Giants Weigh Trade Options As Bears' QB Battle Stays Unsettled
NFL teams finalized their Week 3 injury reports Wednesday, clarifying some quarterback situations while deepening others. The New York Giants are exploring outside options after losing Jaxson Dart for the season, the Chicago Bears remain unsettled on a starter for Monday night, and the Atlanta Falcons confirmed Tua Tagovailoa will serve as backup to Michael Penix Jr. in Thursday's game at Green Bay.
Giants coach John Harbaugh said the team is not ruling out any move at quarterback, including a trade, after tests confirmed Dart tore his MCL, PCL and meniscus - an injury requiring surgery, though he avoided ACL damage. Jameis Winston, who has not held a full-time starting job since 2019, will start Week 3 against Tennessee, with practice-squad arm Jake Haener the only other quarterback currently on New York's roster. Harbaugh said the club plans to add depth at the position without naming candidates, and did not rule out Dart returning later this season for a potential postseason push. Minnesota's J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with a similar meniscus injury and now sits behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz on the Vikings' depth chart, has been mentioned as a possible trade target given general manager Joe Schoen's familiarity with him from the 2024 draft process. lacrosse bet
In Chicago, Case Keenum, Tyson Bagent and Caleb Williams are all in the mix for Monday's game against Philadelphia, depending on health. Keenum, 38, practiced Wednesday and is healthy but hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since December 2023. Williams is still recovering from the hamstring injury that ended his day in Sunday's loss to Minnesota, and Bagent was placed in concussion protocol Tuesday with no clear timetable to return after going 5 of 9 for 54 yards in relief. Coach Ben Johnson said Chicago has no plans to sign another quarterback this week.
Tagovailoa was not listed on Atlanta's final injury report and is cleared to back up Penix on Thursday Night Football. He was originally slated to start the season opener before an oblique injury sidelined him, with Cooper Rush filling in for two games while Penix recovered from reconstructive knee surgery; Penix remains the starter in Week 3. Separately, Carolina is placing running back Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve after surgery for a groin injury suffered in Sunday's win over Atlanta, with coach Dave Canales citing a minimum six-week recovery. Brooks has played just five games since being drafted in 2024 due to two prior ACL tears. Chuba Hubbard remains Carolina's lead back, with the team reportedly adding veteran Austin Ekeler behind him and A.J. Dillon.
