You need to hand it to Mac Jones. He is aware of no stop.
Drafted fifteenth general by the New England Patriots in 2021, he was tasked with filling the largest footwear in NFL historical past. Regardless of some promise early on, he did not develop as hoped and after his third season was shipped to Jacksonville to again up Trevor Lawrence.
A 12 months later, Jones was on the transfer once more; this time, he was signed by the 49ers to function QB2 behind $265 million man Brock Purdy. It didn’t take lengthy for him to see the sphere.
With Purdy struggling toe and shoulder accidents in San Francisco’s season opener and reportedly being set to overlook as much as 5 weeks, it was Jones’ flip to steer the 49ers offense in Week 2. And lead he did: the previous first-round decide accomplished 26 of 36 move makes an attempt for 279 yards and a trio of touchdowns en path to a 26-21 win over the Saints. Sure, he did lose a fumble as properly, however Sunday was nonetheless his greatest sport since his early Patriots tenure.
Jones is just not the one backup quarterback within the highlight, although.
Joe Burrow harm opens door for Jake Browning
With Joe Burrow struggling a critical turf toe harm that’s anticipated to knock him out not less than three months, the Cincinnati Bengals’ season outlook took a drastic activate Sunday. The NFL doesn’t cease for anyone, although, and so the workforce should discover a alternative.
That alternative already took 48 snaps instead of the injured Burrow in Week 2 in opposition to the Jaguars. Seven-year veteran Jake Browning went 7-for-13 for 76 yards with a landing, and likewise scored the game-winning factors when he leapt over the purpose line from one yard out.
Browning will get the primary crack at main the Bengals into what’s an unsure future. That’s acquainted territory for the 29-year-old, who already began seven video games instead of an injured Burrow throughout the 2023 season.
Again then, he helped Cincinnati to a 4-3 file. The same success fee could be welcome information to the workforce, and after its 2-0 begin may even be sufficient to problem for a playoff spot.
The Justin Fields resurgence is on maintain
The New York Jets’ newest try at discovering some stability at quarterback noticed them signal former Bears first-round draft decide Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in March. Two begins into his tenure with the workforce, the query marks are already right here.
Not solely did Fields look considerably worse in his second sport in opposition to Buffalo, he additionally left the eventual 30-10 loss early within the fourth quarter and was later identified with a concussion. His standing for Week 3 and past is now unclear, that means that the Jets are already susceptible to seeing one more season slip out of their fingers: at 0-2, they might insert veteran backup Tyrod Taylor into the beginning lineup.
With a sport in opposition to a potent-looking Buccaneers squad arising, the Jets are in a tough if not fully unfamiliar spot.
Jayden Daniels MRI raises questions
Week 2 was not form to the Washington Commanders. Apart from shedding 27-18 to the Packers on Thursday evening, there at the moment are additionally questions on quarterback and reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr Jayden Daniels. In keeping with a report from Friday, Daniels underwent an MRI on his knee after the sport.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn will deal with the media on Monday, and presumably give an replace about his workforce’s QB1. For sure, any harm announcement could be a priority given how essential Daniels is to the workforce’s offensive operation.
If he’s pressured to overlook time, both in apply or an precise sport, the Commanders have former first-round draft decide Marcus Mariota and profession journeyman Josh Johnson as backup choices on their roster.
Dillon Gabriel period loading?
The 0-2 Cleveland Browns are very a lot in quarterback purgatory in the mean time. Joe Flacco and the workforce’s offense, in spite of everything, appeared abysmal in a 41-17 shellacking by the hands of the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday — a lot in order that changing the veteran with rookie Dillon Gabriel could possibly be on the desk.
For now, head coach Kevin Stefanski has not expressed any intentions of constructing a change. Nonetheless, if the unhealthy performances and the losses begin piling up, his hand could be pressured.
Whether or not Gabriel, broadly thought-about a attain within the third spherical of this 12 months’s draft, would make issues higher stays to be seen. After all, Cleveland additionally has one other rookie quarterback ready within the wings, however Shedeur Sanders enjoying significant snaps in 2025 would imply that the Browns’ season has gone utterly off the rails — if it hasn’t already.
Jaxson Dart momentum taking successful
Their uninspiring 21-6 loss to the Commanders on opening day instantly led to some questions on their quarterback place, however Giants head coach Brian Daboll held onto Russell Wilson heading into Week 2. As an alternative of inserting first-round rookie Jaxson Dart, the veteran obtained one other shot at operating New York’s offense.
He did so in spectacular trend. Wilson went 30-for-41 for 450 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. The issue is that his heroics, together with a late landing to Malik Nabers, have been for naught: the Giants nonetheless ended up dropping to 0-2 in opposition to the Cowboys on Sunday, getting crushed 40-37 in extra time on a subject purpose arrange by Wilson’s lone decide of the day.
Regardless of the disappointing consequence, the requires Dart to be elevated to QB1 ought to die down a bit this week. Nonetheless, the state of affairs is much like the Browns’: Wilson is neither a long-term resolution on the place for the workforce, nor immune from being demoted if the Giants’ season retains trending downward.
If a training job must be saved, drastic measures could be warranted.
Hassle brewing in Miami?
Talking of drastic measures, the Dolphins are some of the disappointing groups within the NFL two weeks into the season. Whereas there are points throughout the board, beginning QB Tua Tagovailoa has additionally not been as much as the duty as Miami’s beginning QB: his mixed stats in losses to the Colts and Patriots don’t essentially look bench-worthy — 40-for-55, 429 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs — however his EPA per play (-0.121; thirty first) is tough and the Dolphins struggled with their offensive operation late in opposition to New England on Sunday.
For the time being, plainly head coach Mike McDaniel is prepared to go down with the ship and maintain onto Tagovailoa so long as potential. Nonetheless, as his seat retains getting hotter, so may Tagovailoa’s as Miami’s QB1.
And if that’s the case, say hiya to Miami Dolphins beginning QB… Zach Wilson?! Oh, my.
