Oregon stakes a claim as the NFL's Quarterback U.

In Week 8 of the NFL season the Ducks will claim a program milestone. With Jayden Daniels out with a strained hamstring Marcus Mariota will start for the Commanders.

That gives the Ducks four NFL starters at one time, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Mariota. They've had three this season and previously in 2006 but never four.

Already this season the Ducks are leading the league in passing yards by one college:

Justin Herbert Chargers (leads the league in passing) 1,913

Bo Nix Broncos (11th) 1,556

Dillon Gabriel (36th) 546

Marcus Mariota (37th 426

UO Total 4,441

Among other programs, only Oklahoma and Alabama are above 4,000 through the season. The Oregon total doesn't include New Orleans backup Tyler Shough, who's thrown two passes so far for the Saints but hasn't completed one.

If Shough gets more time behind Spencer Rattler, he counts for Louisville where he finished his college career.

Herbert leads the league in passing yards as a sixth-year pro but he almost has to-- the Chargers two leading running backs Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris are both out with injuries. In a 38-24 loss Herbert threw 55 times, completing 37 for a career-high 420 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions.

Nix won the Nickelodeon Player of the Week Award for engineering Denver's 33-point comeback against the Giants.

The Chargers host Minnesota Thursday night. Dillon Gabriel and the Browns travel to New England Sunday morning on Fox. Bo Nix and the AFC West-leading Broncos host 3-3 Dallas Sunday afternoon on CBS. Mariota and the Commanders face the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium, 5:15 p.m. PT on ABC.