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3 NFL quarterbacks who could be benched Week 3

By Rucker Haringey

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 12: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings prepares to take the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 12: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings prepares to take the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 19, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

The NFL season is only two weeks old, but these three quarterbacks are already in danger of being benched by the time Week 3 concludes. 

Changing quarterbacks in Week 3 is a drastic move for any NFL team, but several franchises are already prepared to hit the panic button if things go poorly this weekend. That may seem like a drastic measure to take in some instances, but sticking with the wrong signal-caller is the best way to flush an entire season down the drain.

Not every team that’s contemplating a quarterback change comes into this weekend entirely devoid of wins. Teams that limp into Week 3 at 0-2 certainly stand a higher chance of making a high-profile switch, but a few 1-1 teams are eyeing their backup quarterbacks with envy as well.

The following three quarterbacks should keep a close eye on the sidelines this weekend if their respective teams start to falter.

3. Jameis Winston

Winston’s efficient brilliance in the Saints’ Week 1 victory over the Packers was promptly erased by an error-filled day against the Panthers in Week 2. Heading to New England to take on the Patriots is not an ideal place for Winston to bounce back this weekend.

Throw in head coach Sean Payton’s admiration for backup Taysom Hill and it’s easy to envision a scenario where Winston heads to the sidelines if he throws a couple of early interceptions against Bill Belichick’s defense.

Sticking with Winston is the right long-term play for New Orleans, but Payton sees something in Hill that few others around the league do. A quarterback controversy is just another couple of poor Winston decisions for the Saints.

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