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Jayden Daniels will have more tests on Monday after leaving the game against the Carolina Panthers due to a rib injury, according to coach Dan Quinn, who mentioned he had no further updates on the rookie quarterback’s condition.

“I can’t provide an update on Jayden right now, but I will as soon as we find out,” Quinn said after the team’s 40-7 victory. “I’ll share more information tomorrow, but I don’t have anything for you tonight.”

Daniels’ mother, Regina Jackson, shared a message on social media saying, “He’s fine.” Part owner Magic Johnson also posted that he’s “praying that Jayden Daniels’ injury is not serious!”

After seven games, the Commanders are 5-2 and have playoff hopes, but there is still uncertainty about Daniels’ situation.

“Clearly, it’s going to take some time or whatever it is,” said veteran Marcus Mariota, who took over for Daniels and threw for two touchdown passes and 205 yards. “We don’t know what to expect. But I think he was in good spirits, and we just check on him and take it day by day.”

Daniels ran for 46 yards on the Commanders’ first play but took several hits on that drive, including a tough fall. It wasn’t clear exactly when he got hurt, but Quinn confirmed it happened during that drive.

The No. 2 pick from LSU and the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner seemed to be in pain as he left the field after completion before a field goal that put Washington up 10-0. He first went to the bench but then moved to the medical tent for evaluation.

After Andy Dalton threw his second interception in the first quarter, Daniels left the medical tent and went back to the field to throw a few passes. He then returned to the sideline and slammed his helmet onto the ground before heading back to the tent, allowing Mariota to take over the offense.

“When you see him go down, that’s tough for us,” said top receiver Terry McLaurin. “Marcus did a great job coming in.” With a towel in hand, Daniels walked off the sideline and down the tunnel to the locker room.

“We warmed him up, he threw some passes, and then we took him to the tent. The next step was, ‘We’re going to take you inside and get some images done,’” Quinn said. “He’ll have more imaging tomorrow.”

With Washington leading 27-0 at halftime, Daniels came back to the sideline in the third quarter wearing sweatpants and a hoodie, and the team ruled him out soon after. He spent the rest of the game talking with teammates on the bench.

“We won’t put Daniels or any other players in a situation where they could get hurt,” Quinn said. “I don’t have any medical information, so please don’t speculate on that.”

Daniels entered the game as a strong candidate for offensive rookie of the year. He had thrown for 1,404 yards, rushed for 322 yards, and scored 10 touchdowns in his first six games.

Anthony Richardson didn’t even check the stats after the game on Sunday. All he cared about was getting the win.

After missing nearly three full games due to a right hip injury, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback returned and helped the team secure a victory over the Miami Dolphins, 16-10. He took advantage of Tyler Goodson’s first NFL touchdown and led the Colts to two fourth-quarter field goals.

“We expected to come into this game and get the win; that was our whole mindset,” Richardson said. “It makes me feel good that we got the ‘W’ even though the offense was struggling a little to find consistency.”

It was more than just a struggle. Whether it was rustiness, the Dolphins’ tough defense, or a mix of both, Richardson completed only 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards and rushed 14 times for 56 yards.

The Colts (4-3) managed just 284 total yards and only one touchdown, which was Goodson’s 7-yard run that tied the game at 10 early in the third quarter.

Still, Indianapolis took the lead with Matt Gay’s 22-yard field goal with 8:41 left in the game and extended the lead with another field goal from Gay, this time a 38-yarder, with 1:51 remaining.

They sealed the victory with a fourth down stop at their own 33-yard line. The Colts have now won four out of their last five games and three straight at home, closing the gap on AFC South-leading Houston (5-2).

“Obviously, we want to finish with touchdowns down there,” said Colts coach Shane Steichen. “We’ve got to be better; I’ve got to be better (on play calls), but we found a way to win the game and that’s what matters.”

Miami (2-4) struggled again with mistakes and lost another quarterback, Tyler Huntley, to an injury in the third quarter. Huntley did not return, and Tim Boyle finished the game.

Huntley completed 7 of 13 passes for 87 yards, had one touchdown, and ran five times for 20 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter due to a shoulder injury.

Boyle finished the game 8 of 13 for 74 yards. Devon Achane carried the ball 15 times for 77 yards, and Jonnu Smith caught seven passes for 96 yards, scoring the Dolphins’ only touchdown. Tyreek Hill had just one catch for 8 yards, and Jaylen Waddle caught only one pass for 11 yards.

The Dolphins, the NFL’s lowest-scoring team, know they need to get Hill and Waddle more involved.

“They were phenomenal all game. They’ve looked at their role in an expansive way,” coach Mike McDaniel said after the team lost for the fourth time in five weeks. “When you run the ball 40 times, it does minimize your opportunities.”

Despite this, Miami still had a chance to tie the game with a 54-yard field goal with 5:14 remaining. However, Jason Sanders’ kick hit the upright, keeping the Dolphins down 13-10.

Miami and Indianapolis only scored once in the first 29 minutes, with Huntley throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Smith on third-and-goal midway through the first quarter.

Sanders kicked a 33-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the first half, and Gay matched it with a 52-yarder as time expired in the second quarter, making the score 10-3. Not much changed in the second half.

Indianapolis turned Raheem Mostert’s fumble into Goodson’s touchdown run with 9:08 left in the third quarter, and the score remained the same until Indianapolis capitalized on Alec Ingold’s fumble, leading to Gay’s second field goal with 8:41 left in the game.

“My team has to trust in me to just go out there and make plays and just do what I do,” said Richardson, who had a new haircut for his return. “It’s just about keep doing me, keep doing what I’m doing. Despite struggling a little bit in the first half and a little in the second, they still trusted me to call plays and make some plays.”

Darrell Green is back with the Washington football team where he spent his whole NFL career, receiving an honor that feels long overdue.

The Commanders retired the Hall of Fame cornerback’s No. 28 during halftime of their game against Carolina on Sunday, 22 years after his last season. This happens in the second full season under new ownership, which aims to rebuild connections with former players that were damaged or missing during Dan Snyder’s era.

“I truthfully did not have a relationship with the team, but it was no big deal until they surprised me that they would retire my jersey,” Green said before the game, which the Commanders won 40-7. “There was no beef.

I just was going my own way when I walked out my door. … I was really grateful that this team went through all of that. This means the world to me.”

In a speech to fans, Green thanked owners Josh Harris, Mitch Rales, Magic Johnson, Mark Ein, and David Blitzer—many of whom grew up in the area and were fans of his.

Even though life after football has taken him elsewhere, the now-64-year-old expressed his love for the community he was part of for so long. “This is my family,” he said. “These are my people. This is our team, our organization.”

Green was a key player on Washington’s second and third Super Bowl-winning teams during his two decades with the team from 1983 to 2002. Already part of the franchise’s ring of fame, he is the fifth player to have his number retired, following Sonny Jurgensen’s No. 9, Bobby Mitchell’s No. 49, Sammy Baugh’s No. 33, and Sean Taylor’s No. 21.

Washington has changed its name more times than it has won a playoff game since Green retired.

However, the Commanders’ strong 5-2 start led by quarterback Jayden Daniels has brought hope back to fans who have waited a long time, including a younger generation that Green said “did not get to drink the good wine” of seeing a winning team.

“I’m sorry,” he told the crowd on Legends Plaza about 90 minutes before the game. “But I want to challenge all of you to become those die-hards that ride with us as we are coming back.”

Daniels left the game early in the second quarter with a rib injury and will be evaluated further on Monday.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston passing game didn’t support the team’s injury-plagued defense enough.

The defense played well but finally broke down in the last minute of a 24-22 loss to Green Bay, ending the Texans’ three-game winning streak.

Brandon McManus kicked a 45-yard field goal as time ran out, preventing Houston from achieving its first four-game winning streak since 2018, when the team had nine consecutive wins.

“I think our defense did a great job today,” said Stroud, who was sacked four times and threw for a career-low 86 yards. “I thought our special teams did amazing. So we’ve got to be better as an offense. This is on us. Point-blank, period.”

Houston’s defense was missing five regular starters. Tackle Mario Edwards Jr. was suspended, and linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, cornerback Kamari Lassiter, and safety Jimmie Ward were injured.

Despite these absences, the AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) forced three turnovers in the first half, resulting in 16 points and giving Houston a 19-14 lead. Neville Hewitt and Calen Bullock picked off Jordan Love, and MJ Stewart recovered a fumble after a Green Bay punt hit Corey Ballentine’s leg.

The Texans’ struggles were due to an offense missing injured receivers Nico Collins, Robert Woods, and Steven Sims.

Joe Mixon rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns, marking his second straight week with at least 100 yards and two scores. He had 102 yards and a touchdown run and catch in a 41-21 win against New England the previous week.

The Texans struggled to throw the ball effectively. Stroud completed only 10 of his 21 passes. His 86 passing yards were the lowest of his career, after previously being limited to 91 yards against the Jets last December when he left the game with a concussion.

This was also the fewest passing yards allowed by Green Bay to any quarterback with at least 20 attempts since Charlie Frye of Seattle threw for 83 yards on 23 attempts in a game against the Packers on October 12, 2008.

After accounting for 31 yards lost due to sacks, the Texans ended up with only 55 net passing yards.

“We ran the ball well,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I thought Joe did a good job running the ball. We needed to pass it. It was not good enough, starting with the protection. If we can’t protect, then that’s going to be difficult for the quarterback to make the plays.”

Houston’s receivers had just six catches for 34 yards, with Stefon Diggs making five catches for 23 yards and Xavier Hutchinson adding one catch for 11 yards. Tank Dell was targeted four times but didn’t catch any passes.

“Playing on the road is obviously tough, but when you’re going on the road, you got to execute at a high level,” Diggs said, noting a pregame scuffle with Packers cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Keisean Nixon.

“You can’t ride the roller coaster,” Diggs added. “You’re going against a good team and they came to play. When you go into someone else’s house, you’ve got to have a mindset and you’ve got to execute.”

Houston came into this week ranked fifth in the NFL for passing yards per game, and this was the first time this season that Stroud didn’t throw a touchdown pass.

One issue was that Stroud didn’t have enough time to throw the ball. He was sacked four times by a Green Bay defense that hadn’t recorded any sacks in their previous game, a 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Texans guard Shaq Mason was asked after the game what needed to change to improve Houston’s passing game.

“I have no answer for that,” Mason said. “When I see the tape, I’ll know. But just from right now, it feels like we’ve just got to be on the same page. We’ve all got to be better.” Houston nearly won the game thanks to its defense.

After Green Bay (5-2) took a 21-19 lead with Love’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Jacobs midway through the third quarter, the Packers went three-and-out on their next three possessions.

Houston then focused on Mixon during a 13-play, 45-yard drive that ended with Ka’imi Fairbairn kicking a 35-yard field goal, putting the Texans ahead 22-21 with 1:44 left.

However, the Texans couldn’t make that one last stop. Green Bay got the ball back on their own 30-yard line with one timeout left. Love completed several passes to Tucker Kraft and Dontayvion Wicks, moving the Packers near midfield.

Then, Romeo Doubs caught a 12-yard pass, bringing Green Bay into Houston’s territory. A 6-yard completion to Doubs took them to the 26-yard line. That was close enough for McManus, whose field goal won the game.

“I thought our guys did a good job defensively,” Ryans said. “But at the end of the day, we didn’t make enough plays to win the game. No matter who is out there, there’s no excuses. We’ve got to play our technique the right way and make plays when it’s our time to make a play.”

Jake Bates went from selling bricks to making game-winning kicks in the NFL. On Sunday, Bates kicked a 44-yard field goal with just 15 seconds left, leading the Detroit Lions to a 31-29 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Bates is perfect this season, making 10 out of 10 field goals and 20 out of 21 extra points. The rookie joined the Lions in June after impressing with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL, where he made three field goals of at least 60 yards in the spring league.

At 25 years old, Bates was named the Southeastern Conference Kicker of the Year in 2022 during his only year at Arkansas. After going undrafted, he thought it was time to explore other career options.

“Eighteen months ago, I thought I was through with football,” Bates said. “I was selling bricks back in Houston. I thought the dream was dead.”

But then he got a tryout with the Houston Texans, his hometown team. He spent 10 days in their training camp before being released in August 2023.

This led him to the UFL, where he successfully made 7 out of 11 field goals from over 50 yards for the Panthers last spring.

The Lions gave him a shot to compete with Michael Badgley for the kicking position. The competition ended on July 25 when Badgley got hurt for the season. Since then, Bates has taken over the role and quickly gained the trust of coach Dan Campbell.

“I just felt good about it,” Campbell said regarding the choice to go for a field goal instead of trying for a touchdown on the Lions’ last drive.

“We’ve had five NFL games with him, and when you see him every day in practice, you can create pressure by adding crowd noise and changing the spot. I’m yelling at him, and you watch as he keeps making these kicks.”

“You feel pretty good when he’s under pressure,” Campbell added. “We just believed that his confidence is growing, and he would approach it like it’s just the next kick, and he did that.”

With more than 66,000 fans cheering at US Bank Stadium, the rookie calmly stepped up and made the kick.

“It was definitely the loudest environment I’ve ever kicked in. But at the end of the day, it’s the same job I’ve prayed for and worked so hard for,” Bates said. “I told myself to stay calm, doing things to keep my head in a good place, and then go out there and do my job.”

Jayden Daniels’ health was the first concern for Marcus Mariota when he came into the game for the injured rookie quarterback. After that, he just played football like he always has.

After Daniels left with a rib injury, the Washington Commanders defeated the Carolina Panthers 40-7 on Sunday, led by two touchdown passes from Mariota and a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown by Dante Fowler.

“It takes a little bit to kind of get your feet going and all that, but, yeah, you’re just thinking about the player first and then from there you just go out there and try to execute,” said Mariota, who completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards with touchdown passes to tight ends Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott.

Concerns about Daniels’ condition overshadowed the win after the No. 2 pick and offensive rookie of the year favorite left with a rib injury. His mother posted on social media that “he’s fine,” but coach Dan Quinn said he had no update and that Daniels would have further tests on Monday.

The Commanders (5-2) managed well without Daniels for most of the game after he had a 46-yard run and completed a couple of passes on their first drive.

They were already ahead thanks to Fowler’s interception return for a touchdown, which was Dalton’s first of two interceptions, with the second made by Emmanuel Forbes, who returned after being a healthy scratch last week.

After making his first interception in the NFL, Fowler saw a clear path and thought, “It’s time to go score a touchdown.”

“Man, it was like I was in a dream,” Fowler said. The defense was strong, allowing just 180 yards, stopping seven of ten third-down attempts, and sacking Dalton twice.

With Mariota in charge, Washington moved steadily and gained 421 yards against the Panthers (1-6), who have allowed the most points of any team in Super Bowl history through the first six games of a season.

“Between giving the ball away and just not being able to get off the field, I think they scored on all but one drive,” said Carolina coach Dave Canales, who announced that Dalton will start next week over 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young.

Brian Robinson Jr. also scored a touchdown in his return from a knee injury, which kept him out of last week’s game against Baltimore — the team’s first loss since the season opener. The 27-point lead at halftime was the franchise’s largest since they were up 28-0 on Dallas on December 18, 2005.

Carolina’s disappointing season continued five games into Dalton taking over as the starting QB. Dalton completed 11 of 16 passes for 93 yards, and Young came in late in the game with 4:55 left, completing two passes for negative yardage.

“It got out of our hands quick,” Dalton said. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘Why do these games keep going like this?’ I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Chuba Hubbard was held to 52 yards on 17 carries after averaging over 100 yards in the past four weeks. He scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, well after the game was decided, and many fans who had been doing the wave had already left to avoid traffic.

“At the end of the day, we won handily, and I think the defense did an unbelievable job,” said Terry McLaurin, Washington’s leading receiver with six catches for 98 yards.

The New York Jets will be without cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II in their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

Both players have been declared inactive for the primetime match. Reed has a groin injury he got during last Monday’s loss to Buffalo. Carter, the Jets’ slot cornerback, was ruled out on Friday and will miss his second straight game due to back problems.

The Jets will be up against a Pittsburgh offense led by Russell Wilson. The 13-year veteran is expected to make his debut for the Steelers after spending most of the first six weeks recovering from a calf injury.

New York also made offensive tackle Carter Warren, offensive lineman Max Mitchell, edge rusher Braiden McGregor, wide receiver Malachi Corley, and running back Israel Abanikanda — who was a standout at the University of Pittsburgh — inactive.

For the Steelers, rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson is inactive again after being on the gameday roster for the first time last week against Las Vegas.

Outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) will miss a second straight game, and running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson is out for a third straight game with an ankle injury. Pittsburgh rookie center Zach Frazier is also out with an ankle injury, and Ryan McCollum will start in his place.

Quarterback Kyle Allen, safety Damontae Kazee, and running back Aaron Shampklin are also inactive for the Steelers.

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel wants his top offensive players to be more involved. The Indianapolis Colts made sure Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle couldn’t make an impact on Sunday.

Hill was limited to just one catch for 8 yards and one carry for 5 yards, while Waddle caught only one pass for 11 yards in another disappointing performance by the league’s lowest-scoring team.

“I think every opponent goes with that objective, because they know how good they are,” McDaniel said after the 16-10 loss. “Defenses have recognized that they can limit their involvement through certain strategies.

However, in this game, I didn’t see that. So, you have to keep trying to solve the problem. Sometimes you think you have figured it out, and then you realize you haven’t.” The Dolphins (2-4) didn’t find many solutions on Sunday.

Quarterback Tyler Huntley left in the third quarter due to a shoulder injury, adding to a season where the Dolphins have already used four quarterbacks. Huntley was still getting used to his new team’s playbook during the bye week, and when he went out, Tim Boyle took over.

With De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert, and Huntley leading the rushing attack, the Dolphins ran for 188 yards. However, they struggled to pass the ball, except for connecting with Jonnu Smith seven times for 96 yards and one touchdown. Mostert also lost a fumble that the Colts (4-3) turned into their only touchdown of the game.

As a result, Miami scored just 10 points against a defense that was near the bottom of the league in total yards, passing yards, and receiving yards at the start of Week 7.

“I think they were phenomenal all game. They’ve really looked at their role in a broader way and have been trying to do whatever they can to win the football game,” McDaniel said, talking about Waddle and Hill.

“It was frustrating this game because I didn’t expect some things to happen like they did. I have to find a way to help them, especially when they’re performing well.

They were very involved in the run game blocking, and contrary to popular belief, they play every play.” It hasn’t just been about the receivers, though.

Miami also had six penalties, lost the turnover battle, missed a 54-yard field goal that could have tied the game at 13 with 5:14 left, and couldn’t make a comeback with Boyle leading the final drive before turning the ball over on downs.

One option could be activating quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from injured reserve on Monday, but McDaniel chose not to comment on that after the game. A quicker fix would be to create a game plan that gets Hill and Waddle back in sync.

“They’re one of 11 in terms of not just passes — sometimes they require a lot of attention from the defense, which opens up chances for other players,” McDaniel said. “But we have to make the most of those chances, and I need to find ways to get them involved.”

The Los Angeles Rams’ defense has struggled this season since Aaron Donald’s retirement, especially when it comes to forcing turnovers.

Playing against the Raiders’ weak offense led by their backup quarterback turned out to be just what they needed.

Kam Curl returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown, and Kyren Williams ran for 76 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ 20-15 win over Las Vegas on Sunday.

Cobie Durant recorded an interception and caused the fumble that Curl returned for a touchdown. The Rams (2-4) managed to make Gardner Minshew commit four turnovers — the same total they had in their first five games combined.

“The emphasis on attacking the ball was at an all-time high today,” Durant said. “All week we emphasized it, and it showed today. What a great day it is to attack the ball!”

The Raiders’ backup QB was called into action after Aidan O’Connell injured his hand early in the game, and the Rams took advantage. Jaylen McCollough added two interceptions for Los Angeles, including a game-clinching pick with 1:18 left.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” said McCollough, an undrafted rookie who spent five seasons at Tennessee. “We’re growing together as a defense. There’s a lot more chemistry, a lot more accountability. We trust each other, and it’s starting to come together.”

Matthew Stafford threw for 154 yards — his lowest total in four seasons with the Rams — as they ended a two-game losing streak during their toughest start to a season in coach Sean McVay’s eight years.

Minshew also threw for 154 yards for the Raiders (2-5) after taking over for O’Connell, who didn’t return after a hand-to-hand collision with Curl during the Raiders’ second offensive series.

O’Connell said his thumb “went numb, and it’s hurting.” The Raiders will find out more after additional tests in Las Vegas.

In their first game since trading Davante Adams to the Jets, the Raiders had to settle for five field goals by Daniel Carlson after repeatedly turning the ball over or having trouble in the red zone.

The Raiders were down 20-6 midway through the third quarter, but they had two late drives that could have turned the game around.

After kicking a short field goal with 2:46 left while reaching the Los Angeles 4, Las Vegas got the ball back with 1:39 left — but McCollough intercepted Minshew’s last throw at the Vegas 34.

“We’ve got to be smart with the ball,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. “At the end, you’re trying to take a shot. I get that one. The other ones, got to do a better job.”

Minshew was the Raiders’ starter at the beginning of the season before losing the job to O’Connell this month, but the experienced QB mainly focused on getting the ball to rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who caught 10 passes for 93 yards.

“To have a game where we lose by five points and have four turnovers, like, that’s critical, and it’s unfair to the rest of the team,” Minshew said. “So I’m going to go back, look at the film. Not gonna sulk, not gonna pout, but whatever we gotta do to fix ’em, I’m gonna do.”

Williams ran 13 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, marking a rushing touchdown in his ninth straight game. The third-year player has the best record in the NFL with 24 touchdowns from scrimmage since last season, even though he has played in only 18 of a possible 23 games.

Durant then forced a fumble while blitzing Minshew. Curl picked it up and ran without being touched for his first touchdown since a 76-yard interception return as a rookie with Washington in 2020.

“My first position was running back, so I’m kind of used to it (when) I get the ball in my hand,” Curl said with a grin. Los Angeles’ defense got its third takeaway when McCollough caught a pass that was deflected by the Raiders’ DJ Turner, and Williams scored his second touchdown.

Nate Hobbs intercepted a deflected pass and returned it to the Rams 14 late in the third quarter, but Vegas couldn’t take advantage.

Rams rookie Joshua Karty missed a 35-yard field goal attempt with 10:11 left in the game, and the Raiders drove to the Los Angeles 4 before rookie DJ Glaze false-started on fourth and goal, forcing the Raiders to kick again.

It doesn’t seem to matter who is playing quarterback for the Tennessee Titans right now — whether it’s Will Levis or, for now, Mason Rudolph.

The same problems — unproductive second halves, turnovers, and penalties — that hurt the Titans in their first five games showed up again in a 34-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, leaving Tennessee (1-5) with its worst start since 2015.

“Tale of two halves. Seems like the tale of our season so far,” said first-year coach Brian Callahan. The Titans got off to a good start with a 10-0 lead but let it slip away, allowing the Bills to score on their last five drives of the second half.

It didn’t matter that Callahan brought in Rudolph while Levis was still dealing with a sore throwing shoulder from an AC joint injury.

Rudolph started strong, completing 12 of 15 passes for 100 yards and a 4-yard touchdown to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, putting the Titans ahead 10-0 early in the second quarter. Then everything changed.

Tennessee crossed midfield only two more times in their final nine possessions, gaining just 72 yards in the second half. Running back Tony Pollard’s performance also dropped. He had 64 yards on 11 carries in the first half but ended with minus-3 yards on five carries in the second half.

If you ignore their 31-12 win over Miami on September 30, the Titans have been outscored 85-21 in the second halves of their five losses, and they have not scored at all in the fourth quarter of those games.

Rudolph finished with 25 completions out of 40 attempts for 215 yards, one interception, and two fumbles (one lost). He was sacked three times and hit 11 times.

The game was pretty much decided during the Titans’ first drive of the second half when Pollard lost 3 yards on a fourth-and-2 from Tennessee’s 42. Just six plays later, Josh Allen threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to newly acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper, putting the Bills ahead 14-10.

“I love the aggressiveness from coach,” Rudolph said about the decision to go for it. “We just have to do a better job of executing and converting and not putting our defense in a bad spot.”

The defense was already struggling, missing starting cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quadriceps) and after letting safety Jamal Adams go at his own request on Thursday, it eventually got worn out.

Allen threw for a season-high 323 yards — 258 of those in the second half — against a Titans defense that had kept its first five opponents under 200 yards.

“I know we are better than what we are right now. We got to find a way to play at that level for an entire game,” Callahan said. “That’s on me to figure out how to make that happen.”

And this was without Levis, who Callahan said would be week to week.

The coach mentioned that Levis had pain after a 20-17 loss at Indianapolis last weekend, and it continued to bother him during the week. He decided to sit Levis after seeing he was limited in practice on Friday.

“The injury is real,” he added. “He tried to fight through it. I appreciate the toughness and the willingness,” Callahan said. “Just didn’t feel like he could play at the level he needed to play to come in here and win in Buffalo.”

Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins was rested for most of the second half because he felt sore after catching one pass for 6 yards but losing another 8 yards on a lateral at the end of the first half.

The situation at right tackle also changed again when Jaelyn Duncan left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Nicholas Petit-Frere, who had been benched last week for Leroy Watson IV, who was not active for the game against the Bills.

“We’ve got a problem at right tackle,” Callahan said. “We got to find someone that can step up and play for us. Right now, everyone’s gotten their turn, and none of it’s where we need it to be.”

Ricky Pearsall lay in a hospital bed just 24 hours after being shot in the chest during an alleged armed robbery attempt. His immediate concerns were whether he would survive and if he would ever play football again. Doctors quickly reassured him that he would recover from the injury, but the uncertainty regarding his football career loomed large.

Multiple tests and a challenging night followed before the doctors confirmed that playing as a receiver for the San Francisco 49ers was still possible. The real affirmation of his comeback came on September 1 when he donned his red No. 14 jersey and took the field in his first NFL regular-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Pearsall’s return to football was a significant moment, especially considering the adversity he had faced over the past 50 days. He expressed deep gratitude for the support from his teammates and coaches during his recovery. Reflecting on the day of the shooting, he recalled being emotional when Niners general manager John Lynch visited him in the hospital.

The gravity of the situation hit him then, especially as he realized he might miss the start of the season. Despite the traumatic experience, Pearsall felt fortunate that his injuries were not as severe as they could have been, given the bullet’s path through his body.

The incident occurred on August 31 while Pearsall was shopping in Union Square, San Francisco. During an attempted robbery, both he and the assailant were shot, leading to Pearsall’s urgent hospitalization. Initially, he was classified as being in “serious but stable condition.” Fortunately, after undergoing overnight tests and X-rays, he was released the next day without needing surgery, though he was placed on the non-football injury list, requiring him to miss at least four games.

Pearsall’s recovery process was remarkably swift. He returned to the Niners’ facility less than 48 hours post-shooting and quickly began rehabilitation. The main physical hurdle was the scar tissue that developed around the wound, which affected his range of motion in his right arm and shoulder. Once he regained that mobility, the team felt confident enough to open his practice window, allowing him to gradually reintegrate with the squad.

As Pearsall prepared to return to action, the team experienced unexpected changes in their receiving corps. With receiver Deebo Samuel departing early due to illness and Brandon Aiyuk potentially facing a severe knee injury, Pearsall was thrust into a more prominent role than anticipated.

This shift heightened the significance of Pearsall’s return, as the team needed players to step up amid injuries. He demonstrated his readiness by catching three passes for 21 yards in the game against the Chiefs, which his teammates recognized as just the beginning of what he could achieve.

After his first game back, Pearsall expressed immense appreciation for the support he received from fans and teammates. His first catch prompted a standing ovation, which served as a poignant reminder of his journey back to the field. With a smile, he stated that he felt physically great and was eager for the opportunity to play again next week, indicating his determination and resilience in the face of adversity. Pearsall’s return not only marked a personal victory over his traumatic experience but also highlighted the unpredictability and opportunity that the NFL offers.

The Washington Commanders are currently uncertain about the status of quarterback Jayden Daniels, who suffered a rib injury during the first quarter of their recent victory over the Carolina Panthers. After leaving the game, Daniels was ruled out and replaced by Marcus Mariota, who stepped up significantly. Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and threw two touchdowns, helping the Commanders secure a commanding 40-7 win, showcasing that the team could maintain offensive effectiveness without their starting quarterback.

Coach Dan Quinn stated that there was “no update” on Daniels’ condition immediately following the game, mentioning that further tests would be conducted to assess the injury. He promised to provide updates as soon as more information was available, indicating that the team was taking the situation seriously and prioritizing Daniels’ health.

Despite the injury, there were positive signs regarding Daniels’ condition. His mother shared on social media that he was “fine,” and sources confirmed that initial X-rays showed no severe damage. On the sideline, Daniels was seen in street clothes, smiling and engaging with teammates, which reassured fans about his spirits. Mariota echoed this sentiment, indicating that the team would take a “day-to-day” approach regarding Daniels’ potential return.

Daniels’ injury occurred during a 46-yard run on the Commanders’ opening drive when he appeared to sustain the injury while trying to fend off a tackle. Following the injury, he continued to play briefly but eventually needed to be evaluated by trainers before heading to the locker room. Prior to the game, Daniels had been a significant contributor to the Commanders’ offense, ranking second in scoring, with impressive statistics including a completion rate of 75.3% over six games.

With the next game against the Chicago Bears on the horizon, there is anticipation surrounding whether Daniels will be ready to play. His teammates, including receiver Terry McLaurin and tight end Zach Ertz, expressed confidence in Daniels’ toughness and leadership. At the same time, they showed trust in Mariota’s capabilities, as he demonstrated his readiness to lead the team effectively during the game. Coach Quinn praised Mariota for his performance, noting his resilience and the positive influence he has on his teammates, especially in this critical situation.