DETROIT

The NFL clocked WR JAMESON WILLIAMS with a suspension of six games for making permissible bets on college basketball from an impermissible location.  A staggering penalty for a minor infraction (in the DB’s opinion).  Now, NFL Justice shows mercy, making the penalty only slightly less staggering.  Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com:

Tuesday was one of the best days Jameson Williams has experienced in over a month. After returning to the Detroit Lions facility to participate in his second full practice session following a four-game suspension, the second-year receiver was elated to be back.

“Yeah, for sure. I’m not mad,” Williams said of the NFL’s recent revision of the gambling policy. “I’m excited I get to play football and get back to it. I expected it to be longer, but thank God we’re here ’til this day and s—, we’re good.”

During the suspension, originally set for six games, Williams trained twice a day while being away from the team. His work included 100 catches per day on the JUGs machine while at home. Williams was punished for mobile betting on non-NFL games from a club facility in 2022, a policy he says he wasn’t aware of beforehand.

He acknowledged being “happy” the NFL changed the rules but wouldn’t elaborate further on his emotions regarding the punishment or the topic of athletes gambling.

“It’s rules you’ve got to follow and that’s really just the main thing. It’s rules you’ve got to follow,” he told ESPN. “If it’s rule set, you’ve got to follow them. That’s it.”

Under the new policy, betting on non-NFL sports while at a team facility or on team-related travel will result in a two-game suspension for a first violation, six games for a second and at least one year for a third. Williams had to learn a valuable lesson in the process, but says he’s hungry to contribute to the success of the 3-1 Lions, who are coming off a 34-20 prime-time victory over the Green Bay Packers on “Thursday Night Football.”

Detroit is red-hot with six consecutive division wins, the franchise’s longest streak since 1995. The Lions are set to host the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field on Sunday and Williams said he’s “ready to go.”

“I’m real hungry. I just want to keep this going,” Williams said. “It’s something that Detroit haven’t seen in a while. So, we’re just trying to keep this going as a team, play good team ball, play good ball and just get wins.”

Although Williams is expected to be a legitimate deep-ball threat with his blazing speed in the open field, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions staff are trying to establish realistic expectations. The plan is to work him back into the mix slowly and Campbell said, “He can’t play 60 plays” right now because it’s “not smart.”

“He’s got to get his legs under him, and all that stuff and we’ll see what it leads to,” Lions receivers coach Antwaan Randle El said.

Still, Lions quarterback Jared Goff believes Williams will be involved in Sunday’s game “to some extent” against the Panthers. After the offseason work they put in together, Goff said he feels “good with him on really everything we’re running,” not only as a vertical threat.

“He adds a hell of a lot more than that. He can do a lot of different things but yeah, it’s just getting another playmaker for us,” Goff said. “Another guy that can make plays in space and we’re 3-1 and have been pretty good on offense without him, but hopefully he can take us to that next level, but we’ve got room to improve outside of him as well which is exciting.”

Williams, the No. 12 pick of the 2022 NFL draft, returned to practice sporting NFL legend Deion Sanders’ vintage Nike Air DT Max 96 cleats in a flashy green, yellow and white colorway. He has plans to get them changed to Lions Honolulu blue and white for the game against the Panthers.

When questioned about his shoe choice, the response was simple.

“For Prime Time, that’s me, I’m prime time. When I get out on that field, they’re going to see, man,” he told ESPN with a huge smile.

The early enthusiasm surrounding his return doesn’t seem to be too much to handle for the 22-year-old.

“It was never pressure for me because this is what I wanted to be growing up. I had dreams,” Williams said. “My favorite person when I was growing up was Odell [Beckham Jr.]. He had the whole world in his hands, everything, kids was loving him and in high school everybody was a fan of him, so I looked at that and he took hold of me, so that’s what I pictured myself as just being: a real leader to the kids and using this platform to bring everybody up.”

TAMPA BAY

Peter Schrager on the Dudeness of QB BAKER MAYFIELD:

@PSchrags

“Baker is a DUDE and the players saw it right away. He took the OL to the Bahamas during camp after final cuts to golf. He’s spotted around town at dive bars with receivers, with Mike Evans, with Godwin. He’s that guy. He’s the man. And it’s not fake.”

LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Rams signal the return of WR COOPER KUPP could be imminent.  Josh Alper of ProFoootballTalk.com:

Rams head coach Sean McVay said last week that he hoped wide receiver Cooper Kupp would return from injured reserve this week and the first step in that process took place on Wednesday.

The Rams announced that they have designated Kupp for return. Kupp injured his hamstring this summer and aggravated the injury closer to the start of the regular season, which led to the decision to sit him down for the first four weeks of the year.

Kupp will be able to practice for three weeks before the team faces a deadline to activate him or shut him down for the year. He can be activated at any point in the next three weeks and McVay’s comments suggest that the hope it will be sooner rather than later.

The Rams have seen rookie Puka Nacua break out with Kupp out of the lineup and the prospect of teaming the two wideouts against the Eagles this weekend and beyond will be an appealing one to contemplate as they see how Kupp fares in his return to the practice field.

Interesting tweet from NFL Retweet:

@NFLRT

Puka Nacua is currently outpacing the two best Receiving Yard Seasons in NFL history throughout 4 games: 😳

2023 – Puka Nacua – 501 Yards

2021 – Cooper Kupp – 431 Yards

2012 – Calvin Johnson – 423 Yards

What do all of these players have in common?

Matthew Stafford 🎯

DENVER

The Broncos are cutting veteran DL RANDY GREGORY.  Shanna McCarriston of CBSSports.com:

The Denver Broncos are releasing linebacker Randy Gregory on Wednesday, according to ESPN. The team wants “to focus on young players,” per the report. The 30-year-old will now become a free agent. Gregory signed a five-year deal worth up to $70 million during the 2022 offseason. He has appeared in 10 games for Denver.

Gregory recorded nine total tackles and one sack this season.

Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com sees a decline in the Denver defense dating to the trade of EDGE BRADLEY CHUBB:

Despite the comeback in Chicago on Sunday, the Denver Broncos are on unsteady ground.

Through four games, the Broncos defense is last or near-last in every major statistical category. In Football Outsiders’ primary defensive metric DVOA, it’s the worst four-game start since 1981. The Broncos have surrendered 150 points and 1,846 yards in four games.

In 2022, the team didn’t surrender its 150th point until Las Vegas scored its first touchdown in the Raiders’ Nov. 20 win over the Broncos and their opponents didn’t top 1,800 yards until a Week 7 loss to the Jets.

It’s natural to pile it on defensive coordinator Vance Joseph since he was hired by Sean Payton to replace Ejiro Evero, but two of the team’s veteran defensive players — safety Kareem Jackson and defensive tackle Zach Allen — have said there is far more to the struggles and enough blame to around.

“Everybody wants to point the finger at somebody, but you watch that Dolphins tape and you watch the first half (in the win over the Bears), it was guys not tackling or not doing the right assignment, it’s wasn’t a question of the scheme or anything like that,’’ Allen said. “Everybody can say whatever the hell they want to say … I love (Joseph).’’

After the 70-20 meltdown against the Dolphins two weeks ago Jackson said: “We didn’t execute nothing we put in place.’’

So, what happened to the group that held 10 opponents to 20 or fewer points last season? Here are five of the biggest reasons for the change:

The Bradley Chubb effect

Jackson gathered the defense on the sideline in the first half Sunday and delivered some fiery words to the group and has even said, “It’s the same guys.’’

But the truth is, the defense hasn’t been the same since Bradley Chubb got traded to the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 1, 2022.

The Broncos went from allowing 16.5 points per game before the Chubb trade to allowing 25.2 points in the nine games last season after the trade. They’ve allowed 29.0 points per game in the 13 games since Chubb was traded — and 37.5 points per game this season.

Chubb had missed 32 games over four seasons with his own injuries, so his absence certainly isn’t the sole reason — injuries, poor tackling and inability to consistently win the line of scrimmage are others — but he reliably set the edge when he was on the field and the Broncos haven’t fully replaced his impact against the run and pass rush.

Off-off coverage

In an informal survey of multiple opposing personnel executives and coaches over the past two weeks, many observed that defensive backs are giving far too much ground in “off’’ coverage in their zone looks.

Essentially, those evaluators believe the Broncos are trying to cover for an overall speed deficiency and limit the potential for big plays. But the defensive backs have been lined up off receivers with a significant buffer — sometimes even beyond the first-down sticks. And while it’s common to drop the safeties deep to make that work, the front six has to win more often, defenders have to close on the ball carrier and tackle well, often in one-on-one situations.

Teams have feasted on the catch-and-run room — the Broncos are last in the league in net yards per pass attempt allowed at 8.9 and one of only two teams over eight yards per attempt in that category.

Lost nickel value

K’Waun Williams’ ankle injury — he has yet to play since undergoing surgery in training camp — hurt the unit overall. The nickel cornerback who can play with physicality along the line of scrimmage and enough athleticism in pass defense down the field is one of the most difficult players for general managers to find.

When healthy, Williams is considered one of the best.

The Broncos have played more nickel snaps — five defensive backs — including with a four- or five-man fronts, than any other personnel grouping this season.

Opponents, especially Miami and Chicago, which rushed for 350 and 171 yards respectively, repeatedly pounded away at the Broncos’ nickel package in the run game. In two snapshots, the Dolphins’ first four rushing attempts against the Broncos’ nickel in their first drive alone went for 47 yards and a touchdown while Sunday in one six-play span alone the Bears’ had a 29-yard touchdown pass from Justin Fields to DJ Moore and a 24-yard run against the Broncos nickel.

QBs in their comfort zone

The Broncos are currently last in the league in ESPN’s pass rush win rate — 30.5% and by contrast the Cowboys are No. 1 at 60.6% win rate. They sorely miss Baron Browning, still recovering from offseason knee surgery, Frank Clark (hip) is hurt, Randy Gregory has one sack in four games and Allen has half a sack.

The Broncos have seen flashes from Nik Bonitto — a 2.5-sack day with the game-changing forced fumble is just what the Broncos needed in Chicago — and Jonathon Cooper, who scooped up the fumble and scored Sunday. The two have 6.5 of the Broncos’ eight sacks.

But opposing passers have worked in relative serenity for 76.9%, 69%, 89% and 80% completion rates and 13 passing touchdowns.

Bruised confidence

There is a very human element to all of this: when mistakes come, more have followed.

Even former All-Pro and third-year cornerback Pat Surtain II admitted he let a play get away in the Miami fiasco on the 68-yard touchdown from Dolphins backup quarterback Mike White to Robbie Chosen — “I can’t do that,’’ Surtain said.

The Broncos don’t have just one missed tackle on plays, they often have clusters — see any of De’Von Achane’s touchdown runs. They take missteps because they desperately want something to go right, part of the reason Jackson blistered his teammates Sunday in Chicago on a day when the Bears’ previously dormant offense eventually had scored on three of its first four possessions.

“Just trying to stress to the guys, you know, we’ve got to do it the right way,’’ Jackson said. “Anytime we’re detailed and we do things the right way, we’re pretty tough to beat.”

BALTIMORE

Larry Holder of The Athletic makes a point:

It feels like Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are quietly climbing back into being one of the better teams in the AFC. Jackson has started to get his footing within the new offensive scheme, while the defense has overcome some injuries in the secondary. The AFC North hasn’t been quite as strong as originally thought with the Cincinnati Bengals floundering, the Pittsburgh Steelers struggling and the Cleveland Browns dealing with life after Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury.

CINCINNATI

Wow.  A tweet from Scott Kacsmar:

@ScottKacsmar

#NFL Teams with under 50 points and < 1,000 yards of offense thru 4 games since 2006

2023 BENGALS

2019 Dolphins

2019 Jets (Gase)

2018 Cardinals (Rosen)

2017 Dolphins (Gase)

2013 Jaguars

2009 Raiders (JaMarcus)

2008 Browns

2008 Rams

2007 Bills

2006 Raiders (Art Shell)

PITTSBURGH

Stuff is getting real in Pittsburgh with Coach Mike Tomlin making changes and signaling more.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Steelers fans who desperately want to see offensive coordinator Matt Canada blamed for the team’s struggles could eventually get their wish.

Asked on Tuesday about potential changes to coaching, including specifically the person calling the offensive plays, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said, “Not at this juncture, no.”

That’s significant. As Myles Simmons pointed out during Wednesday’s PFT Live, Tomlin isn’t bashful about being blunt. He’s the guy who said, “Never say never, but never” when linked to the job at USC. By saying “not at this juncture,” Tomlin implies that it could happen at some future juncture — and that he knows it.

Tomlin also said that coaching has been “not good enough.”

“I’m always looking at that, but obviously based on the result of that last game, certainly,” he said.

The biggest issue, as Tomlin said, is physicality. He saw the Texans having a lower pad level than the Steelers, making Tomlin believe the Steelers need to practice more frequently in pads.

The desire for physicality also could prompt, in my own view, Tomlin to ask for running back Najee Harris to get more touches. While he doesn’t have the same burst as Jaylen Warren, Harris runs with a purpose and resolve and violence that could inspire the rest of the team to play the same way.

They’ll need more from Harris and Warren, if quarterback Kenny Pickett misses Sunday’s game against the Ravens with a knee injury. And the juncture for change could arrive after the Ravens game, given that the Steelers have a bye in Week 6.

INDIANAPOLIS

Unhappy RB JONATHAN TAYLOR is reportedly at practice with the Colts.  Jaleel Grandberry of HorseshoeHeroes.com:

Jonathan Taylor hasn’t practiced with the Indianapolis Colts since the team prepared for a 2022 Week 15 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Since then, Indy had the largest blown lead in NFL history, Jeff Saturday went from coaching the Colts back to working on TV at ESPN, Indy hired Shane Steichen and drafted Anthony Richardson, and Jonathan Taylor had ankle surgery.

That surgery ultimately kept him out all of the offseason program, and led to Taylor opening the season on the PUP list and having to miss the first four games of the year. Because of that, Taylor hasn’t participated in a practice with Steichen or Richardson. That will change on Wednesday. For the first time of this new era of Colts football, Jonathan Taylor will be an active participant in practice.

Colts announce that Jonathan Taylor will return to practice

Head coach Shane Steichen made this announcement on Monday when speaking with the media. Steichen explained that Taylor is heathy and “super excited” to get back on the field with his teammates. His teammates have battled to a 2-2 record so far this season, and have been a much better team than expected.

With all four teams in the AFC South currently sitting at 2-2, the Colts have a chance to make some noise this year, and Taylor could definitely help with that. Now that he’s set to return to practice, everyone wants to know when he’ll return to the lineup and play in an actual game.

When will Jonathan Taylor play for Colts?

When a player is on the PUP list, teams are allowed to open a 21-day practice window. During that window, the player is eligible to practice with the team, and can be activated at any moment. At the end of the window, the team must decide if the player is going to be activated or sidelined for the rest of the year.

So when it comes to Jonathan Taylor, he could be added to the active roster at any moment, and join the Colts on the field as soon as Sunday, when they take on the Tennessee Titans. In fact, Steichen explained that the plan is to see how Taylor looks in practice, then they’ll go from there, execiting fans by saying there’s a chance that Taylor suits up and plays in Week 5.

Everyone is thrilled to see Jonathan Taylor on the field with Anthony Richardson. Both are dynamic runners, and they could give defenses fits. Add in Zack Moss, who’s been playing well, and it’s easy to envision Shane Steichen scheming up a wicked run game.

Of course, the idea that Taylor is eventually traded is still floating around, but the Colts still really want to keep Taylor, and it seems unlikely that any team is willing to offer a trade package that will make Indy change its mind. That means the NFL world should soon see Jonathan Taylor in a game with the Colts. But first, practice on Wednesday.

TENNESSEE

Just when some (and count the DB among that number) were ready to write off QB RYAN TANNEHILL – he outdueled QB JOE BURROW.  Will Lomas of SI.com:

New Tennessee Titans OC, Tim Kelly, is making sure that the team’s identity on offense is changing and moving into the 21st century.

Derrick Henry had a great game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and he looked like the version of the Henry that Titans fans got glimpses of against the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs last season.

That is fantastic and having a strong running game is something that Mike Vrabel will always preach and believe in. However, too often under Todd Downing, the Tennessee Titans were desperate to get into 12-play drives where they slowly marched down the field and we all know how that worked out.

The buzzwords we heard then was “effecient passing” and “manageable third downs” and you still obviously want those things, but if those are the themes of your offense then you are going to be a pathetic football team.

When someone asks an OC what his goal for the offense is, the answer should always be that the goal is to score points. If you look around the NFL, time of possesion isn’t what wins games, it is just a byproduct of being the team with the lead at the end of the game that is trying to run out the clock.

The best way for that to happen is by creating explosive plays and that is something that the Tennessee Titans are trying to do. Sure, Derrick Henry’s running plays are nice, but nearly every Tennessee Titans scoring drive this season has included an explosive pass play.

That isn’t by accident, Ryan Tannehill has changed his mindset to fit this offense and he has shifted from a game manager into a gunslinger at QB.

Don’t fight it Tennessee Titans fans, ball don’t lie

You might laugh that off when you look at how the Tennessee Titans passing stats stack up against the rest of the NFL.

Sure, the Titans are bottom-5 in passing yards, but that is because they force-feed the running game too often and they have had trouble sustaining drives. They are actually 12th in passing yards per attempt, Tannehill is 2nd in ADOT, and the Titans are T-2nd in pass plays of 40+ yards.

This is an offense that isn’t trying to rope-a-dope defenses anymore, they are trying to throw haymakers because they know that big plays are there to be made. With how much attention defenses still give Derrick Henry, stretching the field helps everyone involved.

Mike Vrabel said on Sunday that the play action doesn’t work without a strong running game, and that isn’t true. I would argue that having the threat of the play action (or just the threat of deep passes in general) allows a running game to run more smoothly.

No matter how many blockers you have on the line of scrimmage, the defense can continue to load the box until you are outmanned. However, if you spread a defense out and they know that you can hit some shots, they are going to be forced to honor that and take guys out of the box.

If you are on the fence about Tim Kelly, it is time to come on over to the right side of history. Through four games, he has walked in with three very good game plans and he rebounded well from his one bad day.

It is early in the season and this team still has a lot to prove, but the one thing that seems to be holding steady is that Ryan Tannehill is ready and willing to be a gunslinger in this offense, and fans need to take notice because it could actually be fun to watch the Tennessee Titans offense again (if the offensive line can just manage to protect the QB).

BUFFALO

Fresh off a big win over the Dolphins, the Bills could be getting EDGE VON MILLER back for their London showdown with Jacksonville.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com:

Von Miller hasn’t played a game in Buffalo or anywhere else in North America since November of 2022.

That won’t change this week, but he might take the field in London when the Bills play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, streaming on NFL+ at 9:30 a.m. ET. That’s his hope, anyhow.

“I don’t know if the fans can expect to see me yet, but if I was a betting man I would say yeah, you can expect to see Von Miller in London,” Miller said in Tuesday’s edition of The Von Cast, via B/R Gridiron.

Miller’s been out of action since Week 12 of last season, when he tore his ACL during a Bills win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

Miller’s 2022 campaign — his first with Buffalo — ended on injured reserve, and his 2023 season has begun on the physically unable to perform list. Head coach Sean McDermott said Monday that Miller would return to practice this week. Once a PUP player resumes practicing, their club has three weeks to decide to activate him to the 53-man roster. NFL Network’s Stacey Dales reported on Tuesday that the Bills will take Miller’s availability day by day and make a decision on his status by the end of the week.

Miller is going to do his darndest to play this week. Nevertheless, it will be no easy task.

“It’s still not a promise that I play in this game,” Miller said. “I want to play in this game. I gotta practice tomorrow and I only get one padded practice. So obviously I got out there and I [need to] look amazing with this padded practice. Cause the difference is, like in training camp, you get multiple padded practices to kinda like figure your game out. I just get one padded practice tomorrow and then we have a shells practice on Thursday and then we fly to London on Thursday night. I really don’t have all the time in the world to like figure it out. I get one padded practice. So hopefully I look amazing tomorrow. I feel really strongly that I will. That’s just how I think I feel like I will be amazing tomorrow and everybody will give me the green light to go play in the game.”

The 34-year-old Miller very much looked like his old havoc-wreaking self in his first 11 games with Buffalo, registering eight sacks and bolstering the Bills’ pass rush. Now the eight-time Pro Bowler is looking to turn in an impressive practice on Wednesday in the hopes of winning over his coaches enough to earn a roster spot and an international plane ticket.

A two-time Super Bowl winner, a former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player and a three-time All-Pro, Miller has had a parade of honors and accolades in his 12-year career. However, he’s never played a game in London and he’d very much like to check that off his career bucket list.

“Who knows how many chances I’ll get to play in London, so I want this to happen,” Miller said. “I want this to happen, I’m pushing for it to happen. I think you can go ahead and really check that box and you guys will see me playing in London.”

London’s calling, and Miller’s aiming to answer.

What is NFL+?

NEW ENGLAND

He’s wanted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but CB J.C. JACKSON is heading back to the Patriots.  Seth Walder grades the trade for ESPN.com:

The New England Patriots acquired cornerback J.C. Jackson in a trade on Wednesday with the Los Angeles Chargers. The teams are swapping 2025 sixth- and seventh-round picks in the deal, with the Patriots getting Jackson and the Chargers’ seventh-rounder in that draft, and the Chargers getting New England’s sixth-rounder.

Jackson was originally drafted by the Pats and played in New England from 2018 to 2021, before signing a five-year, $82.5 million deal with the Chargers in free agency last year. The two teams are reworking Jackson’s remaining $9.33 million salary for 2023 as part of the deal, with New England covering around $1.5 million and the Chargers covering the rest in a signing bonus.

Jackson had 25 interceptions with the Patriots, but he only played in seven games over two seasons in L.A. and hauled in just one pick during that time. He was a healthy scratch in Week 3 and had legal trouble in late-September, when police in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, issued an arrest warrant after the CB failed to pay a $600 fine and attend a four-hour class on reckless driving. He dressed in Week 4 but did not play any snaps.

Let’s break it down and grade the deal for both teams. As we always say: General managers don’t get the benefit of hindsight, so we shouldn’t enjoy that privilege, either. Let’s judge the deal based on the information we have at the time and try to figure out which team won it

Chargers trade CB Jackson to Patriots

Chargers get: 2025 sixth-round pick

Patriots get: Jackson, 2025 seventh-round pick

Grade for the Chargers: C

When Jackson left New England for L.A. in free agency last year, he was considered one of the best corners in football. He allowed minus-27 expected points added (EPA) as the nearest defender in coverage in 2021, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That ranked second among all corners, behind only Atlanta’s A.J. Terrell. He earned second-team All-Pro honors, which helped him land $40 million fully guaranteed from the Chargers. Just 18 months later, the Chargers opted to not play him in his final two games with the team before flipping him back to the Patriots for almost nothing.

Looking back, 2021 wasn’t a flash in the pan season for Jackson. He posted double-digit negative EPA allowed numbers in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. That consistency at the time was impressive given the variant nature of cornerback play from year to year. He had shown a consistent ability to produce. In retrospect, though, a red flag should have been that Jackson had allowed higher than average yards per coverage snaps in both 2020 and 2021, making him reliant on interceptions (of which he recorded 17 those two seasons) to produce his strong numbers.

Jackson was not the same player with the Chargers. He played just five games last season before dislocating his right knee. In total, he allowed 1.9 yards per coverage snap (up from 1.4 the season before) and plus-17 EPA in 2022. Crucially, he had zero interceptions. In his two games this season, things didn’t look much better, with Jackson allowing 118 yards on 40 coverage snaps (3.0 yards per coverage snap), though he did have a pick in Week 1.

After Jackson was made a healthy scratch in Week 3 and then played zero snaps in Week 4, the signs were pointing to a player whose time with the Chargers was headed toward an end. For whatever reason, he didn’t work in Brandon Staley’s defense, and L.A. moved on. In return, the team received a late-round pick swap and $1.5 million in salary relief, because it’s taking on most of Jackson’s 2024 guaranteed salary. That’s it. Signing Jackson ended up being disastrous, as the Chargers paid him $38.5 million for seven games.

Grade for the Patriots: A-

All of the problems with Jackson’s play with the Chargers I outlined in the section above still apply. Then again, that’s why he’s returning to the Patriots for basically nothing.

New England is acquiring Jackson in a time of need, as rookie first-round pick Christian Gonzalez tore his right labrum in Week 4 and is out indefinitely. The Patriots already were banged up at cornerback prior to Gonzalez’s injury.

This deal is absolutely a swing worth taking for New England. It cost very little, and they’re putting a player back in circumstances in which he previously thrived. I don’t know if it was a difference in schematics, comfort, luck or anything else that led to Jackson’s severe drop-off in play, but the Patriots now get a chance to find out if they can get back the old Jackson, who’s still only 27 years old.

If he returns to being even an average player, he would fill a critical void and could be a turnover generator during the remainder of the season. If not, there’s almost nothing lost, because the salary and draft capital cost is miniscule and New England already was pressed into playing backups at corner, anyway.

Jackson is under contract through 2026, but his 2024 cost — between salary and roster bonus — is over $14 million. He would have to turn back into the Jackson of old for the Patriots to even think about keeping him at that price. This is a trade meant for the short-term.

NEW YORK JETS

Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic with more on the reaction to the flag that took away a key Jets interception.

Welcome to New York, the NFL’s been waiting for you.

The league has embraced pop star Taylor Swift’s journey into football fandom, and it’s hard to blame it considering the financial boost she’s provided by simply showing up to NFL stadiums.

But now the league is experiencing some backlash with its handling of the whole Swift phenomenon — especially among New York Jets fans after Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, where Swift made an appearance alongside a host of other celebrities to watch Travis Kelce.

The game ended in controversy. Late in the fourth quarter, Jets cornerback Michael Carter II caught what appeared to be quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ third interception of the game. But the play was called back on a delayed penalty, as Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner was flagged for defensive holding. Many disagreed with the call, especially Jets coach Robert Saleh, who stormed up and down the sideline and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for screaming at an official.

Saleh, both immediately after the game and on Monday, declined to comment on the penalty, though he was clearly unhappy.

“It was a bizarre last drive, a series of unfortunate events,” Saleh said Monday. “It was a seven-and-a-half-minute drive that was aided by non-calls, calls, it just was bizarre. I don’t know if I’ve ever been part of a drive like that to end a football game, especially a game like that on national television. Unfortunate. I’m still trying to understand what we could’ve done better and we’re still trying to figure out how we can coach things better. I’ll get clarification (on the Gardner penalty) and we’ll go from there.”

So what does this have to do with Swift? Well, for Jets fans who already think referees are out to get them, the league’s approach to welcoming Swift into the fold has acted as a sort of confirmation of their theory — that the league wanted the Chiefs to win, for Taylor.

Gardner did his part to feed into that, posting (and then deleting) on X, formerly known as Twitter: “maybe if I was a swiftie, the ref wouldn’t of threw the flag.” His tweet was in response to a post about the NFL’s official Instagram account, which earlier Monday had “chiefs are 2-0 as swifties” in its bio.

– – –

QB AARON RODGERS truly thinks he can make it back to the field in 2023.  Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:

 New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, only three weeks removed from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, said Tuesday that he’s “well ahead of the normal protocols” and still clings to the belief that he can shock the world by returning this season.

“There’s nothing normal about how I’m attacking this rehab,” Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “The common practice is about six weeks in a boot, and I was in a shoe in 13 days.

“This is just my mindset. I believe in the power of intention. I believe in prayer. I believe in your mental status and the power of will. I believe in making room for the miraculous to happen.”

In addition to the Achilles tear, Rodgers revealed he is dealing with a deltoid issue. The deltoid is the main ligament on the inner ankle, and that explains why he’s wearing an ankle brace. He didn’t provide any details. Presumably, it occurred when he injured the Achilles.

He surprised many by walking briskly on crutches during the pregame warmups Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, where the Jets faced the Kansas City Chiefs. He will return to his rehab program in California this week before coming back to New Jersey permanently after the Jets’ Week 7 bye.

Asked about playing again this season, Rodgers said his plan is to “attack this rehab as hard as we can and then see where we’re at in a couple months. And, obviously, I’d like us to be alive and winning for that even being in the conversation. But I don’t think it hurts at all to put that into the manifestation zeitgeist.”

A typical recovery is six to nine months, although medical experts have said it’s possible to return in four to five months. A four-month timetable would take Rodgers into mid-January. The regular season ends Jan. 7.

“I have some things working against me,” he said. “I’m 39 years old, I’m the oldest player in the league. A lot of people have a really hard time coming back from this. However, I haven’t really paid any attention to any that stuff. I just kind of have been making my own protocols and my own timetables.”

Rodgers said that he’s “being as smart as possible” with his rehab but that he wants to push the envelope. His next goal, he said, is to walk without crutches. The surgical technique that was used on his Achilles — a minimally invasive SpeedBridge repair — allows him “to start doing movement quicker and to speed up whatever timeline has been the standard for this type of injury,” he said.

He was back at MetLife Stadium only 20 days after the injury, which happened on the fourth play of the Jets’ season opener.

“To be able to walk back on the field with the little assistance, with the crutches, was pretty special,” he said. “Just to be in the locker room with the guys and talk to them Saturday night [in a meeting], and just feel the energy and the excitement, was everything I needed.”

Before the game, Rodgers chatted with some Chiefs players, including Travis Kelce. Speaking to McAfee, he jokingly referred to Kelce as “Mr. Pfizer,” presumably his way of poking the star tight end for his recent ads promoting Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Rodgers made headlines during the pandemic by saying he didn’t get vaccinated.

THIS AND THAT

MVP ODDS (AND OTHER AWARDS)

The oddsmakers have moved Bills QB JOSH ALLEN to the top of the MVP betting heap.

Larry Holder of The Athletic:

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has taken the lead in the NFL MVP race after four weeks, via BetMGM. Here’s what you need to know:

* Allen becomes the fourth player in the last two months to hold the lead, via oddsmakers. The other three were all quarterbacks: the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow.

* Allen is coming off arguably the best game of his career with a perfect passer rating (158.3), four touchdown passes and one TD run in the Bills’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins.

* Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter hold the lead for the league’s offensive and defensive rookie of the year honors, respectively.

NFL MVP

Josh Allen                              +325

Patrick Mahomes                     +500

Tua Tagovailoa                        +500

Jalen Hurts                              +800

Lamar Jackson                        +1200

Christian McCaffrey                +1400

Justin Herbert                         +1600

Brock Purdy                            +1800

Trevor Lawrence                    +2000

Dak Prescott                           +2500

Jared Goff                               +3000

Allen played the best game of his NFL career in Week 4 in terms of expected points added per dropback rate, passer rating and completion percentage. He compiled the 34th perfect passer rating since 2000 during the Bills’ throttling of the Dolphins. So it makes sense that his 0.67 EPA rate (via TruMedia) and 84.0 completion percentage stand as a single-game career highs. It’s the second time Allen completed more than 80 percent of his throws this season (83.8 percent, Week 2 vs. Raiders), which has led to him leading the NFL in this stat through four weeks.

Here’s a look at the rest of the non-MVP award odds:

Offensive rookie of the year

CJ Stroud                                 +175

Bijan Robinson                         +400

Puka Nacua                              +450

Anthony Richardson                 +650

Devon Achane                          +700

I thought the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud played well last week with a 0.39 EPA rate and 118.8 passer rating in the team’s Week 3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft popped an even better EPA rate and comparable passer rating in what’s perceived to be a better defense with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Stroud has the fifth best passer rating for a rookie QB through Weeks 1-4 since 2001.

Defensive rookie of the year

Jalen Carter                             -125

Devon Witherspoon                 +300

Will Anderson                          +800

Brian Branch                           +800

Jack Campbell                        +4000

Offensive player of the year

Christian McCaffrey                  +210

Justin Jefferson                        +550

Tyreek Hill                                +550

Lamar Jackson                       +2000

Stefon Diggs                          +2000

Defensive player of the year

Micah Parson                        +175

Myles Garrett                        +250

T.J. Watt                               +500

Nick Bosa                            +2200

Aidan Hutchinson              +2500

Coach of the year

Dan Campbell                  +400

Mike McDaniel                  +400

Kyle Shanahan                 +1000

Shane Steichen                +1000

BROADCAST NEWS

The NFL stayed with Giants at Bills as Sunday night football for Week 6.  NFL Nerd explains the long game (at least one of the two teams in NYG-BUF is good):

NFL Nerd

@NerdingonNFL

The deadline to flex #Giants @ #Bills out of Week 6 SNF was today, meaning that game will officially stay on primetime

This also means SNF can still be flexed a maximum of two times from Weeks 7-10 (then at the NFL’s discretion from Weeks 11-17)

Look for potential flexes in Weeks 8 and 10…

7 – #Dolphins @ #Eagles

8 – #Bears @ #Chargers

9 – #Bills @ #Bengals

10 – #Jets @ #Raiders

2023 DRAFT

Four weeks in, here is how various writers at The Athletic compose a quarter pole All-Rookie Team:

It’s impossible to hand out complete NFL Draft grades the day players are picked, as full context — multiple seasons’ worth — is needed for an exercise like that. However, we can do our best to chart progress along the way.

Which brings us to our All-Rookie Team at (approximately) the quarter mark of the 17-game NFL season. Our NFL Draft staff voted, position by position, on the early standouts from the 2023 class. Who’s leading the way for the first-year players?

Quarterback: C.J. Stroud, Texans

Honorable mention: Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young

It has been really enjoyable to watch Stroud carve up NFL defenses the past four weeks. My No. 4 player in the 2023 draft class, the Ohio State product was poised and structurally sound in college, and that has translated nicely to the pro game. His natural rhythm and pacing as a passer are why he has had such a hot start — and why he should be a productive starter for the next decade.

A close second, Richardson has helped the Colts be competitive from Day 1. The passing volatility he’s shown was to be expected for a player with such meager experience — he currently ranks 33rd in the NFL in adjusted completion percentage. Considering he is just scratching the surface, though, the explosive plays (with both his arm and his legs) have been special.

Young obviously falls third among the big three so far, given the number of rookie mistakes he’s made. But anyone who watches his tape can see that he will be just fine, especially once the Panthers give him more help. I can’t wait to see how this three-quarterback race ebbs and flows throughout the regular season. — Dane Brugler

Running back: Bijan Robinson, Falcons; De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Honorable mention: Jahmyr Gibbs, Zach Charbonnet, Roschon Johnson, Tank Bigsby, Tyjae Spears

Achane is putting up Madden numbers this season, averaging an unfathomable 11.4 yards per carry. The speed and space of Miami’s offense are force multipliers and give Achane plenty of running lanes. He leads all running backs with 30 or more attempts in success rate and total expected points added.

Robinson’s numbers are incredible for a rookie, too, and his degree of difficulty is higher than most. Among all rookie backs, he’s seeing the highest rate of eight-man boxes (and 15th-most overall in the NFL), but he ranks still third in the league in explosive run rate (15 percent). Averaging six yards per carry and gaining 58 percent of his yards after contact, Robinson is exactly the player he was promised to be. — Diante Lee

Wide receiver: Puka Nacua, Rams; Tank Dell, Texans; Zay Flowers, Ravens

Honorable mention: Marvin Mims Jr., Jordan Addison, Josh Downs, Michael Wilson, Jayden Reed, Trey Palmer, Rashee Rice, Ronnie Bell, Dontayvion Wicks

Nacua has been the clear top rookie wideout … just like we all thought, right? He ranks No. 1 among all NFL players in targets (50, tied with Davante Adams) and receptions (39) and is second in receiving yards (501, behind only Justin Jefferson). Somehow, he has found the end zone only once, but that touchdown won an overtime game Sunday. Based on his college film, I gave Nacua a third-round draft grade, but the major variable was his durability. Despite being banged up, he has stayed on the field thus far for Los Angeles, and he landed in a perfect situation with Matthew Stafford.

A pair of “undersized” receivers, Flowers and Dell, deserve to be recognized, too. Flowers is second among rookies in receptions (24) and has been electric with the ball in his hands. He’s also yet to register a drop. Meanwhile, Dell’s 267 receiving yards rank second among first-year players, and his two touchdown grabs are tied for first among rookies. — Brugler

Tight end: Sam LaPorta, Lions

Honorable mention: Luke Musgrave, Dalton Kincaid, Will Mallory, Josh Whyle

Detroit surprised many when it took LaPorta at No. 34, ahead of Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. However, the Iowa product set multiple NFL rookie tight end records during the season’s first three weeks, including receptions (18) and games with at least five catches (three). He currently leads all NFL TEs in yards receiving and has been the best run blocker in the class thus far.

Kincaid has made some plays and will continue to get better as he adjusts to the physicality of the game (and to Josh Allen’s unique brand of quarterbacking). Musgrave started strong but suffered a concussion in Week 4. — Nick Baumgardner

Offensive line: Dawand Jones, Browns; Jarrett Patterson, Texans; Steve Avila, Rams; Matthew Bergeron, Falcons; Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals

Honorable mention: O’Cyrus Torrence, Darnell Wright, Cody Mauch, Chandler Zavala, John Michael Schmitz Jr., Anton Harrison, Joe Tippmann, Peter Skoronski, Atonio Mafi

No surprise to see Torrence on this list — he was ready to go when he was drafted. Avila has had some technical issues, but he fights through every rep and looks like a keeper. After coming off the bench in Week 1, Jones has been near-perfect in pass pro for two of his three starts and has allowed just one QB hit in 154 reps. Bergeron has flashed, and he will continue to improve in Atlanta’s system.

The surprise of the group, perhaps, has been Patterson. He won the starting center job in camp, and, outside of a rough opener against Baltimore, hasn’t had any issues with his below-average length. His play IQ also continues to show up in positive ways. His last two outings (at Jacksonville, vs. Pittsburgh) were his best yet. — Baumgardner

Edge: Will Anderson Jr., Texans; Tuli Tuipulotu, Chargers; Byron Young, Rams

Honorable mention: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Lukas Van Ness, Keion White, Colby Wooden, Myles Murphy, Zach Harrison

Anderson has made Houston’s aggressive trade to acquire him look like a worthy investment. Of all rookies with 100 or more snaps on the edge, he’s third in total pressures (13) and second in pressure rate (13 percent). His high energy and intensity show up in all facets of his game and have been a boon to this rebuilding Texans roster.

Just like in his final season at USC, Tuipulotu is producing with a relentless motor and hand-fighting skills. He’s second among all rookie edge rushers in total pressures (14) and just a shade behind Anderson in pressure rate.

Young is in the same cluster as Anderson and Tuipulotu, as he leads all rookies in total pressures (16) and pressure rate (15 percent). If he stays healthy, he can be another major steal by the Rams as their roster pivots. — Lee

Defensive line: Jalen Carter, Eagles; Bryan Bresee, Saints

Honorable mention: Gervon Dexter Sr., Kobie Turner, Karl Brooks, Keeanu Benton

There’s a reason Carter was considered the best prospect in the 2023 draft class, and he’s already playing like one of the most impactful defensive tackles in the entire NFL. His 20-percent pressure rate leads all rookie defensive linemen (on the interior or the edge), and he’s second only to Aaron Donald among all DTs in total pressures (20). He already has a pair of tackles for loss as a run defender, too, flashing the get-off and quickness that make him hard to block without help.

Bresee has been a surprising anchor in New Orleans, and he earned this nod largely thanks to an 81-percent success rate against the run when he’s on the field. He already has three TFLs and an impressive 16-percent tackle rate against the run, flashing the quickness and power that made him a top recruit out of high school. Bresee also has 10 pressures and a pressure rate of 12 percent, healthy signs that his ceiling will allow him to be on the field on all three downs. — Lee

Linebacker: Ivan Pace Jr., Vikings; Jack Campbell, Lions; Henry To’oTo’o, Texans

Honorable mention: Marte Mapu, Nick Herbig

There were 24 off-ball linebackers drafted in April. Somehow, Pace wasn’t one of them. I understand why he wasn’t a top-100 draft pick: He is undersized, and scouts had questions about his ability to hold up in coverage or even play special teams in the NFL. But Pace still was too good on his Cincinnati film to go undrafted. His instincts, play speed and overall urgency to affect the game have translated well.

Personally, I voted for To’oTo’o as the second linebacker — he leads all rookies in tackles (27). But I also understand the love for Campbell. He hasn’t been a full-time guy for the Lions just yet, but he has been productive when on the field. — Brugler

Cornerback: Christian Gonzalez, Patriots; Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks; Emmanuel Forbes, Commanders

Honorable mention: Jakorian Bennett, Deonte Banks, Kei’Trel Clark, DJ Turner, Tyrique Stevenson

The NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for September, Gonzalez was thrown into several sink-or-swim situations over the Patriots’ first four games and managed to keep his head well above water. Against NFL playmakers like Tyreek Hill and Garrett Wilson, Gonzalez did an outstanding job staying attached to routes while collecting three passes defended, one interception and one sack. He has yet to give up a touchdown or commit a penalty and has graded well as a run defender. Unfortunately, Gonzalez suffered a shoulder injury Sunday against Dallas that will sideline him indefinitely.

Right on his heels, Witherspoon has been electric the last three weeks, including an All-Pro-level performance versus the Giants on Monday night. (He became the first defensive back in NFL history with a pick six and multiple sacks in the same game).

Forbes is one of only five players in the league with at least five passes defended this season, but he also has given up his share of explosive plays (see: the Eagles game).

I did want to shout out Clark, an honorable mention, who’s leading all defensive rookies in snaps played (272) by a healthy margin and has yet to allow a touchdown for the Cardinals. — Brugler

Nickel/Safety: Brian Branch, Lions; Christian Izien, Bucs

Honorable mention: Jordan Howden

Not only has Branch been arguably the best rookie DB in the league thus far (and maybe the NFL’s best defensive rookie period), he’s also been one of the most reliable slot corners in the NFL, regardless of age. Per TruMedia, Branch leads all defensive backs in true stops (14), and his run defense has been brilliant. It’s early, but Branch, taken No. 45, looks like one of the draft’s top steals.

And if he’s a steal, then Izien — an undrafted free agent — certainly qualifies. He’s been a quality slot corner in Tampa Bay.  People got lost in the measurements here, but the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder is pure explosive muscle, toughness and agility. He has two interceptions, and he’s given the Bucs some quality run defense. — Baumgardner

Kicker: Jake Moody, 49ers

Honorable mention: Brandon Aubrey, Anders Carlson, Chad Ryland, Blake Grupe

Two very different stories at the top of the ballot. Moody, our first-teamer, was a top-100 pick back in April. He’s hit on all nine of his field goal attempts, including a 57-yarder to give San Francisco a lead against the Rams, and he’s 14-of-14 on extra points. The 49ers had a loaded enough roster to afford something of a luxury pick, and it’s paid off so far.

Aubrey has taken a longer road. A 2017 MLS draft pick (not a typo), he made his way to Dallas this offseason via the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions. His first four weeks: 13-of- 13 on field goals (with a long of 55) and 9-of-10 on extra points. We’ll reevaluate midseason, because Aubrey may have been snubbed here. — Chris Burke

Punter: Ethan Evans, Rams

Honorable mention: Bryce Baringer, Brad Robbins, Lou Hedley, Ty Zentner

Evans (pick No. 223) leads all rookie punters with a 48.5 yards-per-punt average, which puts him less than a yard outside the NFL’s top 10 in that category. He’s also averaging a respectable 41.1 net yards per punt and has forced a touchback on 95.2 percent of his kickoff attempts.

It’s a relatively strong rookie class at this position, in general. Runner-up to Evans here: Baringer, a sixth-round pick of the Patriots who’s leading the entire league in punts pinned inside the 20 (11). He’s also forced eight fair catches, which ranks behind only Jets veteran Thomas Morstead (11) and Robbins (9). — Burke

Special teams: Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos

Honorable mention: Charlie Jones, Xavier Gipson, Derius Davis

When he’s gotten a chance to touch the ball this season, Mims has been electric. He’s averaging a league-best 35.2 yards per kick return, aided by a 99-yard TD he broke off against Miami. (Downside for the Broncos: That TD only cut the Dolphins’ lead at the time to 63-20.) Mims also has a 45-yard punt return to his credit, and he’s averaging 26.9 yards per reception. Right now, the Denver rookie is on pace for 2,133.5 all-purpose yards this season. — Burke