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NFL News

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

Tuesday, September 15

Patrick Mahomes Moves Down QB Rankings After Week 1 Win Over Broncos

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Patrick Mahomes returned from a nine-month ACL and LCL recovery in a 31-10 win over Denver, completing 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, alongside a 15-yard rushing touchdown. Following Week 1, Mahomes dropped from the top spot on Nick Wright's "Mahomes Mountain" QB hierarchy. Mahomes acknowledged he did not think he played that well in his return and stated he does not want to be graded on an ACL curve.

Aaron Donald Has 'Very Realistic Chance' to Play in Week 2

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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has a very realistic chance to suit up for Monday Night Football against the New York Giants in Week 2. Donald has been kept off the active roster while working through a two-game roster exemption. With Myles Garrett sidelined for at least four weeks following knee surgery, the Rams are evaluating Donald's process closely as they look to get their veteran defensive star onto the field for his first game since January 2024.

Trent McDuffie and Rams Secondary Scrutinized After Opener

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Trent McDuffie arrived via a blockbuster trade as one of the Rams' biggest offseason acquisitions to anchor a revamped cornerback group. However, questions arose after Los Angeles heavily favored zone coverage in their Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers rather than deploying man coverage suited to McDuffie's strengths. Observers note that deploying McDuffie in sticky man coverage could better complement the team's talented pass rush once all defenders return to full health.

Jaylen Watson and Rams Evaluate Defensive Scheme After Loss

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Jaylen Watson and fellow offseason acquisition Trent McDuffie represent major investments for the Los Angeles Rams secondary, though their utilization has drawn scrutiny. In a stunning Week 1 loss to the 49ers, the Rams heavily utilized zone coverage rather than man coverage. Analysts note that while the 49ers presented a difficult matchup for man coverage due to yards-after-catch threats, Watson and McDuffie are fully capable of playing sticky man coverage to support the pass rush.

T.J. Watt Logs Two Sacks and Pick-Six in Steelers Opener

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T.J. Watt benefited from a new defensive scheme and increased rotation under coordinator Patrick Graham, playing a team-low 38 defensive snaps in a Week 1 win over the Falcons. Despite the reduced workload, the 32-year-old four-time All-Pro remained a dominant force, recording two sacks and intercepting Cooper Rush to return it 35 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown. The strategic snap management kept the veteran star fresh while yielding maximum statistical impact for Pittsburgh.

Dylan Sampson Placed on Injured Reserve With Knee Injury

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Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson was officially placed on injured reserve after sustaining a serious knee injury during Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former fourth-round pick returned two kickoffs before exiting the game and is expected to miss at least the next four games. With Sampson sidelined, the Browns signed running back Jaleel McLaughlin to the active 53-man roster to back up starter Quinshon Judkins on redraft rosters.

Javonte Williams Serves as Workhorse as Cowboys Add Goodson

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Javonte Williams continues to serve as the workhorse running back, with Emari Demercardo operating as his handcuff behind him. The Cowboys recently reshuffled their backfield depth by signing running back Tyler Goodson off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad while releasing Israel Abanikanda. Williams remains the primary focal point of the backfield as the team makes roster adjustments ahead of their upcoming Week 2 matchup.

Israel Abanikanda Waived by Dallas Cowboys in Backfield Shuffle

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The Dallas Cowboys waived running back Israel Abanikanda on Tuesday as a corresponding move to signing running back Tyler Goodson off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. Abanikanda had been a healthy scratch for the season opener, leaving Emari Demercardo behind workhorse Javonte Williams. Abanikanda was let go as Dallas reshuffled its backfield depth ahead of Week 2 to accommodate Goodson on the 53-man active roster following an injury to Malik Davis.

Tyler Goodson Signed by Dallas Cowboys From Falcons Practice Squad

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The Dallas Cowboys signed running back Tyler Goodson off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad to bolster their backfield following an injury to Malik Davis, releasing Israel Abanikanda in a corresponding move. Goodson, 25, previously spent time with Green Bay and Indianapolis, appearing in 11 games for the Colts in 2025 with 24 rushing yards and 8 receiving yards. He had served as Atlanta's de facto third running back during training camp before being poached by Dallas.

Ja'Kobi Lane Scheduled for Wrist Surgery After Week 1 Injury

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Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is scheduled for surgery to repair a fractured wrist suffered during Sunday's Week 1 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Lane caught one pass for 11 yards before exiting. Expected to miss nearly a month, a placement on injured reserve is possible, forcing him to miss games against the Saints, Cowboys, Titans, and Falcons. Teammate Zay Flowers is also dealing with a hamstring injury, testing Baltimore's wideout depth.

Ladd McConkey Day-to-Day With Rib Injury For Week 2

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is day-to-day with a rib injury sustained in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals after taking a brutal hit in the third quarter. Despite the injury and the subsequent signing of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, McConkey is trending toward playing in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Before exiting, he posted an elite 90.7 PFF grade, catching five of seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in the team's opening matchup.

Chargers Place KeAndre Lambert-Smith on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury

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The Los Angeles Chargers placed wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith on injured reserve Tuesday following a hamstring injury sustained during Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Lambert-Smith, who logged two special teams snaps in Week 1, will miss at least the next month of action. To maintain roster depth during his absence, the Chargers signed wide receiver Gary Jennings from their practice squad to the active 53-man roster.

Sam Darnold Out Four Weeks With Rare Glute Injury as Drew Lock Steps In

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold faces roughly a four-week recovery timeline due to a rare soft-tissue glute injury, though he could return sooner depending on evaluation. With Darnold sidelined, backup Drew Lock is set to start in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals and Week 3. To handle Darnold's absence, Seattle is evaluating temporary quarterback depth options, including Jake Retzlaff, Josh Johnson, Jake Browning, and Brandon Allen.

Caleb Williams Surges in MVP Race After Historic 59-Point Offense Outing

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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams surged in the seasonlong MVP race after leading the offense to a historic 59-point, nearly 600-yard performance in Week 1. Despite a 64.0 PFF grade, Williams demonstrated massive growth and elite playmaking, highlighted by a 22-yard touchdown pass to Cole Kmet while rolling right that required 42.3 air yards under pressure. Head coach Ben Johnson praised Williams' soaring ceiling as Chicago targets historic scoring milestones.

Ty Johnson Limited in Bills Practice With Hamstring Injury

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Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson was listed as a limited participant during Tuesday's practice due to a hamstring injury. Johnson joins several key Bills players dealing with health concerns ahead of their upcoming home opener in Week 2. The team will issue its final official injury designations on Wednesday, which will clarify Johnson's game status and availability for the matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Cooper Rush Positioned to Start at Quarterback for Falcons

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush logged every offensive snap in a Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and is positioned to start under center against the Carolina Panthers. While Pittsburgh's defense stifled the Falcons' offense in the opener, media adjustments and practice reps strongly point toward Rush taking first-team snaps in Week 2 while Atlanta evaluates its quarterback room alongside rookie Jack Strand and monitors Michael Penix Jr.'s ACL recovery.

Matthew Stafford Praises Dangerous Giants Ahead of Week 2 Matchup

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is preparing for a Week 2 matchup on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants, whom he called a "dangerous" team. Speaking on the "Let's Go!" podcast, Stafford praised the Giants' young roster, pass rush, and quarterback Jaxson Dart following their win over Dallas. Stafford also downplayed teammate Myles Garrett's arthroscopic knee surgery as a minor bump in the road after Garrett went on injured reserve.

T.J. Sanders Misses Bills Practice Due to Sickness

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Buffalo Bills defensive lineman T.J. Sanders missed practice on Tuesday due to an illness that forced the team to send him home. Sanders, who missed the Week 1 opener because of a knee injury, was previously listed as a limited practice participant on Monday before the sickness set in. The Bills are set to issue official injury designations on Wednesday ahead of their home opener, with Sanders' availability for Week 2 now uncertain.

D.J. Reed Added to Lions Injury Report Ahead of Week 2 Showdown

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Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed was added to the injury report on Tuesday with a foot injury, rendering his status questionable ahead of Thursday night's Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Reed was listed as an estimated limited participant during Tuesday's walkthrough after experiencing discomfort or an injury during practice. Final official injury designations for Reed and the Lions are expected to be released on Wednesday.

Britain Covey Signed to Eagles Active Roster From Practice Squad

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey was signed to the active 53-man roster Tuesday after being elevated temporarily for Week 1. Covey returned four punts for 37 yards in Philadelphia's 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders. The veteran special-teamer has appeared in 44 other games for the Eagles over the past four seasons, maintaining a career average of 11.2 yards per punt return. His roster promotion fills the spot opened by Landon Dickerson's IR move.