Three teams start backup quarterbacks in NFL Week 2 as Murray, Darnold and Tagovailoa sit

Three NFL teams will hand the ball to a backup quarterback on Sunday in Week 2, and a fourth is waiting on its starter until close to kickoff. Minnesota, Seattle and Atlanta have all confirmed changes under center, each announced by the clubs themselves rather than leaked.

Minnesota: Wentz in, Murray out

The Vikings ruled out Kyler Murray with a concussion and will start Carson Wentz at Chicago, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Friday, according to the team. It will be Wentz's 100th career start.

Murray was hurt early in his Vikings debut against Green Bay. The team said he went 3 of 5 for 18 yards, and that his first pass was intercepted, before leaving. He was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday while working through the league's concussion protocol, then was ruled out. CBS Sports reported that Wentz came in against the Packers and threw three touchdown passes to rally Minnesota to the win.

Seattle: Lock gets his first start since 2023

Seattle ruled out Sam Darnold with a glute injury after he did not practice all week, which puts Drew Lock in the lineup at Arizona. The Seahawks framed it on their own site as Lock's first Seahawks start since 2023. Seattle is 1-0. The Cardinals opened with a double-digit road win at the Chargers under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur.

Atlanta: Rush again, with a rookie behind him

The Falcons are the thinnest of the three. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Cooper Rush will make his second straight start against Carolina, with undrafted rookie Jack Strand as the backup, per the team. Michael Penix Jr. is out, still working back from last season's ACL surgery, and Tua Tagovailoa is doubtful with an oblique injury he picked up ahead of Week 1.

Rush went 12 of 22 for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in Atlanta's 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh, the Falcons said.

Cincinnati: Burrow questionable

Joe Burrow is listed as questionable against Houston, but coach Zac Taylor indicated Friday that his quarterback would be available, CBS Sports reported in its rundown of Saturday's final injury reports. The Texans will be without top receiver Nico Collins, who hurt a hamstring in practice, with Jayden Higgins already out for the year.

What else moved late Saturday

Baltimore downgraded Zay Flowers to out against New Orleans with a hamstring problem, a headline ESPN carried Saturday evening. CBS Sports noted Flowers had 150 yards and a touchdown in under a half in Week 1 before exiting. Pittsburgh ruled out receiver Michael Pittman Jr. with a foot injury for the Patriots game, and the Jets placed rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. on injured reserve with a sprained ankle, which sidelines him at least four games.

For Monday night, the Rams list Puka Nacua as questionable with a hip injury after he missed practice again, per ESPN and the CBS Sports injury report.

What it changes

None of these are season-defining by themselves, but they stack unevenly. Minnesota has the softest landing: Wentz already won a game this season and the offense did not have to be rebuilt around him. Seattle is asking a career backup to protect a 1-0 start against a Cardinals team that just won on the road and is no longer an easy week for anyone in the NFC West.

Atlanta is the one to watch. A team playing its home opener with its third-string plan at quarterback and a rookie as the emergency option is a team whose season can get away from it in September. Week 2 outcomes rarely settle anything, but 0-2 with an unsettled quarterback room is a hard hole in a 17-game year.

Kickoff times and results are on our NFL schedule and NFL scores pages.

Sources: Vikings.com, Seahawks.com, AtlantaFalcons.com, CBS Sports and ESPN, read Sept. 19, 2026.