Colts, Titans battling key injuries ahead of divisional clash

Who’s in and who’s out?

That might determine the outcome of Sunday’s game when the Indianapolis Colts travel to Nashville, Tenn., for an AFC South clash with the Tennessee Titans.

Indianapolis (2-3) played without quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) and running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) in last week’s 37-34 loss at previously winless Jacksonville, although backup signal-caller Joe Flacco did his part in the game with 359 yards through the air.

Tennessee (1-3) is coming off its bye week after giving first-year coach Brian Callahan his first win with a 31-12 victory at the Miami Dolphins on “Monday Night Football” Sept. 30.

The Titans won that night without star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (elbow) and lost quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) in the first quarter.

Help is on the way against the Colts. Callahan said Friday that Simmons is expected to play and Levis will start.

“(Levis) took every rep and made every throw in practice well,” Callahan said. “It hasn’t affected his practice or him throwing.”

Safety Jamal Adams (hip) and defensive lineman Keondre Coleman (knee) have been ruled out for the game.

Tennessee’s defense has been a bright spot amid the team’s slow start. It leads the league in total defense (243.8 yards allowed per game) and pass defense (124.0 yards per game), while ranking tied for 15th against the run (119.8 yards per game).

Indianapolis will play its second straight game without Taylor. Head coach Shane Steichen announced Friday that the ankle injury Taylor sustained in the Colts’ 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 29 will keep him out again.

Taylor has run for 349 yards and four touchdowns across four games this season. With him out against Jacksonville last Sunday, the Colts tried just 20 running plays on 65 offensive snaps.

Steichen, however, noted quarterback Richardson will be listed as questionable and his availability will be a game-time decision.

However, Richardson is optimistic that he can return to action.

“Way better, compared to last week,” Richardson said earlier this week of his status. “I was able to move a little bit. I’m able to get going, start running, throwing. Feeling good about that. I can do the stuff I need to do in the offense.”

Whichever quarterback starts against the Titans — Richardson or Flacco — will be down a key target.

ESPN reported Wednesday that top receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is expected to miss multiple weeks with a back injury. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and one touchdown in five games this season.

Fellow receiver Josh Downs (toe) also is questionable for Sunday after missing Wednesday’s practice.

Whether Indianapolis’ defense can offer any resistance remains to be seen. The Colts rank last in total defense (419.2 yards allowed per game), next-to-last against the run (157.0 yards per game) and 29th of 32 teams against the pass (262.2 yards per game).

Jacksonville carved Indianapolis up for 497 total yards last week, including 371 through the air.

The Colts hold a 37-21 lead in their regular-season series against Tennessee, winning both matchups last year.

–Field Level Media

Former No. 1 picks duel as Jags, Bears collide in London

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles feels rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is “right where he should be and continuing to get better.”

To be sure, Williams has helped Chicago to two straight wins entering Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, although Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen offers an assessment of his own.

“You like to play against rookie quarterbacks,” Hines-Allen said. “A lot of them want to make the big plays. So, they tend to hold on to the ball a little more.”

Chicago (3-2) will look to keep Williams rolling — and upright — against a Jaguars team that stopped a season-opening four-game losing streak with a 37-34 home victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5.

Jacksonville (1-4) became the last team in the NFL to earn a victory this season behind a career-best 371 passing yards from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

While the Bears got to town Tuesday, travel to London was delayed for Jacksonville by Hurricane Milton. Familiarity is on the side of the Jaguars, who won as a home and away team in the International Series games last season.

“I don’t think you ever get used to the travel, but once you get there it is what it is,” Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen said. “At the end, we have a game to win, and that’s really our main focus.”

Lawrence, like Williams a former No. 1 overall draft pick, was 28 for 34 through the air with two touchdowns and an interception.

Brian Thomas Jr. caught five passes for 122 yards and a score while Tank Bigsby rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Jaguars to a season-high 497 yards of offense.

“I thought we’ve done a good job how we diversify the ball,” Jacksonville receiver Christian Kirk said.

Running back Travis Etienne agreed, adding that the run game is “going to help continue to elevate our offense.”

The possible return of tight end Evan Engram (hamstring), who was limited in practice all week, also could offer a boost. Engram is questionable to play, along with wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee), safety Daniel Thomas (hamstring) and linebacker Yasir Abdullah (neck). Cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) was ruled out.

Williams surpassed 300 yards passing for the second time as the Bears routed the visiting Carolina Panthers 36-10 last Sunday. Williams was 20-for-29 passing for 304 yards and a pair of touchdowns to DJ Moore, who had 105 yards on five catches against his former team.

Poles lauded Williams’ resiliency and ability to adjust to what the game gives him.

“The human side of it is you want your guy to just take off and roll, but everyone’s journey is gonna be different,” Poles said. “I think the important thing is for Caleb to understand that as well and run his own race, and he’s done that well in terms of just focusing on how can I get better, how can I put our team in a position to win games.”

Offseason acquisition D’Andre Swift has offered a steady hand to the attack of late. In each of the past two games, Swift has gained at least 120 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown.

The Bears will be without safety Jaquan Brisker, who didn’t travel with the team as he continues to experience concussion-like symptoms stemming from a second-quarter collision with Carolina tight end Tommy Tremble on Sunday. The play didn’t force Brisker from the game.

Elijah Hicks will replace Brisker in the lineup, Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said.

On injured reserve since Aug. 27 with a toe injury, Bears defensive end Jacob Martin returned to practice Wednesday, opening a 21-day window to reinstate him on the active roster. Martin is questionable for the game, as is left guard Teven Jenkins (ankle).

Defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (calf) is doubtful, while defensive lineman Zacch Pickens (groin) and cornerback Terell Smith (hip) were ruled out.

Chicago leads the all-time series 5-3 and rolled to a 41-7 road victory in 2020 in the most recent meeting.

The Bears are 1-1 in London games. Jacksonville, which is 6-5 in the British capital, will remain there to face the New England Patriots in Week 7.

–Field Level Media

Defensive-minded Broncos, Chargers square up for slugfest

Back in Denver days after breaking the long-running hex of the rival Raiders, the Broncos attempt to catch lightning in a bottle once more when another division foe rolls into town Sunday afternoon.

The Broncos (3-2) catapulted into second place in the AFC West with a 34-18 win over the visiting Raiders last week and push for a fourth consecutive win over the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2).

Los Angeles managed 16 total points in a pair of defeats against Denver last season, part of the reason the Chargers are under new management in 2024. New boss Jim Harbaugh steers a rested bunch into Week 6 following a bye week wary of a battle plan from the Broncos that looks eerily familiar.

“Not where we want to be. We want to be 4-0,” Harbaugh said. “We’re 2-2.”

Denver enjoyed home cooking last week, when they snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Raiders that included every game since the franchise moved to Las Vegas. The Broncos put up 34 points, their highest output in a game since beating the Lions 38-10 on Dec. 12, 2021 with a backfield of Teddy Bridgewater and Melvin Gordon.

Defense is the common denominator in this AFC West contest. The Broncos have allowed 11.8 points per game since a Week 1 loss at Seattle and are tied for second in the NFL in scoring defense behind the Chargers’ NFL-leading 12.5 opponent points per game.

“In my experience, defense comes along a little quicker,” Harbaugh said. “Offense is that frustrated, patient discipline.”

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert welcomed the early bye week.

He played through a high ankle sprain in consecutive losses before the Week 5 break as the Chargers reset in the midst of a stretch with two touchdowns in the past 10 quarters. The Steelers and Chiefs took away the running game that put up 395 yards to carry the offense during a 2-0 start. Production declined to 116 total yards in the defeats to Pittsburgh and Kansas City.

Harbaugh said “nobody does more” for the Chargers than Herbert, who is practicing with his right ankle wrapped and was a limited practice participant on Wednesday. He’s also a key component in the Chargers making the type of improvement Harbaugh said he’s chasing.

“For us it’s getting crisper, sharper on offense,” Harbaugh said, pointing to penalties as missed assignments as areas of focus. “And in all areas. But that’s particularly what we’re attacking.”

Finding a ground game has helped Nix settle in; he threw four interceptions in his first two starts. He enters Week 6 with 78 consecutive passes without a pick over the past three starts with Denver’s team rushing yardage over 100 in each of those wins.

‘He’s getting experience, and we’re seeing it,” Payton said of Nix impressing him with “processing” skills pre-snap.

A run-first identity is Payton’s preference, but he knows the Broncos have to find a way to take more consistent shots downfield to open running lanes and extend drives. Denver’s 14.8 first downs per game is tied for 30th in the NFL with the New England Patriots — behind the likes of the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns — but ahead of the 32nd-ranked Chargers (13.5).

One of the consequences is a miniscule margin for error for both defenses. Nix had 60 passing yards in a Week 3 win over the Jets. Herbert is averaging 144.5 passing yards per game.

But both teams are staying afloat by coming up with takeaways and getting to the quarterback. Only five teams have more takeaways than the Broncos’ eight and the Chargers are tied for third in the league with a plus-five turnover differential.

Nix averages 168.3 passing yards per game, 30th in the NFL. But Payton insists he’ll measure success of his team and quarterback by one statistic — victories. Nix is the first Denver rookie quarterback to win three consecutive starts and posted his first game with multiple TD passes last week, when the Broncos also delivered a 100-yard interception return courtesy of cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Surtain was NFL defensive player of the week and is being mentioned as a potential NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

“He’s playing lights out,” Payton said of Surtain. “I can’t stand talking about those type of awards in the early part of October. But man, the play he made the other day was huge. He’s obviously one of, if not the top corner in the league. He practices his tail off. He’s a great teammate.”

Surtain said “it is a little early” for end-of-season awards and he’s looking to build each week.

“I’m just going to keep on working and keep on honing my craft,” Surtain said.

After Week 6, three of the next four games are on the road for the Broncos. Payton returns to New Orleans next week for a primetime matchup with the Saints on Thursday night. Denver hosts the Panthers in Week 8 before going to Baltimore and Kansas City to start November.

The Chargers are also in primetime next week with a Monday night trip to play the Arizona Cardinals.

Los Angeles star outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) was limited in his return to practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday. Bosa has not played since Week 3. Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who started the Chargers’ first four games, is out due to a shoulder injury despite being a full participant in Thursday’s practice.

Four others are also questionable for Los Angeles: cornerbacks Deane Leonard (hamstring) and Kristian Fulton (knee), linebacker Nick Niemann (hamstring) and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (pectoral).

The Broncos have ruled out receiver Josh Reynolds (hand), center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle). Running back Audric Estime (ankle) and cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) are questionable.

–Field Level Media

Under interim coach, Jets seek to save season, beginning with Bills battle

Aaron Rodgers is expected to help the New York Jets go from laughingstocks to contenders.

But the Jets weren’t displaying enough signs to feel good about ending their 13-season playoff drought.

The dismal start led to Tuesday’s dismissal of coach Robert Saleh. Now, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich will guide the team Monday night in a crucial AFC East contest against the visiting Buffalo Bills at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Jets (2-3) made the coaching change after back-to-back losses to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett also had his playcalling duties taken away and passing game coordinator Todd Downing will call the plays against the Bills.

Rodgers acknowledged that he and his teammates are partly responsible for the coaching change.

“I think we need to do everything we can to maximize this opportunity,” Rodgers said Thursday. “… We need to be accountable to each other. When something like this happens, it’s a reset for everybody.”

Rodgers, 40, certainly needs to raise his own level of play. He has completed just 61 percent of his passes and been sacked 13 times while passing for 1,093 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.

Three of the interceptions came during last week’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings.

The former four-time MVP with the Green Bay Packers is overseeing an offense that ranks 25th in scoring (18.6 points per game) and 27th in total offense (286.6 yards per game). New York also ranks last in rushing offense at 80.4 yards per game.

Rodgers said things need to improve immediately under Ulbrich, who is the team’s defensive coordinator.

“I think the spotlight’s on the players,” Rodgers said. “Now, you can change coaches, but we’re the ones out there on the field playing. So we got to play better, but we gotta stick together and get behind ‘Brick’ and move forward.”

Ulbrich, 47, spent 10 seasons as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in a career that ended in 2009. He went into coaching and has been with the Jets since 2021 and is in his fourth season as their defensive coordinator.

“We can’t be afraid of mistakes and half-stepping,” Ulbrich said. “We’ve got to play this game on our terms, and I’m very confident we’re going to see that Monday night.”

Buffalo (3-2) is having its own struggles with consecutive losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.

Star quarterback Josh Allen was an abysmal 9-for-30 passing for 131 yards and one touchdown in last weekend’s 23-20 road loss to the Texans.

“I’ve got to be better,” Allen said. “Ball placement, and a couple throws I wish I could have had back this last game.

“Just making sure we’re on the same page, and it starts with the quarterback. That’s on me. Just trying to find ways this next week of sustaining drives, being better on third down, staying out of some of these third-and-long situations.”

Bills coach Sean McDermott is convinced Allen’s problems are a short-term thing.

“You go through a season, it’s never a straight line in terms of the path to success,” McDermott said. “You’ve got to go through the ebbs and flows of the season and manage them.

“I know Josh is as competitive as there is, and we have full confidence in him, and I’m confident he’ll get back to doing that, and that’s important for us.”

Buffalo ranks third in scoring at 28.4 points, but just 22nd in total offense (299.8). Khalil Shakir leads the Bills in both receptions (18) and receiving yardage (230) as a go-to receiver has yet to emerge.

Shakir (ankle) sat out Thursday’s practice, as did running back James Cook (toe) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring).

Jets cornerback Michael Carter II (back) did not practice Thursday. Rodgers (ankle), linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) and offensive tackle Morgan Moses (knee) were among the limited participants.

Buffalo has won six of the past eight meetings.

–Field Level Media

Underachieving Bengals can’t afford slip vs. banged-up Giants

Two teams with hopes of salvaging their season meet Sunday night when the New York Giants face the Cincinnati Bengals in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Giants (2-3) not only have the advantage of playing in their home stadium, but they are also coming off a 29-20 road win over the Seattle Seahawks and now return with a chance to get to .500 on the season.

The Bengals (1-4) hope to get past their most recent disappointment in a season full of them, as they lost 41-38 in overtime to the visiting Baltimore Ravens last week.

The Giants are dealing with injuries to key performers on both sides of the ball.

Coach Brian Daboll said outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux is week-to-week after undergoing surgery to address a wrist injury, while rookie star wide receiver Malik Nabers was improving midweek but still remained in the concussion protocol and was day-to-day.

New York running back Devin Singletary was a limited practice participant on Wednesday after sitting out last week with a groin injury. He is “trending in the right direction” toward a return Sunday night, according to Daboll.

In their win at Seattle, the Giants recorded a season-best 420 total yards. They held the Seahawks to their lowest point total of the season, and New York is allowing just 20.8 points per game.

Dexter Lawrence has fought through double and triple teams to record six sacks, the highest total by a New York player through five games since 2011, when Jason Pierre-Paul had 6.5.

“It’s not an easy thing,” Daboll said. “There were times last week where there were three guys on him. So, again, he understands that. When he gets his opportunities, he’s got to make them go. Very thankful that he’s on our football team.”

The Bengals have little to be thankful for lately.

Against the Ravens, they built three different 10-point leads in the second half thanks to an impressive performance from quarterback Joe Burrow. However, the defense failed to protect the advantages, Burrow threw a late interception in regulation and the special teams failed in overtime when holder Ryan Rehkow bobbled the snap on a potential 53-yard game-winning field goal.

Burrow, who threw a career-high five touchdown passes, completed 30 of 39 attempts for 392 yards and a 137.0 passer rating. Burrow’s top receivers — Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — each had a pair of touchdown grabs.

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor preached the importance of not looking beyond this week’s matchup against the Giants.

“We’re five games into the season,” Taylor said. “I know what the noise is. We’re 1-4, and so we’re accountable for all of that. It’s not good enough. We have too much talent on this team to be in the position we’ve found ourselves in right now.

“But all we can do focusing forward is (to ask ourselves), how do we beat the New York Giants? How do we have a great week, how do we get back on the winning track? You look around the AFC and there’s plenty of opportunity there moving forward, and we just need to take advantage of it.”

The Bengals have scored 30-plus points in each of their past three games. They enter Week 6 tied for fourth in the NFL in scoring (28 points per game), ninth in total offense (359 yards per game) and fifth in passing offense (263 yards per game).

The two teams are meeting for just the 12th time, with the Bengals leading the series 6-5. The Giants won the most recent meeting 19-17 in 2020 at Cincinnati, the only time the visiting team has prevailed in the past 11 encounters.

–Field Level Media

Falcons hope they won’t need late-game magic vs. Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons have figured out how to make the most of their talent so far amid a makeover.

The Carolina Panthers are still trying to sort things out ahead of the Falcons’ visit to Charlotte on Sunday.

The Falcons (3-2) own a one-point victory, a two-point triumph and an overtime win after trailing in the last minute of each of those games.

“The guys just don’t blink,” first-year coach Raheem Morris said. “All of our games have been locked and loaded as far as a (tight margin).”

Atlanta hasn’t played since winning 36-30 in overtime against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 3. The quest to show gains continues because the margins have been so tight.

“It’s a constant improvement all around,” Morris said. “Every week will be something different.”

The Panthers (1-4) have lost two games in a row, falling to 1-2 since Andy Dalton became the starting quarterback. Most recently, Carolina fell 36-10 to the Chicago Bears and rookie QB Caleb Williams.

“The players are ones who have to step up,” Dalton said. “Regardless of what the record is and how things have gone, there are a lot of positive things with this team.”

Other than winning on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 22 and producing some good stretches against the Cincinnati Bengals the next week, the Panthers haven’t held up well.

“We have to keep trying to take those steps,” first-year Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “We go into every game hopeful that this is the week. We’ve had some flashes the past couple of weeks, but can we be consistent and can we consistently execute our schemes.”

The Panthers will try to slow quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has given the Falcons stability at quarterback. Cousins threw for a franchise-record 509 yards in the win over the Buccaneers. Drake London has caught 32 passes from Cousins, with three going for touchdowns.

The Falcons have lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by eight points and to the Kansas City Chiefs by five points. They won their only road outing, against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 16.

“If you’re a good football team, you put healthy pressure on everybody to perform,” Morris said. “I think that’s what we’ve got going on now, which is a lot of fun.”

Dalton’s veteran presence means the Falcons have to be prepared to adjust on defense.

“He has won a lot of games in this league,” Morris said. “Nothing you give him is going to shock him.”

Atlanta has been stingy on defense, and the Panthers have to be ready to deal with that. Dalton is familiar with the personnel on the other side.

“I was around (Falcons safety) Jessie Bates for a couple of years at Cincy, so I know what kind of player he is,” Dalton said.

Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo is 5-for-6 on field-goal attempts of 50 or more yards.

Carolina lost center Austin Corbett for the season because of a biceps tear last week, and there are concerns about the availability of right tackle Taylor Moton, who didn’t finish the Chicago game because of an elbow injury and missed practice time this week. Tight end Tommy Tremble has remained in concussion protocol.

The Panthers have been busy making moves. Among the roster shifts was promoting defensive end DeShawn Williams from the practice squad while signing offensive lineman Cade Mays, who previously played for Carolina, off the New York Giants’ practice squad. Mays started seven games for the Panthers across the past two seasons.

Only one Atlanta player sat out practice on Wednesday, linebacker Troy Anderson (knee).

The Falcons lead the series with Carolina by 36-22, including 15-14 on the road. The teams split last year, with Atlanta taking the season opener at home 24-10 before the Panthers responded with a 9-7 home victory in December.

–Field Level Media

Nick Sirianni, Eagles look to continue post-bye success at Browns

Two head coaches try to cool down their hot seats and two quarterbacks try to regain their successful form when the Cleveland Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Fourth-year coach Nick Sirianni looks to improve to 4-0 after a bye week with the Eagles (2-2), who alternated wins and losses in September. Since losing six of their last seven games in last season’s collapse, Philadelphia has yet to get back on track.

The Eagles are just 13-10 (including the postseason) since Sirianni and Jalen Hurts won the NFC Championship Game in their second season together in 2022. Hurts turned the ball over 28 times in those 23 games, including seven times (four interceptions, three fumbles) already this season.

Asked about the New York Jets’ firing this week of head coach Robert Saleh, Sirianni said he isn’t listening to the outside noise about his own job security.

“Anything out of your control or anything that consumes your mind that’s not focused on not getting better is a waste of time,” Sirianni said Wednesday. “It only clouds the process. … If you’re focused on things that you can’t control, that’s gonna cloud that hunger and drive to get better.”

Philadelphia has been idle since a 33-16 defeat at Tampa Bay on Sept. 29. Playing without leading receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) and All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson (concussion), the Eagles quickly fell behind 24-0 and were outgained 445-227 by the Buccaneers.

Brown, Smith and Johnson were full participants in Wednesday’s practice session and are on track to return against the Browns (1-4), who are riding a three-game losing streak and playing their third consecutive road game.

The teams are meeting for the first time since 2020, a 22-17 home win by the Browns in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s first season in Cleveland.

Stefanski is sticking with struggling signal-caller Deshaun Watson, who has more interceptions (12) than wins (nine) since the Browns gambled $230 million on a player who made three straight Pro Bowls with the Houston Texans from 2018-20.

“This is not a one-person type of deal,” Stefanski said Monday. “When we’re playing how we’re playing on offense, we need everybody to do their job and do their job better. And I look at myself and how I can do that. But I believe in Deshaun, I believe in what he brings to this offense, and I believe he will play better.”

In Watson’s defense, he has been under constant pressure and sacked more times (26) than any other quarterback in the NFL this season. The Washington Commanders sacked him seven times in last weekend’s 34-13 romp.

Stefanski bought more time in Cleveland with last season’s late playoff push, engineered by 38-year-old backup Joe Flacco, but his overall record with the Browns is a middling 39-36 (including the postseason).

On Sunday, Watson takes aim at an Eagles defense that ranks 24th against the pass (237.0 yards per game) and has intercepted only one pass in its last 13 quarters.

Hurts and Saquon Barkley could find room to roam against a Browns defense that ranks 25th against the run (141.6 ypg) and has allowed eight rushing TDs.

The only limited participant on Wednesday’s practice report for Philadelphia was linebacker Nakobe Dean (ankle).

Cleveland practiced Wednesday without running back D’Onta Foreman (ankle), defensive end Myles Garrett (Achilles), safeties Grant Delpit (concussion) and Ronnie Hickman Jr. (ankle), cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring), tight end David Njoku (knee, ankle), center Ethan Pocic (knee) and offensive tackle James Hudson (shoulder). Nine others were limited.

–Field Level Media