NFL Week 3 injuries have become a major storyline after three young starting quarterbacks suffered significant setbacks in Week 2. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart are now dealing with injuries that will affect their teams’ Week 3 plans. Williams suffered a hamstring injury, Daniels dislocated his left elbow, and Dart will miss the remainder of the 2026 regular season after suffering a serious left knee injury.
The timing makes the situation even more notable because all three quarterbacks entered the season as important pieces of their teams’ plans. Williams and Daniels were both carted off during Sunday action, while Dart became the third prominent young quarterback to suffer a major injury when the Giants faced the Rams on Monday night. The latest updates range from Williams being considered week-to-week to a season-ending knee injury for Dart.
The Caleb Williams injury update remains week-to-week, with the Chicago Bears quarterback sitting out Wednesday’s practice with a right hamstring injury. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Williams is not expected to practice this week, although the team has not ruled him out of Monday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears have not yet determined their Week 3 starter.
Williams’ initial injury appeared much more serious because the quarterback was unable to put weight on the leg and was taken to the locker room on a cart. Further evaluation provided better news, with the injury confirmed as a hamstring issue rather than the knee problem initially feared. Monday night’s Bears-Eagles game therefore remains an important checkpoint, with Williams still officially listed as week-to-week.
The Bears could face an even bigger quarterback problem if the situation develops further. Backup Tyson Bagent has entered concussion protocol, leaving veteran Case Keenum as another potential option if Williams and Bagent are unavailable. On Wednesday, Keenum practiced while Williams remained out, making him a realistic starter candidate if Williams and Bagent cannot go. Chicago’s quarterback depth therefore deserves attention as the Bears prepare for their prime-time meeting with Philadelphia.
The Jayden Daniels injury update is more complicated because the Washington Commanders quarterback suffered another injury to the same left elbow. Daniels dislocated the elbow during the final play of the first half against the Dallas Cowboys after bracing himself during a fall near the goal line. X-rays showed no fracture, but the Commanders are waiting on specialist evaluations before determining a longer-term recovery plan.
Washington has already made one decision for Week 3 because Marcus Mariota will start against the Seattle Seahawks. NFL.com reported that Daniels will miss at least one game, while head coach Dan Quinn has not provided a definitive timetable for the quarterback’s return. The repeated nature of the elbow injury also makes the medical evaluation especially important for the Commanders.
Daniels had been playing effectively before the injury and nearly helped Washington erase a 14-point deficit against Dallas. The quarterback completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown while adding 69 rushing yards before leaving the game. Washington’s offense will now have to adjust to Mariota while the team waits for further information on Daniels’ recovery.
The Jaxson Dart injury update has taken a major turn, with the Giants quarterback now expected to undergo season-ending knee surgery. Dart injured his left knee during the Giants’ opening possession against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, initially leading to reports of an MCL sprain and a potential four-to-six-week absence. Further testing revealed more extensive damage, including injuries to the MCL, PCL and meniscus, although Dart’s ACL remains intact.
Dart’s surgery will end his 2026 season after just two games. The second-year quarterback had entered the season as New York’s full-time starter and opened the campaign with a strong performance against the Dallas Cowboys before suffering the knee injury against Los Angeles. The Giants will turn to Jameis Winston as their starting quarterback, although the team could explore additional options at the position.
Dart’s injury also creates major offensive consequences for New York. Winston replaced Dart against Los Angeles and completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and an interception in the Giants’ 28-6 loss. With Dart sidelined for the rest of 2026, Winston is expected to take over as the Giants’ starting quarterback heading into their Week 3 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.
The quarterback injuries headline the NFL Week 3 injury report, but several other major players are also dealing with significant setbacks. The Los Angeles Chargers have placed David Njoku on injured reserve with a fibula injury, while Charlie Kolar is recovering from a forearm injury after undergoing surgery but will remain off IR. San Francisco also has a crowded injury list involving Demarcus Robinson, Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling and Ricky Pearsall.
Green Bay’s Jayden Reed has been ruled out for Week 3 after suffering a neck injury during the Packers’ victory over the Jets. Reed did not participate in practice and will miss Thursday night’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. His absence leaves Green Bay without one of its key receiving options as the Packers prepare to adjust their offensive game plan.
New England has also lost A.J. Brown for at least the next four games after placing the wide receiver on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers, meanwhile, underwent a meniscus procedure and could return against the New Orleans Saints after missing Week 2. Baltimore is monitoring Zay Flowers closely after the wide receiver missed Week 2 with a hamstring issue.
Minnesota will welcome Kyler Murray back after the quarterback cleared the concussion protocol and was named the starter for Week 3. Sam Darnold returned to practice as a limited participant Wednesday after missing Week 2 with a glute injury, giving Seattle some optimism about his availability for Week 3. Those situations highlight how quickly the NFL Week 3 injury report can change as teams begin releasing practice participation reports.
The concentration of young quarterbacks makes the NFL Week 3 injuries particularly unusual. Williams and Daniels were the first two selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, while Dart became an important part of New York’s future after his promising rookie season. Three quarterbacks from different teams now have their Week 3 availability directly affected by injuries suffered within the same round of games.
The three situations are also different enough to create separate search opportunities. Williams has a week-to-week hamstring injury, Daniels has a dislocated left elbow and will miss at least Week 3, while Dart will undergo season-ending knee surgery. Those differing timelines give readers a reason to search for individual updates while also following the broader NFL Week 3 injury report.
The fantasy football impact is another major angle for the story. Backup quarterbacks such as Mariota, Winston, and potentially Keenum could suddenly become relevant, while receivers and running backs around those quarterbacks may see changes in targets and offensive production. Injury news therefore affects much more than the three quarterbacks themselves as Week 3 approaches.
The NFL Week 3 injuries story has quickly become a quarterback story, with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart at the center of the headlines. Williams remains week-to-week with a hamstring injury, while Daniels will miss at least one game after dislocating his left elbow. Dart’s situation is more definitive, with the Giants quarterback set to undergo season-ending knee surgery.
For the Bears, Commanders and Giants, the next few days are about finding answers at the most important position on the field. For NFL fans, fantasy managers and bettors, the changing injury report will remain one of the biggest storylines heading into the weekend. Week 3 is still days away, but the quarterback landscape has already changed dramatically.
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