Re-Ranking Every NFL Team's Quarterback Room Following Jayden Daniels, Jaxson Dart Injuries

Football might be the ultimate team sport, but it's virtually impossible in today's NFL to win consistently without a quality quarterback behind center. This is why teams target signal-callers early in the draft, pay the position more than any other, and spend entire offseasons trying to uncover the best starting options.

Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans won't prevent teams from having to pivot when injuries enter the equation. We've seen some significant ones through the first two weeks of 2026.

On Sunday, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered his second dislocated elbow in as many seasons. On Wednesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that New York Giants starter Jaxson Dart will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

With several quarterback situations already looking quite a bit different than they did ahead of Week 1, let's re-rank every team's QB room based on past performances, recent results, health, depth, and short- and long-term outlooks.

For a look at how quarterbacks performed in Week 2, check out the latest QB report cards from Brent Sobleski of the B/R Scouting Department.

32. New York Giants

AP Photo/Caroline Brehman

Jameis Winston

Current Starter: Jameis Winston

Dart initially appeared to avoid a long-term knee injury after he went down in Week 2. However, further testing revealed a torn meniscus. He was placed on injured reserve.

For now, the Giants will turn to Jameis Winston, a capable backup with a big arm but a penchant for passing to the other team. He isn't the worst quarterback in the league. He went 5-2 as a starter in 2021, but he's gone just 3-9 since and looked overwhelmed (37.7 QB rating) on Monday night.

Jake Haener is on the practice squad and will likely move into a backup role. However, New York will consider adding to its quarterback room.

"All options are open right now," head coach John Harbaugh said, per Christian Arnold of the New York Post.

Unless Winston exceeds the realistic expectations set by his recent play, or the Giants find a new starter, Dart's injury feels like one that could sink their season.

31. Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

Malik Willis

Current Starter: Malik Willis

27-year-old quarterback Malik Willis is getting his first real shot at being a full-time NFL starter. His play this season has been acceptable, given the Miami Dolphins' young and below-average supporting cast.

Willis has thrown for 417 yards and one touchdown, with one interception and an 83.5 QB rating. He has also rushed for 45 yards and a score. While he's saddled with an overall lack of talent in Miami and has underwhelming numbers this season, Willis' ceiling remains high, as evidenced by the 134.6 passer rating he posted with the Green Bay Packers.

The depth behind Willis leaves even more to be desired than Willis' 2026 production. Kyle McCord has never seen NFL action. Brady Cook has gone 0-4 as a starter with a 55.4 QB rating.

30. Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Cam Ward

Current Starter: Cam Ward

Second-year quarterback Cam Ward continues to be a work in progress for the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans invested in his supporting cast this offseason, adding pieces like center Austin Schlottmann, receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, and rookie wideout Carnell Tate. They also paired him with an experienced offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll. Yet Ward's development remains slow and steady.

Ward has a pair of rushing touchdowns this season but has thrown for just 323 yards with one touchdown and an 85.7 QB rating. He's on the lower end of the NFL's starting-QB hierarchy right now, though his upside remains high.

Tennessee will undoubtedly be patient with the 2025 first overall pick, but should Ward miss time, the Titans have a 59-game starter (including playoffs) in backup Mitchell Trubisky.

29. Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Aaron Rodgers

Current Starter: Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers' plan for 2026 was to bring in head coach Mike McCarthy, reunite him with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and make another playoff run with Rodgers behind center. So far, not so good.

Rodgers played well enough to notch a Week 1 win, but he didn't play well at all in Pittsburgh's Week 2 blowout loss to the New England Patriots. Through two weeks, he's only thrown for 408 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 72.1 QB rating.

McCarthy will have to figure out how to get more out of Rodgers and the offense, or else it's going to be a long season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have an experienced backup in Mason Rudolph (19 starts), but he isn't an upgrade over Rodgers. Will Howard and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar are unproven.

28. New York Jets

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Geno Smith

Current Starter: Geno Smith

The New York Jets traded for Geno Smith early in the offseason, not to find their offensive savior, but to find someone to steer the ship for a season. Equipped with three 2027 first-round picks, New York will likely go QB hunting in next year's draft.

Smith has been mostly solid through the Jets' 1-1 start, though. He's thrown for only 461 yards and one touchdown, but he's avoided turnovers and posted a solid 95.8 passer rating.

If Smith starts to stumble, the Jets may see what they have in Cade Klubnik. The fourth-round rookie out of Clemson is a bit raw but was once viewed as a potential first-round prospect. New York also recently took a flier on 2023 second-round pick Will Levis by adding him to its practice squad.

27. Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Case Keenum

Current Starter: Case Keenum

The Chicago Bears have one of the NFL's most exciting young signal-callers in Caleb Williams. However, he's dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss some time.

"I'm not putting a timeline on this," head coach Ben Johnson said, per Larry Mayer of the team's official website. "We're going to say week-to-week."

This means the Bears will likely rely on backups in the immediate future. It's looking like QB3 Case Keenum for Week 3, as backup Tyson Bagent is in the concussion protocol.

While Keenum is a very experienced journeyman with 66 starts on his resume, he also hasn't seen regular-season action since 2023. Undrafted Louisville product Miller Moss is on the Bears' practice squad.

26. Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Deshaun Watson

Current Starter: Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson finally looked like a capable starter, leading the Cleveland Browns to a Week 2 win. However, one above-average performance doesn't erase the four-plus years of poor play and unavailability he's given Cleveland since he arrived.

Now, to be fair, Watson's numbers are solid. He has completed 76.9 percent of his passes for three touchdowns, one interception, and a 112.9 QB rating. However, much of his production in Week 1 came in garbage time. Until he proves he can build on his latest outing, Watson must be considered a lower-tier starter.

If the Browns decide that Watson isn't their best option in 2026, they'll likely turn to 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders. He flashed some potential as a rookie but also made his fair share of head-scratching mistakes.

Cleveland also has 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green on its roster. Green is a very raw prospect, while Sanders and Gabriel went a combined 4-9 as starters last season.

25. Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Jacoby Brissett

Current Starter: Jacoby Brissett

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett is largely viewed as a placeholder. Whether he's holding down the spot for rookie third-round pick Carson Beck or a top 2027 prospect, though, remains to be seen.

The 33-year-old has been decidedly average so far this season, completing 67.7 percent of his passes for 372 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and an 86.2 QB rating. While "average" was enough for Arizona to notch a Week 1 win, Brussett struggled to keep the Cardinals competitive in Week 2.

If the losses start to pile up, the Cardinals will want to get a look at the inexperienced Beck before turning the page to next year's draft class. Journeyman Gardner Minshew is also on the depth chart and is a solid understudy with 47 starts on his resume.

24. Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Marcus Mariota

Current Starter: Marcus Mariota

Daniels is set to miss time for the second straight season, so the Washington Commanders will turn to Marcus Mariota again.

Mariota stepped in and threw for 111 yards, one touchdown, and a 109.1 passer rating during Washington's Week 2 loss. He was also mostly steady last season (86.1 QB rating), though he went just 2-6 as the starter. Mariota represents a big step down from Daniels, but he should keep the offense functional for a shorter stretch.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Commanders believe that Daniels' injury won't require surgery and may sideline him for less than a month.

Rookie seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis sits behind Mariota on Washington's depth chart.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Baker Mayfield

Current Starter: Baker Mayfield

Just before the start of the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Baker Mayfield to a three-year, $165 million extension. They didn't know at the time that they were paying for the bad version of Baker.

Mayfield has struggled with turnovers and efficiency through the first two weeks. He has completed 71 percent of his passes but has thrown for just 398 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and an 86.6 passer rating. He's also fumbled three times.

It's still early in the year, but Mayfield has looked a lot like the quarterback Cleveland decided to part with after the 2021 season. History suggests that he won't stay down for long, but he's a below-average starter entering Week 3. If he misses time, the Buccaneers could be sunk.

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels flashed a ton of potential in the preseason, but he obviously has very little NFL experience.

22. Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

Michael Penix Jr.

Current Starter: Michael Penix Jr.

So far, so good for Michael Penix Jr. The third-year quarterback made his 2026 debut on Thursday night and immediately provided a spark to the Atlanta Falcons' offense. In his first action back from a torn ACL, Penix passed for 256 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 101.4 QB rating.

If Penix can consistently replicate his Week 3 performance, Atlanta can become a factor in the NFC. However, he was largely average when healthy over his first two seasons.

The Falcons' depth behind him isn't good. Tua Tagovailoa underwhelmed in training camp and the preseason. Although he was set to be the Week 1 starter, an oblique injury sidelined him for the first two weeks. Jack Strand is an unproven undrafted free agent, while Cooper Rush (42.5 QB rating) severely limited Atlanta during its 0-2 start.

21. Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Jordan Love

Current Starter: Jordan Love

Jordan Love took over as the Green Bay Packers' starter in 2023. He played at an above-average level for his first three seasons while leading three consecutive playoff campaigns. However, he has taken a big dip early in 2026.

We can certainly point to Green Bay's shaky offensive line and lack of a consistent run game as the catalysts, but Love hasn't been good enough. He's thrown for 844 yards and six touchdowns, but he's also tossed a pair of interceptions and posted an 83.5 QB rating during the Packers' 1-2 start.

Love hasn't lost the tools and traits needed to be a very good NFL starter, but it's becoming clear that he isn't carry-the-offense good.

If Love is forced to miss time, the Packers can turn to a very experienced backup in Tyrod Taylor, who has a 29-31-1 record as a starter. Kedon Slovis is on Green Bay's practice squad.

20. Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Daniel Jones

Current Starter: Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones was on his way to being a breakthrough star in 2025 before a torn Achilles ended his season with an 8-5 record. The Giants' 2019 first-round pick hasn't been as sharp this season, though he should improve as he puts more time between himself and the injury.

Jones has only thrown for 376 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 79.8 passer rating. However, it's worth noting that he was much better in Week 2 (86.8 QB rating) than in Week 1 (72.8).

The Colts will give Jones plenty of time to progress because he's their clear-cut top option. He received a two-year, $88 million extension this offseason because of that.

2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson serves as Jones' backup, while 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard is also on the active roster.

19. Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Katie Chin

Justin Herbert

Current Starter: Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh didn't do Justin Herbert any favors when he told The White House with Michael Irvin (h/t Michael Davis Smith of ProFootballTalk) that he believes Herbert can be "the best ever to play the position."

However, undue pressure alone doesn't explain Herbert's sudden fall from the upper echelon of quarterbacks. The Oregon product has been an above-average starter since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2020, but he's been well below average so far this season.

Herbert has completed just 59.3 percent of his passes for 401 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 71.6 passer rating during Los Angeles' 0-2 start. He has the tools and the traits needed to rebound, but he needs to do it quickly. The Chargers' next six games will be against teams that made the postseason in 2025.

While Herbert hasn't been great, L.A. will be worse off if he goes down. The Chargers have 2025 undrafted free agent DJ Uiagalelei on their practice squad, but Trey Lance is the only other quarterback on the active roster.

18. Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Kirk Cousins

Current Starter: Kirk Cousins

The Las Vegas Raiders are in an interesting position. At some point, whether this year or next, they'll turn the reins over to rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. However, the rookie shouldn't start anytime soon.

Kirk Cousins is holding down the fort, as he's proving to be more than just a placeholder. Klint Kubiak would undoubtedly like to see fewer turnovers (three INTs), but Cousins has gone 2-0 while throwing for 413 yards and six touchdowns with a 100.5 passer rating.

It's no longer a stretch to think that Cousins could keep Mendoza on the sideline all season or that the Raiders could make some noise in the playoff mix with him behind center. Las Vegas has a terrific third option providing insurance, too.

Aidan O'Connell has 17 starts on his resume. It wouldn't be a shock to see him draw some trade interest as injuries continue to mount around the league.

17. Houston Texans

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

C.J. Stroud

Current Starter: C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans are still waiting on C.J. Stroud to rediscover the Pro Bowl form he had as a rookie in 2023. The Ohio State product has been good enough to put the Texans in the playoffs for three straight years, but he has unquestionably regressed since being named Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Stroud looked a lot like his 2023 incarnation while going throw-for-throw with Josh Allen in Week 1, but he took a big step back in Week. That was likely because of the absence of top receiver Nico Collins.

In all, Stroud has thrown for 627 yards and two touchdowns, posting an 87.5 passer rating this season.

Houston will undoubtedly stick with Stroud for as long as he's healthy. If he is forced to miss time, though, they have a very capable backup in Davis Mills, who went 3-0 last season.

16. Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Kyler Murray

Current Starter: Kyler Murray

The Minnesota Vikings are firmly in wait-and-see territory at quarterback. Kyler Murray suffered a concussion early in Week 1, so Minnesota still isn't sure what it has in the 2019 first overall pick. However, Murray has been cleared to start in Week 3.

Minnesota knows it has a capable backup in Carson Wentz, who has helped deliver two wins during Murray's absence. Of course, Wentz's numbers haven't been anything special (276 yards, 3 TDs), but he's been smart enough to avoid turnovers while ensuring that he gets Justin Jefferson involved.

If the Vikings were to lose their top two quarterbacks, though, things could get dicey. 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy was once viewed as Minnesota's future. However, he has struggled on the field, struggled to stay healthy, and couldn't even win the backup job this offseason.

15. New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Tyler Shough

Current Starter: Tyler Shough

It's still too early to know how good the New Orleans Saints can be in 2026. However, quarterback Tyler Shough appears capable of making the sort of second-year jump we saw from Drake Maye in 2025. He nearly led a massive comeback in Week 1. He delivered a comeback victory in Week 2. Along the way, he's tallied some impressive statistics.

Shough has completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 662 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 95.7 QB rating. He's also added 31 yards and a touchdown on the ground while fully establishing himself as New Orleans' franchise quarterback.

"I'm such a Tyler Shough guy. Like, he is everything you want from a franchise guy," former Saints tackle Terron Armstead told NFL on CBS.

Backup Spencer Rattler hasn't done much winning with the Saints, but he does have 14 starts on his resume. Third-string quarterback Zach Wilson is a former first-round pick with 33 career starts.

Obviously, the Saints hope that Shough can start every game this season, but they should have enough experience in their QB room to navigate a short-term absence.

14. Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Bo Nix

Current Starter: Bo Nix

Bo Nix produced average-to-above-average statistics during his first two years in the league. However, he played well enough, especially in big moments, to put the Denver Broncos in the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025.

Nix has been more good than great this season. He had a terrible first game back from ankle surgery in Denver's Week 1 loss, but had some late bright moments to bring the Broncos back to win in Week 2.

Overall, Nix has thrown for 419 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and an 83.9 passer rating this season. He'll need to be more consistently efficient for the Broncos to build on their latest win and make another deep playoff push.

If Nix is forced to miss time, Denver can turn to seasoned backup Jarrett Stidham or Sam Ehlinger, who impressed during the preseason.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Trevor Lawrence

Current Starter: Trevor Lawrence

After being selected first overall in 2021, Trevor Lawrence spent his first few seasons only showing occasional glimpses of being a top-tier NFL quarterback. However, he's shown signs of being special much more consistently since Laim Coen took over as head coach last season.

Lawrence helped lead Jacksonville to an AFC South title last season. He's off to another strong start in 2026. Through two games, Lawrence has passed for 434 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a 110.6 QB rating.

The Jaguars should be more than capable of making another postseason push with Lawrence running the offense. However, their playoff hopes likely rest on Lawrence staying healthy. Backup Quinn Ewers went 1-2 as Miami's starter last season. He's the only other quarterback on the active roster.

Nick Mullens and Joey Aguilar are on Jacksonville's practice squad.

12. Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser

Bryce Young

Current Starter: Bryce Young

After struggling for most of his first two seasons, 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young has emerged as one of the league's most exciting young signal-callers. So far this season, he's thrown for 648 yards, six touchdowns, and an impressive 113.3 passer rating.

According to Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the keys to Young's growth aren't difficult to ascertain.

"Just confidence in himself, the play calling and all his playmakers around him," McMillan said, per Joseph Person of The Athletic.

Carolina's backup, Kenny Pickett, has 27 starts on his resume. Undrafted free agent Haynes King is also on the active roster.

11. Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Dak Prescott

Current Starter: Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott might have been a viable MVP candidate last season if not for a historically bad defense. Dallas' defense has yet to show any real improvement in 2026, but Prescott has picked up right where he left off.

Through two weeks, Prescott has completed 73.8 percent of his passes for 454 yards, six touchdowns, an interception, and a 117.1 passer rating. Though he hasn't traditionally been a regular scrambler, Prescott has already rushed for 40 yards as well.

The Cowboys need their defense to improve to make a serious postseason run. They'll also need Prescott to stay healthy. Backup Sam Howell has gone 5-13 as a starter with a 77.5 career QB rating.

Joe Milton III, who is on Dallas' practice squad, has attempted just 53 career passes.

10. New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Drake Maye

Current Starter: Drake Maye

Though he made the Pro Bowl as an alternate as a rookie in 2024, Drake Maye took a dramatic leap in his second season with the New England Patriots. He helped New England reach Super Bowl LX and finished second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford.

Maye has shown signs of regression this season, especially when it comes to protecting the football. He's thrown for 386 yards and one touchdown, with four interceptions, 64 rushing yards, and a disappointing 63.1 passer rating.

However, Maye's ceiling is tremendously high. It's reasonable to expect him to return to Pro Bowl form at some point in the not-too-distant future.

While New England's offense won't be as threatening if Maye misses time, the Patriots have a quality backup in Tommy DeVito. He has eight starts and an 88.4 career QB rating on his resume. Rookie seventh-round pick Behren Morton rounds out New England's QB room.

9. Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Jared Goff

Current Starter: Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions haven't looked great during their 1-1 start. That's had a lot to do with their defense and very little to do with the play of quarterback Jared Goff.

Goff, a five-time Pro Bowler, is actually off to one of the best starts of his career. He's thrown for 533 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 113.2 QB rating. If he can maintain this level of play, he'll keep Detroit in games more often than not, even with its suspect defense.

Detroit shouldn't worry too much about Goff missing time either, as he's been remarkably durable throughout his career. However, backup Joshua Dobbs has 15 starts under his belt and should be able to fill in for a game or two if needed.

Undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer is on Detroit's practice squad.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Jalen Hurts

Current Starter: Jalen Hurts

Over the last couple of years, the Philadelphia Eagles have earned a reputation as a team that wins with defense and a ground game led by Saquon Barkley. However, Jalen Hurts has repeatedly shown during the postseason that he is one of the league's better quarterbacks.

Hurts is off to a strong start to the 2026 regular season, too. During Philly's 2-0 start, he has thrown for 467 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 100.7 QB rating. He has also rushed for 62 yards.

The fact that Hurts has continued to perform well in the wake of the A.J. Brown trade says plenty about his ability to lead the offense. If Hurts cannot lead the team for a game or two due to injury, the Eagles have backup plans.

Andy Dalton is a three-time Pro Bowler with a 70-61-2 career regular-season record who can step in at a moment's notice. Tanner McKee is less experienced but is respected enough that he drew offseason trade interest, according to ESPN's Tim McManus.

Rookie fifth-round pick Cole Payton impressed the Eagles enough in the preseason that they kept him on their active roster.

7. Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Matthew Stafford

Current Starter: Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford is the reigning NFL MVP. After an all-around poor Week 1 performance by the Los Angeles Rams, he has rebounded nicely. Stafford shined in Week 2, despite not having top wideout Puka Nacua in the lineup.

Through two weeks, Stafford has thrown for 482 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 101.9 passer rating.

Stafford is still good enough to make a run at MVP while carrying Los Angeles deep into the postseason. The Rams' prospects without him, though, are far less certain.

Backup Stetson Bennett IV saw the first regular-season action of his career in the Rams' 2026 opener, but he has been training for the backup gig for the past two years. Rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson is probably the Rams' future at quarterback, but he may be no more than an emergency option this season.

6. Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Josh Allen

Current Starter: Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is probably the early front-runner for league MVP. He won the award two years ago. He's off to a roaring start this season under offensive coordinator-turned-head coach Joe Brady.

Allen has thrown for 582 yards and five touchdowns with a 125.8 passer rating during Buffalo's 2-0 start. He has also rushed for 92 yards and four scores. There simply isn't a quarterback playing better than him through the first two weeks.

Allen's durability over the years should have the Bills confident that he'll carry them through the entire season. He hasn't missed a game due to injury since his rookie season.

If Allen does miss time, though, Buffalo can expect a sizeable drop-off. Kyle Allen is an experienced backup who has made 19 career starts, but he's a pocket passer who cannot mirror Josh Allen's skill set.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Patrick Mahomes

Current Starter: Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes is back. While he might not be better than ever, he's shown no negative effects of last year's torn ACL. In fact, he could be in line for one of his best seasons in years.

The 2026 sample size is obviously small, but Mahomes' 103.8 passer rating is his highest since 2022. He was named league MVP that year. He's thrown for 566 yards and five touchdowns with one interception, while rushing for 40 yards and a score.

While another serious injury would derail Kansas City's bid for a comeback campaign, the Chiefs are positioned to survive without Mahomes for a few games if needed.

Justin Fields never developed into a high-end starter, but he's a dynamic dual-threat with 53 starts on his resume. Andy Reid can craft a successful game plan around him. While rookie Garrett Nussmeier is inexperienced, he has all the tools and traits needed to develop into a quality long-term backup.

4. Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Lamar Jackson

Current Starter: Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson is an MVP-caliber quarterback when he's healthy and at his best. He's been playing well in new coordinator Declan Doyle's offense. Despite dealing with multiple injuries at wide receiver, Jackson has completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 559 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 104.7 passer rating.

Jackson also led the NFL in yards per attempt through the first two weeks, averaging 10 yards per attempt, and has rushed for 74 yards and a score.

While backup Tyler Huntley hasn't had much success outside of Baltimore, he's the perfect backup for the Ravens. His dual-threat playing style meshes perfectly with a playbook tailored to Jackson. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate with the Ravens in 2022.

Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano rounds out Baltimore's depth chart.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Joe Burrow

Current Starter: Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow is widely viewed as a top-five quarterback, even though he hasn't made the playoffs since 2022 and has never won a league MVP award. Of course, Burrow did help carry the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021. He's played at an MVP level since then, when healthy, but hasn't had the team success needed to actually win the award.

By his standard, Burrow has been sort of average through the first two weeks. For him, average is 461 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception, a 96.8 passer rating, and 19 rushing yards.

The lone knock on Burrow has always been his ability to stay healthy. That's why Cincinnati retained Joe Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP who helped take the Browns to the playoffs just a couple of seasons ago.

Obviously, Flacco is a tier below Burrow, but he posted a 91.0 QB rating with the Bengals last season and could probably start for a few different teams in 2026. Cincinnati also has veteran backup Josh Johnson on its practice squad.

2. Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Sam Darnold

Current Starter: Sam Darnold

Nothing is guaranteed yet, but it looks like Sam Darnold is ready to return for the Seattle Seahawks. He returned to practice as a full participant on Thursday, aiming to get back on the field for Week 3.

"I'm really striving for that, but I'm just taking it day by day. I don't want to jinx anything," Darnold said, per John Boyle of the team's official website.

Darnold suffered a hip/glute injury early in Week 1 but was tremendous last season while helping to lead Seattle to a Super Bowl XL victory. Backup Drew Lock played extremely well in Darnold's stead this year, posting a league-high 127.3 passer rating and delivering a 2-0 start.

2025 third-round pick Jalen Milroe is also on the depth chart. Of course, it's hard to think he'll see the field behind a QB who has proven he can win a Super Bowl and one who's proven he can keep the offense rolling when called upon.

1. San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox

Brock Purdy

Current Starter: Brock Purdy

Brock Purdy is a top-tier quarterback when healthy and playing at his best. He's been in top form for the San Francisco 49ers so far, completing a league-high 80.4 percent of his passes for 492 yards, five touchdowns, one interception, and a 125.6 quarterback rating.

"I don't think he gets enough credit for the way he helps elevate and maximize those around him," one former NFL general manager said of Purdy, per The Athletic's Jeff Howe.

The 49ers also boast one of the league's top backups and the perfect understudy for Kyle Shanahan's offense. Mac Jones started eight games for San Francisco and went 5-3, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Jones was previously a rookie Pro Bowler for the Patriots.

The 49ers know that they can keep the proverbial boat afloat if Purdy misses time in 2026. They also have 2025 seventh-round pick Kurtis Rourke on their active roster.