NFL Week 3 enters Sunday with quarterback injuries, returning starters and several major player absences dominating the headlines. The Sunday slate features 14 games, including the first-ever NFL game in Rio de Janeiro between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys. Several teams also face important questions surrounding injured stars before kickoff, making the latest NFL Week 3 injuries and QB updates essential to watch.
Quarterback injuries have become one of the defining stories of the opening weeks of the 2026 NFL season. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Jaxson Dart all suffered injuries in Week 2, with Dart ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and Daniels considered week-to-week. As a result, multiple teams are entering Week 3 with backup quarterbacks playing important roles.
Sam Darnold is back under center for the Seattle Seahawks after missing the team’s last two games with a glute injury. Darnold was cleared to return and will start against the Washington Commanders, giving Seattle its opening-day quarterback back after Drew Lock helped the team begin the season 2-0. The matchup also creates an interesting contrast because Washington will start Marcus Mariota after Jayden Daniels suffered his elbow injury.
Jameis Winston gets his first start of the season when the New York Giants host the Tennessee Titans. Winston replaces Dart, who suffered a knee injury against the Los Angeles Rams and has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season. Giants coach John Harbaugh has to steer the offense through another major quarterback change, making Winston’s performance one of the most closely watched storylines of the early Sunday window.
Marcus Mariota takes over Washington’s starting quarterback duties after Daniels suffered another dislocated left elbow. Washington has confirmed that Daniels is considered week-to-week and will not be placed on injured reserve, while Mariota gets the starting assignment against Seattle. The matchup becomes particularly intriguing because the Seahawks enter Week 3 with one of the league’s strongest early defensive units.
Kyler Murray is another major quarterback returning from injury on Sunday. Minnesota’s quarterback cleared the NFL concussion protocol after suffering a concussion during the Vikings’ Week 1 victory over Green Bay, allowing him to return against Tampa Bay. Murray’s return gives Minnesota its preferred starter again after Carson Wentz handled the Week 2 assignment against Chicago.
Nico Collins has been ruled out for Houston’s matchup against Indianapolis because of a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The absence removes one of C.J. Stroud’s most important receiving options from a game between two teams looking for an important early-season victory. Houston will therefore need additional production from its remaining receiving corps while dealing with Collins’ absence.
Puka Nacua enters Sunday night’s Rams-Broncos matchup listed as doubtful because of a hip injury. Nacua has quickly become one of the most important pieces of the Los Angeles offense, so his potential absence would put additional pressure on Matthew Stafford and the rest of the Rams receiving corps. Los Angeles and Denver both enter the matchup at 1-1, adding significance to a game featuring two teams that reached the conference championship games last season.
Nick Bosa has been ruled out for San Francisco’s matchup with Arizona after suffering a calf injury during practice. Bosa is expected to miss a few weeks, creating another significant challenge for the 49ers’ defensive front. San Francisco enters Sunday at 2-0, while the Cardinals sit at 1-1, giving Arizona an opportunity to test a reshuffled 49ers defense.
Los Angeles faces Buffalo with quarterback Justin Herbert trying to help the Chargers recover from an 0-2 start. Backup quarterback Trey Lance is listed as questionable with a groin injury, while Los Angeles also has several offensive players unavailable. Buffalo has injury questions of its own, with wide receiver DJ Moore dealing with an AC joint sprain and Keon Coleman also among the players dealing with an injury.
The Chargers cannot afford further disruption at quarterback after two difficult opening weeks. Buffalo, meanwhile, enters the game at 2-0 and has a chance to strengthen its early position with another victory. The injury report could therefore have a direct impact on both offensive game plans before kickoff.
Baltimore and Dallas will make history Sunday when they meet at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro for the NFL’s first-ever game in the city. The league has previously played regular-season games in Brazil, making this a historic Rio debut rather than the NFL’s first game in the country. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens enter the matchup at 1-1, while Dak Prescott and the Cowboys also arrive at 1-1 after Prescott threw four touchdown passes against Washington in Week 2.
Prescott also broke Tony Romo’s Cowboys franchise record for career touchdown passes during that Week 2 performance. The achievement gives the veteran quarterback another major storyline heading into his first game at the iconic Maracanã. The international setting adds another layer to a matchup involving two high-profile quarterbacks and two teams looking to move above .500.
Sunday’s NFL action will revolve heavily around quarterback availability and late injury news. Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray and Jameis Winston are among the quarterbacks stepping into important roles, while Marcus Mariota takes over for Washington and several teams are dealing with significant injuries elsewhere on the roster. The final inactive lists could therefore change the complexion of several games shortly before kickoff.
NFL Week 3 also provides several matchups between teams with very different starts to the season. The Bills and Seahawks are both 2-0, while the Texans, Commanders and Chargers enter Sunday looking for their first victories. The Sunday night Rams-Broncos matchup then closes the day with another game featuring teams currently sitting at 1-1.
NFL Week 3 arrives with quarterback changes, significant injuries and several intriguing matchups shaping Sunday’s slate. The situations involving Darnold, Winston, Mariota and Murray will be worth monitoring alongside the latest updates on players such as Nico Collins, Puka Nacua and Nick Bosa. The biggest developments could arrive just before kickoff, making late inactive announcements an important part of the NFL Week 3 story.
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