Week 3 is already turning into an injury mess across the NFL, and the quarterback situation is getting especially messy. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart are all expected to miss this week because of injury, which means six teams could be rolling out multiple quarterbacks by the third game of the season.
The hits aren’t limited to the league’s most important position. Zay Flowers and Nico Collins are both dealing with hamstring issues, Alec Pierce has been placed on injured reserve after aggravating the ankle injury he carried through the offseason, and Jayden Reed’s return timeline after his Week 2 back injury still hasn’t been set. The Panthers have also put running back Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve, while the Saints sent standout left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. to IR as well.
Thursday night’s Falcons-Packers matchup brings its own set of concerns. Atlanta will be without defensive end Samson Ebukam, who is out with a hamstring injury, while cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. is questionable because of an Achilles issue.
The bigger Falcons storyline is under center. Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his first start of the season after being a full participant in practice all week, and Tua Tagovailoa will be active as his backup.
Green Bay’s injury report is uglier up front. The Packers are down two offensive line starters in Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks, both ruled out with knee-related injuries.
Wide receiver Jayden Reed is also out with a neck injury. On the defensive side, veteran tackle Javon Hargrave is questionable after dealing with a knee injury and concussion, and he was limited in practice all week.
Defensive tackle Anthony Campbell is also questionable with an ankle injury, while Warren Brinson is out with a calf injury.
Elsewhere, Carolina’s Wednesday report included linebacker Claudin Cherelus, safety Nick Scott, linebacker Devin Lloyd and pass rusher Jaelan Phillips all missing practice, while wide receiver Jalen Coker was limited as he works back from an ankle injury.
In Other News...
Falcons May Finally Have The QB Depth They Need Vs Packers
The Falcons are getting a little healthier behind center at a time when they could use the insurance. Michael Penix Jr. has been named the starter for the upcoming game, and Kevin Stefanski said Tua Tagovailoa is trending in the right direction to be available as the backup in Week 3 after missing the first two games with an oblique injury. It is a notable shift from the opening stretch, when Cooper Rush filled the backup role.
For Atlanta, the timing matters as much as the depth chart. Having a second quarterback available changes the feel of game day for a team that wants more stability at the position, especially with Penix set to take over under center. The final check on Tagovailoa still matters, but the Falcons are at least moving toward a cleaner setup than they had to start the season. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Are Betting Nick Folk Can Stop A Bigger Problem
The Falcons are sticking with Nick Folk for now, even after the veteran kicker missed field goals in each of the first two games of the 2026 season. Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman said the focus remains on Folks experience and the basics, with the team preferring to work through the issue by tightening up fundamentals and technique rather than making a change this early.
For Atlanta, the decision is as much about stability as it is about faith in a proven kicker. The next step is giving Folk a chance to settle back into his rhythm as the Falcons turn their attention to the Green Bay Packers, where every point could matter if the kicking game remains in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons QB Shift Puts Tua Tagovailoas Opportunity In Real Danger
When the Falcons opened the season, Tua Tagovailoa found himself in the spot every quarterback wants but few fully own for long: the Week 1 starter. Michael Penix Jr. was not cleared for full contact at the time, so Atlanta turned to Tagovailoa to begin the year and keep the offense moving until its top option was ready. It was always a temporary arrangement, though, and the way the Falcons have handled the job since then has made that clear.
Penix has since returned to health and is expected to take over in Week 3, which shifts Tagovailoa back into a backup role. Atlanta seems to view Penix as the quarterback of the future, and that puts Tagovailoa's opportunity in real jeopardy. Unless something changes, the early chance he earned at the start of the season may end up being little more than a short-lived audition. [Read more 🡒]