Going into Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season, five teams have already needed to start backup quarterbacks.
Soon, several more teams will make changes based on performance — and bench starting quarterbacks by choice.
Just three years ago, the 32 teams combined to start 69 quarterbacks, a league record for a non-strike season. Whether wanting to look more toward the future or just getting in a better position to win games for the rest of the season, here's looking at the most probable QB benchings to come:
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Quarterbacks who could be benched immediately
Russell Wilson, Giants
The ideal scenario for the New York Giants would be sitting rookie first-rounder Jaxson Dart as long as possible for his rookie season, setting him up for better success in a more functional supporting offense in 2026 and beyond. But the reality is, time is running out on the tenure of offensive-minded head coach Brian Daboll with his team at 0-3 and facing a brutal matchup with Jim Harbaugh's 3-0 Chargers at home.
MORE: Why Giants not starting Jaxson Dart has been right approach — so far
Daboll might not be able to guarantee saving his job after four seasons by giving Dart a full-time starting job vs. working him in a few random snaps a game. But it's worth accelerating the youth movement to see what kind of spark Dart can provide and how much he can flash in the system under Daboll and coordinator Mike Kafka. Wilson was the best bridge choice over Jameis Winston and others, but now that the bridge is about to burn, it's the right time to give Dart a shot.
UPDATE: Wilson was benched and Dart was named Week 4 starter after this article was published
Joe Flacco, Browns
The Cleveland Browns have a dominant defense and some promise in the running game. But their passing game has become a major liability with Flacco's shaky play. Cleveland lacks in weapons in relation to most other NFL teams, but between wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman and tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr., Flacco isn't providing much downfield juice.
Now the real question is, once Flacco, 40, sits and goes back to his more appropriate seasoned backup role, which rookie would get the first start, third-rounder Dillon Gabriel or fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders?
MORE: Complete history of Joe Flacco's time in NFL
Although (literal) popular opinion would side with Sanders, the depth chart says Gabriel would get the chance to show what he can do first. Gabriel also flashed in mop-up duty in Week 2 vs. the Ravens, completing all 3 of his pass attempts for 19 yards and a TD. Should Gabriel stumble, then Sanders will be lined up to start later in the season as the Browns stay in full evaluation mode.
Spencer Rattler, Saints
Rattler is often the forgotten man in the slew of NFL second-year starting quarterbacks. The fifth-round pick for the New Orleans Saints in 2024 has the job by default as the most experienced option over second-round rookie Tyler Shough in the wake of Derek Carr's sudden retirement.
Rattler has focused most on dinking and dunking and protecting the ball well for average efficiency through the first three games. He's completing 67.2 of his pass attempts as a result, but for only 5.4 yards per attempt. The compressed offense is out of necessity, but how long do the 0-3 Saints go with careful caretaking vs. seeing what Shough can do with his big arm in action that counts?
Shough needs to be showcased at some point while New Orleans keeps losing, so the team can figure out whether he can be a franchise passing solution. If the Saints can get an indication either way, they can know where they can proceed with the "March for Arch" and hope that homegrown prospect Arch Manning enters the 2026 draft.
Michael Penix Jr., Falcons
Penix was a controversial No. 8 overall pick for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 when they had just paid veteran Kirk Cousins a substantial sum in free agency. Penix sat behind Cousins until late as a rookie, flashing some major upside in a potential explosive offense down the stretch.
But Penix has fallen flat as the unquestioned starter so far in 2025, with Cousins still on the bench as the league's most expensive backup QB, earning $27.5 million for the season. Penix and the Falcons got shockingly shut out 30-0 by the Panthers in Week 3 to fall to 1-2, prompting the team to play Cousins in mop-up duty.
MORE: Why Michael Penix Jr. was benched during shutout loss to Panthers
By keeping Cousins, the Falcons have a fallback plan few teams have with a struggling young QB. Think of it as Andy Dalton needing to play for a while as Bryce Young sat for a stretch in 2024, his second season. Only Cousins is more of a demoted starter pushing to maybe get the job back vs. Dalton being a dedicated backup since leaving the Bengals.
Jake Browning, Bengals
Browning went 4-3 and played well as the Bengals fill-in starter for Joe Burrow near the end of the 2023 season. After leading a rally against the Jaguars in relief of Burrow, he brought down all the confidence with a terrible start in Minnesota, where all of his issues with turnovers reared their ugly heads.
Burrow is expected to miss about three months, or 12 weeks, or now, 10 more regular-season games. The backup option for now is journeyman Brett Rypien. There are more viable options outside of Cincinnati, including trading for Cousins or the Giants' Jameis Winston. The Bengals can be a bit optimistic that Browning will help them win more games than they lose, but they also need to be realistic about hoping for the best over an extended stretch.
MORE: Who are Bengals' best QB options to replace Joe Burrow?
Benching Browning for Rypien would make little sense unless it stays as bad as it was in Minnesota. Getting a newcomer to attempt to upgrade, however, cannot be ruled out.
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Tagovailoa is last on the list for many reasons, led by him being in the second season of a four-year, $212.4 million contract. He also has seemed to rebound well from a disastrous Week 1 vs. the Colts and has proved in three seasons that he's been the best choice to operate Mike McDaniel's offseason.
The bottom line, however, is the Dolphins are 0-3 with McDaniel and not helping a bad defense with the No. 25 scoring offense in the NFL. If the going gets rougher to Tagovailoa, one cannot rule out the possibility of a desperate McDaniel turning to backup Zach Wilson, the Jets' No. 2 overall pick from the 2021 class.
MORE: Dolphins' best replacements for Mike McDaniel if coach is fired
McDaniel seems to be losing confidence in Tagovailoa fast, seeing the continued capped results after what was just two years ago a dangerous attack with Tua throwing to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Sitting Tua might be a move made more about not wanting play Tua vs. a real thought to Wilson being a better solution, short or long term.