NFL WEEK TWO TOOK CALEB WILLIAMS, JAYDEN DANIELS AND JAXSON DART OUT OF THEIR GAMES

Week 2 of the NFL season will be remembered less for any score than for the players who did not finish it. The first two picks of the 2024 draft, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, both left their games hurt on Sunday, and on Monday night Jaxson Dart joined them, knocked out on the Giants' opening drive in Los Angeles. Three young starting quarterbacks left their games in one weekend, and the injury report behind them runs well past the position.

Caleb Williams, a Week After His Record Night

A week after Williams became the first player in Bears history to throw for 200 yards and two touchdowns and run for 50 yards and two more in the same game, in the 59 to 37 win over Carolina that set a Week 1 scoring record, he was carted off in the fourth quarter of the Bears' home opener. The injury was noncontact, to his right hamstring, and Chicago ruled him out as Minnesota closed out a 9 to 3 win in which neither offense found much of anything. Carson Wentz went 11 of 20 for 143 yards for the Vikings, and it was enough.

The news since has been better than the scene. An MRI on Monday showed a strain rather than a tear. Head coach Ben Johnson called the report somewhat encouraging and listed Williams as week to week, while saying he will likely miss some time.

Jayden Daniels Dislocated the Same Elbow Again

Daniels went down on the last play of the first half against Dallas, a third and goal from the 1 yard line. His foot caught on one of his own linemen as he fell, he put his left hand down to brace himself, and his elbow bent backward. He was carted off and ruled out before halftime ended, and the Cowboys finished a 37 to 20 win behind Dak Prescott, who threw four touchdown passes to set the franchise record for career touchdown passes at 249, and CeeDee Lamb, who caught 8 passes for 153 yards and 2 scores.

It is the same left elbow Daniels dislocated against Seattle last November, an injury that cost him three weeks. The first images showed no fracture. He had more imaging Monday and sees specialists Tuesday and Wednesday, and Washington has not set a timeline, though head coach Dan Quinn has said he expects Daniels back this season. Marcus Mariota starts Sunday against the Seahawks in Washington's home opener.

Jaxson Dart Lasted One Drive on Monday Night

Dart took a hit from two Rams defenders on the Giants' opening possession at SoFi Stadium, came out with a knee injury, was listed questionable and was ruled out at halftime. NFL Network reported a sprained MCL, and the Giants said they would know more after an MRI on Tuesday. Jameis Winston played the rest of the way in a 28 to 6 loss. A week earlier, Dart had opened his second season with a win over Dallas.

Jayden Reed Left on a Backboard

The scariest moment of the weekend came on the second play of Green Bay's opening drive against the Jets. Jayden Reed caught a 4 yard pass, took a hit to the head and neck, and was carted off with his neck stabilized on a backboard. What followed was the best version of that news. Reed had movement in all of his extremities, stayed in a New Jersey hospital overnight instead of flying home with the team, and was later diagnosed with a back injury. He posted afterward that he was doing much better and thanked people for their support. The Packers won 20 to 17 in overtime on a 26 yard field goal from Trey Smack, a win ESPN described as injury filled.

The Rest of the List

Philadelphia lost Saquon Barkley to a stinger on its first offensive play at Tennessee. He missed the rest of the first half, returned for the opening series of the second, finished with 9 yards on four carries and said he would have an MRI. Tight end Dallas Goedert left in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return. The Eagles still won 24 to 20.

Some of the damage was done before kickoff. Baltimore played without Zay Flowers, who was hurt at halftime of Week 1, and lost 24 to 17 to New Orleans. Houston lost Nico Collins to a new hamstring strain in Wednesday's practice and managed 6 points in a loss to Cincinnati. Las Vegas listed Brock Bowers as doubtful after a meniscus procedure on the same knee that bothered him last season. Seattle started Drew Lock in place of Sam Darnold, out with a muscle strain from Week 1, and beat Arizona 31 to 7 anyway. And the Rams went into Monday night with Myles Garrett on injured reserve after knee surgery, out for at least four games.

The Games Still Got Played

Buffalo opened the new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night with a 41 to 31 win over Detroit. Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more, becoming the first player in NFL history with at least five passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns through the first two games of a season. James Cook, one of the quietest fantasy names of Week 1, topped 100 yards before halftime.

Carolina, a week after giving up 59 points to Chicago, beat Atlanta 34 to 3 behind 287 yards and three touchdowns from Bryce Young and two interceptions from linebacker Devin Lloyd, one of them returned for a touchdown. Kansas City beat Indianapolis 33 to 30 in overtime as Patrick Mahomes threw for 382 yards and three scores. San Francisco beat Miami 35 to 13 with Brock Purdy completing 20 of 22 passes. The Chargers, upset by Arizona in Week 1, fell to 0 and 2 after Justin Herbert threw two interceptions and fumbled three times in a 26 to 14 loss to Las Vegas. New England beat Pittsburgh 20 to 3, Cleveland edged Tampa Bay 23 to 19 on two long touchdown catches from rookie Denzel Boston, and Denver beat Jacksonville 20 to 13.

Monday Night Belonged to Aaron Donald's Return

The Rams gave the week a softer landing. In his first game since coming out of retirement, Aaron Donald had three tackles and a tackle for loss, with no pressures according to Next Gen Stats, in the 28 to 6 win over the Giants. The offense did the heavy lifting. Matthew Stafford threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, and Davante Adams, at 33, caught 8 passes for 195 yards and 2 scores.

Two weeks in, the standings still barely mean anything. The injury report already does. The Bears, Commanders and Giants spend this week learning how long they will play without the quarterbacks they built around, and every other team spends it hoping Week 3 is kinder than Week 2.