C.J. Stroud was the better rookie quarterback through seven weeks, but Bryce Young and the Panthers got the better of Stroud and the Texans on Sunday.
Young led a go-ahead, 15-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro on the final play. Pineiro earlier missed a PAT.
The Panthers’ 15-13 victory was their first of the season. Houston fell to 3-4, losing on a final play field goal for the second time this season.
Young went 22-of-31 for 235 yards and a touchdown, while Stroud was 16-of-24 for 140 yards. Stroud ran for a 1-yard touchdown that put the Texans up 13-12 with 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Houston’s two-point try failed on a pass by Stroud.
Texans defensive lineman Will Anderson, the third pick in the draft, had three tackles, including a tackle for loss.
It was the first time the first three picks had played in the same game as rookies.
The Texans outgained the Panthers 229 to 224, but Houston crossed midfield on only four of nine possessions and scored only twice.
For the first time, the top three draft picks are playing in the same game as rookies. The Panthers took Bryce Young first, with the Texans taking C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson second and third.
The first half was a defensive battle with Houston taking a 7-6 lead into the locker room after Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro missed an extra point.
The Texans had 103 yards and the Panthers 131, with Stroud 10-of-14 for 75 yards and Young 13-of-19 for 131 yards and a touchdown. Anderson has two tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Houston struck first on a 1-yard run by fullback Andrew Beck with 13:13 left in the second quarter.
The Texans had a goal line stand on Carolina’s third possession. From the Houston 5, Chuba Hubbard had runs of 3, 1 and minus-1 before Young threw incomplete on fourth down from the 2.
But Carolina broke through on its next drive.
The nine-play, 60-yard drive was capped by Young’s 1-yard pass to Tommy Tremble on third-and-goal. Pineiro missed the PAT wide right to keep the Texans in the lead.
One of the names that could be making the rounds in advance of the trade deadline — but is not — belongs to Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns.
He’s in the final year of his rookie contract, an option year that pays out $16 million for 2023. He wants a new contract.
The problem, as it relates to a potential trade, is his financial demand for a new deal. This buzz is some circles is that it’s upward of $30 million per year.
Absent a trade, Burns will become a free agent after the season. The Panthers could, if they want, apply the franchise tag and trade Burns then. Regardless, a trade before the deadline is unlikely for now.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
The Dolphins will have cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the lineup for the first time on Sunday, but they will have to wait to team him up with Xavien Howard.
Howard is inactive for their home matchup with the Patriots. It’s the second straight game that Howard has missed due to a groin injury.
As expected, running back Raheem Mostert is active after being listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Patriots at Dolphins
Patriots: LB Josh Uche, T Vederian Lowe, WR Tyquan Thornton, WR Kayshon Boutte, QB Will Grier, T Calvin Anderson
Dolphins: CB Xavien Howard, WR Robbie Chosen, S Jevon Holland, QB Skylar Thompson, DT Brandon Pili
Jets at Giants
Jets: DE Carl Lawson, RB Israel Abanikanda, WR Randall Cobb, WR Irv Charles, OL Joe Tippmann, LB Zaire Barnes, DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Giants: RB Deon Jackson, QB Daniel Jones, S Bobby McCain, S Gervarrius Owens, T Evan Neal, T Andrew Thomas, DL Jordon Riley
Jaguars at Steelers
Jaguars: S Andre Cisco, WR Zay Jones, CB Tyson Campbell, LB Yasir Abdullah, OL Cole Van Lanen, DL Tyler Lacy
Steelers: QB Mason Rudolph, CB Levi Wallace, T Dylan Cook, NT Breiden Fehoko
Falcons at Titans
Falcons: CB Clark Phillips III, LB Tae Davis, OL Jovaughn Gwyn, DL Albert Huggins, DL Joe Gaziano, P Pat O’Donnell, QB Logan Woodside
Titans: QB Ryan Tannehill, CB Roger McCreary, TE Josh Whyle, LB Caleb Murphy, WR Colton Dowell, LB Rashad Weaver, OL Jaelyn Duncan
Texans at Panthers
Texans: WR Robert Woods, TE Brevin Jordan, DT Sheldon Rankins, QB Case Keenum, DE Myjai Sanders, OL Nick Broeker
Panthers: S Vonn Bell, WR Laviska Shenault, S Alex Cook, LB Luiji Viliain, T Ricky Lee, G Brett Toth, G Nash Jensen.
Rams at Cowboys
Rams: OL Rob Havenstein, RB Zach Evans, LB Nick Hampton, OL Zach Thomas, DL Earnest Brown IV
Cowboys: T Tyron Smith, WR Jalen Brooks, RB Deuce Vaughn, CB Noah Igbinoghene, CB Eric Scott Jr., DE Viliami Fehoko Jr., QB Trey Lance
Vikings at Packers
Vikings: G Ezra Cleveland, LB Brian Asamoah II, RB Kene Nwangwu, TE Nick Muse, T Hakeem Adeniji, CB NaJee Thompson
Packers: WR Malik Heath, CB Robert Rochell, S Zayne Anderson, LB Brenton Cox Jr., T Caleb Jones
Saints at Colts
Saints: QB Jake Haener, WR Keith Kirkwood, OL Jame Hurst, TE Jimmy Graham, DE Kyle Phillips
Colts: G Ike Boettger, CB Julius Brents, TE Kylen Granson, DT Eric Johnson II, DE Isaiah Land, RT Braden Smith, CB Ameer Speed
Eagles at Commanders
Eagles: QB Tanner McKee, RB Rashaad Penny, CB Bradley Roby, LB Patrick Johnson, DT Moro Ojomo, TE Albert Okwuegbunam
Commanders: S Christian Holmes, DE Andre Jones, DE K.J. Henry, T Trent Scott, TE Curtis Hodges, TE Cole Turner, WR Mitchell Tinsley
The eighth week of the 2023 NFL season kicked off on Thursday with a win by the Bills and it continues with 14 more games on Sunday, which means that the 28 teams in those games submitted their final injury reports of the week on Friday.
The Raiders and Lions play on Monday and their final injury reports will be released on Saturday.
Texans at Panthers
TE Brevin Jordan (foot), DT Sheldon Rankins (knee), and WR Robert Woods (foot) won’t play for the Texans. T Tytus Howard (hand, knee), WR Xavier Hutchinson (foot), and DT Hassan Ridgeway (calf) are their questionable players.
Panthers EDGE Brian Burns (elbow) didn’t practice Friday and is considered questionable for Sunday. LB Frankie Luvu (hip), T Taylor Moton (knee, rest), S Xavier Woods (hamstring), and LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (illness) join him in that group while S Vonn Bell (quad) and WR Laviska Shenault (ankle) have been ruled out.
Rams at Cowboys
TE Hunter Long (hamstring) won’t be in the Rams lineup. T Rob Havenstein (calf), LB Ernest Jones (knee), and WR Ben Skowronek (Achilles) have questionable tags.
The Cowboys feel good about T Tyron Smith (neck) playing on Sunday, but he’s officially listed as questionable.
Vikings at Packers
The Vikings ruled out LB Brian Asamoah (ankle). G Ezra Cleveland (foot), RB Kene Nwangwu (illness), and WR Jalen Nailor (hamstring) drew questionable tags.
RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) is set to play for the Packers, but CB Jaire Alexander (back), LB De’Vondre Campbell (ankle), TE Luke Musgrave (ankle), and C Josh Myers (ankle) are all listed as questionable.
Saints at Colts
T James Hurst (ankle) is the only player ruled out for the Saints. LB Demario Davis (knee), G Max Garcia (illness), TE Jimmy Graham (illness), S J.T. Gray (hamstring), QB Taysom Hill (chest), TE Juwan Johnson (calf), S Tyrann Mathieu (foot), S Marcus Maye (illness), G Andrus Peat (ankle), and CB Alontae Taylor (hip) make up a sizable questionable group.
CB Julius Brents (quadricep), TE Kylen Granson (concussion), and T Braden Smith (hip, wrist) are all out for the Colts. CB Tony Brown (ribs), DT Eric Johnson (ankle), and RB Zack Moss (elbow, heel) are listed as questionable.
Patriots at Dolphins
DT Christian Barmore (knee), T Trenton Brown (ankle, knee), CB Jonathan Jones (knee), T Vederian Lowe (ankle), LB Josh Uche (ankle, toe), CB Shaun Wade (shoulder), DE Keion White (concussion), DE Deatrich Wise (shoulder) are all questionable for the Patriots. T Calvin Anderson (illness) will not play.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (hip) has no injury designation and is set to play on Sunday. CB Jalen Ramsey (knee), RB Raheem Mostert (ankle), S Jevon Holland (concussion), WR River Cracraft (shoulder), CB Xavien Howard (groin), FB Alec Ingold (foot), CB Nik Needham (Achilles), and CB Cam Smith (foot) are listed as questionable.
Jets at Giants
The Jets will have CB Sauce Gardner and CB D.J. Reed back in action after they cleared the concussion protocol. G Joe Tippmann (quad) is out and WR Irvin Charles (shoulder) is listed as doubtful. CB Michael Carter (hamstring), WR Randall Cobb (shoulder), and DE Will McDonald (back) are the team’s questionable players.
Giants QB Daniel Jones (neck) will miss his second straight game and T Andrew Thomas (hamstring) is set to miss his seventh after being listed as doubtful. TE Darren Waller (hamstring), EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee), CB Adoree’ Jackson (neck), T Evan Neal (ankle), and C John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) are listed as questionable. RB Gary Brightwell (hamstring) has been ruled out as well.
Jaguars at Steelers
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (knee) played after being listed as questionable last week and the team will be hoping things go the same way this Sunday. WR Zay Jones (knee) and CB Gregory Junior (hamstring) have been ruled out. G Brandon Scherff (ankle), OL Walker Little (knee), CB Tyson Campbell (hamstring), and S Andre Cisco (hamstring) are listed as questionable.
WR Diontae Johnson (hamstring) is good to go for the Steelers, but CB James Pierre (ankle), CB Joey Porter (calf), and CB Levi Wallace (foot) are all listed as questionable.
Falcons at Titans
LB Tae Davis (concussion) is out for the Falcons and LB Bud Dupree (groin) has a questionable tag.
Titans QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle) will not play on Sunday. TE Josh Whyle (concussion) and CB Roger McCreary (hamstring) are also out while DL Naquan Jones (illness) is the team’s only questionable player.
Eagles at Commanders
DT Jordan Davis (hamstring) is questionable after missing Eagles practice on Friday. CB Bradley Roby (shoulder) has been ruled out.
LB Cody Barton (ankle) and G Saahdiq Charles (calf) won’t play for the Commanders. DT Phidarian Mathis (calf) and WR Curtis Samuel (foot) carry questionable designations into the weekend.
Browns at Seahawks
The Browns ruled QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) out earlier this week and they listed T Jedrick Wills (foot, ankle), RB Jerome Ford (ankle), WR Marquise Goodwin (back), and LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring) make up their questionable contingent.
WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring) and S Jamal Adams (knee) are questionable for the Seahawks, but they are set to have WR DK Metcalf (ribs, hip) back in the lineup. RB Kenny McIntosh (knee) and NT Austin Faoliu (knee) have been ruled out while G Phil Haynes (calf) is considered doubtful.
Ravens at Cardinals
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) is set to play, but EDGE Odafe Oweh (ankle), RB Keaton Mitchell (hamstring) and WR Tylan Wallace (hamstring) are listed as questionable. S Marcus Williams (hamstring) is out.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (knee) has progressed to full practice participation, but he’s not expected to play this weekend after being listed as doubtful. LB Krys Barnes (hamstring), DT Kevin Strong (shoulder), and T Elijah Wilkinson (neck) have been ruled out while CB Antonio Hamilton (groin), S Jalen Thompson, and WR Greg Dortch (ankle) are listed as questionable.
Chiefs at Broncos
LB Nick Bolton (wrist) is out for the Chiefs and they issued no other injury designations.
WR Brandon Johnson (hamstring) is the only Broncos player with an injury designation. He’s considered questionable.
Bengals at 49ers
Bengals T Orlando Brown Jr. (groin) is ready to go after getting hurt before the team’s bye week. LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee) and RB Chase Brown (hamstring) aren’t going to play.
QB Brock Purdy (concussion) had a full practice on Friday before the 49ers listed him and T Trent Williams (ankle) as questionable. WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder) will miss his second straight game.
Bears at Chargers
QB Justin Fields is out again for the Bears this weekend. S Jaquan Brisker (illness), OL Dan Feeney (knee), and S Eddie Jackson (foot) are listed as questionable while G Nate Davis (ankle) and DB Terell Smith (illness) have been ruled out along with Fields.
TE Gerald Everett (hip), S Alohi Gilman (heel), WR Jalen Guyton (knee), CB Deane Leonard (hamstring), DT Otito Ogbonnia (knee), and WR Josh Palmer (knee) are all listed as questionable for the Chargers.
