possibilities at quarterback following Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury, and the Chicago Bears remain undecided on whether Case Keenum, Tyson Bagent, or Caleb Williams will start Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Jaxson Dart out for the season, John Harbaugh made it clear that the Giants are not ruling out any options at quarterback, including a trade for a starter.

Jameis Winston will helm the offense in Week 3 against the Titans, but Harbaugh confirmed the team intends to add another quarterback to the roster, even though he declined to name specific candidates.

Winston brings valuable experience but hasn’t held a full-time starting job since 2019, and Jake Haener is the only other quarterback under New York’s control, currently sitting on the practice squad.

Medical tests showed that Dart avoided ACL damage, but tears to his MCL, PCL, and meniscus will require surgery, with the meniscus being the primary concern — an injury comparable to the one that cost Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy his entire 2024 season.

McCarthy, now buried on Minnesota’s depth chart behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz, has reportedly drawn trade interest given Giants GM Joe Schoen’s familiarity with him from the 2024 draft process. Harbaugh did not close the door on Dart returning for a potential postseason run.

Chicago’s quarterback situation remains unclear ahead of Monday night’s game against Philadelphia, with Case Keenum, Tyson Bagent, and Caleb Williams all potential starters depending on their health.

Keenum, 38, practiced on Wednesday and hasn’t played in a regular-season game since December 2023, but he is healthy — which is more than can currently be said for the other two. He expressed that he is nervous about possibly starting, but he welcomes the emotion.

“I love the feeling of being nervous. I do get nervous. And it’s not a scared nervous, it’s an excited nervous, because I know I’m prepared. I’m confident in my preparation and what I’ve done. I’m confident in my teammates. I’m confident in their preparation. I’m confident in the game plan and what my coaches have put together.”

Williams is still recovering from the hamstring injury that sidelined him during Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, and while he has not been ruled out, caution is expected given how much his mobility factors into his game.

Bagent, who went 5 of 9 for 54 yards in relief before getting sacked on the final play, was unexpectedly placed in concussion protocol on Tuesday with no clear return timeline.

Coach Ben Johnson stated that the team has no plans to bring in another quarterback this week, framing the uncertainty as an opportunity for whichever player ultimately takes the field.

Tua Tagovailoa is fully healthy and available for Atlanta’s trip to Green Bay, and he will be doing so as the backup quarterback.

The quarterback was not listed on the Falcons’ final injury report of the week, and head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated earlier Wednesday that Tagovailoa was trending toward serving behind Michael Penix Jr. for Thursday Night Football.

Tua Tagovailoa was actually slated to start the season opener before an oblique injury suffered during practice week sidelined him (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Tagovailoa was actually slated to start the season opener before an oblique injury suffered during practice week sidelined him, with Cooper Rush filling in for the first two games while Penix recovered from reconstructive knee surgery.

Now healthy, Tagovailoa slots in as the second quarterback behind Penix, who is set to handle starting duties in Week 3.

Carolina is placing running back Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve after he is set to undergo surgery on Wednesday for a core muscle injury, though he is expected to return later this season.

The Panthers stated that Brooks is looking at a minimum six-week recovery after injuring his groin late in Sunday’s win over Atlanta.

“It was a pretty significant groin injury, and we got multiple opinions about what’s the best course of action,” head coach Dave Canales said. “Jonathon’s gonna have surgery to repair the injury, and the timeline of return with surgical or nonsurgical was gonna be similar.”

It is the latest setback in an injury-plagued career for Brooks, who has played just five of a possible 36 games since being drafted in 2024 due to two ACL tears — one at Texas and one as a rookie.

With Brooks used sparingly through two games, Chuba Hubbard remains the clear starter, and Carolina is reportedly bringing in veteran Austin Ekeler to fill out the backfield behind him and A.J. Dillon.

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