Kyler Murray has been cleared to return from a concussion to start for the undefeated Minnesota Vikings at the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Sept. 27, after being knocked out of the season opener on the first drive of the game.
Carson Wentz has filled in admirably in Murray’s absence, leading the Vikings to back-to-back victories. But the situation in Minnesota is not unique.
Injuries to starting quarterbacks have afflicted teams across the NFL over the first two weeks of the regular season, among the top storylines to follow in Week 3.
In Chicago, Caleb Williams is dealing with a hamstring injury and backup Tyson Bagent is in concussion protocol, meaning third-string quarterback Case Keenum could start for the Bears against the Philadelphia
Eagles on Monday Night Football.
In Washington, Jayden Daniels is seeing specialists for a dislocated left elbow and has handed the reins to Marcus Mariota. The Commanders host the Seattle Seahawks, who have been without Sam Darnold and may continue to need to rely on Drew Lock.
And in New York, Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury, giving way to Jameis Winston, as the Giants host the Tennessee Titans.
In a positive development, Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. makes his season debut on the road against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. He missed the first two games while recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season.
Ravens-Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro
The Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys are set to play the NFL’s first regular-season game on Sunday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both teams have 1-1 records. Last week, Dak Prescott became the Cowboys’ all-time passing touchdown leader in a 37-20 victory against Washington. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens blew an early lead to lose, 24-17, against the New Orleans Saints. Reports have surfaced about poor turf conditions on the newly laid pitch at Maracanã Stadium, but the NFL’s field director said he has “no concerns.”
Josh Allen’s early MVP case
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the early-season NFL MVP frontrunner after a spectacular opening stretch. Allen has scored nine touchdowns — five passing, four rushing — while leading the Bills to a 2-0 record, with victories against the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions. Buffalo hosts the winless Los Angeles Chargers, who are reeling after opening the season with losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders. Justin Herbert has thrown three interceptions, fumbled three times (all were recovered) and been sacked six times.
MetLife homecoming for Saleh, Daboll
Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll return to MetLife Stadium as the head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively, for the winless Titans. They’ll face John Harbaugh’s 1-1 Giants, who must move forward from Dart’s injury with Winston as the starting quarterback. Both Winston and Titans quarterback Cam Ward are former No. 1 overall picks.
Teams fighting to avoid 0-3 start
Panic is setting in for the fan bases of eight winless teams: Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, L.A. Chargers, Miami, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington.
Since the NFL expanded the playoffs in 1990, a total of 171 teams stumbled to an 0-3 record, and only five of them — or about 3 percent — recovered to qualify for the postseason.
Those rare comeback stories: the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Lions, 1998 Bills, and the 2018 and 2025 Texans.
A 1-2 record historically offers about a 25 percent chance to make the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kyler Murray returns, QB injuries, Ravens-Cowboys in Rio in NFL Week 3
