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NFL News

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

Monday, September 21

Elijah Ponder Stars With Sack and Scoop-and-Score for Patriots

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New England Patriots young edge defender Elijah Ponder delivered a standout performance in a Week 2 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Filling in following an injury to Dre’Mont Jones, Ponder played 36 snaps and stuffed the stat sheet with a sack, a quarterback hit, three tackles for loss, and a crucial 24-year-old career-first scoop-and-score touchdown that sealed the 20-3 win for New England's surging defense alongside teammate Gabe Jacas.

Skyy Moore Sparks Packers' Comeback Win With Punt Return

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Green Bay Packers receiver Skyy Moore sparked a crucial 20-17 overtime comeback win against the New York Jets with a 63-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. Trailing 17-14, Moore's electric return put the Packers in position to tie the game, serving as an essential catalyst for a team dealing with offensive line struggles and injuries as they avoided a devastating 0-2 start.

Dontayvion Wicks Follows Up With Strong Receiving Line

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Dontayvion Wicks followed up strong offensive action with a 5-74 receiving line on six targets during Sunday's contest, trailing only DeVonta Smith in the team's receiving stats. Wicks matched playing time with rookie Makai Lemon, showcasing his growing role in the offense alongside key contributors as the team navigated a competitive matchup.

Makai Lemon Finishes With One Catch in Eagles Victory

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Philadelphia Eagles rookie Makai Lemon finished with just one catch for 14 yards in Sunday's win over the Titans. Despite the modest output, Lemon matched Dontayvion Wicks in playing time after nearly equaling his route count in the opener, leading to questions about whether fans can expect more production soon from the first-round pick as DeVonta Smith and other targets dominated the game's primary offensive statistics.

Devin Lloyd Posts Historic Defensive Game in Panthers Win

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Carolina Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd put together a historic performance in a 34-3 win over the Falcons, earning high praise from head coach Dave Canales. Lloyd recorded two interceptions, returning a third-quarter pick for a touchdown, along with nine tackles and a sack. Per the Panthers, no other linebacker has ever tallied at least eight tackles, two interceptions, a touchdown, and a sack in the same game, sparking a major rebound for Carolina's defense.

Will Shipley Contributes Out of Backfield in Eagles Win

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Will Shipley followed Tank Bigsby with seven carries for 24 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per rush in Philadelphia's win over the Titans. Shipley also caught both of his targets for 5 yards out of the backfield. He stepped into a larger role after starting running back Saquon Barkley suffered a left shoulder injury on the game's first play, helping the Eagles navigate a largely stalled ground game to secure the victory.

Micah Parsons Nears Return from ACL Injury for Packers

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Green Bay Packers star defender Micah Parsons is continuing his rehabilitation and nearing a return to action following a torn ACL. As the Packers secured an overtime victory against the New York Jets behind a breakout game from Lukas Van Ness, the team anticipates a major defensive boost once Parsons completes his recovery and rejoins the active lineup.

Lukas Van Ness Delivers Breakout Performance in Packers Overtime Win

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Green Bay Packers pass rusher Lukas Van Ness delivered a breakout performance to help lead the Packers to an overtime victory against the New York Jets. Green Bay hopes the strong outing from the young defender is an encouraging sign for the defensive front as the team awaits the eventual return of fellow edge rusher Micah Parsons.

Christian Gonzalez Dominates DK Metcalf in Patriots Victory

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New England Patriots top cornerback Christian Gonzalez delivered a dominant performance in a 20-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, shutting down wide receiver DK Metcalf across a career-high 34 head-to-head snaps. Gonzalez limited Metcalf to just three catches for 11 yards. His lockdown coverage allowed New England to blitz 21 times, generating four sacks and an interception to secure their first win.

Travis Hunter Logs Limited Snaps on Offense in Jaguars Loss

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Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter played 37 defensive snaps (60%) and six offensive snaps (10%) during Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. Hunter recorded four tackles, a pass breakup, and a 22-yard pass interference penalty on defense, but received zero targets on offense. His 44 total snaps ranked behind 17 teammates. Hunter stated postgame that he accepts his current role and is following the coaching staff's workload plan.

Jaishawn Barham Named PFF's Highest-Graded Defender Early in 2026

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Through the first two weeks of the 2026 NFL season, Dallas Cowboys rookie Jaishawn Barham has emerged as a dominant force on defense. Barham currently stands as not only the league's highest-graded overall defender but also holds the best mark for a defensive rookie in Pro Football Focus history, showcasing an extraordinary start to his professional career following his strong opening performances.

Sunday, September 20

Caleb Douglas Exits With Ankle Injury After Quiet Game

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Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas caught two of three targets for 19 yards in a 35-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers before suffering a fourth-quarter ankle injury that left him questionable to return. Following an impressive debut, Douglas struggled to find production against the 49ers as the Miami passing attack faltered, and he did not return to action late in the game after sustaining the injury.

De'Von Achane Faces Inefficient Start Against Stacked Fronts

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Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane rushed 20 times for 74 yards and caught three of six targets for 19 yards in a 35-13 loss to San Francisco. Racking up 23 touches, Achane struggled for room while consistently facing stacked boxes, averaging 3.5 yards per carry as Miami's offense searches for answers during an 0-2 start.

Kenneth Walker III Posts 178 Total Yards in Overtime Victory

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III recorded 24 carries for 117 yards and caught six passes for 61 yards on 10 targets in a 33-30 overtime win over Indianapolis. Walker continued his incredible start in Kansas City following a career-high 178-yard debut against Denver, showcasing his elite speed, power, and receiving skills out of the backfield to give quarterback Patrick Mahomes valuable balance as a high-end RB1.

Justin Herbert Struggles With Two Interceptions in Chargers Loss

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 15 of 27 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 26-14 loss to Las Vegas. Herbert took three sacks and faced constant pressure behind an exposed line, while the Chargers dropped to 0-2. Blame remains split between his underwhelming play and recurring team issues, including dropped passes and injuries to his supporting cast.

DeVonta Smith Dazzles as WR1 with 10 Catches for 117 Yards and TD

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith caught 10 of 13 targets for 117 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Titans. Operating as WR1, Smith logged his 16th career 100-yard game and made four receptions for 38 yards on the final 65-yard drive, including a key 19-yard catch down to the 3-yard line. Through two games, Smith leads Philadelphia's receivers with 13 receptions for 170 yards and a score, establishing himself as the primary target.

Darius Cooper Catches Game-Winning Touchdown to Defeat Titans

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper caught a three-yard game-winning touchdown pass with nine seconds remaining to beat the Titans 24-20. The undrafted second-year player out of Tarleton State also executed a crucial 23-yard catch-and-run earlier in the fourth quarter. The game-winning catch was Cooper's first career NFL touchdown, coming on a play originally designed for DeVonta Smith. Known for his dirty work blocking and special teams, Cooper starred in his expanded role.

Jalen Hurts Engineers Game-Winning Drive to Defeat Titans 24-20

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 26 of 37 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while adding 16 rushing yards in a 24-20 win over Tennessee. Hurts engineered a 9-play, 65-yard game-winning drive with 1:56 left and no timeouts, going 6-for-8 for 61 yards and capping it with a 3-yard TD pass to Darius Cooper with nine seconds left. The drive marked Hurts' 14th career game-winning drive. Through two games, he has thrown five touchdowns.

Laquon Treadwell Benefits From Overtime Replay Review

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Indianapolis Colts wide regulator Laquon Treadwell hauled in a 48-yard deep pass in overtime against the Chiefs. Treadwell initially appeared to fumble after being hit by Nohl Williams, but a replay review overturned the call, ruling Treadwell was down by contact upon securing the catch as his knee hit the ground before the ball came loose. The drive ultimately resulted in a game-tying field goal before Kansas City won 33-30 in overtime.

Jayden Daniels Suffers Dislocated Left Elbow, Out Indefinitely

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow on the final play of the first half against Dallas when teammate Nick Allegretti accidentally stepped on him. Before exiting, Daniels threw for 96 yards and rushed for 69 yards. X-rays showed no fracture, and head coach Dan Quinn expressed optimism for a return this season, but Daniels is ruled out for Week 3 against Seattle.