The Patriots will be missing a couple of defensive starters in Buffalo on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters at his Friday press conference that cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore have been ruled out for Week 4. Both players are dealing with shoulder injuries that kept them from practicing this week.

Gonzalez had eight tackles and five passes defensed in the first three weeks of the season. Charles Woods is expected to start in his place against the Bills.

Barmore has four tackles, a sack and three quarterback hits this season. Milton Williams, Cory Durden, and Joshua Farmer will take on more responsibility on the defensive line with Barmore out of action.

The Commanders made a late addition to their injury report for Sunday's game against the Colts in London.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is listed as questionable to play in that contest. McLaurin was not on the injury report until Friday and he was limited by a hamstring injury.

Injuries that pop up late in the week can often lead to absences from the lineup, so the Commanders may need to try for their second straight win with Stefon Diggs at the top of their receiver group.

Running back Rachaad White (shoulder) has been ruled out after missing a third straight practice. Quarterback Jayden Daniels (left elbow), guard Sam Cosmi (concussion, throat), and safety Nick Cross (illness) were ruled out ahead of the release of the report. Safety Percy Butler (concussion) is questionable to play.

There is some relatively positive news on Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Graham is expected to miss a few weeks with an MCL sprain and an ankle sprain.

Graham underwent an MRI on Friday, which revealed that Graham is not believed to have suffered an injury that will keep him out long-term.

Graham, the No. 5 overall pick in last year's draft, had registered 4.0 sacks in Cleveland's first three games. That mark leads the team.

Head coach Todd Monken praised Graham earlier on Friday for how hard he has worked to improve.

Cleveland will have some time before its Week 5 matchup against the Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 11. The club will then face the Ravens at home in Week 6 before taking on the Titans on the road in Week 7.

To no surprise, CBS has moved on from Tony Romo.

CBS has separated from its top NFL game analyst, who previously was the long-time starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.

“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” CBS said in a statement, a copy of which PFT has received. “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward. J.J. Watt will continue to partner with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on our lead NFL announce team for the rest of the season."

Said Romo in a statement of his own, a copy of which PFT has received: "I’m proud of what I accomplished at CBS Sports over the last nine years. I approached my role as a game analyst the way I’ve approached everything in my life–with a desire to win and be the best that I can be. I'm going to use this time to take a break, something I've never done before, and focus on my health and my family before moving on to my next opportunity. I am grateful for my time with CBS Sports and for the continued support of my family and friends, as well as the NFL community and fans.”

From the moment CBS placed Romo on leave with a one-sentence press release, it seemed obvious that he'd never return.

The situation was sparked by a recent OWI arrest in Milwaukee, but there had been lingering questions regarding whether Romo was living up to his exorbitant contract.

Entering the 2026 season, CBS owed Romo $72 million over the next four years. They possibly reached a settlement that pays him some of the money, but not all of it.

Romo eventually issued a statement apologizing for the OWI arrest. He said that he had developed during his playing career a "dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol."

He also vowed to return to CBS.

But CBS never seemed to be on board with bringing Romo back. Now, he's out.

J.J. Watt has replaced Romo in the top CBS booth. Whether he retains that seat beyond 2026 remains to be seen. Romo's broadcasting future is also up in the air; it's unlikely he'll claim one of the top spots at another network.

Earlier this week, Rams special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone told reporters that the team was not considering making a change at punt returner.

That plan has apparently changed.

Los Angeles announced on Friday that the team has waived receiver/returner Xavier Smith.

Smith had served as the team’s primary punt returner for each of the last two seasons. But he also has made some critical mistakes, including fielding a punt deep in L.A. territory that looked like it would be a touchback in the third quarter of last week’s eventual loss to Denver.

Smith averaged 9.9 yards per punt return and 20.6 yards per kick return over the first three weeks this season.

While he had not caught a pass in 2026, he recorded 18 catches for 303 yards in 2025.

The Rams’ unofficial depth chart listed Konata Mumpfield as the team’s backup punt returner. We’ll see if he in fact does get the nod at the position when L.A. takes on Philadelphia on Sunday.

Christian Parker is a first-time defensive coordinator who was charged with fixing a unit that allowed the most points in the NFL last season. The Cowboys currently rank 30th in yards allowed and 25th in points.

It's better but not much better.

Parker has taken some heat for his decision to play man defense with seven seconds left against Lamar Jackson, who completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers that set up Tyler Loop's game-winning, 56-yard field goal.

Parker admitted this week he erred with the play call.

"Oh, for sure," Parker said, via Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press. "You know, I had an original call in mind, but overthought the situation, relative to what their mindset was going to be going to overtime, trying to get something quick, Hail Mary, all those things. So, I definitely would make a different call if that the situation came up again."

Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, now an analyst for NBC Sports, called Parker's decision to play man coverage "somewhat negligent" during a halftime segment on Sunday Night Football. Tomlin said Parker should have called for zone coverage in that situation to protect against what happened.

Parker said he does not listen to "outside noise."

"To be honest with you, I don't pay it any mind," he said. "We have more than enough on our plate in here to worry about what the outside noise is, whether it's good or bad. I think that regardless of how that outside noise creeps in the building, it can affect you in multiple ways. So we've just been focusing on trying to get this next one."

Prior to Wednesday's trade sending cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Steelers to the Cowboys, there were reports of interest in Porter from other teams as well.

The Lions were one of the teams mentioned in those reports and head coach Dan Campbell confirmed them during a Friday press conference.

Campbell said, via multiple reporters, that the Lions were "very much in on" Porter prior to Pittsburgh's deal with Dallas. He said everything has to "align" for a deal to reach the finish line, however, and the Cowboys were able to get there first by sending a pair of draft picks to the Steelers.

The Lions' interest in cornerback help is easy to understand. The release of Terrion Arnold left them without an expected starter in the defensive backfield and it stands to reason that they'll continue looking at possible ways to bolster the group ahead of the trade deadline.

Packers defensive tackle Warren Brinson missed the first three games of the season with a calf injury and he's set to miss a lot more action with a new ailment.

Brinson appeared on this week's injury report with a groin issue in addition to the calf and head coach Matt LaFleur said that it will be the reason for an extended absence from the field.

"Unfortunately I think he's gonna miss a significant amount of time," LaFleur said, via Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's website. "All he did was slip and injuries occur and a lot of times it's non-contract."

Brinson was a sixth-round pick last year. He had 13 tackles and a half-sack in 11 appearances as a rookie.

The Browns moved to 3-1 when Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers's final, desperate heave was picked off by safety Grant Delpit on Thursday night and head coach Todd Monken reflected on how improbable that record would have felt not so long ago.

Week 1 saw the Jaguars pummel Monken's team in his head coaching debut and much of the conversation was about whether they would bench quarterback Deshaun Watson before their Week 3 home opener. Those discussions all centered around the incessant boos Watson heard from Browns fans in an August preseason game against the Bills, but it turned out to be a lot of wasted words.

Watson has led game-winning drives in the fourth quarter each of the last three weeks and the entire Browns team has had little resemblance to the one that got blown out in Jacksonville.

"It’s a credit, I’ll go back to Deshaun, but to our team. I mean, that was a complete, maybe disaster is a little bit strong, but that’s a tough opening game in every phase, other than maybe kickoff return, maybe, other than that," Monken said, via a transcript from the team. "But the guys trusted the process. We got stung a little bit, and our guys responded to that. And, man, that locker room is fun, right there celebrating those guys. Big, big, big divisional win. And so, but Deshaun, before the game, I got a chance to, I was in the coach’s office, and I was going over the call sheet with him again, and I said, 'Isn’t this really cool? Like, you’re going to be introduced last, isn’t that really freaking cool?' It was only seven weeks earlier, and, right, it’s, 'Where are we going to go from here, right? The Bills game at home, right? Where are we going from here, where are you going, where are we going?' So cool."

Monken noted later in his press conference that its only three wins and there is certainly a lot of football left to be played, but that's a promising prospect for Cleveland rather than a distressing one for the first time in a long time.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce's next catch will be a significant one for his place in NFL history.

Kelce has 1,094 receptions in his NFL career, tying him with Tim Brown on the all-time list. With his next catch, Kelce will move ahead of Brown and be No. 7 in NFL history for career catches.

In first place on the all-time catch list is Jerry Rice, whose record of 1,549 receptions may never be broken. Kelce won't catch Rice even if he plays until he's 40.

After Rice on the career catch list are Larry Fitzgerald (1,432 catches), Tony Gonzalez (1,325), Marvin Harrison (1,102), Cris Carter (1,101) and Jason Witten (1,228). Then comes Kelce, who is climbing up the ranks of the most productive pass catchers ever to play the game.

Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham had to exit Thursday’s victory over the Steelers with a knee injury.

Graham was spotted postgame on crutches and wearing a brace on his knee postgame.

In his Friday news conference, Monken noted he did not have an update on Graham, who is still undergoing tests.

But Graham, the No. 5 overall pick of the 2025 draft, has been one of the team’s best players over the first few weeks of the season.

“He’s a tremendously talented young player, that you could see early in the season it all coming together,” Monken said. “Like I said last week, we want all of our young players to be great right away and we need them to be great right away. That’s the nature [of] the business we’ve chosen. But I just think he’s worked awfully hard. He’s not only active and quick, he’s a highly intelligent player — which I think helps him in terms of reading sets, in terms of communication up front, and he plays with an unbelievable effort.

“So, it’s a shame for him. But, hopefully we get good news.”

Graham has recorded 4.0 sacks with six tackles for loss and five QB hits so far in 2026. He finished last year with 0.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and four QB hits.

The NFL Players Association announced on Friday that Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins has been named their Community MVP for Week 4 of the 2026 season.

Hollins recently hosted a Special Olympics Family Field Day for 125 athletes along with their families. The event featured eight different stations staffed by 25 coaches and several other Patriots players took part in the celebration,.

“It is such an honor to be named this week’s NFLPA Community MVP,” Hollins said. “I am grateful to have been able to experience it with the Special Olympics community and continue building a relationship that means so much to me. None of this would have been possible without the help of so many outstanding volunteers and passionate people.”

The NFLPA will donate $10,000 to Hollins's Free the Feet Foundation. He will also join the other weekly MVPs as candidates for the Alan Page Award at the end of the season.

On Sunday, the Ravens and the Cowboys provided stark examples on how to handle, and how not to handle, the final seconds of a close game in light of the current kickoff rules.

The Steelers and the Browns apparently learned nothing from it.

After the Browns failed to work the clock down to the final few seconds before what became the game-winning field goal, 10 seconds remained.

Like the Cowboys in Rio, the Browns kicked into the end zone, giving the Steelers the ball at the 35. (A cutaway to Browns coach Todd Monken seemed to reveal his dismay.) It opened the door for the Steelers, who had a timeout in hand, to try to gain just enough yardage to allow for a field goal that would have forced overtime.

From the TV copy, it appeared that the Browns were playing the same kind of outside leverage that the Cowboys deployed when the Ravens, who had only seven seconds to work with, gained 27 yards and kicked the walk-off field goal. That gave the Steelers a shot at completing a pass in the middle of the field.

But the Steelers didn't call a play that would have entailed a quick throw for a moderate gain and a shot at a field goal.

Instead, quarterback Aaron Rodgers rolled to his right, looking to uncork a long throw. The pass, which came back to earth just inside the Cleveland 20, was intercepted. Game over.

Why not try for a 20- to 30-yard gain? Quick decision, quick throw. If it works, take the time out and try the field goal. If it doesn't, let Rodgers try to connect on another Thursday night miracle.

Coach Mike McCarthy (or Rodgers himself) inexplicably opted for a middle ground, with a long throw that, if it had connected, possibly would have allowed for a time out and a short field goal.

The decision made no sense. The Steelers could have had two shots — a shorter attempt to put them in field goal range for overtime and, if that failed (without an interception), a Hail Mary to win it.

The 2025 shift of the touchback point from the 30 to the 35 has significantly altered the available strategies for the final 10-15 seconds of a game. The Browns repeated the Cowboys' mistake by conceding the 35, and the Steelers failed to try to seize upon the very real possibility of using the final 10 seconds to gain enough ground to send it into overtime.

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt had a sack, two tackles for loss, a pass deflection and two quarterback hits on Thursday night, but he was not happy with the defensive effort in the 27-24 loss to the Browns.

After the Steelers tied the game 24-24 with 1:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Browns went 36 yards on seven plays to move into range for the game-winning field goal. Watt said that led to the Steelers losing a game they should have won.

"To sit here and not be 3-1 isn't acceptable," Watt said, via Steelers.com. "Obviously, it's a long season, a lot left to go, but we just have to put it together. Even at the end of the game, it was way too easy [for the Browns] getting down the field and getting in [field goal] range. Just have to look at everything and move forward."

The Steelers' next three games are against teams with losing records -- the Colts, Buccaneers and Saints -- and then they have a rematch with the Browns. The schedule sets up for Pittsburgh to go on a run, but Watt knows the defense needs to play better.

The Jets will be shorthanded when they play the Bears on Sunday.

Head coach Aaron Glenn announced in his Friday press conference that Breece Hall (quad), tight end Mason Taylor (thumb), receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger), left guard Dylan Parham (knee), and linebacker Kiko Mauioga have all been ruled out.

It sounds like edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare also could end up being questionable, as Glenn said Enagbare will be a limited participant in Friday’s practice. He was limited on Wednesday but did not practice on Thursday.

Minkah Fitzpatrick appears on track to return from a groin injury, as he was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday’s practice.

New York’s full injury report with the rest of the club’s game statuses will be released later on Friday.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel dismissed a report that he has issues with quarterback Drake Maye during a Wednesday press conference by saying that coaching Maye is the reason he's in New England and Maye got his chance to comment on it later in the day.

While Vrabel said he didn't "have much to add to that about a comment from an unnamed source," Maye's response avoided discussion of where the report came from and focused on how much he likes playing for the coach.

"Coach Vrabel’s been one of the best football coaches I’ve had in my life," Maye said, via a transcript from the team. "I think Coach Vrabel’s been one of the biggest things as to why this has been so enjoyable for me is playing for Coach. I think we all feel that way in the locker room. He pushes us hard. I’ve loved playing for him, and it’s not going to change. It hasn’t changed, and it won’t change. The way he pushes me, and he coaches the quarterbacks in a way that I really respect, and I’m looking forward to getting going, proving to Coach that I can lead this football team and play good football."

Maye also fielded questions about whether an injury to his shoulder is contributing to his poor play so far this season and there will continue to be questions about what's bothering a player who finished second in MVP voting last year until he starts playing at that level again.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels will have to wait at least one more week to return to the Commanders lineup.

Daniels was able to practice this week with a brace on his dislocated left elbow, but head coach Dan Quinn ruled him out for Sunday's game against the Colts during a Friday press conference. Marcus Mariota will get the start in London.

It's Mariota's second straight start and he was able to help the Commanders beat the Seahawks in Week 3. He was 19-of-31 for 183 yards and three touchdowns in Washington's 33-31 win.

Daniels was limited in practice this week, but a return to full participation next week would bode well for his chances of playing against the Giants in Week 5.

While Daniels will remain out, Quinn said linebacker Frankie Luvu and tight end Chig Okonkwo will play against Indianapolis. Both players missed the last two games.

Publicly, the Bears have said their "sole focus" for the site of their new stadium site is Hammond, Ind.

But the storied franchise playing its home games in a different state is not a done deal — potentially far from it.

After there was reporting in August that commissioner Roger Goodell had met with select state lawmakers, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a statement on Thursday saying he had met with Goodell.

"The Governor's Office has remained in conversation with the Bears about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer,” the statement reads. "Today, Governor Pritzker was grateful to meet in Illinois with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Pat Ryan, Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Rep. Kam Buckner, and Sen. Bill Cunningham.

"The Governor and General Assembly leadership were glad to participate in a productive meeting focused on keeping the Bears in Illinois and protecting taxpayers."

Ryan is a Bears minority owner, and the namesake of Northwestern University’s Ryan Field, which was recently rebuilt and is set to open on Friday when the Wildcats play Penn State.

Interestingly, none of speaker Welch, Rep. Buckner, or Sen. Cunningham represent Arlington Heights — which is the suburb of Chicago where the Bears purchased a 326-acre property for a new stadium and development. But all three do represent districts in and around Chicago.

The league also issued a statement on the meeting, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:

“The NFL appreciated the opportunity to meet with Governor Pritzker and legislative leaders today,” the statement reads. “Timely action is essential as the Bears work to find a long-term stadium solution for the club and their fans.”

It’s unclear what the solution will be for the Bears and their stadium going forward. But it does appear that at least the league is working to keep the club playing its home games in its home state.

The Steelers traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys less than 24 hours before their Week 4 game at Cleveland. After the 27-24 loss, coach Mike McCarthy was asked whether the timing of the move had a negative impact on the team.

"You know, I mean, that's really, you know, a question that's really specific to individuals, and I can't really speak on every individual," McCarthy said. "You know, the timing was, you know, was the night before a game, and, you know, I'm sure that's what the guys woke up to but, yeah, I mean, it's part of our business."

Earlier in the press conference, McCarthy revisited the intersection between business and football, as it played out throughout the Porter saga.

"You never hope business, you know, gets in the way of your preparation and playing, but, you know, it's the modern NFL," McCarthy said. "You know, it was a situation where, you know, it's been going on for some time. As an organization, we felt like this was the best thing for us and, you know, we wish Joey well, and, you know, I never really got a chance to coach Joey, but, you know, obviously, did some, you know, did some great things here, and we wish him the best in Dallas."

McCarthy added that there "was definitely a point" where he "definitely thought it was a possibility" that Porter would play for the Steelers against the Browns.

"We had a rep count in mind," McCarthy said, "so that's what we were working towards."

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also got a question about the timing of the Porter trade and the potential impact on the team.

"You gotta ask the defensive guys," Rodgers said. "They're probably around him more often but, you know, I thought Joey might play this week, based on his practice stuff but, you know, we wish Joey well."

One defensive player wasn't surprised by the move. At the outset of the Thursday night broadcast, Kaylee Hartung said linebacker Patrick Queen knew that, when Porter didn't get on the bus with the team to Cleveland, "he wouldn't be in Pittsburgh when they came back."

Porter is now in Dallas. And it appears that he will indeed make his 2026 debut on Sunday, when the Cowboys face the Texans.

After a long, drawn out negotiation, the Steelers dealt cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys on Wednesday night.

Porter's now-former teammate Jalen Ramsey went through a similar situation with the Jaguars back in 2019, which ended with him being traded to the Rams.

After Thursday night's loss to the Rams, Ramsey told reporters that he felt like a big brother to Porter and wanted him to be a valued, important part of the Steelers going forward.

“It is very unfortunate that it didn’t work out,” Ramsey said, via Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show. “But at the same time, I am happy for him. I am happy that he is getting a fresh start. I wish him all the success in his NFL future. I think he is a stud, I really do. I think he is a top-five guy. People argue that he’s top 10, but I really think Joey is a good player, I really do.”

Ramsey also referenced his own story and compared it to Porter.

“It happens, and everybody moves on,” Ramsey said. “For me, I’ve been through it before. I was Joey before at one point. When I was 24, I was Joey. A little different; our situations were a little bit different. The exit was similar, potentially. It is what it is. I treat it as part of the NFL business. We held hope as long as we could that things would get done, but that’s part of it. That’s business. Guys have to do what’s best for them because the NFL is not for long. You have to do what is best for you, and you can’t be mad at a man wanting to do that.”

Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel got a vote of confidence from head coach Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday, but he knows that the status quo on offense isn't going to work.

The Chargers lost to the Bills last Sunday despite being plus-four in the turnover column and McDaniel said at a Thursday press conference that "we were the reason we lost a football game." They had five turnovers over the first two games, so the unit had a big hand in those losses as well.

McDaniel said he hasn't lost faith in the offense and thinks he has "a much better understanding" of what can bring out better play in quarterback Justin Herbert, but he acknowledged that results on the field are the only thing that matter.

"There has been improvement, but does anyone care? No, but we better improve. . . . I’m not trying to have moral victories or anything like that," McDaniel said. "It’s steadfast that there’s things that we’ve done in the past three games that is active participation in losing the game. Flat out, our jobs are to improve everything. I’m not living in hope, I’m living in reality."

It won't be the easiest week to get on track as the Chargers will be in Seattle to face the Seahawks they try to bounce back from the end of their 12-game losing streak. McDaniel and the Chargers need to find a way, however, or the next vote of confidence may never come.

The Steelers thought the dance was over. When the music started up again, they decided they'd had enough.

As explained by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the "final straw" for the Steelers in their relationship with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. came when Porter, after two days of fully participating in practice, claimed that he had back pain on Wednesday.

That's when the Steelers decided to make a trade.

Ultimately, it was a win for Porter. He got what he wanted — a one-way ticket out of town.

Former Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons achieved the same result last year. Once the Cowboys realized he was serious about not playing unless and until he got a new deal, they traded him to the Packers. For the Steelers, who seemed to think Porter eventually would blink, the fourth game became the moment they accepted that Porter was committed to the bit.

And, yes, it was a bit. He wasn't too injured to play, if he was injured at all. Amazingly, he's not even listed on the Cowboys' injury report, one day after being limited on Pittsburgh's final report of the week, and in turn ruled out for Thursday night's game.

For players who can't hold out due to the financial consequences under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a hold in that lingers until they get what they want is the best, and only, alternative.

Was it a real injury? If the team has no way to challenge it without creating an ugly legal fight and/or a P.R. shitstorm, it doesn't matter.

For most players, a lifetime of football has caused some condition from the top of their head to the tips of their toes that would justify not playing. Unless the team is willing to stage a confrontation that would instantly ruin an already tenuous relationship, the only viable option is to trade the player.

The Cowboys' injury report did not change Thursday. The only thing that changed was the trade for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who was not listed on the report.

That was news in and of itself from the report as Porter practiced after passing his physical.

The Steelers had ruled out Porter for Thursday night's game against the Browns, adding his on-again, off-again back issue on Wednesday's injury report.

In no surprise, Porter said his back was "feeling better" after the trade to the Cowboys.

He hopes to make his 2026 debut on Sunday when the Cowboys play the Texans.

"We're just trying to take things day by day," Porter said after his first practice in Dallas, via Todd Archer of ESPN, "and if everything looks good, then we should be out there."

Porter's addition gives the team depth at the position, with cornerbacks Shavon Revel (right knee/right ankle) and Cobie Durant (hamstring) still not practicing.

Porter did not get the contract extension he wanted in Pittsburgh and was holding in, an inactive for the first three games. He will play in Dallas on the final year of his deal, because, he said, the Cowboys have shown him "value" that the Steelers didn't.

“I think he’s excited about the opportunity to maybe play, but we’ll see how the rest of the week goes," Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said, via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News. "This was a good start today.”

Porter said he got what he wanted in going to the Cowboys and now he would like to finish his career in Dallas.

"I'm down with it if they are. I want to finish my career here," Porter said. "So hopefully I just perform like how I know how to perform and do what I do, and I'm going to let everything take care of the rest."

Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) also did not practice a second consecutive day, and safety Malik Hooker (fractured forearm) was limited again after returning to practice Wednesday.

Outside linebacker James Houston (shoulder) remained a full participant.

When Thursday night's game got to halftime, it looked like the Browns might roll over the Steelers for an easy win.

After going scoreless in the first quarter, Cleveland found the end zone on three straight possessions in the second quarter and carried a 21-10 win into halftime. Things went south again after the break, however, and a Deshaun Watson interception helped spark a 14-3 Steelers run in the fourth quarter that put overtime on the table.

Watson and the Browns had been in similar straits in their last two games and they came through for the third straight week. Watson completed four passes for 45 yards and the Browns survived a late sack and incompletion when Andre Szymt hit a 56-yard field goal for a 27-24 win.

“That’s part of the NFL. You have to ride the waves," Watson said, via a transcript from the team. "So many momentum shifts, they are the best in the world, just like us. They are a really good team. They are going to make plays, and they made a couple of plays that went their way. We made a couple of plays that went our way. We just have to ride the wave until our opportunities came and at the end of the day, whenever those moments come, especially at the end, we found a way to get the W. That’s what ultimately matters.”

Watson's feelings about riding the waves was about Thursday night, but it's something that can be applied to his entire run in Cleveland. For much of that time, it looked like a shipwreck was the only possible outcome, but the last few weeks have offered long-awaited reasons to believe otherwise.

The Steelers had minus-6 yards passing in the third quarter as the Browns had two sacks of Aaron Rodgers.

The fourth quarter has gotten off to a better start for the visitors.

On the second play of the final quarter, the Steelers had a pass interference penalty overturned on replay. Robert Spears-Jennings intercepted Deshaun Waston's deep pass intended for Denzel Boston.

Steelers defensive back Daylen Everette was called for defensive pass interference, though, and the 42-yard penalty had the Browns at the Pittsburgh 23. The Steelers challenged the play, and it was reversed on replay because Jack Sawyer tipped the pass at the line of scrimmage, negating the penalty.

Rodgers took advantage with a six-play, 77-yard touchdown drive.

He rolled to his right to avoid another sack and threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darnell Washington. The Browns stopped the 2-point conversion, leaving the Steelers trailing 21-16.

Rodgers is 16-of-29 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

The Browns is the Browns? Forget that.

Cleveland upset Pittsburgh 27-24 on Thursday Night Football, moving into sole possession of first place in the AFC North if only briefly. The Browns are 3-1, a half-game better than the Bengals and Ravens, while the Steelers are 2-2.

Browns kicker Andre Szmyt kicked a 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds left for the game-winner in an entertaining game.

Aaron Rodgers had the ball at the 35 after the Browns kicked it into the end zone, but safety Grant Delpit intercepted Rodgers at the Cleveland 18.

Deshaun Watson played a flawless first half, with 181 yards and a touchdown, before the Steelers adjusted in the second half. The Browns quarterback finished 24-of-33 for 268 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Both of his turnovers came in the second half, with his interception changing the momentum.

On the second play of the final quarter, the Steelers had a pass interference penalty overturned on replay and reversed to an interception.

Robert Spears-Jennings intercepted Watson’s deep pass intended for Denzel Boston. Steelers defensive back Daylen Everette was called for defensive pass interference, though, and the 42-yard penalty had the Browns at the Pittsburgh 23. The Steelers challenged the play, and it was reversed on replay because Jack Sawyer tipped the pass at the line of scrimmage, negating the penalty.

It led to Rodgers' second touchdown pass, a 21-yarder to tight end Darnell Washington, that drew the Steelers to within 21-16 after a failed 2-point conversion.

After Szmyt's 44-yard field goal, Rodgers drove the Steelers to a late tie.

The Steelers faced a fourth-and-10 at the Cleveland 11 with 1:51 remaining. Rodgers targeted Washington for a third consecutive play, and safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was penalized for pass interference. Rodgers then hit Pat Freiermuth for a 3-yard touchdown on the next play, with 1:42 left. Rodgers tied it with a quarterback sneak on the 2-point conversion from the 1-yard line after Jared Verse jumped offsides.

The Steelers, though, couldn't stop the Browns, who drove 36 yards in seven plays for the winning field goal.

Cleveland finished with 372 yards and the Steelers 361.

Rodgers went 22-of-40 for 299 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaylen Warren rushed for 93 yards on 17 carries, and DK Metcalf caught five passes for 115 yards. Roman Wilson added three catches for 74 yards.

The Browns sacked Rodgers five times, but they had to overcome 14 penalties for 88 yards.

As Bears coach Ben Johnson prepares for a reunion with fellow former Lions coordinator Aaron Glenn, Johnson is doing his best to keep Glenn and the Jets in the dark about who the starting quarterback will be.

It's one of the benefits of having injury issues complicate the most important position in pro football. The uncertainty can be weaponized, in the hopes of preventing the next opponent from knowing who they'll face.

Johnson is trying his damnedest to keep the plans for Week 4 secret. Through two full practice days in advance of the game against the Jets, he has largely succeeded.

That said, it's hard to keep the many people who are present for practice from saying something to someone who is trying to find out who's getting the work. As we hear it, Tyson Bagent (not Case Keenum) has gotten the first-team reps so far this week.

This obviously points to Bagent as the starter in place of Caleb Williams, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

It makes sense. Bagent earned the backup role. He entered the Week 2 game against the Vikings in the fourth quarter and nearly pulled off a last-second win.

Keenum got the Monday night start because he was available to prepare for the game against the Eagles at a time when Bagent was in the concussion protocol. By the time Bagent was cleared, the hay was in the barn with Keenum.

The question of whether a coach can keep the identity of his starting quarterback a secret is separate from whether the league should allow it. It creates another chunk of inside information that could be mishandled by those who know the truth.

Presumably, the Bears will make an announcement today. Or maybe they won't. The rules don't require it.

And if it's Bagent, the Bears can say they necessarily made the announcement by not updating their depth chart. Bagent is No. 2, Keenum is No. 3. Both are healthy. Common sense points to Bagent.

If he's indeed getting all of the practice reps, that only reinforces it.

In the first quarter of Thursday night's game between the Steelers and the Browns, Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers became upset.

Given that he's often upset during games, that doesn't really narrow it down.

He was particularly perturbed that the play was coming in too slowly. And a microphone caught his words.

"What the fuck?" Rodgers angrily said to the sideline. "Call it."

The Prime Video cameras then cut to coach Mike McCarthy, who seemed to say, "Fucking asshole."

After the game, McCarthy initially feigned confusion when asked about communication issues. When the questioning became more specific, he said that Steelers P.R. director Burt Lauten had told McCarthy about the exchange that made its way to TV.

"Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody's competing on the field," McCarthy said. "I think, you know, what's said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, you know, usually stays on the field. That's not the case today. I understand that. But, yeah, any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn't use those words."

For Rodgers's part, he wasn't asked about the specific exchange.

Either way, the Steelers fell to 2-2. They're currently in last place in the AFC North, as the only team with two losses. If the Bengals and Ravens win on Sunday, the Steelers will be all alone in the basement of the division.

Steelers defensive end Derrick Harmon was carted to the training room early in the second quarter.

The Steelers list him as questionable to return with a foot injury.

It is unknown how or when Harmon was injured.

Harman has no stats on Thursday night, but he has 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble this season.

The Steelers made him a first-round pick in 2025.

The Browns lost their 2025 first-round pick, Mason Graham, to a knee injury in the first quarter. Graham is also questionable to return.

Browns defensive end Jared Verse picked up an unnecessary roughness flag in Thursday night's win over the Steelers, but he says it was Pittsburgh that played dirty.

Verse said after the game that he and the Steelers went back and forth with a lot of trash talk, and also said the Steelers were playing dirty in addition to their talk.

“They were talking crazy. I was telling them, ‘You’re double-teaming, y’all sliding, y’all garbage.’ I was talking crazy to them. I don’t have any respect for anybody that plays too dirty and does too much extra shit after the game, excuse my French. So, I can't wait to see them again. It's going to be a good time when I see them again," Verse said.

The Browns will be in Pittsburgh in Week 9, when Verse and the Steelers' offensive linemen will have plenty more opportunities to talk, and perhaps do more than just talk.