Five starting quarterbacks have suffered injuries during the opening two weeks of the NFL season, leaving several teams facing changes at the position. The list is striking: Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams and Jaxson Dart. But does it show that quarterbacks are getting injured more often than before?

Brobible raised that question after Dart’s knee injury added to an already difficult start. Darnold hurt his glute in Seattle’s opener, Murray suffered a concussion, Daniels dislocated his left elbow, Williams strained a hamstring and Dart left the Giants’ game against the Rams with a knee injury. Their situations vary considerably, and the early assumption that all five would miss several weeks has already proved too broad.

Dart’s outlook has changed

Dart’s injury is now the most concerning of the group. An MCL sprain was initially suspected, but NFL Network reported that further tests showed more serious damage and that he could miss the rest of the season. Giants coach John Harbaugh said evaluations were continuing and no final decision had been made.

Washington has ruled Daniels out of its Week 3 game while he seeks further opinions on his elbow. Williams is also unlikely to play in Week 3, according to Bears coach Ben Johnson. Murray’s absence may be shorter: he has cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to start for Minnesota.

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What the historical comparison actually shows

ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell pointed out that 38 quarterbacks threw at least five passes across the first two weeks of 2026, the same number as in 2021. His comparison puts the number of quarterbacks used in perspective. It does not establish that the injury rate is unchanged: a quarterback can enter a game for reasons other than injury, and the figure says nothing about how long an injured starter is sidelined.

Some fans have also linked the injuries to starters playing less in preseason. These five cases alone cannot establish that connection. The immediate effect on teams is clear, particularly for the Giants and Commanders. Whether 2026 represents a wider rise in quarterback injuries requires a direct comparison of injuries and games missed across seasons, rather than a count of players who attempted five passes.

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