Little wear and tear is evidentso far in year nine. Well, that is, when the four quarterbacks can stay on the field.
Three of the four quarterbacks have already been bitten by the always terrorizing injury bug (a nonstop bug, across all walks of life). Two of those three have missed time, with the third likely to miss an upcoming week five matchup.
Injuries began almost immediately for this bunch, mere minutes into the start of the 2026-27 regular season. Super Bowl winner Sam Darnold went down on Seattle's first series, proceeding to miss the rest of that game and the next with a hip injury.
Baker Mayfield went down towards the end of Tampa Bay's loss to Minnesota in week three, dislocating his thumb. The injury will keep him out anywhere from three to six weeks, if all heals well. And Lamar Jackson injured his ankle in Baltimore's week four victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Unscathed (from the injury bug) through four weeks is Josh Allen, who is off to a hot start again in season nine and finding the end zone with regularity.
Josh Allen
Allen and the Buffalo Bills (3-1) are a couple of key plays away from hanging out with the three undefeated teams (Minnesota, San Francisco, Kansas City) in the NFL. Instead, Allen and the Bills will look to put the loss to the New England Patriots in the rearview mirror and get back on track.
The offense has been clicking through the season's first few weeks, leading the league with 31.8 points per game. Turnovers are an issue to address but this team, as long as they can stay healthy, is producing in both the passing and running games.
That starts with Allen.
Allen accounted for nine touchdowns in the season's first two weeks and added four more in the last two. Six came through the air (against three interceptions) and seven on the ground, collecting at least one in each game so far in 2026.
Allen's numbers through the air are up to par, completing 64 percent with 1039 yards. Allen has been sacked nine times, four of which came in victory over the L.A. Chargers, where he also had three turnovers.
On the ground, Allen has 118 yards, though only totaled four on five carries in Buffalo's loss to the Patriots. Running back James Cook is again helping in the running game, totaling 421 yards and averaging six yards per carry.
One of the areas more present for Allen and the Bills this season is the downfield passing game, something that has been missing since Gabe Davis left. If Allen can continue to utilize that, and D.J. Moore stays healthy, Buffalo will continue to be dangerous on offense.
A tough stretch awaits the Bills in the next five weeks. Buffalo has a bye in the middle part of the stretch, but three of their next four games are on the road. Those four teams are also currently a combined 12-4. Buffalo is a veteran team, however, and should manage to go 3-1 (at worst 2-2) in the coming weeks.
Upcoming games: @ LAR (10/12), @ LV (10/18), Bye, vs BAL (11/1), @ MIN (11/9)
Lamar Jackson
Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) are one second-half collapse away from being undefeated, falling only to the Saints this season. Other than that, and an ankle sprain suffered in week four's victory over Tennessee, it has been a return to form for Jackson.
Considering Jackson is averaging over 10 yards per completion, the accuracy is what jumps off the page. Jackson is completing 70.8 percent of his pass attempts, which if that holds, would be a career high. The former final pick of the first round passed for 967 yards with six touchdowns and only one interception in the season's first four games.
Through four games, Jackson has been sacked only seven times. While his passing is impressive, Jackson has also found his rhythm again in the running game, running for 144 yards and one score. Reassuring, too, is that Jackson is averaging 7.6 yards per carry, a good sign considering last season he posted a near career-low in that category.
The Ravens also face a tough schedule ahead, with two division games ton tap in the mix. Three road games await Baltimore, including a matchup with the Bills, who will be coming off their bye. Even if Jackson misses a game, Baltimore has a strong chance to go 3-2 at the worst, meaning a first-place position heading into the back half of the season.
Upcoming games: @ ATL (10/11), @ CLE (10/18), vs CIN (10/25), @ BUF (11/1), vs JAX (11/5)
Sam Darnold
After managing only one series in the season-opening victory over New England and sitting out week two's victory over Arizona, Darnold returned in a week three. The result? The Seahawks saw their 12-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Washington Commanders, losing 33-31.
Okay, much of that loss did not fall into the lap of Darnold, who threw for 379 yards, four touchdowns, and was not sacked. He did contribute two interceptions to the pile, which did play a small part in the loss.
In week four, Darnold had a more workmanlike performance in the victory against the Chargers, completing 13 of 22 passes for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The passing game, however, is not where the Seahawks are lacking, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba already collecting 32 receptions (no one else on the team has more than nine).
The Seahawks will need to shore up their running game if they want to ease pressure off Darnold. Kenneth Walker is dominating in Kansas City and the player drafted to replace him, Jadarian Price, is on the injured list.
Darnold and the Seahawks (3-1) will face their share of adversity in the coming weeks. The next four weeks involve matchups where the opponents are a combined 13-3 (with Arizona being the light at the end of the tunnel). The positive? Four of those five games are at home, which provides a more-than-adequate advantage for Seattle. A 2-3 stretch is not out of the question but barring any major injuries, the Seahawks should go at least 3-2 in the coming month.
Upcoming games: vs SF (10/11), @ DEN (10/15), vs KC (10/25), vs CHI (11/2), vs ARI (11/9)
Baker Mayfield
Seemingly at an impasse regarding contract talks, Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4) reached a deal in the eleventh hour before the start of the season. Things have not gone to plan for either party since.
Mayfield and the Bucs haven't exactly been horrible, but they haven't been good, either. Yes, their four losses are by a combined 20 points. But a struggling run game, lack of a star receiver, bad luck (a 2+ hour weather delay at the two-minute warning against Cleveland), and Mayfield's injury all contributed to the bad start.
A leaky offensive line also saw Mayfield sacked 13 times in his three games.
Mayfield wasn't exactly lighting up the box score. He was decent enough in a week one loss at Cincinnati, going 23-28 for 216 yards and five carries for 30 yards. But he also lost three fumbles.
Overall, Mayfield is at 63.5 percent passing with 615 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also has 65 yards and one score on the ground.
In the past couple of years, an 0-4 start might not have been an unsurmountable climb in the NFC South. Both Carolina and Atlanta are improved and even New Orleans at 1-3 has shown signs of life. Though not completely out of the question to turn the season around, Mayfield could be looking at a team that is 0-7 or 0-8 when he returns.
Upcoming games: @ DAL (10/8), vs PIT (10/18), @ CAR (10/25), vs ATL (11/1), @ CHI (11/8)
Josh Rosen
Though never formally announced, Rosen is effectively retired, graduating from business school in 2026.
Thanks for continuing to follow this series chronicling the careers of the five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Check back in after week nine to see how they are progressing, and healthy.
Image credit: Wikimedia
Further reading on season nine:
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