Week 10 has more quarterback changes than any week so far this season. A trade, two injuries and a rookie promotion mean several teams will line up with a different starter than they had last Sunday.
Here’s where every quarterback situation stands as of Wednesday morning, with the latest reporting on each.
Vikings: Kirk Cousins expected to start at Green Bay
The biggest change of the week. Minnesota traded a 2027 third-round pick to the Raiders for Kirk Cousins on Tuesday, and Cousins is expected to start Sunday against the Packers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The setting is hard to script. Cousins tore his Achilles at Lambeau Field on Oct. 29, 2023, in what turned out to be his last game for the Vikings, Yahoo Sports noted. Now his second run starts in the same building, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
SI reported the trade moved the betting line, with the Vikings now about 3.5-point underdogs at Green Bay. We broke down how the Cousins deal came together here.
Raiders: Fernando Mendoza’s first NFL start
With Cousins gone, No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza takes over in Las Vegas. His only regular-season action so far was one garbage-time drive against New England. Read more in our Mendoza story.
His first start comes against Seattle, which ranks first in the NFL in total defense, per Bleacher Report.
Seahawks: Drew Lock again, Sam Darnold out
Seattle will stick with Drew Lock against the Raiders. Coach Mike Macdonald said Sam Darnold (quad, ribs) will miss another week and that Lock’s tests on his oblique were good, according to ESPN. Jalen Milroe will back him up.
Lock is 2-0 as a starter this season with five touchdowns and no interceptions, per AOL. The Seahawks have their bye in Week 11, so Darnold could return in Week 12. We covered the Seattle QB injuries in our Jalen Milroe story.
Dolphins: Kyle McCord makes his debut
Miami placed Malik Willis on injured reserve with a core muscle injury, so Kyle McCord will make his first NFL start Sunday at Indianapolis. Willis is out at least four games. Details are in our Dolphins QB story.
Cardinals: Carson Beck in, Gardner Minshew on IR
Arizona officially placed Gardner Minshew on injured reserve Tuesday, and Schefter reported he isn’t expected to play again this season. Rookie Carson Beck is in line to start Sunday against the Rams. More in our Carson Beck story.
Browns: Deshaun Watson expected back
Cleveland plans to go back to Deshaun Watson against Houston, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported. Coach Todd Monken hasn’t announced it publicly.
That’s a tough call after Shedeur Sanders’ fill-in start. Sanders went 19 of 31 for 297 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-22 overtime loss to the Saints, according to ESPN. Our earlier Browns QB decision story has the background.
Ravens: Jacoby Brissett with Lamar Jackson out
Jacoby Brissett is set to start for Baltimore against the Chargers on Monday night with Lamar Jackson still sidelined. Here’s the latest on Lamar Jackson’s thumb injury.
Quarterbacks expected to play through injuries
J.J. McCarthy, Giants. McCarthy (hip) was a full participant Tuesday and is set to start Thursday night against Washington. Our Commanders vs. Giants preview has more.
Jayden Daniels, Commanders. Daniels was a full participant in practice this week ahead of Thursday night.
Justin Herbert, Chargers. X-rays on Herbert’s left middle finger were negative, and coach Jim Harbaugh said he “should be good to go,” per the Chargers’ official site. More in our Herbert injury update.
What to watch
The first wave of official Week 10 injury reports for the Sunday and Monday games comes out Wednesday afternoon. We’ll update this page as teams confirm their starters. For kickoff times and TV for every game, see our Week 10 schedule.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, The Viking Age, SI, ESPN (2, 3), AOL, Adam Schefter, Giants.com, Chargers.com, Bleacher Report
Join the conversation