Texans, Vikings missing key players in matchup of 2-0 teams

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is willing to improvise whenever necessary.

“(I like) to stay in the pocket and deliver throws – that’s what I want to do,” Stroud said. “But at the same time, I feel like I am elite at scrambling and I can do it. I’ve put it on film. … I just try to make a play and have fun out there.”

Stroud and his teammates on Houston (2-0) might have to improvise part of their game plan when they visit the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

The Texans could be without a few injured players, including star running back Joe Mixon (ankle), who is listed as doubtful after not practicing all week. Backup running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) was ruled out, meaning Cam Akers would likely start if Mixon can’t go.

“I’m ready,” Akers said. “You don’t have to get ready when you stay ready. I’ve been preparing for this moment, and I’m ready for it. I’m ready to take advantage.”

Star wide receiver Nico Collins (hip/foot) was cleared after being limited earlier in the week, but starting center Juice Scruggs (groin) is among three players listed as questionable. Backup tight end Brevin Jordan (knee) was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Minnesota star wideout Justin Jefferson, who left last week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers because of a quadriceps injury, was cleared after fully practicing on Friday. No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison is dealing with an ankle injury that forced him to miss the 49ers game and won’t play on Sunday.

Vikings starting linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (quad) and backup outside linebacker Dallas Turner (knee) were ruled out on Friday.

The Vikings will face a tough test against Houston, which is coming off back-to-back wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears to start the season. The Texans have limited opponents to 20 points a game in 2024.

One reason for the Texans’ success on defense has been the addition of pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who signed with Houston after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Vikings. Hunter has 1 1/2 sacks in his first two games with the Texans.

Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said Hunter would be extra motivated to go up against the Vikings in his old stadium this weekend.

“Everybody is hyped up to play against their old team,” Ryans said. “I speak from experience. (It happened) when I was with the Eagles and we came into Houston. It doesn’t change.”

“If it wasn’t going to be here, I wanted him to find a great place to go play and continue what he did in 2023. I think he found a great home literally in his hometown,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “It’s the same guy that’s an absolute game-wrecker. Danielle has to be a major focal point in our game plan.”

As for the Vikings, quarterback Sam Darnold will try to maintain his impressive start to the season in his first year with the club. Darnold has posted a 111.7 passer rating while throwing for 476 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Stroud also has lifted his team to a perfect start through two weeks. He has a 104.7 passer rating to go along with 494 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Vikings are 5-0 all-time against the Texans. This is their first meeting since 2020.

–Field Level Media

Falcons hope to ride Monday night magic to win vs. Chiefs

ATLANTA — Ahead of their Week 3 matchup on Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons and visiting Kansas City Chiefs have already grown accustomed to playing in evenly matched games this season.

The two-time defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs (2-0) narrowly escaped the Baltimore Ravens on opening night, 27-20, before Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal with three seconds left saved the day in their one-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.

For the first time this season, the Chiefs hit the road as they visit Atlanta for the first time since 2016. They will face a Falcons team that was on the brink of hosting the mighty Chiefs with an 0-2 record. After an anemic offensive showing in an 18-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, the Falcons (1-1) stole a win in Philadelphia on Monday night, using a last-minute touchdown drive to beat the Eagles 22-21.

Trailing by six with 1:39 left, Kirk Cousins led the Falcons on a six-play, 70-yard game-winning drive, earning his first win for his new team following the signing of a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta. Head coach Raheem Morris, who also secured his first win as the Falcons’ head coach, wasn’t surprised by the way his veteran quarterback led the final drive.

“I know what that confidence looks like from practice. I know what his confidence looks like from every day walking down the hall with him and watching his process,” Morris added. “I didn’t need to look at him before that drive. Before the game, we said we’re going to do it for each other and that’s exactly what they did.”

The Falcons, who have returned to a state of relevance after several years of national apathy, are coming off their first “Monday Night Football” appearance since 2020. Now they prepare for their first “Sunday Night Football” game since 2019.

The Chiefs have won eight straight games (including the playoffs) since last year’s Christmas Day loss to the Raiders. Kansas City’s win streak will be put to the test on Sunday without leading rusher Isiah Pacheco.

Pacheco’s leg was caught under a defender in Sunday’s win, fracturing his right fibula. In his absence, the Chiefs signed former running back Kareem Hunt, who rushed for 2,151 yards with the team from 2017-18. Hunt had been in a primarily backup role with Cleveland from 2019 through last season.

“(Pacheco’s) been put on IR, he’s having surgery today,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “I can’t give you a time when he’s going to return. We’ll see if it’s this season or next season.”

Pacheco has run for 135 yards and a touchdown this season.

Turning the page to Sunday, Reid and company sound ready for their rare trip to Atlanta.

“Looking forward to the challenge of playing the Falcons,” Reid said. “That’s a great environment down there at their stadium. Raheem’s done a heck of a job with that group, which was obvious Monday night. Between Jimmy (Lake), Zac (Robinson) and Marquice (Williams), they’ve got great coordinators. … We need to have a good week of practice starting today and I know our guys are looking forward to the challenge of playing a good football team like this.”

Three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes enters play vying for a better performance, following a rare lackluster showing on Sunday. Mahomes threw for a pair of touchdowns against Cincinnati but was also picked off twice. The two-time NFL MVP’s 151 passing yards were his fewest since throwing for a career-low 76 against Denver on Oct. 17, 2019 before dislocating his kneecap.

All time, Kansas City holds a 7-3 series lead over Atlanta. The Falcons will look for their first win over the Chiefs since Week 1 of the 2012 season.

On the injury front, neither team designated any player as questionable, doubtful or out for Sunday’s game. The Falcons will have running back Tyler Allgeier (hip), cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. (groin) and defensive lineman James Smith-Williams (hip) available; each of them participated fully in practice Friday after being limited earlier in the week.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

49ers look to jump-start offense vs. struggling Rams

After their offense went stagnant in Week 2 without one of their star performers, the San Francisco 49ers will look to recover Sunday when they visit their home away from home.

After a 23-17 road loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers (1-1) technically will stay on the road when they play the Los Angeles Rams at Inglewood, Calif. But the Rams’ home has been clad in plenty of red during recent seasons when San Francisco makes its annual visit.

San Francisco has won at Los Angeles in each of the past five seasons, although they lost on the Rams’ home turf in the 2022 NFC Championship Game. San Francisco had a nine-game winning streak against Los Angeles until the regular-season finale last season when the Rams won 21-20 as both teams rested starters in advance of the playoffs.

San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey did not play in the final meeting last season and won’t be available for this one, either, while on injured reserve with calf and Achilles injuries. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) will likely miss the next two games and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is doubtful.

Without two huge weapons on offense, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and his NFL-best 550 yards passing through two games take center stage. His 72.3 completion percentage is eighth in the league, but he has just one touchdown pass.

“We’ve got the players. We’ve got the scheme. We’ve got what it takes,” Purdy said. “It’s dropping back and executing, knowing where my answers are and getting the balls in the guys’ hands, drop-stepping and getting first down. It’s football, man.”

Purdy threw his first interception Sunday after he had 11 last season, while earning Pro Bowl honors. He also lost a fumble, while the 49ers had a punt blocked.

“It was too sloppy on our part,” San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “… It was disappointing.”

The Rams (0-2) are dealing with their own injury issues. Wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) was placed on injured reserve after Week 1, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) will sit out this week and is expected to miss extended time.

The Rams also have holes on the offensive line: Jonah Jackson (shoulder), Steve Avila (knee) and Joe Noteboom (ankle) are on IR. Even rookie kicker Joshua Karty (groin) is ailing and listed as questionable. Los Angeles signed kicker Tanner Brown to the practice squad in case Karty can’t go.

Behind a makeshift line last week, even veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford looked rattled, and understandably so, as Los Angeles was never competitive in a 41-10 loss on the road to the Arizona Cardinals. Tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) returned in Week 2 and tackle Alaric Jackson (suspension) is set to come back Sunday.

“The amount of moving parts that we’ve had offensive line-wise has been wild, and that’s such an important spot to be able to get a rapport with the guy that you’re playing next to,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “It starts with me, putting guys in better spots.”

On defense, the Rams already were up against it after the retirement of star defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The revamped group has struggled to an NFL-worst 426 yards allowed per game.

“It’s definitely a little different,” Shanahan said about not having to account for Donald. “That’s been 99 percent of our brain power for a number of years and it’s kind of weird just not thinking that way.”

Against the run, Los Angeles has allowed 197 yards per game, third worst in the NFL. The Rams recently placed safety John Johnson II (shoulder) on IR.

“Trust the process,” Stafford said. “… You can’t think about this scenario, that scenario, whatever it is. Just continue to work. We’ll have next-man-up mentality in some spots, get some people back as well and it’ll be a fun challenge for us.”

Also, tight end Davis Allen (back) was ruled out, while defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (ankle) and cornerback Cobie Durant (toe) are questionable.

San Francisco safety Talanoa Hufanga will make his season debut after ACL surgery in November. Star defensive end Nick Bosa (rib) is questionable after being a limited practice participant on Thursday and Friday. Cornerback Charvarius Ward (hamstring, knee) is also questionable.

–Field Level Media

Skylar Thompson gets shot to lead Dolphins’ offense at Seattle

Skylar Thompson is kind of like the teenager who has been handed the keys to his father’s sports car.

Thompson will be behind the wheel of Miami’s high-octane offense when the Dolphins travel across country to face the host Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Thompson, a seventh-round pick in 2022 out of Kansas State, will be replacing Tua Tagovailoa, who was placed on injured reserve after sustaining his third concussion in two seasons last Thursday in a 31-10 loss to the visiting Buffalo Bills.

That’s not the only change in the backfield for the Dolphins. Running back Raheem Mostert is doubtful with a chest injury.

Thompson plans to keep things simple.

“When tomorrow comes, I’ll focus on tomorrow,” Thompson said. “That’s my approach to everything. That’s been my approach since I’ve gotten here, and that’s led me to success.”

Thompson started three games in 2022 with Tagovailoa sidelined, including a playoff defeat to the Bills. Thompson completed 78 of 150 passes for 461 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in those three starts, going 1-2.

He served as the Dolphins’ No. 3 quarterback all of last season and didn’t get into a game.

“I felt like my rookie year I was doing things exactly by the book and viewing everything as I would see it in the playbook,” Thompson said. “The footwork and everything. And it was all new to me. I studied it so much — I felt I knew it so well that sometimes it slowed me down a little bit even.

“That’s just another progression of being in my third year and having this opportunity again. I feel like I have a very good understanding of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”

The Dolphins (1-1) signed former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley off Baltimore’s practice squad for depth, but they appear ready to go with Thompson until Tagovailoa gets back. Thompson completed 8 of 14 passes for 80 yards off the bench last week.

“I have no doubts in my mind that Skylar is going to go out there and do the best he can in Seattle,” Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler said. “I’m super excited to see him play and work on this opportunity. Obviously, we’re praying for and sad about Tua, but I have no hesitation with Skylar going out there as QB1 this week.”

The Seahawks (2-0) are coming off a 23-20 overtime victory last Sunday at New England. With running back Kenneth Walker III sidelined due to an oblique injury, Geno Smith carried the offense by completing 33 of 44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown. Walker is officially doubtful to return for Week 3.

“That was a heck of a performance, man,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “… There’s a little chip on his shoulder. I like it, because they just keep sleeping on this guy. He played at a super high level, so he deserves all the credit he’s getting right now.”

Smith drove the Seahawks down the field for a last-minute field goal in regulation to tie the score, then led the winning march in overtime.

“Whenever I’m in this situation and the game is on the line, I’m so happy and just excited for those opportunities. I look forward to them actually,” Smith said. “I know it’s going to happen more and more times throughout the season. The best quarterbacks always find ways to win. I want to be regarded in that light.”

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead sat out practice with a shoulder injury before he was taken off the report on Friday.

In addition to Walker, the Seahawks listed two others as doubtful on Friday’s injury report: offensive tackle George Fant (knee) and linebacker Jerome Baker (hamstring).

–Field Level Media