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Losing Jaxson Dart to a knee injury on Monday night was a “gut punch” to the New York Giants, in the words of his replacement. And that was before they learned that their franchise quarterback might be lost for the entire season. Now that body shot is in danger of turning into a knockout blow, ruining what once seemed like such a promising season. And only Jameis Winston can step in and save the Giants. But that’s mostly because the Giants have no other choice. Like it or not, the 32-year-old Winston is the best of the terrible options facing the Giants if it does turn out that Dart is done for the year. There is no Joe Flacco-like, plug-and-play starting quarterback sitting in free agency. Most of the backups who might be available in a trade aren’t much of an upgrade either. And the good ones who could provide some excitement will surely cost more than the Giants would be willing to give up. Which is why it’s Winston-or-bust for this star-crossed team in 2026, if what Giants coach John Harbaugh called the “ongoing process of evaluation” of Dart’s knee reveals the season-ending injury they so obviously fear. The Giants will say that’s not so bad. After all, they liked Winston enough to sign him to a two-year, $13 million contract extension just two weeks ago, making him one of the highest-paid backup QBs in the league. But their faith in him was mostly a short-term proposition. They saw him, according to a team source, as a solid veteran who was smart and talented enough to get them through a short stretch if Dart went down. Their faith gets shakier when it’s a long-term proposition they were hoping to avoid, especially since Winston last started more than seven games in a season seven years ago. That year, if you don’t recall, was a great example of the full Jameis Winston experience. His cannon arm threw for 5,109 yards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 — still the fifth-highest total ever. He also threw a career-high 33 touchdown passes. But he countered that with a ridiculous 30 interceptions (seventh all time, and the most in more than 30 years) as the Bucs went 7-9. Ideally, the Giants could keep their playoff hopes alive by acquiring someone that would make them less … nauseous. But look at the landscape. The other options are mostly even worse. Flacco would be an upgrade, even at age 41. He was terrific for the Bengals in six starts last season, and he’s got a long history with Harbaugh from their days in Baltimore. But he’s the only backup to Joe Burrow on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. He’s the insurance policy, so he’s not going anywhere. Everyone else? Yuck, either because of what they’d cost or who they are. Let’s run through some names to illustrate the point (and the Giants’ predicament). Mac Jones: The 49ers have reportedly wanted a second-round pick plus more when teams inquired about him over the past year. That’s too high of a price to pay, even if the Niners are selling. Shedeur Sanders: He’s got his supporters, but even the Browns aren’t sure he has a future. And the last thing the Giants need is a quarterback learning on the job. Derek Carr: There have been rumors that he’d consider unretiring for the right opportunity, but he’s 35 and hasn’t played in almost two full years. Carson Wentz: He was with Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy in Kansas City last year, but the Vikings don’t like J.J. McCarthy enough anymore to trade Kyler Murray’s backup. Jacoby Brissett: Presumably, the Cardinals could deal him if they decide to move on to Gardner Minshew or rookie Carson Beck. But if Brissett loses his job to either of them, is he really an upgrade? Jimmy Garoppolo: The 34-year-old is also open to unretiring, but the last anyone really saw him was when he lost his job to Aidan O’Connell. That was three years ago now. Tommy DeVito: The Italians of Northern New Jersey would be thrilled, but even if the Patriots made him available, the Giants already know his train won’t carry them far. There are others, of course. Josh Johnson’s never-ending NFL story is currently playing out on the Bengals practice squad. Maybe Eagles GM Howie Roseman would be willing to swindle the Giants into a lopsided deal for veteran Andy Dalton or Tanner McKee. See, if there really are better options out there, they probably aren’t available anyway. Because why would any team be willing to trade a capable backup in the wake of the Week 2 carnage that saw three talented young quarterbacks (Dart, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams) go down? This after Sam Darnold and Murray were knocked out in Week 1 and Tua Tagovailoa was injured before the season opener. At least Winston knows the Giants’ offense and has had time practicing with their players. That doesn’t count for much, but it’s better than nothing at all. OK, maybe it’s not much better. The Giants are almost certainly damned no matter what they do. Their best hope is that Winston can be the short-term solution they believed he was and guide them through the easiest stretch of their schedule — New York’s next three games are at home against the Tennessee Titans (0-2) and the Arizona Cardinals (1-1) and then at the Washington Commanders (0-2). If the Giants’ defense and running game are what they think they are, a 3-2 or 4-1 record with Winston at the helm isn’t that far out of reach. After that … well, that’s where the Jameis Winston experience could get wild. But there just aren’t many better rides out there that would get the Giants to the place they eventually hoped to be. So their best bet is to commit all their first-team reps to Winston and see where he takes them. It could be a very bumpy ride, though. Buckle up, Giants fans.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Caleb Williams has a habit of making us — the NFL world — uncomfortable. He doesn’t care about optics. He doesn’t waste thought on what the average NFL fan (or GM or coach) might think. He reacts authentically. He’s sensitive. He feels. He hurts — publicly. You don’t see that often in the NFL. You don’t see that enough, frankly. Think back to when he sought out his mother to cry in her arms at USC. Think back to when he used to let his mother paint his nails. Think back to that photoshoot where Williams was sitting in a — how to put this? — vulnerable position. And, of course, think back to Sunday when he sat on the injury cart and pumped his fist with tears in his eyes. That’s the incident that’s all over social media. You can guess by now: I don’t have a problem with it. And it’s hilarious to watch people crying on social media with criticisms about … another man crying. But it’s no surprise. Hypocrisy isn’t hard to find on X, Instagram or TikTok. The criticism is getting absurd. The memes — well, some of them are objectively funny. The silliness is fair, now that we know he could play again in Week 3. This is 2026. Williams isn’t just a public figure — he’s the NFL’s rising superstar, fed to fans all offseason through the media and Madden hype. He has opted into some of that, but not all. (The Bears and Williams, for example, declined a one-on-one interview when I visited camp this summer, in part because the buzz was going too far.) After putting up 59 points in Week 1, the Bears’ matchup against the Vikings was the most anticipated matchup of Week 2. When he does something objectively theatrical, people will respond with good-natured jokes. But the genuine pearl-clutching and hand-wringing? The idea that the injury cart is somehow sacred and reserved only for career-ending injuries? Get out of here. Let’s go back to the play where the injury happened for context. Trying to escape a sack late in the fourth quarter, Williams slid. He held his hamstring and screamed, captured clearly by the broadcast. He banged the turf with his fist in frustration. The team got out the cart, and — this part you’ve surely seen — he covered his face with a towel, eventually pulling it away to show his red, watery eyes. He pumped the air, like he was Kobe Bryant after tearing his Achilles. This is high drama worthy of reality television. But folks, I hate to break it to you. The NFL is reality television. The NFL is all about its drama. It’s no mystery why Madden wanted to put Williams on its cover. He’s fascinating on and off the field. He’s a great football player. But he’s also unique. And it’s this sensitivity that — I think — makes him different than the average NFL player, coach or fan. I can see why Williams was upset. It’s not all that different than the last time we saw him publicly crying after that big loss at USC. It was the sheer disappointment of a missed opportunity. He was on the 6-yard line — just a handful of yards away from a go-ahead touchdown. In an ugly game. Against a division rival. If he and the Bears had scored, no one would have cared that the Vikings won the X’s and O’s and stymied what was supposed to be a historic Bears offense. That’s a tough thing for an injury to take away. We also have no idea what that injury might have felt like — the level of pain. But I’m sure everyone can relate to a disappointment of this magnitude. The season looked so promising, even in that ugly game. For the rest of the fourth quarter, it looked like Williams’ season might be in jeopardy. Williams had to reconcile with his game — and his season — ending in major disappointment. Then we got the first sign of good news. “I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee. That was my first inclination,” coach Ben Johnson said during a postgame press conference. “But yeah, the hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there. … We need the points desperately at that point. It’s a shame.” Now here’s a criticism that I’ll buy: Williams’ theatrics distracted the team’s focus at the game’s most crucial moments. “Everybody wants to keep morale up,” Bears defensive lineman Grady Jarrett told reporters after the game. “Because Caleb is the guy here, and so nobody wants to see him go down. Definitely have got to rally up, do more. We’ve got to finish the game at the end of the day.” It’s a bit hypothetical for my taste to wonder if the Bears would’ve won if Williams hadn’t taken the cart, hadn’t pumped his fist and didn’t have tears in his eyes? If the answer is yes, then the Bears have to examine their team-wide focus before examining Williams’, because one man’s tears should not leave the other 47 players without resolve. Football is a sport where toughness is — quite literally — on a player’s scouting report. Obviously, this series of events left us questioning Williams’ toughness. But bigger than that, if Williams is a superstar and he isn’t “tough,” can he be successful in the NFL? The way I see it: The tears don’t matter. The hamstring injury does. If there was a way for Williams to play through the injury, then there’s a problem there, because his departure worsened their chances. If there was no way for Williams to get back on the field, then what are we arguing about? The manner that he left the field? Again, get out of here. Let’s all take this opportunity to take a deep breath and try to get comfortable with seeing a grown man cry. From my vantage, that’s what this is about. People don’t like seeing their quarterback cry. I’m not one of them. I’m all for it.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Gio Reyna has been in their shoes. Like his new USA teammates Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre, Reyna was once a blue-chip teenager participating in his first national team camp, as Albert and Mehmeti are ahead of four home exhibition games against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada — the Stars and Stripes’ first set of matches since the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now the former prodigy is 23. He’s played for four clubs across Germany, England and France. He’s a two-time World Cup veteran with a wife and a baby on the way. “I’m still very young, still have a lot to prove to myself and to other people,” Reyna told reporters this week from U.S. Soccer’s sprawling training facility outside of Atlanta. Reyna is also a proven international player at this stage of his career, one who, along with the 12 other World Cup veterans on this unusually inexperienced 28-player roster, is suddenly responsible for helping guide the next generation of American stars. It’s a big change for many of the U.S. mainstays. Take Sebastian Berhalter, who played just seven times for his country this time last year and was still far from being a lock on coach Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man World Cup squad. Berhalter went on to secure his spot, appearing in all five U.S. matches during the tournament and scoring in a 3-2 group stage loss to Türkiye. In a locker room where the current average age is under 23 — more than four years younger than the World Cup group — Berhalter, 25, is a grizzled pro. “I’ve only been part of the team for a year now, which is crazy, but it’s good,” Berhalter said of the elders’ newly expanded off-field role. “I think it’s something that we take in stride. For us, it’s about our individual performances and making sure we’re keeping the standard [high], and then also showing everyone around us what it takes” at soccer’s highest level. That process will continue until camp wraps up following the Canada match in St. Paul, Minnesota on Oct. 6. Pochettino has overseen just two training sessions so far and doesn’t even have his full contingent of invitees yet; experienced center backs Chris Richards and Auston Trusty played overseas on Sunday, for Crystal Palace and Celtic respectively, and won’t work out with their fellow Americans until Wednesday. Still, the newcomers have made a good first impression on the old guard. “When I look at all these young players, they’re very professional,” Miles Robinson told me Tuesday during a videoconference. “They’re very mature for being 16, 18, 20 years old. They have an understanding of the game, and I think they want to learn and get better and grow and develop. “That’s the mindset that you have to have as a young player,” added the 29-year-old Robinson, who featured in one World Cup game over the summer. “You want to be like one of those sponges that takes in everything, that recognizes there’s so much to learn and there’s so much to kind of grow within your own game and the game collectively as a team. So I think as long as they keep an open mind, we’ve got a bright future.” With longtime national team starters Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie absent from this camp, the future is now. The 16-year-old Sullivan and 18-year-old Pierre, both of the Philadelphia Union in MLS, could log big minutes over the first two games. So could the six other teens called in, with the smart money on Pochettino going with his strongest lineups in the early October contests against Concacaf foes Canada and El Tri — teams he hasn’t beaten yet as the U.S. boss. “Obviously [I’m] a little nervous coming in here — these players I kind of watched growing up a little bit, and in the World Cup,” said Pierre, who credited his formative six-month loan to Danish club Lyngby earlier this year with helping him hit the ground running when he returned to the Union in July. “But at the end of the day, I think everyone’s here to compete. Off the field, the work of creating the togetherness that has been the hallmark of the best U.S. teams for generations is already underway. “Everyone’s kind of just like, Hey, welcome to the family,” Pierre said of the returnees, adding that they’ve already helped make him feel comfortable by imploring him not to worry about inevitably making mistakes. “My goal,” Pierre continued, “Is to continue to be with the men’s national team and do my best and put my best foot forward.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A new era of the United States men’s national team is upon us. Yes, Mauricio Pochettino is still the head coach, and many of the familiar faces from the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be in the mix for 2030, but the competition is as stiff as ever, and at positions that were previously viewed as untouchable. Let’s take a look at where some of the key figures in the U.S. player pool stand ahead of the international window in Alexi Lalas’ U.S. Weekend Stock Watch: Alexi: You’ve got to be a little happy — and dare I say, proud — of seeing Christian Pulisic, given what’s happened over this past year and even what’s happened recently, starting and not just making an impact, but being voted the best player, being involved in both goals and being associated with a moment of positivity that Christian Pulisic and AC Milan needed. Alexi: You can make a case that, in this window, even if Christian Pulisic had been involved, there are more poeple excited about seeing Cavan Sullivan than Christian Pulisic. We know who Christian Pulisic is. That doesn’t mean he can’t improve, but he is what he is. America is looking for young talent and new look when it comes to the national team and that’s why there’s so much tension with Cavan Sullivan as he comes into this new camp, and he comes in on fire. Alexi: We all recognize that many of these players are looking for a foot in the door when it comes to Europe, and in that sense, they’re not just getting there; they’re now actually playing and playing well and scoring goals. It’s fun to see this brigade of young players who are using the Championship for what it is and what it isn’t as this stepping stone. Alexi: This is great, to be associated with the type of win, but I feel like a broken record with Johnny. This is what he is and what he has done. He gets our hopes up, but ultimately, can he translate it if and when he is with the U.S. men’s national team? You can be a really, really good player, and sometimes it just doesn’t translate, and you can bang your head as to why it doesn’t. You just have to guard against this idea that you’re leaving talent on the sideline; that we are wasting talent. Alexi: If you’re looking at it for the Pepi fanbase, this sucks because, finally, he gets this opportunity after being second fiddle to Balogun, and fairly so, to come in and claim it for himself, especially in this new-look national team. On the other side, it’s just another opportunity because I think it’s going to be wide-open up top in this camp when it comes to who plays. Alexi: If you’re Pochettino, do you say ‘I can still get something out of him,’ even with all of these changes and his obvious inability to adjust under that? There was a time that he was in pen there on that right side, and I wasn’t alone. Times have changed. Yunus Musah is back in the fold and Tim Weah looks to be on the way out. Alexi: I’m all for supporting your team, I’m all for die-hard fandom out there, but it has to come with some perspective. There’s nothing romantic about this, there’s nothing cool about this, and as far as that purity pest about how much you care about your team, it’s not relevant to what you set on fire, including the bus.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Leave it to Matthew Stafford to buck the trend of a league-wide scoring collapse. While most teams saw their scoring totals decline (and I’m looking at you, Chicago), the Los Angeles Rams and Stafford had an incredible bounce-back week against the New York Giants. His four touchdown passes Monday night put him sixth on two all-time lists: career passing TDs and games with at least four passing TDs. Stafford is already back to the guy that we thought he’d be. He’s not the only one. (Looking at you, Patrick Mahomes.) So let’s get into it. Welcome back to the QB Stock Market. This isn’t your typical QB rankings. I’m focused on monitoring the fluctuations of starters’ performances throughout the season. No one — not even Josh Allen — is safe at the top. No one — not even Cooper Rush — is stuck at the bottom. There is room for quick ascent — and rapid decline. One question holds most important: What have you done for your team lately? Previous: Offseason | Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 Here’s what I can say for Cam Ward in Week 2 versus the Eagles: He didn’t make any egregious mistakes. That’s progress. It’s what you want from Ward in these circumstances. Granted, he made plenty of mistakes, with a long list of off-target passes, but he didn’t commit any turnovers. In a game like Sunday’s, which was a one-possession contest for all 60 minutes, that’s a big deal for a young QB. It’s a sign of maturity. He understood that a turnover would effectively ruin the Titans’ chances. Ward found several open receivers in the Eagles’ secondary, and I’m 99% sure that he went so far as to complete a no-look pass. His third-quarter scoring drive, which concluded with his rushing touchdown, was one of the more complete series that I’ve seen him play, especially given that it came against the Eagles’ defense. Maybe they’re not all-world, like last year. But they’re still stellar. Alas, this is still Ward we’re talking about, too. He will regularly surprise you with a throw that’s completely off target. He did that when missing receiver Elic Ayomanor in the end zone during the first quarter. It should’ve been an easy touchdown. Ward’s throw was, frankly, awful. Some might say this is catchable. But it was a fastball behind the receiver — that’s about as hard as an “on target” ball can get. Ward’s game remains uneven — perhaps even jagged — in his second year. There’s so much talent to shape into an elite quarterback. But there’s so, so, so much work for him and the Titans’ coaching staff to undergo together. Last year, it was easy enough to make sense of Justin Herbert’s play, because he was holding up the whole offense — basically on his own. Even as it crumbled around him. We’re seeing more of that this year. But it also seems like Herbert is buckling under the pressure. And it’s almost hard not to blame the guy after seeing the abomination of an offense he’s running. Here are some of the miscues. Worst of all, I didn’t see Herbert look resilient or determined in the adversity this week. I saw him grow frustrated and, on that last pick, I can’t help but wonder if there weren’t hints of resignation with that second interception at the end of the game. It makes some sense. Like the rest of us, Herbert had been led to believe this year would be different for L.A. But the Chargers continue to Charger. It’s now just Week 3. But it’s hard to believe Herbert and Co. can turn this around. They travel to Buffalo and then Seattle. In Week 5, they host the Broncos before travelling to Kansas City. And then it’s an “away” game against the Rams. I don’t see the Chargers winning any of the games. Tyler Shough refused to take negative plays against the Ravens. And not in the foolish ways that plagued him in Week 1, where that refusal made bad plays worse. No, Shough threw away the ball. He scrambled for 1 yard when he seemed dead to rights in the pocket. Heck, he salvaged a yard or two when the rushers got him for sacks. And he checked down to his running backs and tight ends when there was nothing available downfield. But that downplays how well he handled the offense — particularly on third down. On that money down, he was 9 of 10 for 131 yards. And even though he finished with seven QB pressures and two sacks on third downs — facing a 46.2% blitz rate — he managed a completion rate of +19.7%. He also attempted a 30% tight-window rate on third down. That’s legit. Best of all, he kept his eyes open for big plays. And he found them early and often, including this chunk play to breakout receiver Devaughn Vele. This is the version of Shough that impressed me so much during his rookie season. He has an understated competence and toughness. And this year, rather than using his tools to hang around (as he did against the Lions), I wanted to see him elevate to the point where we expect the Saints to win close games. That’s exactly what he demonstrated in Week 2. Welp, it seems Jordan Love is going to be mired in offensive dysfunction for the foreseeable future. That’s going to muck up his production — and, this week, it really mucked up his film. Last week, we saw Love rise above his circumstances to generate impressive production. We didn’t see the same thing In Week 2. It’s sort of a miracle he pulled the Packers out of their nosedive for the win. He remained patient, even when the offense was largely falling apart around him. Along the way to a comeback win, he demonstrated some guile. Here’s a great example (below) where Love identified a corner blitz coming in overtime, and he made the Jets pay. He did the hard work before the snap. He took a one-step drop and floated the ball to space, where Matthew Golden managed a nice catch-and-run on the team’s last pass of the game. This is what Love told me about in the offseason when it comes to beating the blitz with his football IQ. It’s a new and crucial part of his toolbox. Ultimately, I came away more worried for Love in this win than I was in Green Bay’s Week 1 loss. The offense looked truly bad against the Jets. Some of that was a credit to their defense, which is pluckier than I expected given all the personnel turnover (from free agency and the draft). But for the Packers, it’s abundantly clear that this is not going to be the season where coach Matt LaFleur can let Love cook, as he playfully promised this preseason. No, they just have to do what they can to keep Love from getting burned. Bryce Young is second in the NFL in passing yards and first in passing touchdowns. He has completed 63% of his passes — with just one interception. Now, I’m not much for counting stats as a pure measurement of a QB’s quality of play. But my goodness, did anyone see this coming? He has been prolific, trying to stick with the Bears in the Week 1 shootout and then absolutely blowing out the Falcons in Week 2. He has been downright surgical. If you’re rolling your eyes at those counting stats, let’s look at two advanced stats. His EPA per dropback is .24, seventh in the NFL. And his completion percentage over expected is seventh-best at +8%. He’s only had to run the ball three times, but he’s gotten a touchdown and a first down, rounding out a 66% success rate. (Yes, small sample size — of course.) But he’s not a dink-and-dunk merchant. He is pushing the ball downfield with careful ball placement. It has been quietly remarkable. Now … can he do it against a truly elite defense? That remains to be seen. But Young is maturing into one of the most efficient pocket passers in the league — and this extends into last season when he dueled with Matthew Stafford in the playoffs. Young can use his mobility, but he really hasn’t had to this year. He’s in the same category as Mayfield and Brock Purdy. The knock on those guys is that they’re often only as good as their supporting cast. Which isn’t totally true. But they’re all of the same type. And it’s one that almost always gets underrated. That’s certainly true of Young, whom nobody expects will keep this up. What if he does? He has the Browns, the Lions, the Eagles and the Bucs in the coming weeks. This could be a memorable and surprising start for the young QB. It’s rare to see an organization stick with a guy who looked like Young looked in 2024. And get him to where the Panthers have Young playing in 2026. He might not ever earn the title of “elite.” But he’s starting to earn respect around the league. I think I owe Mahomes an apology. I didn’t think he could do this. I didn’t think, just nine months removed from an ACL injury, he would be helping the Chiefs look like a bona fide top-10 offense. But that’s what he’s done, with Kansas City reigniting its passing attack. It started with the run game and Kenneth Walker III. But that explosiveness has trickled into every element of the offense, which is incrementally testing defensive limits downfield. Now, to be clear, Week 1 was a low-risk game plan. It was safe. It was conservative. But Week 2? The Chiefs let Mahomes cook. It culminated in a handful of downfield throws against the Colts. You want clutch? Look at what Mahomes did to convert a third-and-12 in overtime, threading the ball in between defenders to help receiver Tyquan Thornton make an easy conversion for 30 yard. You want arm talent? Look at what Mahomes did on third-and-11 in the third quarter: hitting Thornton on a 45-yard bomb that had pinpoint precision. One of the throws I liked most came in the second quarter. He threw a perfectly timed in-crossing route to Rashee Rice. The throw’s velocity was extremely impressive. And Mahomes did it while climbing the pocket away from a rusher, which didn’t impact his ability to deliver the ball on time. That looks like a healthy Mahomes, even with 12 pressures on his dropbacks. Now, the Colts stink. That’s important context. I’ve been saying for months that I expect them to finish at the bottom of the league. But even so, Mahomes was making throws — on the move and from mucky pockets — that he had no business making. He’s back. He’s really back.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

What do the Chiefs, Bengals and Josh Allen have in common? They look scary good right now. You know who’s not scaring anyone right now? The Dolphins. After the second week of NFL action in the 2026 season, I’m back with my best and worst superlatives, focusing on three categories: team developments, offensive performances and overall squad quality: The reigning Super Bowl MVP’s integration into the Chiefs’ offense is going as well as Kansas City could have possibly imagined, and the rest of the NFL should be concerned. Very concerned. Walker had 178 scrimmage yards on 30 touches in Kansas City’s overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night — 24 carries for 117 yards and six receptions for 61 yards. He had five touches on the team’s seven-play, game-winning field goal drive, including two first-down conversions (one on the ground, one as a pass-catcher). Ahead of Monday Night Football, the former Seahawk led the league in carries (47), rushing yards (290), touches (56) and scrimmage yards (369). He’s forced 29 missed tackles (!) through two weeks, according to Next Gen Stats. The start of the Patrick Mahomes era in Kansas City was defined by a prolific aerial attack. Then the Chiefs morphed into a defense-led team. And now, even though it’s still very early, we could be entering the ground-and-pound iteration of these Chiefs — with Walker as the focal point. He’s the most dynamic skill player they’ve had in Mahomes’ supporting cast since star receiver Tyreek Hill and the franchise’s best running back since prime Jamaal Charles (2009-14). For years, we’ve spent a lot of time wondering who’ll emerge as the Chiefs’ 1A receiver post-Hill. Rashee Rice has been that in flashes, but he hasn’t been on the field enough to show he’s dependable. With Walker, they may not need one. The attention he draws in the box opens up one-on-one opportunities downfield for speedsters like Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton, both of whom can take the top off of a defense. The top two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft suffered injuries within hours of each other on Sunday. First it was Bears QB Caleb Williams, sustaining a hamstring injury in Chicago’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota that required him to be carted to the locker room from the sideline. Then Commanders QB Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow — the same one he dislocated last season — in the second quarter of Washington’s 37-20 loss to Dallas. He was carted to the locker room as well. Both players were quickly ruled out. While Williams apparently avoided anything serious, the NFL world still awaits word on how long Daniels will be sidelined. This may be jumping the gun a bit, but what first comes to mind in the wake of Daniels’ latest injury is what contract negotiations could look like between the quarterback and the Commanders this offseason, when he becomes extension eligible for the first time. Even if he’s not out for the year, Daniels missing a significant amount of time for the second straight season could make Washington hesitant about giving him a long-term commitment — or at least one near the top of the quarterback market. Daniels’ argument would be what has happened when he’s been healthy — the NFC Championship Game appearance when he was a rookie, for example — and how Washington has struggled when he’s not on the field. The best-case scenario may be picking up the fifth-year option in his rookie contract in the spring, and revisiting the extension conversation after the 2027 season. That’s the approach that C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans have taken this year. The Bills erupted for 41 points in their Week 2 victory over the Detroit Lions, with Allen registering five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing). Buffalo went 9-of-12 (75%) on third down and had 446 yards of offense, including more than 200 through the air and the ground. The Bills scored six touchdowns on their first eight possessions. It was a balanced, dominant attack for Buffalo, which leads the NFL in scoring through two weeks (pending MNF). The Bills’ offense is unstoppable right now because of Allen, who’s the best quarterback on the planet at the moment. If you’re not impressed by what he did against the Lions, who have a shaky defense, he did essentially the same thing in Buffalo’s season opener against the Texans, who have arguably the best defense in the NFL. Allen has nine total touchdowns (five passing, four rushing) and a 125.8 passer rating through two games. He’s in a flow state with new head coach Joe Brady, who’s been Buffalo’s offensive playcaller since midway through 2023. This is the version of Allen that can get the Bills to the mountaintop. And with Brady bringing a fresh approach as head coach, plus the addition of wide receiver DJ Moore, Buffalo may finally have what it needs to reach the Super Bowl. The Falcons’ quarterback hell took another turn in Atlanta’s embarrassing 34-3 home loss to Carolina. Making his second straight start with Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa inactive due to injuries, backup Cooper Rush lost a fumble on the Falcons’ first play from scrimmage. He also threw two interceptions. It was so bad for the Falcons offensively that their fans were booing six minutes into the game. And believe it or not, it kept getting worse. Undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Strand got an ovation when he checked into the game late in the third quarter, but his first career pass resulted in a pick-six. Strand also lost a fumble on Atlanta’s final drive. The only reason for hope for the Falcons right now is Penix’s reported Thursday return from last season’s torn ACL, and that’s just because we haven’t seen what he looks like in 2026. The results may not be any better than what Atlanta has gotten at the quarterback position to this point. After all, it was Penix’s health concerns and inconsistent play that led to the offseason signing of veteran QB Tagovailoa, who had been given the starting job entering the season because Penix hadn’t been cleared for full practices until late August. Tagovailoa, who struggled in training camp and the preseason, has been sidelined the first two games because of an oblique injury suffered in practice in Week 1. We know what the Bengals are capable of offensively with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase & Co. — Chase’s spectacular touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone against tight coverage from All-Pro Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is Exhibit A. So this is really a testament to what Cincinnati is showing us on defense. The Texans on Sunday played without their top weapon in star receiver Nico Collins, but what the Bengals accomplished defensively was still very impressive. Cincinnati held Houston to 0-for-4 on fourth down and in the red zone, and kept the Texans to just 60 yards on 3.3 yards per carry. The Bengals generated 27 pressures on 62 Texans’ dropbacks and didn’t allow a touchdown for the first time since Week 3 of the 2022 season, according to Next Gen Stats. In its season opener, Cincinnati forced four turnovers against Tampa Bay. The Bengals have an argument as the NFL’s scariest team right now, given their ability to dominate on both sides of the ball. The Dolphins are turning out to be just as bad as we all thought. They dropped to 0-2 with their 35-13 loss Sunday to the 49ers. Miami gave up touchdowns on San Francisco’s first five drives, and the Dolphins didn’t reach the end zone until the 2:30 mark of the fourth quarter, when quarterback Malik Willis connected with wide receiver Ryan Miller for a 77-yard touchdown in garbage time. It was a truly complete loss by Miami, which has been outscored 62-26 through two games. The only hope for the Dolphins comes in looking toward 2027, when they could secure the quarterback of the future through the draft and see growth from their young players. In Week 1, Miami had the most snaps played by rookies across the league (439), according to Next Gen Stats.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The stars were out in full force in Week 2, with a couple of familiar faces making strong statements for early consideration for the major awards. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had another signature performance to open up the week, while Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams dialed back the clock and was dominant on Monday night with Puka Nacua out. Other stars like CeeDee Lamb and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had strong outings on Sunday as well. But were those performances strong enough to earn those stars spots on our Week 2 All-Star Team? From quarterback to the team that had the best offensive line to the best players at each defensive position and more, here are the best of the best from Week 2. Twice in two weeks? It was an easier call this time, with Josh Allen going for five total touchdowns — three passing, two rushing — in a win over the Detroit Lions to break in their new home stadium. Games with two-plus passing touchdowns and two-plus rushing touchdowns? Allen has 10 now in his career, and nobody else in league history has more than four. Could we call that an NFL double-double? There were worse names. Allen is now the oddsmakers’ favorite to win MVP honors, with a huge role in two big wins to start the season for Buffalo. Dak Prescott and Jared Goff both had four-touchdown, zero-interception games — there were just 22 of those in the entire league last season, but neither did as much as Allen did. Not an amazing week for running backs compared to last week. You could put Bills all over this team, and James Cook is deserving, rushing for 135 yards on 6.4 yards per carry and a touchdown in their win over the Lions. The second nod is much tougher. Sunday night’s game saw Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor go for 92 yards and two touchdowns as he was a big part of why that game went to overtime. However, Taylor was outdone by Walker on Sunday night. Walker continues to be a game-changer for the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense, rushing for 117 yards on 4.9 yards per carry and getting another 61 yards receiving in Kansas City’s overtime win. You just don’t see receivers getting three touchdowns in a game, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba pulled it off in the Seahawks’ win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday with nine catches for 155 yards. There were only five instances when a receiver had three receiving touchdowns in a game last season. For the second spot, we had a plethora of options. We could’ve gone with Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase after getting two touchdowns or Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown going for 142 and two scores in a loss. Prior to Monday, we had CeeDee Lamb penciled in. The Dallas Cowboys star took a backseat to George Pickens for much of last year, but went off for 153 yards and two touchdowns Sunday in their win over the Washington Commanders. It’s Week 2, and he’s matched his touchdown total from all of 2025, with three now on the year. But Davante Adams did too much on Monday night to exclude him from the list. He carried the Los Angeles Rams’ passing offense with Puka Nacua out, logging eight receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns in their dominant win over the New York Giants. In fact, Adams had five catches for 145 yards in the first half alone. He was done for the day midway thhrough the third quarter. Patrick Mahomes missed the cut on this week’s team despite throwing for 382 and three touchdowns. So, we’ll choose Travis Kelce at tight end after he went for 101 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs’ overtime win. There were a few other worthy candidates to make the team at tight end this week. We could have gone with Houston Texans standout Dalton Schultz (12 for 140 in a loss) or Buffalo’s Dalton Kincaid, who had seven for 95 and a score in Buffalo’s win. Kelce getting 101 yards is his most in any game in nearly three years, since he had 179 against the Chargers in October 2023. We considered the San Francisco 49ers’ front as well, but the Denver Broncos got great protection in not giving up a single sack against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that had five sacks against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. This is seen as the best offensive line in the NFL, with continuity and experience. From left to right, it’s Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz and Mike McGlinchey. Bo Nix had 31 pass attempts and only three quarterback hits, and the Broncos rushed for 104 yards as well in a much-needed comeback win. We probably should have included Dallas Turner last week when he had seven QB hits in the Minnesota Vikings’ season-opening win against the Green Bay Packers, but we’ll make up for it here. Turner had two more sacks, two tackles for loss and four QB hits against the Chicago Bears, giving him a remarkable 11 QB hits in two weeks. Minnesota’s blitz-crazy defense is one of the best stories of the first two weeks, and Turner is showing why the Vikings were OK losing another key veteran rusher to free him up. The same is true for Greg Rousseau, who followed up a monster opener with two sacks, a forced fumble and four QB hits in the win over the Lions. The Carolina Panthers wrote two huge checks in free agency to upgrade their defense, and Devin Lloyd earned his Sunday with two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in a rout of the Atlanta Falcons. He also had a sack and nine tackles, and coach Dave Canales called it perhaps the best linebacker game he’s seen since he’s been in the NFL. Jaelan Phillips, signed to an even bigger deal, has a sack in each of his first two games. The fifth-round rookie out of Florida International had a game of biblical proportions in helping the Las Vegas Raiders to an unlikely 2-0 start, picking off two passes in their win Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. He added a tackle for loss and two passes defensed, starting and playing 50 of 68 snaps in his second NFL game. Confidence is no issue for Masses, either. “It’s mine. It ain’t no 50-50 ball,” Masses said after the game. “I’m trying to get every ball.” We’ll also give a shoutout to Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, who had 13 tackles and a tackle for loss in their loss to the New Orleans Saints. Skyy Moore piled up 208 yards in eight returns Sunday between kickoffs and punts, but his biggest play was a 63-yard punt return with less than five minutes left and the Packers still trailing the New York Jets. That set up the tying field goal that allowed the game to go to overtime and gave the Packers a chance to win the game there. Moore had a 98-yard kickoff return last season with the 49ers — not for a touchdown, amazingly — and came through when Green Bay needed him most on Sunday. We also should mention Vikings kicker Will Reichard, who had all of their points with three field goals in a 9-3 win over the Bears in nasty weather.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Two weeks into the season, a third team sits atop the charts. Honestly, after the Rams fell in Week 1 and the Ravens dropped in Week 2, it seems that the famed SI jinx and Madden curse have nothing on my Power Rankings. Things will get really unsettling if the new No. 1 loses at home to the 0-2 Los Angeles Chargers this weekend. Until then, just cross your fingers, go outside, turn around three times and spit, so your favorite team doesn’t draw the wrath from high atop the thing as you read the updated rankings for Week 3. *Super Bowl odds courtesy of DraftKings Super Bowl odds: +100000 If they keep working hard, maybe they’ll gain more than 285 yards in a single game this season. Hey, dare to dream! That’s the standard for this year’s Dolphins team. Super Bowl odds: +15000 Jack Strand, an undrafted rookie out of D-II Minnesota State-Moorhead, finished the game against the Panthers at QB for Atlanta. That sums up the Falcons’ early quarterback issues, I think. Super Bowl odds: +30000 The Titans fought hard, but let’s face it: two terrible interceptions by Eagles QB Jalen Hurts are what kept them in the game Sunday. Tennessee still got a long way to go before it’s truly competitive again. Super Bowl odds: +7400 The Commanders looked like they had some momentum before QB Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow late in the first half. Without him, though, it’s hard to see them coming back from an 0-2 start. Super Bowl odds: +20000 The Jets blew a 10-point lead to a bad Packers team in the final eight minutes and lost in overtime. New York will be in a lot of games because of its defense, but it’s still going to lose a lot of games this season. Super Bowl odds: +30000 That’s more like it – just 151 total yards of offense against the reigning-champion Seahawks. We all knew the Cardinals weren’t as good as they looked against the Chargers in Week 1. Super Bowl odds: +25000 In the words of Browns coach Todd Monken: “Browns are gonna Browns? F— that!” Amen, Coach. Super Bowl odds: +4500 The Chargers are 0-2. So, if you’re a fan, do yourself a favor and avoid looking at the next seven games on the schedule. It’s not farfetched to predict L.A. will soon be 0-9. Super Bowl odds: +5500 Losing to the Browns to fall to 0-2 is one thing. Having to wait out a two-hour-plus lightning delay to blow it in the final two minutes? Priceless. Super Bowl odds: +6500 The Cotls have given up 1,023 total yards in two games. The offense is doing OK, but they’ve got some serious defensive problems that need to be fixed. Super Bowl odds: +12500 I still think the Raiders would be smarter to play rookie QB Fernando Mendoza, but that was a heck of a game from Kirk Cousins. And who in Vegas would’ve bet on the Raiders starting 2-0? We’ll see if they can keep it up. Super Bowl odds: +5000 If that’s the way Aaron Rodgers is going to play, his last ride might be a short one. At some point, the Steelers may have to take a look at rookie Drew Allar. Super Bowl odds: +2500 Yeah, OK, they came back and beat the Jets. But the Packers had just 199 yards of offense and looked terrible until the end when they finished their comeback. Green Bay doesn’t get any credit for a comeback win that look like a mess, as it did. Super Bowl odds: +7000 Losing to the Rams didn’t drop them in the rankings, but losing QB Jaxson Dart did. The Giants could be in a lot of trouble if he’s out for an extended period. Super Bowl odds: +2200 How does a team generate six points of offense when its quarterback throws for 353 yards? When their running backs gain 18 yards on 14 carries. Yikes. That performance against the Bengals was not great and leaves the Texans windless through two games. Super Bowl odds: +2500 The Cowboys offense got on track, but their defense is still a problem. Dallas had no answer for quarterback Jayden Daniels before his injury, and the defense didn’t exactly shut down the Commanders after he got knocked out. Super Bowl odds: +9000 A second straight three-touchdown performance for QB Bryce Young, who has thrown for 648 yards in those two games and only one interception. Maybe he’s finally arrived? If so, look out for the Panthers in the NFC South. Super Bowl odds: +8000 OK, I’m a believer. The Saints pushed the Lions to overtime, then beat the Baltimore Ravens on the road. That’s enough to declare them legitimate. I believe QB Tyler Shough is legit, too. I just wonder if this early success is sustainable over the course of the entire season. Super Bowl odds: +1800 Remember when head coach Dan Campbell’s teams played defense? Me too. Good thing they can move the ball on anybody. Detroit is just in danger of losing a ton of high-scoring games. Super Bowl odds: +3000 How is this team 2-0? Thank defensive coordinator Brian Flores for that. Because they’re winning despite a bad offense and some terrible QB play. Kyler Murray’s potential Week 3 return will be a big boost to an offense that won last week despite scoring just nine points. Super Bowl odds: +2500 I want to put the Jaguars in the top 10. I really do. Putting up an offensive dud against the Broncos while the defense wilted in the second half, though, hinders me from doing that. Super Bowl odds: +2200 Take the win and thank old man Aaron Rodgers for that. For the second straight week, quarterback Drake Maye did not look good. Super Bowl odds: +3000 Three points? After scoring 59 the week before? What in the name of Ben Johnson was that? I’ll keep them in the top 10 for now, but they won’t be there for much longer without quarterback Caleb Williams. Super Bowl odds: +950 It was never going to be easy without wide receivers Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane, but that doesn’t explain how the defense gave up two long touchdown drives to the Saints in the fourth quarter. That was a tough loss that deserves a big drop in the rankings. Super Bowl odds: +1300 They needed all of overtime to escape the Colts, but look at what Patrick Mahomes did with 382 yards and three touchdowns. There’s no more doubt: The Chiefs are back. Super Bowl odds: +1600 This team still worries me, but quarterback Jalen Hurts showed he still has the “clutch” gene after throwing two interceptions against the Titans. He also has a good receiving corps and a fantastic No. 1 receiver in DeVonta Smith. Super Bowl odds: +2000 It looked like the Broncos were going to plummet in the rankings again. At the last moment, though, quarterback Bo Nix remembered how to play and offensive coordinator Davis Webb learned how to call plays. The Broncos looked like a different team in the second half against the Jaguars. Super Bowl odds: +650 OK, so maybe it was the jet lag in Week 1. The Giants were no match after Jaxson Dart’s injury, but the Rams have at least started to flex their superteam muscles with an impressive performance on Monday night. Super Bowl odds: +1700 Ja’Marr Chase is just ridiculous, and Joe Burrow hasn’t even gotten started yet. It’s the defense that really has me believing in Cincy, though, after two strong performances to open the season. Super Bowl odds: +1200 The 49ers might be the most complete team in football. A terrific QB, great running game, excellent receivers, strong line, tough defense and a brilliant coach. They’ve got it all. Super Bowl odds: +1000 You’re all correct. The defending champs probably should be No. 1. The truth is that they probably would be if their quarterback wasn’t Drew Lock for now. Super Bowl odds: +780 Josh Allen has five passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns through two games. If he keeps playing anywhere close to this the rest of the way, there may be no stopping the Bills.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

SOFI STADIUM (Los Angeles) – The Los Angeles Rams rebounded from an embarrassing loss in Australia to start the year by cruising to a 28-6 victory over the visiting New York Giants on Monday Night Football in the team’s home opener. Dubbed the “Dream Team” to start the year because of the team’s blockbuster moves to secure defensive game changers like defensive end Myles Garrett, cornerback Trent McDuffie and the return of defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams finally looked like a team that could possibly live up to that billing in front of the team’s home fans at SoFi Stadium. However, Los Angeles was buoyed by New York losing quarterback Jaxson Dart (knee) for the game in the first quarter. Ultimately, the Rams improved to 1-1 with the win, while the Giants dropped to 1-1. Here are my takeaways: The Rams almost traded Adams to the Philadelphia Eagles this past offseason in a deal that would have brought wide receiver A.J. Brown to them in return. However, head coach Sean McVay decided to hold onto Adams in part because of his great chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford. With Brown now on the injured reserve with the New England Patriots due to a high ankle sprain, the decision has potentially proven to be a good one for the Rams. Without Puka Nacua on Monday because of a hip injury, Adams more than filled the void, totaling eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Adams led the league in receiving touchdowns with 14 in 2025. He’s now tied for No. 4 in the NFL all-time with Marvin Harrison Sr. and Cris Carter with 29 two-touchdown games. As they leaned into last year, the Rams were effective using 13 personnel (three tight end sets). Per Next Gen Stats, Los Angeles used 13 personnel on 28 plays (54.9%) of the offensive snaps, averaging 10.4 yards per play and scoring two touchdowns with that personnel grouping. When the Rams used 13 personnel, that left Adams on the field as the lone receiver – and he thrived. Stafford finished with 327 passing yards and four touchdown passes, moving past Philip Rivers (425) on the all-time TD list with 426. Not all was great for the Rams, though. Kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 43-yard field goal wide left, as special teams remained an issue. And the Rams also had two turnovers – a Stafford interception on a ball forced into double coverage to Adams and a fumble by running back Kyren Williams that led to a 24-yard field goal for the Giants. New York lost its starting quarterback on the opening drive of the game when Dart was sandwiched between Los Angeles edge rusher Byron Young and Josaiah Steward, suffering a left knee injury. Dart left the field on his own, but after being evaluated by New York’s medical staff in the injury tent, he then went to the locker room for further evaluation. Dart did not return to the game and was replaced by veteran backup Jameis Winston. The absence of Dart severely limited the Giants’ offense. New York’s No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers also had to leave the game in the first half with a shoulder injury but later returned. With the team’s two top playmakers out, the Giants were held to 182 total yards of offense. Along with Dart, Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury at the end of his team’s 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and is week-to-week. And Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow again in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys and is out indefinitely. After a two-year absence and months of anticipation, Donald finally took the field for the Rams. The Pittsburgh native received a loud ovation from fans during player introductions. Once the game got going, Donald was a contributor, making a big run stuff on running back Najee Harris to force a field goal near the goal line. He finished with three combined tackles and one quarterback pressure on 32 defensive snaps, playing 58.2% of the defensive plays for the Rams. “Aaron’s looked great,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said before the game. “He’s really impacted a lot of positive things. I think our defense is feeding off his energy. He’s been a real positive for us.” 3 ½. What’s Next? The Rams will try to keep the positive vibes going with a trip to the Mile High City, taking on the Denver Broncos in Week 3 on Sunday night. The Broncos rebounded with a big home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars following a disappointing loss in their season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Los Angeles is still looking up at the 2-0 Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West division standings. The Giants will look to rebound at home against the 0-2 Tennessee Titans. All eyes will be on Dart this week and whether he can get back on the field.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Monday brought a rough round of quarterback news from across the league, with several franchises facing tough questions about who’ll be under center in the coming weeks. Caleb Williams avoided the worst-case scenario in Chicago, but not every team was so fortunate. Washington’s Jayden Daniels is facing an uncertain timeline after dislocating his left elbow for the second time in as many years, while the Falcons confirmed Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending surgery after suffering a partially torn ACL. There was at least a silver lining in Minnesota, where Kyler Murray appears on track to return from concussion protocol in time for Week 3. And the bad injury news continued into Monday night, with New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart departing their loss to the Los Angeles Rams early. Here’s the latest from around the NFL on Monday. The Bears might not be without Caleb Williams for long, if at all. Williams avoided a major hamstring injury and could be in line to start against the Eagles in Week 3, according to a Monday report, after undergoing an MRI to confirm the severity. Williams went down without contact late in Chicago’s 9-3 Week 2 loss to the Vikings on Sunday, scrambling before pulling up in visible pain. He was helped off the field and eventually carted to the locker room, a scene that initially raised fears of a longer-term absence. But the Bears later clarified it was a hamstring injury, and Williams was seen walking under his own power shortly after. Should Williams be unable to go against Philadelphia, Tyson Bagent would step in under center. Bagent has flashed in relief before, nearly leading Chicago to a game-winning drive after entering Sunday’s loss, and he’s 2-2 as a starter in his career. The Bears follow their Week 3 matchup with a stretch against the Jets, Packers, Falcons and Patriots. There was another injury scare involving a young quarterback on Monday night. Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart departed Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams after suffering a knee injury on the opening drive. It initially appeared that Dart’s injury could be serious and keep him out for several weeks. However, Dart was able to walk off the field under his own power and Giants general manager Joe Schoen told ESPN that the quarterback was going to be fine. Dart didn’t return to Monday’s game following the injury, but ESPN later reported that he tried to re-enter the game in the first half. After suffering a dislocated left elbow on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is evaluating his options. According to NFL Network, he will consult with specialists in the coming days. Daniels dislocated his elbow against the Cowboys just before halftime. The injury was just as gruesome as last year’s elbow dislocation, which highlighted an injury-riddled 2025 season that limited Daniels to just seven games. Staying healthy has been one of the biggest hurdles for Daniels since being selected No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. With Daniels sidelined once again, veteran backup Marcus Mariota will take over under center moving forward. The timeline for Daniels return to the field has yet to be determined and he hasn’t been placed on injured reserve. Following another win on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings received even more positive news Monday. Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that quarterback Kyler Murray has officially cleared concussion protocol. Murray will also get the start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Murray suffered a concussion in Week 1 on a hit to the head while sliding to give himself up on a first-quarter scramble. After remaining down for a few moments to be evaluated by medical staff, he was able to walk off the field under his own power. With Murray cleared and healthy, he offers the Vikings offense a spark that was missing under veteran backup Carson Wentz. Murray’s dual-threat ability gives Minnesota a much higher ceiling heading into Week 3 after relying on a grind-it-out, 9-3 win in Week 2. Signed to a $1.3 million deal earlier this offseason, Murray is looking to capitalize now that he’s back under center for a 2-0 Vikings team. All eyes will be on how dynamic the offense can be with Murray leading the way, but most importantly, staying fully healthy. After an offseason spent rehabbing a season-ending knee injury, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is set to return to the field. On Monday, the team officially announced that Penix will start this Thursday night. With Penix Jr. officially cleared to start against the Green Bay Packers, Thursday will mark his first game action since Week 11 of last season. With Tua Tagovailoa sidelined by an oblique injury, Penix now has a prime opportunity to seize control of the starting quarterback spot. Selected No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Penix Jr. has just 14 games under his belt. Across those appearances, he has completed 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. For an 0-2 Falcons team in a wide-open NFC South, getting Penix Jr. back this early in the season is a huge boost. With both he and Tagovailoa sidelined, the offense has struggled under Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. Penix Jr.’s return should bring much-needed stability and familiarity back to the offense.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports