The NFC quarterback picture is already getting messy in a hurry, and Week 3 has only made that clearer. Injuries are forcing teams to pivot, a few passers are sliding the wrong way, and Thursday night gave the league a fresh reminder that one bad outing can send a stock chart straight into the basement.
That was especially true for Jordan Love. On Thursday Night Football against the Falcons, Love turned in one of the roughest performances he’s had in years, and it came on the same night Michael Penix Jr. made his 2026 debut for Atlanta. With that, the NFC quarterback rankings got a jolt.
At the bottom of the list sits Jameis Winston at No. 16 for the Giants. New York’s season has gone from hopeful to wrecked after Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury that will knock him out for the year.
Dart had been the spark for the Giants, especially after their Week 1 showing against the Cowboys, and plenty of people wanted to see how he would handle the stage against the Rams. Instead, he was gone on the first drive.
Now Winston is taking over for the rest of the season after signing a 2-year deal worth $13 million right before the year began, and the Giants need that move to pay off.
Kyler Murray lands at No. 15 for the Vikings as he gets ready to step back in after Carson Wentz held things together for most of the first two weeks. Murray’s season started with a concussion, and before the injury he had 18 yards and an interception.
Wentz then steadied the offense with an impressive comeback win over Green Bay and followed that with a defensive grind against Chicago in the rain. Murray now has to get comfortable quickly while leaning on a defense that has been carrying plenty of weight, all while trying to build chemistry with Justin Jefferson and the rest of the group.
No. 14 belongs to Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals, who came back down to earth hard in Week 2 against Seattle after turning heads in the opener. That Mike Macdonald defense made life miserable, and things don’t get easier with a road trip to San Francisco in Week 3.
Brissett’s profile has been pretty consistent over the last year: a high-end backup, low-end QB1, and a guy serving as a placeholder. The bigger question now is whether the Cardinals end up having to turn to Carson Beck if things keep sliding.
Then there’s Penix at No. 13, and his first game of the season gave Atlanta a little life. The Falcons have spent most of this year sitting near the bottom of the power rankings, whether you’re looking at quarterbacks, NFC teams, or the league as a whole.
But Penix looked like a welcome reset on Thursday night against Green Bay. He wasn’t out there just firing away for the sake of it, but with a competent quarterback running the offense and Bijan Robinson in the backfield, the Falcons had a real chance to function.
Cooper Rush and Jack Strand were the opposite of competent, and Penix’s road debut offered at least a reason for Atlanta to breathe a little easier.
In Other News...
Cardinals Injury Report Raises New Concern Ahead Of 49ers Game
The Cardinals first injury report of the week brought a significant change on the back end, with cornerback Will Johnson moved to injured reserve because of a neck injury. That puts him out for the rest of the season and forces Arizona to keep adjusting its depth as it prepares for a divisional matchup with the 49ers, while Starling Thomas V was promoted from the practice squad to help fill the void.
The rest of the report added more unease, with several players either not participating or working in a limited capacity because of injuries or rest. For a team already trying to hold up against a San Francisco roster that tends to test every weak spot, the health picture now becomes part of the game plan, and the Cardinals will be watching closely to see who can get through the week and who might not be ready when Sunday arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Bosa Suddenly Looms Over Cardinals In A Different Way
Nick Bosas week took an unexpected turn when the 49ers edge rusher sat out a second straight practice because of a calf issue, adding another layer to the ongoing management of his surgically repaired right knee. The uncertainty comes with San Francisco preparing for its next game against the Cardinals, and Bosas status has quickly become one of the biggest watch points on the injury report.
For Arizona, the situation matters even before a final update is released. Bosa has played in two games this season without recording a sack, but his presence still changes how offenses have to prepare for San Francisco, and the 49ers defense is clearly feeling the weight of his availability. Until the team provides more clarity, the Cardinals have reason to keep an eye on a matchup that could look very different depending on how Bosa responds over the next few days. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Created A Real QB Watch Behind Jacoby Brissett
Practice on Wednesday offered a notable twist for the Cardinals, as rookie quarterback Carson Beck was seen working with the first-team offense and throwing to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. The added reps come at a time when the quarterback room is under more scrutiny than usual, with Jacoby Brissett coming off an underwhelming performance in the previous game.
No official change has been announced, but the Cardinals approach suggests Beck is being prepared as a real option if the need arises. For a team trying to steady its offense, getting a rookie more integrated with the starters now is the kind of move that can signal caution without saying anything outright. [Read more 🡒]