The Jaguars are out to a 7-0 lead in their bid to bounce back from last Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence drilled a 12-yard strike to wide receiver Josh Cameron for a touchdown with 13:25 left to play in the first half in Jacksonville. The score capped a 10-play, 62-yard drive that began after Patriots quarterback Drake Maye’s latest miscue.
Maye was starting to throw a pass in Jaguars territory when the ball slipped out of his hand without any contact and Jaguars defensive lineman Davon Hamilton fell on the ball for a turnover. It’s the first lost fumble of the season for Maye, but he has thrown four interceptions.
The teams traded punts on the first three possessions and the Jags will look to keep the defensive pressure at a high level now that they’re playing with a lead.
Bills wide receiver DJ Moore hurt his shoulder in a Week 2 win over the Lions, but he had more than a week to recover from the injury and that was enough time for him to get cleared for action.
Moore is active for the Bills as they try to move to 3-0 on the season at home against the 0-2 Chargers. The Bills will also get defensive tackle Ed Oliver back in the lineup. Oliver missed the Lions game after injuring his hip in pregame warmups and was listed as questionable along with Moore and wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Coleman is also active for Buffalo while backup quarterback Trey Lance is active for the Chargers. DJ Uiagalelei was summoned from the practice squad as insurance after Lance was listed as questionable, but there will be no change behind Justin Herbert.
Chargers at Bills
Chargers: S Elijah Molden, QB DJ Uiagalelei, OL Alex Harkey, G Kayode Awosika, TE Charlie Kolar, WR Brenen Thompson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Bills: WR Skyler Bell, OL Jude Bowry, OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DL T.J. Sanders, LB Mike Danna, S Jalon Kilgore
Panthers at Browns
Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Haynes King, WR Xavier Legette, S Nick Scott, LB Devin Lloyd, OT Albert Reese, DT Cam Jackson
Browns: CB Tyson Campbell, QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Jets at Lions
Jets: WR Adonai Mitchell, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, TE Mason Taylor, RB Kene Nwangwu, CB Nahshon Wright, K Blake Grupe, LB Kiko Mauigoa
Lions: G Ben Bartch, TE Tyler Conklin, S Bishop Fitzgerald, DL Ahmed Hassanein, LB Devin White, DL Mekhi Wingo
Texans at Colts
Texans: TE Brevin Jordan, CB Collin Wright, WR Nico Collins, G Ed Ingram, DE Jadeveon Clowney, OL Nate Thomas
Colts: WR Ashton Dulin, WR Darius Slayton, DE George Gumbs, G Dailton Tucker, RB DJ Giddens, QB Riley Leonard
Patriots at Jaguars
Patriots: S Craig Woodson, LB Dre’Mont Jones, QB Behren Morton, OT Dametrious Crownover, TE Eli Raridon, DT Leonard Taylor
Jaguars: WR CJ Williams, S Jalen Huskey, LB Jack Kiser, OL Daniel Faalele, DE Wesley Williams, DT Albert Regis
Chiefs at Dolphins
Chiefs: TE Jared Wiley, QB Garrett Nussmeier, DB Chamarri Conner, DE Jack Pyburn, OT Josh Simmons, DE Tyreke Smith
Dolphins: QB Brady Cook, WR Caleb Douglas, RB Jaylen Wright, CB Marcellus Dial, OL DJ Campbell, DL Rob Beal Jr., OL Chukweubuka Godrick
Titans at Giants
Titans: OL Atonio Mafi, DL Jackie Marshall, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Kylen Granson, DB Jaylon Jones, RB Michael Carter
Giants: RB Devin Singletary, TE Thomas Fidone, OL J.C. Davis, DL Josh Tupou, DL Bobby Jamison-Travis, CB Deonte Banks, S Tyler Nubin
Bengals at Steelers
Bengals: CB Josh Newton, C Connor Lew, OT Myles Hinton, TE Jack Endries, DT BJ Hill, DT Landon Robinson
Steelers: RB Rico Dowdle, QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, CB Joey Porter Jr., RB Eli Heidenreich, DT Kevin Jobity Jr., DT Gabriel Rubio
Seahawks at Commanders
Seahawks: S Julian Love, S Ty Okada, DT Brandon Pili, QB Jalen Milroe, WR Montorie Foster, CB Avery Smith, LB Connor O’Toole
Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LB Frankie Luvu, LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste, G Sam Cosmi, TE Chig Okonkwo
As of last Sunday night, there was optimism that an MRI would show that Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had suffered a Grade 1 hamstring injury. For six days, the Bears managed to keep the specific degree of the strain secret.
The secret is now out. ESPN reports that it’s a Grade 2 injury, which “could” keep Williams out of action for three to four weeks.
That’s on the short end of the usual window for a Grade 2 hamstring strain — three to eight weeks.
Whatever the specific grade (and there are surely shades of gray between 1 and 2), a hamstring injury needs time to recover. And then even more time. It can feel fine with normal running. Then, when the athlete hits full speed in a game, it can grab. And then it’s aggravated. And more time can be missed.
Tyson Bagent, once cleared from a concussion he suffered last Sunday, will be the starter. Case Keenum is Bagent’s backup.
Williams has already been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the Eagles. In Week 4, the Bears host the Jets before traveling to Green Bay and then Atlanta. Next up will be the two Super Bowl teams, with a home game against the Patriots in Week 7 and a Monday night visit to Seattle in Week 8.
Internal turmoil at the North Carolina football program brought down G.M. Michael Lombardi and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick. Head coach Bill Belichick remains.
Earlier this week UNC chancellor Lee Roberts addressed the investigation that prompted the resignation of Bill Belichick’s consigliere and his son.
“Coach Belichick continues to have our support, the support of the administration and of the board [of trustees],” Roberts said Thursday, via Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. “He understands that that support comes with expectations around conduct and behavior. Nobody understands that better than coach Belichick.”
As to Lombardi and Steve Belichick, the conduct and behavior apparently fell short of the standard. Given their proximity to the head coach, that’s problematic.
“We’re continuing to put in place policies and training and monitoring to make sure that the standards we expect of the football program are being adhered to,” Roberts said.
The message is clear. The powers-that-be have their eyes on Bill Belichick. And if they can pin something/anything to him, they can escape the Belichick experiment without owing him a buyout.
North Carolina is off this weekend. The 2-1 Tar Heels host Notre Dame next weekend.
The Patriots will officially be without one of their key defenders on Sunday.
New England has ruled out linebacker Dre’Mont Jones for the Week 3 matchup against Jacksonville.
Jones did not practice all week with a shoulder injury.
Linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins (knee) was also ruled out for the contest.
Safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) and tight end Eli Raridon (thigh) are both questionable for the game. Raridon was limited on Wednesday and didn’t practice on Thursday or Friday. Woodson went the other way, not practicing on Wednesday or Thursday while being limited on Friday.
Safety Brenden Schooler (back) was limited all week as he returns from the NFI list.
Offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot), offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis (neck), and fullback Reggie Gilliam (knee) are all off the injury report and are set to play.
