The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers to start the 2026 season with a win, but 29 of their points came in the final 17 minutes of the game. Plenty of questions surround the Vikings, and they don't solely revolve around the quarterback position.
Brian Flores' defense overwhelmed the Packers in the fourth quarter, but there were far too many wide-open Green Bay receivers throughout the day. Minnesota's offense did enough to win, but it will need more consistency moving forward so it isn't clawing its way back late in games.
The next opponent further amplifies these concerns. Next week, the Vikings travel to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears, who beat the Carolina Panthers 59-37 on Sunday. Minnesota will need to tighten things up so that they aren't involved in a shootout they can't keep up in.
Kyler Murray's long-awaited Vikings debut was cut short when he left the game with a concussion suffered in the first quarter. Carson Wentz replaced him, completing 12/19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns, doing enough to keep the offense on schedule.
But Murray's availability is already in question for next week. On Monday, Adam Schefter reported that "it looks like" Wentz will start next Sunday against the Bears, as Murray remains in concussion protocol.

#next #minnesota #wentz #start

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) suffered fractured wrist in the Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts, and he is expected to miss several weeks.
Lane was to have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, and a timetable would then be set for his return. Test results are still pending. He managed one reception for 11 yards on three targets before he was knocked from the game.
SOURCE: RavensWire - Glenn Erby
Why it Matters: With Lane sidelined, and Zay Flowers leaving the game early due to a hamstring injury, the Ravens were down to Rashod Bateman, Chris Moore and LaJohntay Wester as the only healthy receivers Sunday. Devontez Walker was sidelined due to a groin injury, but he could play in Week 2, and rookie fourth-round pick Elijah Sarratt is also a possibility. He was a healthy inactive.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ja'Kobi Lane awaits MRI results

#game #wrist #sidelined #healthy

The Denver Broncos are releasing a veteran wide receiver just ahead of their season opener.
The Broncos cut receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey on Monday, according to the NFL's transaction wire. Multiple reporters have dubbed it a "procedural move" as Denver is expected to re-sign LJH as early as Tuesday.
With Humphrey not on the team's Week 1 roster, his salary won't be guaranteed this season. That could have been part of the decision. The team might also consider bringing LJH back on the practice squad, opening up a spot on the active roster.
Following the Humphrey cut, Denver's remaining receivers on the active roster are Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin.
Cut WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey

#Broncos #lil 'jordan #receiver #season

The Washington Huskies have a problem on offense.
Jedd Fisch's unit has now scored 40 points in their first two games combined, ten fewer points than the Huskies were favored to win those two games by (23.5 against Washington State, 26.5 against Utah State). Washington has finished with more than 350 yards of offense in both of those games, but has found itself completely unable to move the ball consistently or score points efficiently through the first two games.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has struggled to throw the ball in rhythm, often opting to scramble and utilize his talent as a runner to keep the offense on track. Washington has needed that from him, too: Williams has been the Huskies' leading rusher in both games as the running back depth has been decimated by injuries to Jordan Washington, Quaid Carr, and Jayden Limar.
But there has also been opportunity for Williams to throw the ball more effectively. He's missed several what should have been easy throws in the flat and placed longer throws into the end zone out of reach of his receivers more often than he's found those plays. It hasn't been all on Williams, however: starting X receiver Christian Moss left after two snaps in the Apple Cup, and starting Z receiver Rashid Williams left early on Saturday against Utah State, thrusting true freshmen Jordan Clay and Trez Davis into action. Dezmen Roebuck and running back Trey Cooley both also dropped passes that could have easily been touchdowns on Saturday, further putting the offense behind schedule and making for a messy operation.
"As an offense, we shot ourselves in the foot a lot," Williams told the media after the game.

#utah

The Colorado Buffaloes entered Saturday needing a more confident passing game after a tight opening win at Georgia Tech, and Julian Lewis supplied it before Weber State even had time to settle into the afternoon at Folsom Field.
On Colorado's first offensive snap, Lewis hit DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 66-yard touchdown. A few minutes later, Lewis found Joseph Williams for a 63-yard score, and Colorado had already put Weber State in a position where it needed to chase the game.
From my seat, the biggest development was how quickly Lewis played. The Buffs came out attacking downfield, trusting Lewis to make the reads and allowing the receivers to use their speed against Weber State's coverage.
Colorado's 52-21 win moved the Buffs to 2-0 for the first time since 2023. Lewis completed 17 of 23 passes for a career-high 366 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions. He added a 3-yard rushing touchdown before halftime, accounting for five scores before leaving the game with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter.
The 52-point afternoon came with a few defensive concerns, particularly in the secondary, but Colorado showed far more life offensively than it did a week ago. Lewis played like a quarterback who could give this team an explosive passing game, while Micah Welch ended one of the program's longest rushing droughts.

#lewis #weber #state #buffs

The New York Giants are completing their 53-man roster by signing wide recever/special teamer Dalen Cambre to the active roster from their practice squad, a source confirms. The move was initially reported by Art Stapleton.
The Giants had been carrying just 52 players after releasing wide receiver Darius Slayton earlier in the week.
Cambre, a former undrafted free agent, played in seven games almost exclusively on special teams for the Giants last season.
His presence means the Giants now have five wide receivers on their roster. They are also elevating wide receiver Braxton Berrios from the practice squad to be the punt returner and part of the kickoff unit, and linebacker Malik Harrison.
Here is #NYG coach John Harbaugh on 2nd-year WR Dalen Cambre, who had another good day on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/gg0FqWCuql

#roster #dalen #squad

It was a back-and-forth battle against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half, but the Texas A&M Aggies put their foot on the pedal with two massive pick-sixes to seal a Week 2 victory at Kyle Field on Saturday afternoon.
One of the most integral improvements the Aggies wanted to make this offseason was forcing more turnovers. After recording no interceptions against Missouri State in the season opener, Marco Jones and Julio Humphrey took their picks to the house for six.
Meanwhile, electric wide receivers Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton hauled in a touchdown pass apiece, in what was a solid overall outing from the offensive playmakers. While there are still a plethora of adjustments to be made in the trenches, quarterback Marcel Reed still threw for 163 yards and three touchdowns, with just one interception.
In what was a record day for the 12th Man, the Maroon and White came through with a massive 48-20 win over the Big 12 representatives to move to 2-0 in 2026.
Here are some of the best social media reactions from Texas A&M's dominant victory over Arizona State in Week 2:

#state #victory #still #devils

High school football is in full swing across the country. The Gophers' 29 commits in the class of 2027 were busy, and here are the most notable performances from the Week of Sep. 7-12. Last week's top performers.
The star-studded Spuds had another impressive 42-26 win over Woodbury in their second game of the season. Quarterback Jett Feeney went 15 of 20 for 206 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Wide receiver David Mack had five receptions for 76 yards and DB/WR Zak Walker had an 88-yard kick return. Running back Taye Reich had the best game of the four with 12 carries for 177 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns.
Picture via: tayereich (X)
Las Vegas, Nevada native Jayden Thomas continues to have a red-hot start to his senior season. He had three receptions for 87 yards this week, and his season-long total is now up to 28 catches for 591 yards and 6 touchdowns through five games.
Maryland native Carlos Ferguson probably had the best performance from the wide receivers this week with 7 receptions for 92 yards and 2 TDs. He now has 18 catches for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns through three games. Texas native Kevin Ferrygood also had a 20-yard touchdown. First-year wide receivers coach Isaac Fruechte's class looks promising.

#touchdowns #receptions #class

When the Miami Dolphins take the field on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, a trio of first-year players have the potential to collectively make NFL history. Three of Miami's 13 selections from the 2026 NFL Draft were wide receivers Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr.
Douglas was Miami's first receiver taken during this past April's draft when the Dolphins used pick No. 75 on the Texas Tech product. Bell from Louisville was selected with pick No. 94, and Coleman Jr. with pick No. 177 out of Missouri.
While a rare occurrence in any team class, there have been several instances where three receivers were selected by one team in a single draft. In fact, the Dolphins last tripled up at the position in 1975 with Freddie Solomon, Morris Owens and Leonard Isabell.
What has never happened before in league history is three drafted receivers each recording a reception during Week 1 of their rookie season. Douglas, Bell and Coleman could be that lone trio come Sunday. There have been a few close hits, but in the dozen or so cases, Miami's young trio could break the ice.
For Miami in 1975, none of these three recorded a catch back in Week 1 when they lost to the Oakland Raiders. Back in 2014, the Jacksonville Jaguars had three wideouts haul in a catch during Week 1 as rookies, but only two were actual draft selections.

#week #trio #receivers

Four matchups with a defense carrying a bottom-3 Defensive Impact grade have somehow produced 43.5 yards per game and 1.6 yards per route for Smith. He's 17th among wide receivers in PFN's Week 1 rankings, and I read that run as goofy variance and nothing more. With A.J. Brown in New England, we could get a spike performance right out of the gates.
The Commanders have held a bottom-3 Defensive Impact grade in consecutive seasons, and guess what?
For whatever reason, they've held Smith in check in four matchups over that stretch.
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43.5 yards per game

#yards

Metcalf sits 34th among wide receivers in PFN's Week 1 rankings, which is what happens after the worst season of your career. The Falcons allowed seven receivers to clear 20 PPR points last season, so the setup is there, and so is the Michael Pittman theory. I'm going to be a week or two late to this party rather than early.
Let's call a spade a spade: Metcalf is coming off of the worst season of his career. His 850 yards were a new low-water mark and even that was inflated by two games where he had superhero singular plays that lifted his stat line (274 yards in games against the Ravens and Vikings, 576 in his other 13, good for just 44.3 yards per contest).
Aaron Rodgers is back at the helm and the team added Michael Pittman this offseason, a receiver who has effectively made a career off of what the Steelers asked of Metcalf in his first season with the franchise: short targets and hope.
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Metcalf's 11.3 aDOT was, you guessed it, the lowest of his career, and featured just 24.2% of his looks coming deep downfield (15 or more yards), a rate that stood at 43.5% in 2024 with Seattle.

#season #week #receivers

The Cleveland Browns open the 2026 NFL season on Sunday when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It is a big day for the Browns as it will be the first time defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg is calling the shots on defense, the first time Todd Monken will work an NFL sideline as a head coach, and the first time quarterback Deshaun Watson will start a game since October of 2024. (How long he remains in that role is very much to be determined.)
Cleveland comes in with a completely rebuilt offensive line, two shiny new rookies in wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion, and defensive end Jared Verse taking over for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
Expectations and hope are not high for the Browns, especially with the club starting the season with consecutive road games. But Cleveland has won three in a row against the Jaguars, including the past two times they were the road team, so Sunday may go better than expected.
It is the Browns and Jaguars to open the season, and here is everything you need to know about the game.

#Browns #cleveland #sunday #game

The Miami Hurricanes move to 2-0 after drubbing the FAMU Rattlers 77-7 on Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium. I predicted Miami by 40+ and clearly that was an easy take.
Diatribe coming, skip ahead: I greatly appreciate what the FCS games do for the FCS athletic departments, essentially the payoff keeps the schools afloat for the year, however these games need to be recalibrated. I was bored halfway through the first quarter and went to sleep at halftime.
My suggestion is to move these games to Week Zero, treat it like a preseason game ie. it doesn't count, and still pay the teams the fee to come and play. That would give FSU a chance to check their light system, and everyone else a chance to simulate the game day experience with a lower ticket price while still being televised. The fact that your season ticket package includes this boring game, in addition to Central Michigan, would feel like robbery to me. OK- DIATRIBE OVER.
The Canyonero Keys to Victory main theme was to drive over a team ranked in the 200's in SP+ and throw it in reverse and back over them again. Miami did just that and we're all ready to move on to real opponents now. The three keys were:
1- Don't get **** y, stick to the plan. Miami pounded the rock three times on the opening drive and it was capped by a Mark Fletcher TD. The 'Canes plan was to get the run game going and the Darian Mensah to his receivers connection fresh. It worked.

#game #move #like

The Tennessee **** ans made the first somewhat surprising pick of the 2026 NFL Draft when they selected former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the number four overall pick. With his first NFL game on the horizon, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson believes he was worth the fourth overall pick for the **** ans.
Tate was drafted with the expectation that he can become a foundational piece of the offense and a long-term number one target for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. That might be a lot to ask from a rookie, but everything about the situation suggests the **** ans had a plan.
The biggest question surrounding the **** ans' selection was whether Tate's talent will eventually justify taking him fourth overall. Including Tate, only five wide receivers (six if you include Travis Hunter) have been selected in the top five of the NFL Draft since 2015.
Excluding Jacksonville Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter, former **** ans WR Corey Davis had the worst rookie season of those top five selections with 375 yards and 0 touchdowns. So, it made sense why **** ans fans, specifically, may have had concerns about the Tate selection.
However, a strong training camp has many anticipating his NFL regular-season debut. Tate doesn't need to immediately become one of the best receivers in the NFL for the pick to be successful, but Tennessee needs to see enough flashes to believe they have found a long-term offensive cornerstone.

#tate #draft

It has been a rough start to the season for the New England Patriots. They dropped the Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks 13-10 and lost their star wide receiver AJ Brown for at least the next four games in the process with a high ankle sprain.
Brown exited the game in the third quarter and did not return. New England scored all their points in the first half and were held without points after Brown exited. Their top receivers are now Romeo Doubs, Demario Douglas and Mack Hollins although quarterback Drake Maye could not seem to get on the same page as Doubs who did not have a single catch.
Douglas finished the opener with five catches but only 20 yards while Hollins was the Patriots' leading receiver with 51 total yards. Rookie tight end Eli Raridon scored New England's only touchdown of the game in the second quarter.
Not only are the Patriots without Brown for the next four weeks at least, but they are also currently without running back TreVeyon Henderson who missed the opener. It is unclear whether or not he will be available for New England's week two matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Perhaps in the only bright spot of the game for them, Rhamondre Stevenson had a good game in relief of Henderson with 95 scrimmage yards - 51 rushing yards and 44 receiving yards on five receptions. Nonetheless, adjusting the offense to Brown being out of the lineup is going to be difficult for the reigning AFC Champions who will face the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills without their top receiver.

#Patriots #receiver

Deion Branch's advice to his group of Louisville wide receivers for this week is to keep the noise outside and stay off the internet.
Turn off the TV — not even SportsCenter — or any kind of media. No "rat poison," as Nick Saban would say.
"The spreads and what we're favored by, that stuff doesn't matter," Branch told the Cardinals, who are favored by 36.5 points against Villanova. "You still have to go out and play the game. We have to go out and execute our plays. I need my guys to perform at a very high level for the team and also for themselves. ... So that's my message to the guys. Don't pay any attention to it. Just come in here and continue to work and push forward."
Louisville won't be overlooking the Wildcats tonight in its 2026 home opener. There was too much to work on in the team's 41-38 season-opening loss to No. 11 Ole Miss. Defensively, the Cards need to limit big plays and prevent completions up the seam. Offensively, they need to make sure that quarterback Lincoln Kienholz settles in sooner and doesn't jump out of the pocket before necessary. Having a full game under his belt will help the Ohio State transfer do that. In his first start, Kienholz completed 62.1% of his passes (18-29) with two touchdowns and became the first Louisville starting quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards in his debut (307 yards) since Kyle Bolin, then a redshirt freshman, threw for 300 yards in a 37-14 loss to Georgia in the 2014 Belk Bowl.
The Courier Journal is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from Friday night's game. Follow along:

#need #yards

Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels Describes Team's 'All-Hands' Approach Without A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before the Patriots could get a feel for the impact A.J. Brown will have on their offense, they lost him to injury for weeks to come.
Brown will be out until at least Week 6 after being placed on IR on Friday, dealing with a high ankle sprain from his Week 1 exit vs. Seattle. Rather than bringing in any new receivers, it appears New England will be turning to some of its younger pass catchers to alleviate the offense.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Thursday on a radio show that the team will be taking "an all-hands-on-deck approach" to replacing Brown's production at wide receiver, which likely means more playing time for names like DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
"Any injury that you get at this time of the season, you kind of approach it with an all-hands-on-deck approach," McDaniels said Thursday, per ESPN. "We got a lot of different skill guys that can do a lot of different things. There isn't one person on the roster that can replace anybody like A.J. -- in the middle of a game or a stretch of a season. So we'll band together and figure out what we can do well and then try to get guys in positions to play to their strengths."

#Patriots

Brock Purdy continues to prove doubters by exceeding his career expectations. And following the San Francisco 49ers' 2026 opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia on Thursday, he obtained another record to his collection.
Despite a slow start, Purdy had a great performance leading the offense. He completed 25 out of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns and one interception.
Purdy completed the 50th game of his career, including his 46th start. His passing accuracy has been remarkable, getting 68.1% of his throws to fellow receivers. This paved the way for him to make NFL history, via Real App.
When healthy, Purdy shines as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He was the final pick in the 2022 draft, adding more lore to his resume as a player that defied expectations and achieved remarkable success in the NFL.
Aug 20, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

#francisco #reuters

During a beach outing, then-5-year-old Terry Potter Hedden III — now "Trey" to NMSU teammates and fans — picked up a football and threw a perfect spiral to his stepmom. It was then Hedden was destined to be a quarterback with a supportive blended family. His parents and stepparents "made sure I made every tryout. They took me to camps. They helped me meet the coaches I wanted to learn from." And they attended every game, including during his two years at Furman and this season with the Aggies. After a 10-percentage-point jump in accuracy from his freshman season, Hedden entered the portal to "raise the ceiling a little bit" in pursuit of future pro opportunities. NMSU head coach Tony Sanchez's spread attack offered protection (312 pounds an O-lineman) and speedy targets. Slot receiver TK King has been GPS-clocked at nearly 23 mph and laser-timed at 20.74 seconds over 200 meters. "The biggest thing for me is I've got to remember that on game day, he's a little bit faster than he is in practice," Hedden said of King. "When he's running a route, you can throw it out there and he'll turn it on. We talk about it in the meeting room. Go make him run 100 meters to catch the ball." King's average target depth is 21 yards. He has catch-and-dashes of 46, 42 and 34 yards. The Aggies have sets of four and five receivers or up to two tight ends. Running back James Jones has no fumbles or negative-yard rushes in 30 carries. Jones also is an effective blocker who can roll into the flats. Hedden is 80% accurate on screens, hitches and check-down throws. "The quarterback in this offense is really a distributor," Hedden said. "We really focus on the things we're good at, and we repeat those things, and find new ways to do those things every week. It's really been a lot of fun to play in this offense with these coaches."
The Aggies' base is chaos, with shifts, movements and glove-to-glove combat in the trenches and running lanes. "When things get so cranky, like how many blitzes and stunts, it looks like Star Wars to us," weakside linebacker Sone Aupiu said. His first two NMSU seasons, Aupiu played middle linebacker. He moved to will linebacker last year but still trains at all second-tier positions, including jack, the stand-up edge defender. Helped by playing on the narrow side of the formation, Aupiu has freedom to jump lanes. "When it comes to gap schemes, that's what I love," he said. "Coming my way to the boundary, I'm looking to hit 'em." His father grew up in Samoa, his mother in New Zealand, where rugby was the favored sport. He said he aspires to play professional rugby. But for now, Aupiu said, "I chose a different route, which was football. Everybody else on my mom's side chose rugby." Aupiu received a few college offers. But after an official visit to Las Cruces, he decided to be an Aggie. He said he had to adjust to the culture change from Long Beach, Calif., such as green chili served with everything. And to fatherhood — he and his wife have a 3-yea

The Yahoo Fantasy Football crew is ready to get bold for Week 1. Which one of these predictions will come true?
I know the quarterback situation in New Orleans is going to make people nervous, but this matchup has all the ingredients for the Chris Olave show. Alvin Kamara looks questionable, first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson will not play and the Saints are facing what many expect to be the best offense in the NFL.
Join a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
Detroit is going to score points. If New Orleans wants to keep up, Tyler Shough is going to have to throw the football and his easiest answer will be feeding Olave. Olave is coming off career highs with 100 catches, 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns on 155 targets. He finished as the WR7 in fantasy points per game and already showed us this exact ceiling with a 10-catch, 148-yard, two-touchdown performance last season.
I am calling for double-digit targets, more than 125 receiving yards and two touchdowns. There will be bigger names attached to better quarterbacks across the Week 1 slate, but very few receivers have a clearer path to dominating their team's passing volume. Olave takes advantage of the game environment and opens the season as the overall WR1. — Ray Garvin

#season #points

The useful part of these matchup conversations is figuring out which players outside the obvious tier have a chance to outkick their ranking and give you more than the market is pricing in. That's what we're looking at here.
Every player on this list sits outside the top 10 at his position in both Yahoo Sports' Week 1 half-PPR consensus rankings and FantasyPros' half-PPR Expert Consensus Rankings. From there, I'm looking at the matchup and the higher-end outcomes from my projection model.
Join a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
The boom and nuke percentages come from my simulation model. Boom thresholds are 27 points for quarterbacks, 24 for running backs and wide receivers and 20 for tight ends. Nuke thresholds are 35, 33, 34 and 28, respectively.
Yahoo: QB13 | ECR: QB16 | My projection: QB13 Boom: 10% | Nuke: 1% | Hit: 41%

#outside #half #projection

Blake Roskopf threw five touchdown passes and Goodyear Desert Edge's defense stifled Scottsdale Notre Dame's offense in a 46-7 5A football rout on Thursday night, Sept. 10, at Desert Edge.
Roskopf quickly carved up Notre Dame's defense, finding open receivers all over the field. He threw two touchdown passes to Jhaheem Brown and two to Zerek Sidney, including a 61-yarder that gave the top-ranked Scorpions (3-0) a 40-7 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter.
Roskopf, a Washington commit, has quietly thrown 12 touchdown passes in Desert Edge's first three games.
But the story of its season so far has been the defense, led by electric junior edge rusher Jalanie George, who had another monster game.
When Notre Dame's Austin Bush ran 3 yards for a score with 7:21 left in the second quarter, it was the first time this season that Desert Edge allowed a touchdown. The score came after Desert Edge twice lined up offsides on two Notre Dame field-goal tries. With short yardage, the Saints picked up first downs both times, leading to the score and a 7-6 lead.

#notre #touchdown #first

The Los Angeles Rams stumbled in the worst way against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night, losing their season opener, 27-7. It was one of the worst losses in Sean McVay's tenure, making the long flight back to Southern California feel that much longer after a defeat like that.
Three players stood out in a positive way for the Rams, but many of their biggest stars were disappointments in Melbourne.
It's hard to find very many bright spots from this loss, but Corum was one of them. He rushed 10 times for 54 yards, with a long of 13 yards. At one point in the second quarter, he racked up 34 yards on four straight carries, looking quick and explosive through the line of scrimmage.
Some will make the case that he should be the Rams' No. 1 running back, and while we're not quite at that point yet, he did look like the bigger playmaker on the field Thursday.
From the very beginning of the game, Stafford didn't look comfortable. He was holding the ball a second longer than usual, whether it was because receivers weren't getting open or he wasn't trusting what he was seeing. He completed just 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards and no touchdowns with one bad interception when the Rams were in field goal range.

#thursday

The Los Angeles Rams, the heavy Super Bowl favorites entering the season, opened the year in the NFL's first-ever game in Melbourne, Australia, against the San Francisco 49ers. The majority of the attention the Rams have gotten this offseason has been centered on the defensive line, which was bolstered by the acquisition of the NFL's single-season sack record holder Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald from retirement.
However, Los Angeles also has one of the most potent offenses in the league, with reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford passing to two of the best wide receivers in the league, Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Unfortunately for Nacua, he's been caught up in some off-the-field trouble recently.
Ahead of kickoff on Thursday, Nacua sat down with Netflix's Elle Duncan and spoke candidly about his struggles wth alcohol.
"I think I learned that I'm very avoidant of conflict, which is very interesting due to the football nature of… I would like to say I play very physical, just avoidant of the things that I know were causing me stress," Nacua told Duncan.
"Just, I think some of the change in lifestyle that came up to me, becoming a public figure, the stress of performing at a high level," he responded after being asked what was causing him stress. "And then I recently became a father. My son is 10 months old. And navigating that co-parenting relationship with his mother, I would kind of isolate myself to feel like the weight of all the issues and things that I have was stuck on my shoulders, and not being willing to ask for help. I was never one to share my fears and my worries. I was always Finding different ways to escape, I guess, from that tension or that stress."

#recently

It's only Week 1, but a lot is on the line as the Vikings and Packers meet for the 132nd time on Sunday. Both teams will be looking to make a statement to start the 2026-27 regular season. Let's dive into the matchup, scouring every nook and cranny for details that will help decide the latest border battle between the NFC North rivals.
The sense I have is that the Vikings should (and do) feel confident going into this game, even if it's a small Vegas spread and there are a lot of Week 1 unknowns. They're at home, where they've won four of the last five meetings with the Packers. Green Bay is without leading rusher Josh Jacobs and has major questions on the offensive line. The Packers have some talented defenders but may struggle to generate a consistent pass rush without their superstar on that side of the ball, Micah Parsons.
The one area of concern that the Vikings must limit to win the game is Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love. Minnesota is well aware of how talented Love is. He's not going to be as rattled by Brian Flores' complex blitzes as other QBs might be. Love is plenty capable of delivering accurate throws downfield while staring down pressure.
"His growth and development has been outstanding," Flores said on Thursday. "He's just grown and grown. Whether it's cadence, whether it's on the ball, no-huddle, he's got total, total command and understanding of what they're trying to do. Obviously he's got a great coach and they work extremely well together. Great rapport with his receivers. He's always been super talented. Just a naturally gifted, accurate thrower of the ball. It's actually been fun to watch him grow.
"Big, big challenge for us, no doubt about that."

#talented

Why Patriots' Josh McDaniels, TreVeyon Henderson injury deserve some blame for Drake Maye's putrid night appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots did a lot of things correctly in their season opener against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. They went across the country and played an excellent game for three quarters in front of the crazed and full-throated 12s at Lumen Field in Seattle. However, their 10-3 lead disappeared in the fourth quarter as quarterback Drake Maye was careless with the football and that turned potential victory into a 13-10 defeat. Maye threw two of his three interceptions in the final quarter.
The final interception by Seahawk defensive back Josh Jobe came in the end zone came with 26 seconds remaining. Maye threw up a high-arching balloon to wide out Mack Hollins from the Seattle 16-yard line and Jobe was able to outfight the Patriots receiver for the ball. That play prevented New England from sending out PK Andy Borregales to attempt a 33-yard field goal that would have tied the game.
There is little doubt that Maye's pass was a poor effort and should not have been thrown. However, the play call made by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was reckless. The Seattle pass defense had come to life in the fourth quarter and had shown the ability to blanket Patriots receivers. The pass into the end zone was a risky proposition when it was called by McDaniels and it put Maye at risk of throwing the costly interception.
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#maye #mcdaniels #clutchpoints #england

Cornerback DJ Turner was added to the Bengals injury report on Thursday.
The team listed Turner as a limited participant due to a hamstring injury. Mid-week additions to the report can foreshadow a Sunday absence and the team's Friday report will show if there's reason to worry about Turner missing the matchup with the Buccaneers.
Defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and B.J. Hill took rest days on Thursday.
Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase (knee) and Tee Higgins (foot) remained full participants and both players are on track to play in the opener. Head coach Zac Taylor was less certain about defensive end Shemar Stewart (knee), but he was also able to get in a full session for the second day in a row.

#turner #sunday

The Baltimore Ravens are preparing for an Indianapolis Colts roster that underwent meaningful changes on both sides of the ball. Indianapolis retained Daniel Jones as its starting quarterback and added veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen to a passing game featuring Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and Tyler Warren. Allen gives Jones an experienced route runner who can create separation on third down and in the red zone. The Colts also reshaped portions of their offensive line. Tanor Bortolini is listed as the starting center, with Matt Goncalves at right guard and Jalen Travis at right tackle. Quenton Nelson and Bernhard Raimann provide continuity on the left side, but Baltimore can test the newer combinations with its rebuilt defensive front.
Indianapolis made its most significant defensive investment in the secondary. Sauce Gardner joins Charvarius Ward at cornerback, giving the Colts two accomplished players capable of challenging Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Baltimore's other receivers. Cam Bynum and rookie A.J. Haulcy are listed as the starting safeties.
Arden Key was added to a defensive line that already included DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Laiatu Latu. That group should present an immediate test for a Ravens offensive line breaking in new starters at center and right guard.
The Colts' roster is deeper and more experienced in several critical areas. Baltimore still has advantages with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, but Indianapolis possesses enough talent to make Jesse Minter's debut uncomfortable if the Ravens fail to establish control early.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: How the Indianapolis Colts changed during the 2026 offseason

#colts #defensive

The regular season always brings surprises. Training camp stars don't always become September stars, and preseason momentum can disappear quickly once games begin to count. Still, several Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 1 trending in the right direction.
Veterans are settling into larger roles. Newcomers are earning trust. Young players are building on strong offseason performances. Philadelphia has plenty of reasons to be optimistic. They're preparing for their season opener against the Washington Commanders. Here are a handful of cornerstone pieces looking to build on some spring and summertime momentum.
Neither receiver is likely to challenge DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Dallas Goedert, or Saquon Barkley for featured roles in the offensive attack. Both, however, have done enough to earn attention heading into Week 1.
Cooper flashed relatively early. Brown came on later and put together one of his strongest stretches of the offseason, consistently finding ways to get open while producing whenever opportunities came his way.
The Eagles are confident they have reliable depth behind their top receiving options. Targets may be limited, but both receivers appear capable of making meaningful contributions when their numbers are called.

#philadelphia #season #always #offseason

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings: Week 1 2026 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is finally here, which means fantasy football managers have some difficult lineup decisions to make right out of the gate.
Sleeper's projections are a useful starting point, but projections don't tell the entire story. Matchups, target volume, touchdown upside, and gut feeling all play a role in determining who deserves to start. My rankings don't perfectly align with Sleeper's projections, but there is plenty of agreement.
Here are my top 32 fantasy football wide receivers for Week 1, counting down to the player I expect to lead the position in fantasy points.
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#week #projections #clutchpoints #wide