The 2026 season has been filled with quarterback injuries and change-ups at the starting position. Week 9 proves that as six backup quarterbacks are slated to start mostly because of injuries. A couple teams are even down to their third-string quarterbacks.
Here's a rundown of the six backups starting this weekend, including what led their teams to making this decision. The Philadelphia Eagles have Jalen Hurts out for the rest of the season after the quarterback was diagnosed deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning he has blood clots in both lungs. Backup Tanner McKee started in the last three games, all resulting in losses.
On Wednesday, the Eagles announced that McKee was demoted to the backup position as Joe Milton is slated to start versus the New York Giants. It'll be Milton's first career start. Speaking of the Giants, New York has dealt with some quarterback change-ups of their own.
Their 2026 starter, Jaxson Dart, tore his ACL, PCL and meniscus in Week 2 and is expected to miss the rest of the season. At first, the Giants turned to Jameis Winston for three games before the Giants traded for J.J. The latter started in Week 7, and will start this weekend against the Eagles.
Like both the Eagles and Giants, the Baltimore Ravens will start their third quarterback this season on Thursday against the Jacksonville Jaguars as the team has dealt with continuous quarterback injuries. Lamar Jackson missed three games with a high ankle sprain, then suffered a thumb injury in his first play back this past weekend causing him to land on the injured reserve list. Backup Tyler Huntley, who started the three games when Jackson was out, suffered a season-ending turf toe injury on Sunday.
Third-string undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano will make his first NFL start on Thursday. The Arizona Cardinals will start a new QB1 on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks as Gardner Minshew was promoted to the top role after leading the team to a huge comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Cardinals' original starter, Jacoby Brissett, was traded to the Ravens on Wednesday in order to help them out with their quarterback absences.
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