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NFL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Monday, September 21

Drake Maye Faces Early Season Interception Struggles for Patriots

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is facing early regression in 2026, throwing his fourth interception through two games in a 20-3 victory over the Steelers. Despite the win, Maye has struggled with situational awareness and arm arrogance, frequently facing high pressure rates above 43% while coach Mike Vrabel and coordinator Josh McDaniels work to rein in his play.

Justin Herbert and Chargers Offense Struggle in Week 2 Loss

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and the offense struggled in a 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, dropping the team to 0-2 under coordinator Mike McDaniel. Through two games, Herbert has thrown for 401 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions while facing pressure on over 43% of his dropbacks. The offense was plagued by protection issues and fumbles, raising early concerns.

Nakobe Dean Delivers Clutch Fourth-Quarter Forced Fumble

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Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nakobe Dean starred in a 26-14 Week 2 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, tying for the team lead with 16 tackles. Dean made his biggest impact in the fourth quarter, delivering a clutch hit on running back Omarion Hampton to force a fumble and turnover. The crucial takeaway halted a Chargers drive and directly led to a game-sealing Raiders touchdown.

Carson Wentz Returns to Backup Role After Filling in for Murray

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz returned the starting reins to Kyler Murray after filling in during Murray's two-game absence due to a concussion. Wentz guided the Vikings to a 2-0 start, completing 20 pass attempts while relying heavily on running back Aaron Jones in the latest victory over the Chicago Bears. Wentz now seamlessly transitions back to the primary backup role for Week 3.

Jonathan Taylor Dominates With Two Touchdowns and 132 Total Yards

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor put together a stellar performance, finishing Sunday night with 24 carries for 92 yards and two rushing touchdowns while adding four receptions on as many targets for 40 receiving yards. Responsible for two of the Colts' three touchdowns in a high-powered output, Taylor delivered a massive 29.2 PPR point performance to anchor his status as an elite fantasy option.

Jadarian Price Avoids Serious Injury With Shoulder Issue

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Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price suffered a shoulder injury during Sunday's win over Arizona rather than a chest issue, but head coach Mike Macdonald stated it is intact and nothing serious after X-rays returned negative. Price ran 13 times for 52 yards before exiting. While he may not miss extended time, his status for Week 3 against Washington remains uncertain, with Emanuel Wilson and George Holani serving as alternatives behind him.

DK Metcalf Stifled and Facing Production Questions in Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf was limited to four catches for 27 yards and two drops in a 20-3 loss to New England, continuing a multi-game slump. Matched against Christian Gonzalez for 34 snaps, he managed three catches for 11 yards. Coach Mike McCarthy noted execution and confidence issues. Acquired via trade and signed to a massive contract, Metcalf has been held to 55 yards or fewer in 12 of his last 13 games as Pittsburgh struggles.

Christian McCaffrey Reaches 100 Career Touchdowns in Historic Win

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scored two 1-yard touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Miami, becoming the fourth-fastest player in the Super Bowl era to reach 100 career touchdowns (114 games). He also joined Marshall Faulk and Randy Moss as the third player ever with at least 50 touchdowns with two franchises (Carolina and San Francisco). McCaffrey finished with 23 rushing yards on 10 carries and four catches for 43 yards.

George Holani Involved in Seahawks Backfield Rotation

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Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani saw action out of the backfield during the team's Week 2 victory over the Arizona Cardinals following an injury to starter Jadarian Price. Holani handled 4 carries as teammate Emanuel Wilson took the bulk of the remaining workload. Holani's role moving forward will depend on health updates regarding Price and how the coaching staff divides touches among the running back depth chart.

Emanuel Wilson Steps Up in Seahawks Backfield After Injuries

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Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson stepped up significantly following Jadarian Price's shoulder injury during the Week 2 win over the Cardinals, out-carrying George Holani 14 to 4 and leading the team with 21 carries for 92 yards overall. Wilson was added off waivers and could see an expanded role or extended workload depending on the final prognosis and recovery timeline for Price heading into Week 3 against Washington.

Josh Simmons Working Hard to Return From Back Injury

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Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons remains week-to-week with a back injury that has sidelined him for the first two games of the season, with rookie Kahlil Benson starting in his place. Head coach Andy Reid stated on Monday that Simmons is working intensely at the facility and is in the flex area to see if his back has calmed down and swelling has subsided. The team hopes he could return within the next few games.

RJ Harvey Inactive Due to Hamstring Injury for Broncos

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Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey was inactive for the team's Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a hamstring injury. With teammate J.K. Dobbins also exiting the game early with a hamstring issue, the Broncos backfield relied on rookie Jonah Coleman as the team evaluates their running back health ahead of a Sunday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

J.K. Dobbins Optimistic to Play Week 3 After Hamstring Scare

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Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins sustained a hamstring injury during a 20-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but early indications suggest the setback is minor and he is looking good heading into Week 3 against the Rams. The team is optimistic about his availability without requiring an MRI, relying instead on his practice participation throughout the week after his early exit cleared the path for rookie Jonah Coleman.

Ryan Neuzil Shines in Week 2 Offensive Line Spotlight

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Atlanta Falcons center Ryan Neuzil earned the NFL Offensive Line Spotlight after achieving a position-best 92.8 PFF grade in Week 2. Neuzil allowed zero pressures across 41 pass-blocking snaps while producing an elite 93.2 run-blocking grade during an otherwise difficult start to the season for the Atlanta offense.

George Kittle Shines With 80 Yards and Touchdown in Week 2

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle caught four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in a dominant 35-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins, taking advantage of a favorable matchup by catching all four of his targets. Nine months after tearing his Achilles, Kittle emphatically proved his health by opening the third quarter with a 40-yard catch and adding a 12-yard score as the 49ers move to 2-0.

Darius Cooper Lands Game-Winning Touchdown for Eagles

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Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper landed the game-winning touchdown among two receptions for 26 yards during Sunday's hard-fought victory against the Titans. Cooper's snap count percentage increased by 26% as he capitalized on his increased involvement alongside primary pass-catchers like DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, making a strong case for continued playing time.

Cody White Catches Two Touchdowns in Raiders Victory

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Undrafted wide receiver Cody White emerged from the practice squad to haul in two key second-half touchdowns, helping power the Las Vegas Raiders to a 26-14 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers. White caught a 13-yard diving score in the third quarter and an uncontested 11-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter, cementing his status as a significant game-day contributor.

Hezekiah Masses Intercepts Justin Herbert Twice in Raiders Win

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Rookie fifth-round cornerback Hezekiah Masses drew his first NFL start in place of the inactive Darien Porter and made the most of it by intercepting Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert twice in a 26-14 victory. Masses secured his first interception off a bobbled ricochet from tight end David Njoku in the first quarter and added a second pick in the fourth quarter to help seal the Raiders' second win.

CeeDee Lamb Named Among Top Week 2 Performers by PFF

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CeeDee Lamb was highlighted among the NFL's highest-graded performers for Week 2 by Pro Football Focus following strong individual showings across completed games, maintaining an edge in expected fantasy points over teammates like George Pickens within the Cowboys' evolving offensive scheme.

Deone Walker Honored Among NFL Week 2 Standout Performers

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Deone Walker was recognized among the league's highest-graded performers by Pro Football Focus following standout performances across the first 15 completed games of NFL Week 2, earning defensive player of the week honors and joining top players like Brock Purdy, DeVonta Smith, CeeDee Lamb, and Patrick Mahomes.