Patriots, Dolphins both looking to turn things around

Changes could be coming for the Miami Dolphins as they prepare to face the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.

Miami (1-3) has been feeling the loss of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa over the past two weeks, getting outscored 55-15 in losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans.

With Tagovailoa on injured reserve because of a concussion sustained in a Week 2 setback against the Buffalo Bills, Tyler Huntley started under center against Tennessee on Monday. He threw for just 96 yards on 14-of-22 passing as the Dolphins fell 31-12.

Even though Miami beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-17 in its season opener, it didn’t lead until Jason Sanders booted a 52-yard field goal as time expired. Since then, the Dolphins haven’t been able to get the upper hand on their opponent, making them the first team since the 2017 Cleveland Browns to never hold a lead through the first four games of a season.

“Everything’s on the table,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel said following the loss against the Titans. “You can’t argue that the offense is good. … In a situation like this, I hadn’t really been in one where we haven’t had production consecutively like this.

“So, you really have to open your mind to all things.”

Still, Huntley is expected to draw the start against New England (1-3).

The Dolphins will also have to adjust to life without linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during Monday’s game.

“I know that my purpose is to inspire people to never give up, no matter how many times you get knocked down,” Phillips said Wednesday in a social media post. “There is nothing in life that you can’t overcome as long as you don’t quit.”

Moving in a different direction offensively is also something that the Patriots are considering.

Lead back Rhamondre Stevenson, who started his season with a promising 120-yard performance on the ground against the Cincinnati Bengals, has been struggling to hang on to the ball. He has one fumble in each of his four games, two of which have been recovered by opposing defenses.

Because of those issues, Antonio Gibson could end up serving as RB1 on Sunday.

“That’s definitely under consideration,” New England coach Jerod Mayo said of moving Gibson up on the depth chart. “I’ve had multiple conversations with Rhamondre. But look, we can’t preach that ball security is job security and still have him out there the majority of the time.

“So, I think it sends a stronger message to the players that there are certain things that we just can’t do to win, especially with the team that we have today.”

Whoever starts at running back will have to get to work behind an offensive line that is now without center David Andrews. The nine-year veteran needs shoulder surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Mayo said Friday that Andrews and right tackle Caedan Wallace (ankle) will go on injured reserve.

Like Miami, the Patriots have followed a season-opening victory with a three-game losing streak, most recently getting pounded by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, 30-13. Gibson was New England’s leading receiver, hauling in three catches for 67 yards.

The Patriots will be without starting safety Jabrill Peppers, who was ruled out on Saturday with a shoulder injury after a pair of limited practices.

Safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) and wide receiver K.J. Osborn (shoulder) didn’t practice for New England all week and are questionable. Receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder) and guard/center Nick Leverett (ankle), Andrews’ replacement, were among those who remained limited at practice Friday and are listed as questionable. Linebacker Sione Takitaki (knee) is doubtful after three limited practices this week.

Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer missed practice all week due to a shin injury and was ruled out. Running back Raheem Mostert (chest) returned to full practice Friday and is expected to play Sunday. Backup QB Skylar Thompson (ribs) was limited all week and is questionable, as is corner Cam Smith (hamstring), who practiced all week.

Veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who had his first full practice with the Dolphins on Thursday and practiced in full again on Friday, was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Saturday and is set to make his team debut on Sunday.

Beckham, 31, signed a one-year, $8.25 million deal with Miami in May, but the three-time Pro Bowler missed the first four games of the season after he was placed on the PUP list with a knee injury.

–Field Level Media

Rookie Caleb Williams leads Bears vs. veteran Andy Dalton, Panthers

The Chicago Bears have found good footing with a rookie quarterback drafted first overall.

That could be another harsh reminder for the Carolina Panthers, who weren’t able to benefit from an overall No. 1 draft pick a year ago, when the teams meet Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

Caleb Williams is running the show for the Bears (2-2) fresh off a stellar college career during which he won the Heisman Trophy in 2022. Williams has given his teammates confidence in the way he has gone about his first month in the NFL.

“He’s doing a good job of just kind of taking what the defense is giving him,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “Having that awareness and knowing when to be aggressive.”

Williams, who has thrown three touchdowns and four interceptions thus far, said he has developed a better comfort level along with what he has described as regular learning moments. He’s not surprised that the Bears have experienced success after a tough start.

“We expected it and wanted it to happen faster, but that’s the process we’re in,” said Williams, who posted a 106.6 passer rating in last Sunday’s 24-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams (his first triple-digit rating as a pro). “When we get going, just finding that flow, keeping that flow.”

Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said Williams is displaying more patience and is willing to take shorter yardage pickups. For Carolina coach Dave Canales, it’s clear that Williams has been adjusting as it relates to Chicago’s offense.

“It takes time to figure out your identity and they’re working toward that,” Canales said. “They obviously have some skilled players and talent around him.”

The Bears are feeling good after improving to 2-0 at home following the win over the Rams.

The Panthers (1-3), on the other hand, are trying to bounce back from a 34-24 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Even with that, however, they seemed to gain positive vibes behind quarterback Andy Dalton, who replaced Bryce Young as Carolina’s starter.

Young was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023, but he didn’t generate the early success that has come for Williams. He was benched after two games this season.

Among Williams’ top targets is receiver DJ Moore, who’s in his second season with the Bears after five years with Carolina.

Dalton, a former starter with the Bengals, has thrown five touchdowns across the past two games. The Bears have noticed.

“They’re a team that is up and rising since he has taken over,” Kmet said. “It will be a good challenge for our defense.”

Canales praised the 14-year veteran Dalton’s approach.

“We’ve asked him to hit the first open guy, and he has done that well,” Canales said.

The Panthers also are benefiting from regular production from running back Chuba Hubbard, the first Carolina player with back-to-back games of 120 or more yards from scrimmage since Christian McCaffrey in 2021.

The Bears have been stingy on defense. When the Rams gained 322 yards of offense and racked up 21 first downs, those were the most allowed by Chicago in both categories this season.

“Everyone on our side of the ball is continuing to gel and we know what we’re trying to do defensively,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson said.

The Panthers have more questions on defense with the loss of veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson, who is done for the season with an Achilles injury and was placed on injured reserve on Saturday. Linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring, groin) is out after not practicing all week.

No. 1 wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle) returned for limited practices on Thursday and Friday and will play Sunday. Right guard Robert Hunt (hip), linebacker Charles Harris (shoulder) and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (foot) are among the Panthers listed as questionable. Center Andrew Raym (concussion) is out.

Panthers tight end Ian Thomas (calf) and cornerback Dane Jackson (hamstring) were ruled out on Saturday after beginning a 21-day practice window this week in hopes of being activated to the 53-man active roster or spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.

Carolina on Tuesday signed linebacker Chandler Wooten, who has previously played in 17 games for the Panthers. The team activated defensive lineman T.J. Smith and linebacker Thomas Incoom on Saturday from the practice squad for game-day elevations.

For the Bears, defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin) and cornerback Terell Smith (hip) are out while offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (ribs) and receiver DeAndre Carter (ribs) are questionable. Kmet (knee) and defensive end Montez Sweat (ankle) will play after being limited earlier in the week.

Defensive tackle Byron Cowart and receiver Collin Johnson were signed on Saturday from the practice squad to the active roster. Running back Travis Homer (finger) was placed on IR on Saturday and will miss the next four games as a result.

This is the second straight year that the Panthers visit Chicago, where they lost 16-13 last season. The Bears lead the series 8-3.

–Field Level Media

49ers look to pick up steam in clash vs. NFC West rival Cards

The San Francisco 49ers will try to string two wins together for the first time this season on Sunday when they host the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif.

The 49ers (2-2) used a strong defensive performance to stop a two-game slide with a 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots last Sunday.

Arizona (1-3) played its past three games at home, following up a decisive victory over the Los Angeles Rams with losses to the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders.

The setback to the Commanders was a 42-14 rout at the hands of former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who now is Washington’s offensive coordinator.

“I told (the team), ‘You have a game like that and you think you’ve got to blow it all up, tear it all down and we’re so far away. We’re really not,'” Arizona second-year coach Jonathan Gannon said earlier this week. “We’re close but not there yet with how the last game went.”

Gannon mentioned two areas the Cardinals must correct: their third-down conversion attempts and stopping opponents on their third-down tries.

The Lions converted 50 percent of their third-down situations (6 for 12) in a 20-13 win over Arizona.

The Cardinals then allowed the Commanders a 75 percent success rate (9 for 12) on third down.

Arizona’s offense, conversely, went 1 for 9 (11.1 percent) on third-down attempts against the Lions and 4 for 11 (36.4 percent) versus the Commanders.

“I know that any offense — in Pop Warner to the NFL — has a better chance converting when it’s third-and-manageable, so we have to do a better job there,” Gannon said.

The promising news for the Cardinals is the 49ers’ defense is allowing the seventh-highest third-down conversion rate in the league at 46.0 percent.

Another encouraging development is rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. reeling in 14 receptions for 239 yards and four touchdowns over the past three weeks.

The 49ers got good news on the injury front when tight end George Kittle (ribs) and linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) returned for limited practice participation on Friday after sitting out the previous two days. Both were listed as questionable for Sunday, alongside wide receiver Jacob Cowing (shoulder), cornerback Isaac Yiadom (thigh) and defensive lineman Kalia Davis (knee).

Davis finally might play for the 49ers this week after the team opened the practice window Wednesday for the 2022 sixth-round draft pick.

Davis sustained a knee injury that required surgery in the preseason opener at the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 10.

Defensive lineman Nick Bosa said the possibility of Davis playing against the Cardinals is “huge,” especially after the news of the 49ers likely not having defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (partially torn triceps) the rest of the season.

“We needed a little help with depth,” Bosa said of the defensive line. “Hopefully, (Davis) works in slow, but I think if his body is in good shape, then we already know what he can do as a player.”

San Francisco ruled out two players for the game: defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf).

The 49ers’ defensive line was a significant factor in the win over New England.

Givens recorded 2.5 sacks, Maliek Collins added 1.5, and Evan Anderson and Bosa each had one.

“I thought the defense as a whole, and especially the D-line, really rose to the occasion for that game,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said.

The Cardinals will be without guard Isaiah Adams (thumb) and cornerback Garrett Williams (groin). Veteran kicker Matt Prater, who missed two days of practice this week due to a knee injury, was listed as questionable, as were tackles Christian Jones (ankle) and Kelvin Beachum (hamstring) and defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (knee).

–Field Level Media