Ahead of the Bears’ Week 9 clash with the Buccaneers, rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad publicly tells veteran Jaylon Johnson he must improve after ranking near the bottom of PFF’s cornerback grades (96th of 103). Muhammad, a fourth‑round pick with one interception and five pass breakups in seven games, lauds Johnson’s attitude but stresses the difficulty of the position. The critique comes as Chicago rides a 7‑2 record, led by QB Caleb Williams and a strong defense anchored by recent addition Jeffery Simmons, while the secondary struggles.
Ben Roethlisberger criticizes Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy for underutilizing running back Jaylen Warren in the red zone after Warren’s 143‑yard, one‑touchdown effort in the 27‑6 win over Cleveland. Warren is averaging 6.9 yards per touch and has amassed 704 yards in eight games, yet has only two rushing TDs, prompting questions about play‑calling near the goal line. The Steelers sit 6‑2, lead the AFC North, and aim to improve their 37.9% third‑down conversion rate. Roethlisberger argues more short‑yardage carries could boost Warren’s scoring as Pittsburgh prepares for a Week 9 matchup with Cincinnati.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson returns after a year‑long eye injury, playing 14 snaps in a Week 8 loss to Jacksonville. The team’s WR Josh Downs, reportedly seeking a trade, draws interest from the Chiefs and Steelers, though insiders doubt Indianapolis will receive a third‑round pick. Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. is also rumored to be on the move, with the 49ers mentioned as a possible destination. Houston’s defense sits 19th in points allowed, prompting head coach DeMeco Ryans and GM Nick Caserio to blame execution, not scheme, while DE Will Anderson claims opponents have figured out their approach. RB David Montgomery remains a week‑to‑week groin injury and will miss Week 9.
Former Jets wideout Allen Lazard, who logged 530 yards and six TDs in 2024 before a 2025 dip and release, now alleges the team slashed its player food budget by $1 million after his rookie season. He says the cut forced him to cook his own meals, causing stomach issues during practice. The NFLPA’s 2025 report card ranks the Jets’ dining program near the bottom (C‑, 29th of 32) and gives owner Woody Johnson the league’s lowest ownership grade. The report notes a budget cut and loss of the longtime dietitian, though it doesn’t verify Lazard’s exact figure.
The article pits Patriots rookie Drake Maye against Packers quarterback Jordan Love, weighing advanced metrics over raw stats. Maye posts a higher EPA per play (.279 vs. Love’s .15) and still leads in CPOE, though his volume and CPOE have slipped from last year. Love leads the league in passing yards and attempts, but suffers from a weak offensive line, a poor 2.9‑yard rushing attack, and a league‑worst 7% drop rate. While Maye appears objectively better per play, Love’s higher volume adds more overall value. The piece concludes Maye is the stronger individual performer, yet the comparison remains nuanced.
The Los Angeles Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall to future‑proof the position, but after eight weeks he remains a healthy scratch behind Matthew Stafford and Stetson Bennett. Despite a solid preseason, Simpson’s lack of game reps is prompting debate: with Stafford battling an elbow injury and Bennett likely headed for free agency, the Rams could promote Simpson to the primary backup now. Coach Sean McVay’s plan to develop the rookie is clear, though the timing remains uncertain, possibly aligning with the upcoming bye week.
The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team, ranked No. 10, opens its season with a 73-45 win over Towson, highlighted by guard Dani Carnegie’s 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. Coach Jan Jensen now has a reliable scoring option and will use the upcoming Nov 5 matchup against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Carver‑Hawkeye Arena to test new lineups before a crucial Sunday game versus UConn. The article provides game details—7 p.m. CST on B1G+—and invites fans to watch and discuss the contest.
As the Nov. 10 trade deadline looms, the Dallas Cowboys—sitting 3‑5 after a 33‑30 OT loss to Arizona—are eyeing Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat. Sweat, a Super Bowl‑winner with the Eagles, is in the second year of a four‑year, $76 million deal and could demand a raise on his $18.1 million 2026 salary, complicating a trade. Dallas, already heavy on draft‑pick expenditures for players like Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr., must balance adding a pass‑rusher against remaining draft capital and lingering needs at cornerback and linebacker.
The New York Giants are actively scouting trade options before the Nov. 10 deadline, with Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor emerging as a top target after injuries sidelined Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Coach John Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen are also eyeing defensive‑line help, reportedly probing DT Vita Vea and Jeffery Simmons. The Colts demand high draft compensation, and the Giants lack their 2027 fourth‑ and fifth‑round picks, complicating a deal. Meanwhile, the team has extended CB Greg Newsome II, released Najee Harris and added rookie Greg Desrosiers to bolster depth.
Seattle’s quarterback Sam Darnold, a Super Bowl hero, must elevate his play before contract talks for the 2027 season get underway. Through seven games in 2026 he’s 127‑of‑211 for 1,478 yards, 10 TDs and nine INTs with a 60.2% completion rate and a 79.4 passer rating, down from his 2025 numbers. Injuries have limited him, and the Seahawks face a $10 million roster bonus on the first day of the new league year, after which guarantees expire. If Darnold doesn’t improve, Seattle could move on despite his $100.5 million deal.
The Jaguars, now 5-2 after a 42-7 rout of the Colts, travel to Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 5, for a Week 10 showdown against the 4-4 Ravens, who are without starter Lamar Jackson and coming off a 36-10 loss to Buffalo. The game starts at 8:15 PM EST at M&T Bank Stadium and streams on Amazon Prime and NFL+. Betting lines favor Jacksonville at -9.5 points with a 39.5 total and a -550 moneyline, while Baltimore sits at +410. This preview covers the teams' recent form, key injuries, and where to watch.
Thursday Night Football pits the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Baltimore Ravens on November 5, 2026, at 8:15 PM ET. The game streams nationally on Amazon Prime Video and locally on Fubo, with over‑the‑air options on WMAR (Baltimore) and FOX30 (Jacksonville). The Jaguars arrive in Week 9 with a 5‑2 record, fresh off a 42‑7 win over Indianapolis, led by Trevor Lawrence and coach Liam Coen. The Ravens sit 4‑4 after three straight losses and face quarterback woes, as starters Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley are out and rookie Joe Fagnano is slated to start. Fans can watch the clash without cable via free‑trial streams on Prime or Fubo.
The Ravens will enter Thursday Night Football against the Jacksonville Jaguars without defensive back Nate Wiggins, who is listed as inactive due to an illness/stinger. Alongside Wiggins, the team also sidelines wide receiver Elijah Stewart, safety Jaylin Hawkins, guard Emery Jones, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles and quarterback Kedon Slovis. Wiggins, a 2024 first‑round pick from Clemson, has recorded four passes defended and 24 tackles in eight games this season. Jacksonville, now fifth in the league, averages 28.0 points and 227.4 passing yards per game. The Ravens must adjust their defense while already coping with injuries to quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.
The Seattle Seahawks’ October 5, 2010 trade for Marshawn Lynch from the Buffalo Bills proves the franchise’s most impactful in‑season acquisition. Sending a 2011 fourth‑round and a conditional 2012 fifth‑round pick, the Seahawks gained a power runner whose 67‑yard "Beast Quake" TD in the January 2011 wild‑card win sparked a 41‑36 upset over New Orleans. Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards in 2011, a career‑high 1,590 in 2012, and helped Seattle win Super Bowl XLVIII and reach Super Bowl XLIX, earning four Pro Bowls and two All‑Pro honors. The trade reshaped Seattle’s identity and remains a benchmark for mid‑season moves.
The Game Haus breaks down its Week 9 fantasy wide receiver rankings as the 2026 NFL season reaches its midpoint. Jaxon Smith‑Njigba (WR1) and Puka Nacua (WR2) earn Must‑Start tags, while stars Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and Justin Jefferson sit at WR3‑WR5. The list continues through deep‑league options like Rome Odunze and Marvin Harrison Jr., and flags several question‑mark players (Garrett Wilson, A.J. Brown, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, DeVonta Smith) as Status Uncertain. Bye weeks for DK Metcalf, Carnell Tate and Germie Bernard mean managers must tap bench talent. Readers get a clear hierarchy of starters, low‑end and deep‑league WRs for Week 9 decisions.
Jacoby Brissett won't be on the Baltimore Ravens in time to start Thursday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) injured, but the plan is reportedly for him to take the field in Week 10.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur laughs at quarterback Jordan Love’s Halloween blind‑referee costume but says he’ll stay quiet to avoid NFL backlash. Love and his wife posted the joke after the team, now 5‑3, suffered costly penalty calls while chasing NFC North rivals. LaFleur called the clip "hilarious" but warned he may need to refrain from commenting. Love, praised for deep‑throw talent, leads the league with 2,246 passing yards (192‑312) and a 16‑6 TD‑INT ratio. The Packers next face the Patriots in Week 9 and host the Vikings in Week 10.
Rookie Eli Heidenreich, a former Navy star and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 2nd Lieutenant, joins the Steelers’ Salute to Service program, wearing a Marine Corps decal for the 2026 season. Heidenreich, who graduated from the Naval Academy on May 22, 2026, has been a healthy scratch but appeared in three games, returning three kickoffs for 73 yards. Drafted in the seventh round after a memorable walk‑out in his Navy uniform, he posted a record 941 receiving yards and six TDs for Navy last year. The decal honors his military service while he pursues his NFL career.
The Steelers sit 6‑2 through eight games, but star receiver DK Metcalf is sparking concern. In the 27‑6 win over the Browns on Nov. 1, Metcaltf dropped a pass that led to an interception, marking his fourth drop. He has 33 catches for 378 yards and one TD on 64 targets—a 51.6% catch rate, far below his 2025 output (59 catches, 850 yards). teammate Germie Bernard, meanwhile, boasts a 76.2% catch rate with 32 receptions on 42 targets. Critics question why Aaron Rodgers continues to target Metcalf on contested throws, highlighting a stark efficiency gap as Pittsburgh’s offense relies on his big‑money contract. The article details the drop in Metcalf’s production since his 2019 Seahawks draft and the growing skepticism around his role.
Kevin O'Connell passed on an opportunity to guarantee that Kyler Murray would still be the Minnesota Vikings' QB1 when he returns from his hamstring injury.
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez says he’s eager for the ‘fun challenge’ of limiting Packers wideouts Christian Watson and Matthew Golden when Green Bay visits Gillette Stadium for Week 9 Sunday Night Football. The 24‑year‑old, a 2023 first‑round pick, praised the duo’s route‑running and chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love, while noting he’s still hunting his first interception after posting five passes defended and 21 tackles in six games. New England currently ranks 13th in the league, allowing 217.3 passing yards per game.
The Saints finish Week 9’s second practice with running back CJ Donaldson listed as a DNP due to a shoulder injury and possible concussion ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Browns. Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux takes a rest day, while tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., WR Jordyn Tyson, RB Alvin Kamara, CB Martin Emerson and tackle Asim Richards have limited participation for ankle, hamstring, back, shin and thumb issues respectively. Guard Cesar Ruiz is fully healthy. No Browns injuries are listed yet.
A loaded quarterback class and a growing list of needy teams create plenty of intriguing draft pairings.
At 6-2 and leading the AFC North, the Steelers' offense is finally embracing its smash‑mouth identity under first‑year head coach Mike McCarthy. Midseason positional grades reveal a surge in the rushing attack, with standout performances from rookie running back Najee Harris and veteran fullback James Conner, while the offensive line and tight end crew also earn high marks. The analysis highlights how these improvements are shaping Pittsburgh’s comeback hopes as the 2026 season reaches its midway point.
Dianna Russle (sic) Russini, who resigned from The Athletic after an investigation into her affair with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, is reportedly set to return to NFL reporting next week, likely aligning with the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says she’s informing league contacts of her comeback, though her new network and role remain unclear. Industry insiders note she may start with long‑form interview segments before scaling back to a full‑time breaking‑news position. Former colleagues have offered support, but some question whether the scandal has dented her credibility as a top insider.