The Daily Briefing Friday, October 28, 2022

AROUND THE NFL

GREEN BAY

QB AARON RODGERS will not have to worry about how many snaps the coaching staff gives WR ALLEN LAZARD on Sunday in Buffalo.  If Lazard is to be believed that number is zero.  Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com:

It’s not getting any easier for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers’ floundering offense. Now, he’s going to be without his most trusted and the team’s most productive receiver, Allen Lazard.

Lazard said Thursday that he’s likely out for Sunday’s game at the Buffalo Bills because of the left shoulder injury he suffered in the second half of last week’s loss to the Washington Commanders.

He said that when he got tackled on his 17-yard catch at the end of the third quarter, he heard “a snap, crackle and pop” in his shoulder.

He was in good spirits in part because the long-term prognosis is good. He said he’s not concerned that he will miss an extended period of time, meaning he should avoid going on injured reserve.

However, his injury comes at a time when Rodgers has expressed dissatisfaction with several players on offense for repeated mistakes. Although the quarterback did not name names, it’s clear Lazard is one of those he trusts. After the Washington loss, he said Lazard and running back Aaron Jones were his most dependable teammates among the skill-position players.

“I think, outside of those two guys, there’s too many mental mistakes,” Rodgers said.

Lazard leads the team in receiving yards (340) and touchdown catches (four) and is tied for second in catches (26). The Packers already are without Randall Cobb, who will miss at least three more games with an ankle injury. Rookie Christian Watson (hamstring) has missed the past two games but has practiced both days this week and appears on track to return against the Bills.

“I’m feeling really good with myself, so whenever they’re able to cut me loose and go full, [I will] go,” Watson said. “Every time I’m out there, whether it’s a couple less reps or a couple more reps, I’m going to go out there and go all out on the reps I’m in for. I’m just making the most of, obviously, the opportunity they’re giving me right now.”

The Packers (3-4) were listed as 10-point underdogs to the Bills (5-1) on Thursday, according to Caesars Sportsbook. A day earlier, the line was 11.5.

DALLAS

Names to watch on the Cowboys injury report per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Cowboys added two key members of their defense to the injury report on Thursday.

Linebacker Micah Parsons was a limited participant in practice because of a shoulder injury and rookie defensive end Sam Williams didn’t practice at all because of a knee injury. During a Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan, McCarthy said that there’s not much worry about Parsons’ availability against the Bears but that they’ll be waiting to make a call on Williams’ status.

“I don’t have high concern for Micah. I just want to see Sam practice on Saturday. That’ll be the final determination for Sam,” McCarthy said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receiver Noah Brown, and safety Malik Hooker have missed practice both days this week, so there will be plenty of names to look for when the Cowboys issue their final injury designations later on Friday.

PHILADELPHIA

The Eagles are not on the hook for DE ROBERT QUINN’s salary for the next two years.  It’s a 4^th round pick for a rest of season of his services that are free to the Eagles (the Bears are picking up the rest of his salary for 2022).  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Bears will be paying the lion’s share of Robert Quinn‘s salary after trading the veteran edge rusher to the Eagles and the Eagles won’t be on the hook for any money beyond this season.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Eagles and Quinn agreed to drop the final two years on his current contract after the trade was in place. That will make Quinn a free agent at the end of the 2022 season.

Quinn did not have any guaranteed money left on his deal and was due $27 million over the next two years, so it’s likely that the Bears would have cut Quinn after this season anyway. The agreement on the contract makes that an unnecessary step.

Quinn joined the Eagles on Wednesday and could make his debut with his new team against the Steelers on Sunday.

WASHINGTON

Daniel Snyder’s outside counsel maintains he is technically free of NFL punishment, but choosing to continue by its limitations of his own free will.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com thinks this is a big deal:

As the NFL and the Commanders await the results of the second investigation regarding owner Daniel Snyder, a fundamental disagreement lingers regarding the punishment imposed after the first investigation.

Appearing on a special Thursday edition of #PFTPM, lawyer John Brownlee of Holland & Knight, outside counsel for the Commanders, was asked when the restrictions on Snyder that were imposed on July 1, 2021 ended. Brownlee said that they ended in late 2021.

“Well, it ended November first,” Brownlee said. “Now, [Snyder] could go to all the games and I think he did go to the games even during that time period, but there were other restrictions as far as going out to the facility and those kinds of things that he didn’t do, because of that sanction that was imposed by the NFL. . . Once November first came and went, he was free to do whatever he wanted to do. There were no restrictions. That being said, I still think that they agreed because of everything that was going on, that it was in the best interest of the team for him not to do certain things.”

The explanation sharply conflicts with things repeatedly said by Commissioner Roger Goodell, as recently as earlier this month. Indeed, when PFT asked the league office for comment on Thursday regarding Brownlee’s contention, the NFL directed us to the fact that Goodell said on October 18 as to Snyder’s status, “It hasn’t changed. There’s been no change.”

In late March 2022, Goodell said that “Dan Snyder has not been involved in day-to-day operations,” and that Goodell “[doesn’t] believe he’s been in the facility at all.” Three months later, in sworn testimony to the House Oversight Committee, Goodell said “to the best of my knowledge, [Snyder] has not been involved in day-to-day operations at the Commanders.”

While Brownlee didn’t expressly say that Snyder has returned to his prior role, Brownlee made it clear that, in the team’s estimation, Snyder was free to do so as of nearly one year ago. That characterization meshes with the league’s consistent position that Snyder remains subject to league-imposed restrictions.

Brownlee added that, since November 1 of last year, Snyder has curtailed certain activities “by his own choice.”

“Obviously in consultation with Tanya, I think at the end of the day, listen, these are two people that love this team, that love the league,” Brownlee said. “They’ve been a part of it for a long time. They love the community, they want to win. And yet he recognizes that with, with everything that goes on, he can be a distraction to the players and the owners. And he doesn’t want that because he cares for them too much. And so he has pulled back and he is, but he’s done that voluntarily.”

The league would say otherwise. The league has said otherwise. The lingering conflict adds just another layer to confusion to a strange situation for the NFL and the Commanders.

ATLANTA

A Scott Kacsmar nugget:

@ScottKacsmar

#Falcons Kyle Pitts has 10 games with more than 50 receiving yards.

Only 1/10 was played in Atlanta’s stadium. The rest were road or London games.

CAROLINA

How odd are things in the NFC South?  If the Panthers win at Atlanta Sunday they will be in first place.

Even if the Saints beat the Raiders to throw the division into a four-way tie on record at 3-5, the Panthers will be 3-0 in the division with wins over each of the other three teams.  And 0-5 outside the division.

– – –

QB BAKER MAYFIELD is not looking to escape the Panthers.  Eric Edholm of NFL.com:

One name you might not hear at the NFL’s trade deadline is Baker Mayfield. At least if it was up to Mayfield, anyway.

The Carolina Panthers quarterback has missed the past two games with a high ankle sprain, and last week he watched P.J. Walker lead the way in a shocking win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Matt Rhule also has been fired, so it’s not clear what it might take for Mayfield to regain his starting spot.

Nevertheless, Mayfield said Thursday he hasn’t requested a trade from the Panthers, replying “I want to be here” when asked about that idea.

“We all want to play,” Mayfield said, via Joe Person of The Athletic. “That’s the nature of this business, that’s the nature of playing sports.

“My role right now is to help us win anyway I can. That’s practicing, helping out in the QB room, doing scout-team stuff. … I’m enjoying what I’m doing right now. Like I said, obviously I’d like to be out there, but P.J. played his ass off and deserves to be out there again. … So I’m doing whatever I can to help this team win.”

Walker struggled in the loss to the Rams but completed 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Bucs.

Mayfield returned to practice last week and was not listed on Thursday’s injury report. Interim head coach Steve Wilks said earlier this week that Mayfield should be healthy enough to be the backup quarterback Sunday against the Falcons. He’s split time this week in practice between the No. 2 QB and scout-team QB duties.

The Panthers were 1-4 in Mayfield’s five starts this season after coming over via trade from the Browns in July. He’s completed 84 of 153 passes (54.9%) for 962 yards, four TDs and four interceptions, also adding 40 yards rushing and a score.

Mayfield is scheduled to be a free agent this spring.

TAMPA BAY

Head coach Todd Bowles is going to take a deep dive into the Buccaneers – although to be honest a 27-22 loss to the Ravens would seem to be a pretty fair representation of the relative strength of the two teams at the moment.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles did not rule out the possibility of making changes to his coaching staff after Tampa Bay lost to Baltimore on Thursday night to fall to 3-5 on the season. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Asked if he would make changes to his coaching staff, Bowles didn’t say no.

“We’re going to talk about everything this weekend,” Bowles said. “When you’re not playing well, everything is on the table for us and we’ll discuss that as a staff.”

That answer is a departure from Bowles. After Sunday’s loss to the Panthers, Bowles was asked the same question and answered flatly, “I would not consider changing coaching.”

But another loss has Bowles considering everything. The Buccaneers were widely viewed as Super Bowl contenders heading into the season, but they’ve now lost four of their last five games.

“We have a lot of work to do as coaches,” Bowles said.

And it’s possible that some of the coaches who were with the Bucs on Thursday night will not be with the Bucs the rest of the season.

Setting the Buccaneers back further is the probable loss of DE SHAQ BARRETT to an Achilles injury.

– –

Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com on QB TOM BRADY:

Tom Brady ran for it.

Even in Brady’s prime, running was rarely a good idea. At 45, it was just not happening. It was third-and-10 at Baltimore’s 13-yard line on Thursday night. The Buccaneers were in desperate need of any spark on offense. Brady didn’t have anyone open so he rolled left, then he started to run. Three Ravens were on top of him by the time he got a yard downfield.

That play summed up the 2022 Brady experience. It looks like the same Brady, but it’s not. Brady presumably believes he can do practically everything that made him great the past two decades, but there are signs of his play slipping. He’s still incredible for a 45-year-old quarterback, but he’s still 45 and it shows sometimes. Brady isn’t the same quarterback he was at his peak or even last season. It had to eventually happen.

The Buccaneers were ragged on offense again on Thursday night. The Buccaneers lost their third straight game, falling to the Baltimore Ravens 27-22. The scoreboard looked better for the Bucs when they scored a touchdown in the final minute. Before that they had eight straight possessions without a touchdown. The Buccaneers fell to 3-5.

Brady went 302 consecutive starts without a three-game losing streak, almost doubling the previous record of 155 by Joe Montana according to the Amazon Prime Video broadcast. His last three-game losing streak was in 2002, when Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was 5 years old.

This season is bringing a few firsts in Brady’s 23rd season. Many of them aren’t the milestones Brady was chasing when he decided to end his brief retirement.

Mike Jones of The Athletic does a psychic analysis of Brady:

For the better part of two decades, he has been the paradigm of stability. But now, at 45 and with everything deteriorating around him both on and off the field, nothing is coming as easily for him as it once did. As a result, Brady is facing his toughest challenge yet.

We knew that at some point, Father Time would manage to reel in the most decorated player in NFL history. It was inevitable that if he played long enough — and now he’s in his 23rd season — his star would eventually fade.

But Brady hasn’t exhibited signs of significant physical decline. This isn’t Peyton Manning, who by the end of his career struggled to chuck the ball 15 yards downfield. Brady can still sling it around at any depth necessary.

Instead, Brady’s demise appears mental in nature. The once-unmatched edge that fueled his remarkable consistency and discipline, win-at-all-cost nature and his success appears to have waned.

Brady of course would deny this. He’ll tell you that the competitive fire burns just as strong. But the uncharacteristic manner in which Brady in 2022 has tried to straddle personal and football life would suggest otherwise. It’s almost as if Brady may have unconsciously underestimated how hard it is to maintain that mental edge after the door of retirement had been opened.

When he ended his stunning retirement after just 40 days, Brady did so under unique conditions that seemingly defy the all-in approach he long demanded of himself and his teammates. But he also may have underestimated the supporting aspects that helped facilitate his success, while also overestimating his singular ability to maintain excellence.

All the while, Brady — amid rumors that he had a hand in Bruce Arians’ abrupt retirement, and that his decision to return came only after a failed plot to join forces with Sean Payton in Miami, and while rumors of marital turmoil also swirled, and after repeated sideline temper tantrums, and as teammates have had to answer questions about his commitment following his mid-training camp sabbatical, or midweek off days and his missing a Week 6 walkthrough to attend Robert Kraft’s wedding — this season has become the Buccaneer’s biggest distraction.

All of the off-field elements only punctuate the uncharacteristic struggles Brady has encountered on the field.

When have we ever seen Brady flounder in high-pressure situations like the Week 3 scenario at the goal line against the Packers? A delay of game penalty on a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt and subsequent game-losing incompletion? Unfathomable for Brady, who has made his living by thriving in such crucial situations.

Outduked by Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky at Pittsburgh, whose Steelers Brady has dominated for his career? A loss the following week to a Carolina team in full disarray and quarterbacked by former XFL passer P.J. Walker, while Brady failed to direct a single touchdown drive? Unheard of.

But considering Brady’s modified approach to the game, and the changes around him, should it come as a surprise?

After leveraging his way back to the Buccaneers after his brief retirement, it appeared as if Brady got everything he wanted — ridding himself of conflicts with Arians, and gaining greater freedom to tend to his personal life. But he may sabotage himself and his team in the process.

Brady will most certainly go down as the GOAT. No quarterback has come close to producing a similarly legendary resume. But for the majority of his career — and certainly in his greatest campaigns — Brady ranked among the most adequately supported players in league history as well.

A tireless work ethic, obsessive study habits, killer instinct and freakish genetics have certainly helped Brady achieve greatness. But the genius of Bill Belichick and Arians and the backing of elite defenses also made life easier for Brady. So, too, did the Patriots’ pass-catchers. Despite largely classifying as middling without Brady, they understood the importance of precision and routinely got to the right spots at the right time and thus gave their quarterback the freedom to simply do his job without having to provide the wizardry this Buccaneers team badly needs.

Gone is the kind of coach who will fuel Brady by denying him special treatment (Belichick) or further motivate him by freely calling him out publicly for shortcomings (Arians).

Without Arians’ aggressive and innovative fingerprints all over things, Brady and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich have struggled to continue the explosiveness of the two previous seasons. And although a great and well-respected defensive mind, Todd Bowles lacks the style that will simultaneously frustrate and ignite Brady’s thirst for success.

Gone are the security blankets Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown, who followed the quarterback from New England. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin certainly remain, each boasting big-play ability. But they are also guilty of underachieving off and on. Brady can’t consistently count on them or any of Tampa Bay’s other complementary targets to consistently run the crisp mid-range routes that lead to the chain-moving completions that he’s always excelled at delivering.

While playing behind an offensive line that retirements, free agency departures and injuries initially reduced to a game of musical chairs, Brady has appeared far less confident. With the midpoint of the season approaching, the play of the line actually hasn’t been all that bad in recent weeks, regardless of the perception Brady’s obscenity-laced tirades create. Yet, the quarterback still appears to lack the trust necessary to hang tough in the pocket and make big throws.

Brady certainly doesn’t deserve all of the blame for the regression of the offense. Some things, like injury and roster turnover, are out of anyone’s control. But it’s hard not to wonder if some of the lost offensive cohesion and chemistry can be traced to Brady’s absences during those times that he has opted for a better work-life balance.

Displays of a fiery personality and frustrations in the heat of competition are not new for Brady. Brady has called teammates to task on the sidelines before, even getting into shouting matches with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

But this year, Brady’s outbursts — a destroyed tablet or two here, tongue-lashing there — are more noticeable because improved results haven’t followed. These tantrums feel more like the antics of a man who feels everything slipping from his grasp as time runs out.

What the DB noticed Thursday is Brady choosing to push the ball deep on 3^rd downs, not content to move the chains, sometimes with success, sometimes not.

We also noticed passes, thrown with purpose, that did not end up near the intended receiver.  Some could be miscommunication and the benefit would usually go to Brady with all his experience.  But some, high at the back of the end zone, don’t have that excuse.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

There is a lot to like about SoFi Field – but that does not include the playing surface.  Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com of ESPN.com:

When asked whether he has a preference for playing on a turf field compared to a natural grass field, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp didn’t hesitate.

“It’s not even close,” Kupp said Thursday. “I know there’s stuff going around the league right now, there’s some issues. Hands down, we should be playing on grass. Hands down, we should be on grass. And that’s all I’m going to say.”

The question about playing on artificial turf was asked after Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson each left Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium with knee injuries, both on noncontact plays.

SoFi Stadium, where both the Rams and Chargers play, has an artificial turf field. Fourteen of the NFL’s 30 stadiums use an artificial surface.

Kupp was then asked if the turf at SoFi Stadium was any different, and he quickly replied, “We should be on grass.”

On Wednesday, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the issue is something “we definitely need to look at this really seriously in the offseason again.”

“It’s been a discussion before,” Carroll said. “We’ve got to do what’s right, and we’ve got to do what’s safest for the players, and we’ve got to make those choices. I would pound on the drum for that.”

In 2020, after San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan complained about the artificial surface at MetLife Stadium, NFL Players Association president JC Tretter called for all NFL teams to switch to natural grass to reduce the risk of injury.

SEATTLE

Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com has a long and interesting story up now about QB GENO SMITH’s one-game stint that broke Eli Manning’s starting streak.  He talked to Eli who had this to say about Geno’s current success:

“I’m not surprised,” Manning said. “Geno was always talented. Had a big arm. Could make all the throws. Looked down the field well. Threw the ball down the field extremely well.

“Like any quarterback it’s just learning defense, getting comfortable within your offense, just kind of understanding where your problems are.”

It took almost four years to get another start, a remarkable eight years between being a full-time starter with the Jets and the Seahawks. He’ll face one of his toughest matchups of the season when he hosts his former team Sunday in the 6-1 Giants.

“I don’t have any remorse or anything,” Smith said. “Just looking forward to going out there and competing again.”

DENVER

QB RUSSELL WILSON will be good to go in London on Sunday.  Myles Simmons ofESPN.com:

Russell Wilson is indeed ready to rock.

Via multiple reporters, Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett said after Friday’s practice in London that, barring any setbacks, Wilson will start at quarterback against the Jaguars on Sunday.

Hackett noted that Wilson was a full participant in the last session of the week. Wilson was limited on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hackett also said there was some thought to holding Wilson out on Sunday given that the Broncos have their bye next week to give him extra time to heal. But that apparently wasn’t given too much consideration.

“You talk to Russ and mention that, it’s not a great discussion,” Hackett said, via Mike Klis of KUSA. “But in the end, if he can go, we want him to be able to play.”

Wilson missed last week’s game against the Jets after suffering the hamstring injury late in the Week Six overtime loss to the Chargers.

In his first season with the Broncos, Wilson has completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,442 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

KANSAS CITY

The Chiefs believe they can unlock the mysteries of WR KADARIUS TONEY – a Dave Gettleman draft pick now shown the door by the Giants.  This at ESPN.com:

The Kansas City Chiefs acquired wide receiver Kadarius Toney from the New York Giants for two 2023 draft picks on Thursday.

Headed to the Giants are a third-round conditional draft pick (Kansas City received the pick when the Chicago Bears hired Ryan Poles as their general manager earlier this year) and a 2023 sixth-round selection.

The Giants said the trade is pending Toney passing a physical.

Toney never seemed to be on solid ground with the new regime led by coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. Other teams were under the impression that Toney’s services could be had for the right price this offseason, even though Schoen insisted he never “shopped” the talented receiver.

“We just thought it was for the best of the team,” Daboll said. “Wish Kadarius well.”

Taken in the first round by the Giants in the 2021 NFL draft, Toney is under contract through the 2024 season with a fifth-year option for the 2025 season.

Toney has missed the Giants’ past five games because of hamstring injuries. He told reporters last week that his return has been delayed because he believes he tried to come back from an injury to his right hamstring too soon and injured his left hamstring.

Toney originally injured his right hamstring during training camp. He tweaked that same hamstring in a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers. The hamstring injury to his left leg occurred during an Oct. 5 practice.

The Chiefs have a bye this week, giving Toney another week to recover.

On Thursday, however, Toney indicated on Twitter that he isn’t injured.

“That Joke Would’ve Been Funny If I Was Actually Hurt Still Lol…..Irrelevant people don’t get updates,” he wrote.

The tweet was later deleted.

Toney was of the belief that his hamstring was good, multiple sources told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. But the Giants wanted to play it conservatively, especially considering they’re on a bye next week.

There was a meeting Wednesday about his health. As it turned out, Toney was traded the following morning.

The Giants had wanted to make sure he was healthy for the stretch run, which includes three games in 11 days after the bye.

“Definitely. He was definitely, I would say, probably a little bit ahead of me [health-wise], since he was out before me,” said wide receiver Kenny Golladay, who is dealing with a knee injury and had been rehabbing on a side field with Toney. “If he says he was healthy, he was healthy. I can’t really judge how his body is.”

Giants players were preparing to walk out for practice Thursday when they saw Toney get changed into street clothes. At that point, many of them found out he was traded. Daboll told the players at the start of practice and explained it as doing what was best for the team, a source told Raanan.

Toney has two catches for zero yards this season. He has had a rough start to his NFL career, missing 12 of a possible 24 career games because of a variety of injuries and a bout with COVID-19. He has 41 catches for 420 yards in the 12 games he has played.

He joins a wide receiver room in Kansas City that was revamped in the offseason after Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins. JuJu Smith-Schuster (494 yards) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (369 yards) were added in free agency and are ranked second and third in receiving yards for the Chiefs this season, behind star tight end Travis Kelce (553 yards).

The Chiefs appear set with their top three receivers for the remainder of this season. Smith-Schuster and Valdes-Scantling each went over 100 yards and Mecole Hardman scored three touchdowns in Sunday’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

In the longer term, the Chiefs have work to do at the position. Smith-Schuster is on a one-year contract, and Hardman is in the final season of the rookie contract he signed in 2019.

The acquisition of Toney continues a recent pattern for the Chiefs under general manager Brett Veach. Over the past few years, the Chiefs have brought in other high-round draft picks at minimal cost, including linebacker Reggie Ragland, offensive lineman Cameron Erving and cornerback DeAndre Baker.

BALTIMORE

Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic on the Ravens’ win in Tampa:

The Ravens have now won consecutive games for the first time all year. They are 5-3 and in first place in the AFC North as they approach the unofficial midpoint of the season. They now have just one game, a Monday night road matchup with the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 7, in a span of 23 days, perfect timing given their litany of injuries.

They entered the game without starting defensive leaders Calais Campbell (illness) and Josh Bynes (quad). Outside linebackers Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo are still working their way back. In the first half, they lost Andrews and Bateman to what Harbaugh said were non-long-term injuries. Then, their top running back Gus Edwards strained his hamstring in the fourth quarter.

By the time Edwards limped off, the Ravens were on the verge of putting the struggling Buccaneers away. And it was Jackson, surrounded by an unheralded and often maligned group of offensive skill position players, who did the honors.

“Shoot, playing for so long, you get a rhythm of the game and you kind of get a feeling of the guys across from you, and you know when it’s time for them to tap out,” said Ravens right tackle Morgan Moses. “That was me just feeling out the game, feeling the D-linemen, like, ‘Hey, man, this an opportunity where we could take advantage of it.’ And I think we executed it well.”

When he wasn’t taking care of his blocking assignment, Moses spent the second half yelling toward the Ravens’ sideline, imploring the coaches to keep running the ball. In the disaster that was the first half, the Ravens ran the ball just seven times for 27 yards against a Buccaneers defense that was obliterated by the Carolina Panthers running game a week earlier. Jackson, meanwhile, had 30 passing attempts and could hardly be blamed if he spent halftime icing his right arm.

In the second half, the Ravens rushed 26 times for 204 yards. And Jackson made the throws that were required of him. He went 8-for-8 for 94 yards and two touchdowns over the final 30 minutes. His 5-yard touchdown pass to Kenyan Drake on the team’s first drive of the second half tied the game at 10. His 10-yard pass to Likely in the back of the end zone with five seconds left in the third quarter gave the Ravens a lead they would not relinquish.

For as much as he and the offense struggled in the first half, Jackson played a near-perfect final two periods, setting the tone with a 25-yard run on the Ravens’ first play of the third quarter. For the game, he completed 27 of 38 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns and ran nine times for 43 yards.

“Lamar is truly a home run just waiting to happen,” said Ravens right guard Kevin Zeitler. “You never know when it’s going to come. It could be the darkest night ever, and it’s like, boom, he is the sun coming, just like that. He’s awesome to play (with). I’m glad I’m on his team.”

There were other standouts, too. After a dynamic preseason, Likely entered the game with just 10 catches for 104 yards, He stepped up after Andrews’ departure and finished as his team’s leading receiver with six receptions for 77 yards and a score, along with the game-securing onside kick recovery.

“It was really just a confidence thing,” said Likely. “It was Rashod and Mark just looking the offense in the eyes and telling (us), ‘Y’all got this. Whether we’re there or not, y’all got this.’”

Demarcus Robinson had his best game as a Raven with six catches for 64 yards. Devin Duvernay had 64 all-purpose yards and put the exclamation point on his night with a 15-yard touchdown run on third-and-1 about midway through the final quarter that gave the Ravens a 24-13 lead.

“A lot of people don’t know about our guys, but I feel like we do,” Jackson said. “We do a lot in practice, and those guys show it each and every day. They got an opportunity tonight, and they showed up.”

The Ravens were the first team to rush for more than 200 yards in a half this season and the first since – the Ravens rushed for 243 in the 2^nd half of the last game of the 2000 season (38-3 over Cincinnati on 1/3/21).

CINCINNATI

It appears like the Bengals have only recently discovered the severity of an injury to WR Ja’MARR CHASE.  John Breech of CBSSports.com on his impending trip to IR:

The Bengals’ high-flying offense could be taking a step back over the next few weeks and that’s because Ja’Marr Chase is expected to miss some time due to a hip injury.

Although it’s unclear how long Chase will be out, the All-Pro wide receiver is expected to miss Monday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL.com. If Chase only misses one or two games, that would arguably be the best-case scenario for the Bengals, because there’s at least one report that he could be out for more than a month.

According to ESPN.com, the injury could sideline the Bengals star anywhere from four to six weeks, and if it’s the longer end of that window, Chase would be out until December. Chase was held out of practice on Thursday and at the time, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said it was because the hip was “sore,” but clearly, it’s more than that.

With Chase possibly staring at a six-week absence, the Bengals could place him on injured reserve. However, if they go that route, then Chase will have to sit out at least four games, so they’ll only put him on IR if they feel like there’s no way he can make it back inside of a month. The Bengals have a bye in Week 10, so if Chase sat out in Week 8 (Browns) and Week 9 (Panthers), that would give him four weeks to heal and he’d only miss two games in that span.

This is a devastating injury for a Bengals offense that was starting to find its footing over the past few weeks after a slow start to the season. The Bengals have won four of their past five games and a big reason for that is because of Chase, who has absolute gone off over his past two games with at least 130 receiving yards and two touchdowns in each game, which were both Bengals wins.

The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year originally injured the hip in Week 6 against the Saints. During that 30-26 win, Chase caught seven passes for 132 yards, including a 60-yard game-winning touchdown that came with under two minutes to play. In the days after that game, Chase showed up on the injury report for the first time all season and he even sat out of the team’s Wednesday practice in the lead up to their Week 7 game against the Falcons.

Against Atlanta, Chase caught eight passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. However, he did most of his damage in the first half, which is notable, because he appeared to reinjure his hip with just 20 seconds to go until halftime.

Although Chase returned to the game in the second half, he wasn’t very active.

The absence of Chase means that Taylor is going to have to completely revamp the Bengals offense. The Bengals have the weapons to succeed without Chase, but there’s no guarantee that will happen. One thing the Bengals will need to lean on in Chase’s absence is Joe Mixon and the running game, but that could be trouble, because the ground game has been nonexistent this year (The Bengals are averaging just 87.4 yards per game on the ground, which is fifth-worst in the NFL).

INDIANAPOLIS

From a Draft Kings standpoint, Matthew Berry of NBCSports.com thinks young QB SAM EHLINGER will prosper:

Ehlinger is taking over at quarterback for the Colts — with this announcement coming after Week 8 pricing was set. Frank Reich said on Wednesday that the Colts don’t want to be a run-heavy offense. They want to be a balanced offense, which should lead to Ehlinger getting a respectable number of pass attempts while also being put in a position to leverage his mobility.

It would be surprising if Ehlinger (33 rushing touchdowns in college) came out of this game with fewer than six rush attempts. And his ceiling on the ground is high relative to his price tag (8% of the salary cap on DraftKings; 10% on FanDuel). He’s sure to be popular this week, which makes him one of the key decision points on the slate. If you build with Ehlinger, be conscious of what you’re doing differently in other spots on your roster. If you build without Ehlinger, make sure you’re grabbing a QB who has the upside to significantly outperform whatever Ehlinger does on Sunday.

BUFFALO

Here is the claim from CJ Golson that WR ODELL BECKHAM, Jr. will be joining VON MILLER in Buffalo:

CJGolson

BREAKING: Per source, free agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. is expected to join the Buffalo #Bills in late November when he is fully healed from a torn ACL he suffered in February. An incentive-laden two-year deal is agreed upon in principle already and will be official in November.

THIS AND THAT

PLAYERS UNDER PRESSURE

From a Fantasy perspective, two QBs traded for each other head a list from Eric Karabell of ESPN.com of Players Under Pressure:

Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff were officially traded for each other on March 18, 2021, and their debut seasons with their new teams couldn’t have been more different. Stafford won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, while Goff went 3-10-1 in his 14 starts with the Detroit Lions. Pretty clear winner there, without question, and fantasy football managers made the former a borderline fantasy starter for 2022 and, of course, ignored the latter. A month into the season, however, things changed, and now a month after that, fantasy managers are losing interest in both quarterbacks.

Stafford is the third-most-dropped quarterback in ESPN standard leagues, behind Washington Commanders flop Carson Wentz and even bigger Denver Broncos flop Russell Wilson, and both of them are injured. Perhaps Stafford isn’t healthy, either. Statistically, which is what matters to us, he certainly is not healthy. Stafford has six touchdown passes in six games, but half came in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s his lone performance with as many as 12 fantasy points! He has eight interceptions. He’s not likely to get benched anytime soon, but for fantasy purposes, he’s on the hot seat.

For sad perspective, Wilson, one of the noted busts of the season, averages three more fantasy points per game than Stafford does. Matt Ryan, just demoted from starting for the Indianapolis Colts so an unknown sixth-round draft pick from 2021 can throw his first NFL passes, averages more. Stafford has been terrible, and he faces what normally is a strong San Francisco 49ers defense in a critical Week 8 game this week. The Rams lost at San Francisco a few weeks ago, scoring nine points on three field goals. The NFC West remains up for grabs for Stafford and his colleagues.

Meanwhile, few wanted Goff in drafts, but they quickly pivoted in his direction after he led all passers with 33 points in Week 4. He also scored 26 points in Week 2. Goff became the most-added quarterback! Now he joins Stafford on the most-dropped list. Things change quickly in the NFL. Goff scored 5.86 points in Week 5, and then coming off his bye week, he scored a paltry 1.52 points in Sunday’s quiet, feeble loss to the Dallas Cowboys. This week, the Lions host the Miami Dolphins.

Dump ’em both, right? Well, the problem for fantasy managers is there really aren’t 10 quarterbacks worthy of being among the top 10 in the rest-of-season rankings, and two stalwarts are on bye this week (Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert). Perhaps the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott will deserve it, or Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa. Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Tom Brady and fellow future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers don’t deserve it. Entering the season, it looked as if Stafford deserved it, and a month in, Goff was pretty popular as well. Today, not so much for either. This is a big week for both.

Stafford is rostered in 65% of ESPN leagues and Goff comes in at just under 47%, so despite myriad investors moving on, many remain hopeful, and for legitimate reason. Stafford threw for 4,880 yards and 41 touchdowns last season, the second-best numbers in his long career. Give him a running game (please) and some wide receiver depth and perhaps he does it again. Goff surpassed 4,600 yards in 2018 and 2019, and really, the Lions have surrounded him with playmakers, arguably better ones than what Stafford has other than WR Cooper Kupp, but they haven’t been healthy lately.

Quarterbacks tend to get the headlines for good and bad play, and that’s the case with Stafford and Goff, but they need help. What is going on with Cam Akers? It doesn’t seem as if the Rams want him around, but who runs the football? Is it Darrell Henderson Jr.? Rookie Kyren Williams, a fifth-round pick from Notre Dame, might play in Week 9. He might play a lot. And we can all admit Allen Robinson II wasn’t a good fit with the Rams. He is not Odell Beckham Jr. Lots of hot seats with the Rams.

Meanwhile, what if D’Andre Swift, who has missed three games because of a shoulder injury, struggles to return to full health all season? Let’s just deal with this week. Fantasy managers figured he’d be a borderline top-10 option, but he’d need volume to appease investors. Amon-Ra St. Brown rocketed to WR1 status after Week 2 when people realized he had tied the league mark for consecutive games with eight or more receptions, including late last season. He scored nine touchdowns in that span. He was matchup-proof. Then came a sprained ankle and, this past Sunday, one target before he suffered a concussion.

Big games from the Rams’ and Lions’ offenses this weekend would change a lot of minds. It doesn’t mean fantasy managers must grab Stafford and Goff if they’re available in their leagues, but it wouldn’t take too much to make it worthwhile, either.

Quarterback

A mere six quarterbacks have outscored Seattle Seahawks surprise Geno Smith this season, but many more have if you look at just the past fortnight. Smith has scored 25 points combined the past two weeks. It’s a big game against Daniel Jones and the Giants this week. … I don’t think Prescott is on the fantasy hot seat yet. He gets more than two games. … What about the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo? Not exactly thriving for his team or ours. Seems doubtful backup Brock Purdy gets a chance, but then again, who thought if Matt Ryan got benched that it would be untested Sam Ehlinger and not Super Bowl winner Nick Foles replacing him? … Whoever starts for the New England Patriots is clearly on the hot seat.

Running back

The New York Jets traded for James Robinson in the wake of Breece Hall tearing a knee, so we should learn if Michael Carter is a legit flex option this week. Or not. But Carter is more on the hot seat than Robinson. … Buffalo is really tough to run on, so don’t expect Packers starter Aaron Jones to get his yards that way. He’d better get the targets, though. … Can Broncos “starter” Melvin Gordon III be on the hot seat every week? Latavius Murray is not on the hot seat. Odd situation, but Gordon is the one being dropped. … The Patriots’ Damien Harris should see more volume this week than last, but what if he doesn’t?

Wide receiver/tight end

Cardinals speedster Rondale Moore caught a combined 13 passes in Weeks 5 and 6, then one last week with DeAndre Hopkins back. It might not be a coincidence, either. … Similarly, Hunter Renfrow of the Las Vegas Raiders caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards last season when Davante Adams wasn’t there. Another quiet week and fantasy managers might give up. … Colts rookie Alec Pierce is on the most-added list, but he had a quiet Week 7. A quiet Week 8 gets him dropped. … Washington’s Curtis Samuel scored touchdowns in the first two games but not since. With Terry McLaurin looking good again, Samuel needs a big game. … It might not be their fault, but Atlanta Falcons rookie WR Drake London and second-year TE Kyle Pitts are going to drop off fantasy rosters soon if they don’t get more target love. … Anyone else tiring of Raiders TE Darren Waller (hamstring)? Great over 16 games in 2020, and not so great over 16 games (in 24 game opportunities) since. Discouraging.

TRADES TO CONSIDER

Mike Jones and Jeff Howe of The Athletic offer six trades that make sense to them:

The biggest name is already off the NFL trade market, with the 49ers landing running back Christian McCaffrey last week. And the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs each made splashes this week, with Philadelphia adding Bears pass-rusher Robert Quinn to an already impressive defense, and the Chiefs acquiring the electric Kadarius Toney from the Giants.

But plenty of intrigue remains as Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline draws near.

A number of anticipated contenders have faltered during the initial stretch of the season. These teams might look to the trade market to help themselves get back on track.

So, as we wait to see how things unfold, we’re kicking around ideas on deals that may or may not happen — but, in our opinion, should.

The Athletic’s Jeff Howe and Mike Jones came up three proposals apiece. One writer details why each deal makes sense, and the other explains why it might not.

Mike Jones’ three trade proposals

Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks to Packers for fifth-round pick

Jones’ why: Aaron Rodgers and the Packers desperately miss Davante Adams, and there’s no one on the trade market who can fully fill those shoes. But right now, Rodgers badly needs a veteran wide receiver who understands the concepts of the offense and where he is expected to be at all times. Cooks — stranded in Houston, where the Texans will likely vie for the top pick of the draft — can help. He played in the same offense for Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s good buddy Sean McVay while a member of the Rams in 2018 and 2019 (LaFleur served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2017). At 29, Cooks still has plenty left in the tank while coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. In all, Cooks has topped the 1,000-yard mark in six of the last seven seasons during stops in New Orleans, New England, L.A. and Houston. While some wide receivers struggle to find comfort with a new team midseason, Cooks would have a good chance of making a near-instant impact.

Howe’s why not: The last time the Packers traded for a wide receiver, it involved Rodgers’ friend Randall Cobb. Part of the Packers’ offensive problems this season has been Rodgers’ lack of trust with the young receivers. So the question is whether Rodgers and Cooks can create enough immediate chemistry to make a tangible difference, with the Packers essentially in win-now mode for the final 10 games. That doesn’t mean Green Bay should wave the white flag and ignore all potential receiver acquisitions, but there should be some level of skepticism involved.

Patriots offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn to Rams for middle-round pick

Jones’ why: The defending Super Bowl champion Rams have struggled a good deal this season, and a lot of that has to do with injuries along their offensive line. Through six games, Matthew Stafford has been sacked 22 times (third-highest total in the league), and the Rams average just 70.5 rushing yards per game (31st in the NFL). After losing left tackle Joe Noteboom to a torn Achilles tendon last week, the Rams’ sense of urgency to fortify the line ratcheted up that much more. Wynn, the 23rd pick of the 2018 draft, spent the last three seasons at left tackle for New England but fell out of favor with the coaching staff. A trade to the Rams could benefit all parties involved.

Howe’s why not: Wynn is having his worst season in New England, although it’s fair to wonder how much the move to right tackle has thrown him off. But even with that in mind, the Patriots would have to be comfortable with Marcus Cannon and Yodny Cajuste at right tackle for the final 10 games. They also have to operate under the likelihood left tackle Trent Brown will miss time, as he hasn’t made it through a full season since 2018 (one of just two times in his eight-year career that’s happened). With the Patriots’ QB situation off the rails at the moment, a move that depletes the offensive line — regardless of how Patriots fans feel about Wynn — may not be in their best interest.

Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to Ravens for two middle-round picks

Jones’ why: There’s no way the Ravens will keep pace with the Chiefs and the Bills if they don’t get Lamar Jackson some more consistent and impactful weapons. Jeudy, who has averaged 17 yards or better per catch in two of his three NFL seasons, definitely helps fill this need. Jeudy has been mentioned as a potential target for Green Bay, but the Packers brass and Rodgers may prefer a veteran. The Giants and Rams also have been mentioned as potential destinations for Jeudy, but Baltimore and Jackson need someone like him in the worst way.

Howe’s why not: I’m all in on this one. I can’t even give a “why not.” The Ravens’ offense has a heavy emphasis on game-breaking plays, either with Jackson or the athletic skill players, and Jeudy would add to that. It could also be a nice negotiating tactic for general manager Eric DeCosta to show Jackson they’ll make moves to improve the offensive talent around him. Jeudy hasn’t taken off in Denver, but who really has since he got there in 2020? He has made a handful of plays that validated the talent the football world saw from him at Alabama, and he’d have a terrific chance to resurrect that potential in Baltimore.

Jeff Howe’s three trade proposals

Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson to Bucs for 2023 first-round pick, 2024 fourth-round pick

Howe’s why: OK, so there’s no reason to believe Hockenson is on the trade block, but this would be a tough offer for the Lions to ignore. They already have the inside track on a top-five pick with their own draft selection, which should be used on a quarterback, and another first-rounder from the Rams. Throw in a third opening-round pick, and the Lions would control the draft board. Maybe they’d even get lucky enough to get a quarterback and — possibly through another trade — Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson to pair up with Aidan Hutchinson. For the Bucs, their offensive issues can’t be traced to a singular spot, but the lack of a star-caliber tight end certainly hasn’t helped. Hockenson is under contract through his fifth-year option in 2023, so that’s important, too. Aside from getting their offense going as soon as possible, the Bucs also have to be thinking about Tom Brady’s future. Brady, an impending free agent who can’t be tagged, could simply choose to retire, or maybe he’ll be concerned that the offense can’t be fixed in its current state and look to play elsewhere. It’s conceivable the addition of Hockenson could play a part in swaying that decision.

Jones’ why not: That’s a steep price, and considering that they may have to use a first-rounder on a quarterback next season, I don’t see the Bucs forking over that much. Yes, a tight end of Hockenson’s caliber would help. But not at that price.

Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb to Cowboys for 2023 and 2024 third-round pick

Howe’s why: The Cowboys boast the league’s most tenacious defense, and Chubb might be the most dangerous defender on the trade block. Dallas will remain as dangerous as Micah Parsons allows them to be, but the addition of Chubb would create yet another headache for opposing offenses. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could build the pass rush around DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong and Chubb, then give Parsons even more freedom to move around. As for the Broncos, Chubb is still worth building around, but their defense will remain solid regardless and they need to recoup draft assets after the Russell Wilson trade. If they don’t believe Chubb will sign an extension after the season — or if they believe he’ll exceed their budget — it makes sense to move him now.

Jones’ why not: Man, an already beastly Cowboys defense gets even more dangerous, huh? I like it, but there could be even more desperate teams in pursuit of Chubb. One? The Rams, who still badly miss Von Miller and would like to add a pass-rusher at the deadline. They don’t have a first-round pick to dangle, but they do have a second- and a third-rounder in 2023.

Falcons center Matt Hennessy, Ravens guard Ben Cleveland, Bengals guard Jackson Carman, Patriots right tackle Isaiah Wynn, Eagles left tackle Andre Dillard to Rams

Falcons receive: 2023 sixth-round pick

Ravens receive: 2023 sixth-round pick

Bengals receive: 2023 seventh-round pick

Patriots receive: 2024 fourth-round pick

Eagles receive: 2024 third-round pick

Howe’s why: We had to search through some old storage closets to find some of the Rams’ spare draft picks, and they do have additional late-round assets due to prior trades. Granted, they might never draft again, but Southern California is a beautiful place to explore in late April anyway. Back on track, no, it’s not realistic to believe the Rams will overhaul their entire offensive line in the middle of the season, but this option exists if they’re willing to go the extremely unconventional route. Their line has let them down during their 3-3 start, and it’s an area that hasn’t gotten enough attention in recent drafts, so they can borrow from future drafts to get themselves heading in a better direction. The Athletic’s beat reporters stockpiled a list of trade candidates last week, and they coincidentally included two tackles, two guards and a center. It all fell into place.

Jones’ why not: Hold up! You just pooh-poohed my Wynn to the Rams idea, so I’m saying absolutely not. Your deal doesn’t work! Haha, in all seriousness, I like the aggressive mindset in completely overhauling the entire offensive line, but I don’t see this happening. I think the Rams would like to address both sides of the ball, and they have only a limited number of draft picks to acquire talent. So, one offensive lineman, yes. And then a pass-rusher, which may require multiple picks to secure.