Which Week 3 backup QB is best positioned for success?

Major quarterback injuries have been one of the biggest storylines in the NFL in the early part of the 2025 season, and we are set to see five backups get a start in Week 3 on Sunday. 

• Tyrod Taylor is starting in place of Justin Fields for the New York Jets against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Jake Browning is starting for Joe Burrow for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Minnesota Vikings.
• Carson Wentz is starting for J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings against the Bengals.
• Marcus Mariota is starting for Jayden Daniels for the Washington Commanders against the Las Vegas Raiders.
• Mac Jones will make his second consecutive start in place of Brock Purdy for the San Francisco 49ers against the Arizona Cardinals.

Let's take a look at which of those quarterbacks is best positioned for success.

Worst position for success: Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets

Taylor has put together a fine career as a backup and stopgap starting quarterback, so it's not really a commentary on him to put him in this category. It's just that he is 36 years old, has not started a game in two years and is going to have to start for a Jets team that does not really do anything particularly well. Even worse, he has to go on the road to face a really good Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. The Jets are staring an 0-3 start right in the face, and that would probably be true with Taylor or Justin Fields starting this game. 

Questionable quarterback, and questionable supporting cast: Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

The Commanders might have more flaws than initially hoped for coming into this season, and a lot of them were on display in their Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Commanders' wide receivers have not been able to consistently get open; they are without starting running back Austin Ekeler and the offensive line has not been great so far. The Las Vegas Raiders are not an overly daunting opponent, but this will not be an easy game for Washington. 

Good supporting cast, but questionable QB: Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings

Even with star wide receiver Jordan Addison missing another game with a suspension, Wentz is still going to be surrounded by some playmakers, including one of the NFL's best wide receivers in Justin Jefferson. He is also going to be starting at home, and against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has been one of the worst in the NFL the past two-plus years. There are a lot of things going for the Vikings and Wentz here. The problem is whether or not Wentz is good enough to take advantage of that. He has won just 15 of his past 37 starts in the NFL and has thrown 32 interceptions over that stretch of games. 

Good supporting cast, but tough opponent: Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have gotten a little too accustomed to Browning having to start, given the recent injury history of Joe Burrow, and he has held his own. He also has a great supporting cast with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to throw to, while also getting to start against one of the other backup quarterbacks (Wentz) on this list. But going on the road to Minnesota against a good Vikings team is going to be a tall task. The other big concern with Browning is his 10 interceptions on 275 pass attempts. 

Best position for success: Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Both the 49ers and Cardinals go into Sunday's game with 2-0 records, but the Cardinals have not really been tested yet, getting wins against the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers — two of the NFL's worst teams. Jones also had a chance to start against the Saints a week ago, and absolutely dominated them through the air. The 49ers have the big coaching edge in this game, and even with some injuries, should still have the better overall supporting cast.