The 1-4 New York Giants, coming off a disturbing Week 5 loss to the previously winless New Orleans Saints, face a tall task on Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who are 4-1. The Giants are 7.5-point underdogs, per FanDuel Sportsbook. The Giants are getting a bit of a break as the Eagles will be without star defensive tackle Jalen Carter, out with a heel injury. Starting guard Landon Dickerson is also inactive for Philadelphia due to an ankle injury. The Giants will be compromised at wide receiver. Star receiver Malik Nabers is on season-ending IR with a torn ACL, and veteran Darius Slayton will miss the game with a hamstring injury. The Giants elevated veteran wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the practice squad for depth. Giants’ starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, questionable with a back issue, is active and expected to start. Running back Tyrone Tracy, who missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, will play Thursday. Related Keep it right here to follow the action and discuss it with other Giants fans. Come back after the game for all of the news, opinion and analysis. See our Giants-Eagles StoryStream for all of our pre-game, in-game and post-game coverage. See More: Game day threads
Giants-Eagles, Week 6: Live Thursday Night Football updates
Giants-Eagles inactives: Jalen Carter OUT for Philadelphia
There are no real surprises in the inactives for the New York Giants on Thursday night. Injured players Darius Slayton (hamstring), Swayze Bozeman (ankle) and Demtrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring) will all be unavailable against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rounding out the inactive list are offensive lineman Evan Neal, who has not been active for a game this season, offensive tackle James Hudson III, defensive lineman Elijah Garcia and emergency third quarterback Jameis Winston. Hudson is inactive for the first time this season. The Giants elevated wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the practice squad. They signed linebacker Neville Hewitt and placekicker Jude McAtamney to fill the two openings on their 53-man roster. There is a big surprise in the Eagles’ inactive list. Star defensive tackle Jalen Carter is inactive with a heel injury. Philadelphia is also without starting guard Landon Dickerson. Giants inactives WR Darius Slayton | Hamstring LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles | Hamstring LB Swayze Bozeman | Ankle QB Jameis Winston | Emergency 3rd QB OL Evan Neal OT James Hudson III DL Elijah Garcia Eagles inactives QB Sam Howell (3rd QB) CB Mac McWilliams LG Landon Dickerson | Ankle TE Grant Calcaterra WR Xavier Gipson DT Jalen Carter | Heel See More:
Indianapolis Colts’ Tyler Warren rewriting rookie history at the tight end position
Warren’s production is on par with that of Brock Bowers and other elite tight end prospects from the last few years. Indianapolis Colts’ Tyler Warren rewriting rookie history at the tight end position By Daire Carragher Posted Oct 9, 2025 3:03 pm EDT Tyler Warren has been a chunk-play machine: His 17 first downs are the most by any rookie tight end in the PFF era. Dominance against zone coverage: Warren’s 2.81 yards per route run against shell looks are the second-most among tight ends in the NFL. Unlock your edge with PFF+: Access Premium Stats, dominate fantasy with in-season tools and projections and make smarter bets with the new PFF Player Prop Tool. Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes The tight end position can easily be described as a slow burn upon entering the NFL. It has been conceptually viewed as one of the tougher positions to get a grasp of when transitioning from the college level to the pros. Even the most basic of numbers will back up that claim. Of all the tight ends drafted in Rounds 1-3 over the past decade, less than half have eclipsed a mere 100 yards over their first five NFL games. So, when somebody like Tyler Warren comes along and puts up 307 receiving yards over his first five games in Indianapolis, people should take notice. Warren’s 17 total first downs (rushing and receiving) through five weeks are the most of any rookie tight end in the PFF era (since 2006). The other side of the argument is that we have entered a new age of tight ends. Between 2006 and 2020, no rookie tight end amassed more than 250 yards in their first five NFL contests. It has now happened four times since. Are fans growing apathetic to all of the young tight end talent pouring into the league? After all, we’re only one year removed from Brock Bowers’ historic rookie campaign. One year prior, we watched rookie Sam LaPorta get off to an electric start. Some may even forget how fast Kyle Pitts exploded out of the blocks back in 2021. In the case of Bowers in particular, the parallels he shares with Warren’s first five NFL games are astonishing: Brock Bowers Tyler Warren Routes Run 138 136 Receiving Yards 313 307 Yards Per Route Run 2.27 2.26 Yards After Catch 166 162 First Downs 15 15 Receiving TDs 1 1 These are virtually identical starts. Bowers would go on to break the NFL records for receptions and yards by a rookie tight end, and tie the record for touchdowns. His 112 receptions last year were the most from any rookie ever, including wideouts. One area where Warren has a leg up on Bowers is in the explosive plays category. The Colts rookie has already hauled in 10 receptions of 15-plus yards over his opening five games — tied for the most of any rookie tight end in the PFF era. It took Bowers until Week 9 to reach that mark in 2024. However, Bowers eclipses Warren in overall PFF grade over his first five starts (82.7 vs. 72.7). Bowers’ astonishing debut campaign has undoubtedly taken some of the shine off Warren’s early returns — but it shouldn’t. This level of rookie production at tight end is exceedingly rare. These are two freak talents who just happened to enter the league in back-to-back seasons. Despite his impressive receiving numbers so far, Warren isn’t cut from the same cloth as most modern pass-catching tight ends. Warren follows a much more traditional style. Of the top five tight ends in receiving yards this season, Warren is the only one who lines up in-line more than 40% of the time. Open Premium Stats The Colts don’t just do this to emit the vibe of an old-fashioned, fundamental offense, though — Warren has been a legitimate net positive for Shane Steichen’s offense as an in-line blocking tight end. Out of the 20 tight ends with 100-plus blocking snaps this season, Warren’s 72.7 PFF blocking grade places him in a very respectable fifth place. This is a nice improvement from his 52.8 blocking mark in his final year at Penn State, which ranked 102nd out of 158 Power Four tight ends last year. Developing this area of his game only solidifies Warren as one of the most versatile tight ends in the sport. He can win up the middle (3 seam route receptions for 60 yards); he can win out in space (7 flat/out route receptions for 69 yards); and he can win in the screen game (32 yards on 2 receptions). The Colts have even been attempting to revive Warren’s rushing success from Penn State. He has the natural build of a fullback who can barrel over second-level defenders — proven when he ran for 218 yards in his senior season at Penn State. While the Colts have limited Warren to rushing only in short-yardage situations (4 carries, 2 conversions, 1 TD), I believe we could see more of him in the backfield in the months ahead. The one area of the game where Warren hasn’t excelled is when he’s faced with man coverage. On 25 routes in man-to-man coverage, Warren has caught just one pass for nine yards. Tyler Warren‘s Yards Per Route Run Comparison Coverage Scheme Yards Per Route Run NFL Rank Man 2.81 2/50 Zone 0.38 37/50 Colston Loveland’s more natural ability to separate is the primary reason why he was drafted ahead of Warren this past April. Will man coverage be the solution for teams looking to silence the Colts’ offense, or can Steichen continue to find ways to scheme Warren open as he chases Bowers’ tail for his various rookie records? Regardless, Warren’s early trajectory puts him among the most complete rookie tight ends we’ve seen in PFF history.
Do Rams need to get Jarquez Hunter involved on offense?
The Los Angeles Rams may simultaneously have one of the more efficient running back duos in the NFL and also the most frustrating. Kyren Williams ranks fourth in the NFL in success rate at 53.7 percent while Blake Corum has an explosive run rate of 8.3 percent which is the fifth-highest in the NFL. This […] The Los Angeles Rams may simultaneously have one of the more efficient running back duos in the NFL and also the most frustrating. Kyren Williams ranks fourth in the NFL in success rate at 53.7 percent while Blake Corum has an explosive run rate of 8.3 percent which is the fifth-highest in the NFL. This has been exactly what the Rams needed out of the running back position this season. Williams remains the singles hitter who can keep the offense on track. Meanwhile, Corum has the ability to hit a double and create the explosive plays. It’s not a coincidence that the Rams’ three best rushing games have come when Williams and Corum have combined for 20 or more attempts. In those games, Williams and Corum have averaged 4.9 yards per carry, 0.79 RYOE/att., and had a 51.4 percent success rate. Williams has two games this season with 4.5 yards per carry and a success rate over 50 percent. In both of those games, Corum has had more than five carries. Williams’ worst game this season came in Week 1 when Corum only got one carry. Williams and Corum complement each other so well as a duo. In Week 2, Kyren had a 35.3 percent success rate and Corum picked up the Rams run game with 8.8 yards per carry. In Week 4, Corum had a 22.2 percent success rate and Williams picked up the Rams run game with 5.9 yards per carry. Still, despite their success, both come with their frustrations, to say the least. Williams’ fumbling issue has reared its ugly head with two fumbles in two games. Meanwhile, among running backs with at least seven targets, Corum leads the NFL in drop rate. Corum has been targeted seven times and has three catches. He’s dropped two of the four incompletions. That doesn’t mention that he dropped the ball on a toss play that resulted in a fumble. Both Rams running backs cost the Rams in different ways last week against the San Francisco 49ers. It begs the question then if the Rams should utilize Jarquez Hunter in some fashion. That’s especially the case when considering the success of the rookie class. According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, “This is a special class of rookie running backs. Rookie running backs combined to rack up 737 rushing yards in Week 4, the most by any set of rookie backs in any week of September football since the 1970 merger. Week 3 ranked sixth by that same measure, and Week 5 wasn’t far behind. It’s rare to see so many rookie backs impacting games this early in the season. Overall, rookie runners have racked up 2,542 rushing yards through Week 5, good for the 10th most of any class since the merger.” The issue here is that the Rams haven’t utilized Jarquez Hunter at all, despite drafting him inside the top-120. In fact, after drafting Hunter, the Rams opted to extend Kyren Williams, limiting any path of playing time for Hunter in the offense when you also consider that Corum is only in year two. There were 12 running backs drafted in the first four rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Out of those 12 running backs, 11 have gotten at least one carry. The one running back to not have a carry through the first five weeks of the NFL season is Hunter. Additionally, there were 25 running backs selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Out of those 25 running backs, 20 have gotten at least one carry. The five that haven’t are: Jarquez Hunter (4th – 117th overall) Jordan James (5th – 147th overall) Kalel Mullings (6th – 188th overall) Damien Martinez (7th – 223rd overall) Phil Mafah (7th – 239th overall) Three of those five running backs were taken in the sixth round or later which makes it somewhat understandable that they haven’t been used. The Rams traded up to select Hunter at 117. This isn’t to say that Hunter deserves a full-time rotational role, but it’s also hard to say that he couldn’t help the Rams offense in some fashion or add something to the group. Hunter had three drops in 2023 and 2024 combined at Auburn and proved to be a terrific option as a receiver with reliable hands. Rams head coach Sean McVay tends to value pass protection and that is the likely reason that Hunter hasn’t been utilized. At the same time, many rookie running backs struggle in pass protection and teams still find ways to utilize the play. For example, TreVeyon Henderson has struggled in pass protection with a PFF grade of 7.3, allowing three pressures. That has limited Henderson from taking over a lead role, but he has still managed a role in the offense. Ollie Gordon has struggled in pass protection, but he has at least one carry in each of the Miami Dolphins’ five games. With Williams and Corum dominating the touches, it’s fair to wonder where Hunter fits in the equation. McVay has rarely used two running backs in the offense, let alone three. Williams and Corum have averaged a combined 18 touches per game. It doesn’t seem too difficult to disperse that in a 12-4-2 split. Throughout the first five weeks of the NFL season, the story of the 2025 draft class has been the early success of the running backs. However, the exception seems to be Hunter who has yet to see the field and remains the odd man out in the Rams backfield. While the Rams have a strong duo in Williams and Corum, Hunter may be able to add a different skillset that those two don’t have. See
Is Joe Flacco a clear upgrade over Jake Browning? The numbers don’t think so…
The Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) said enough is enough and decided to plug the holes on the sinking ship that is their pathetic offense. The question is, did they plug them with putty or a plastic bag? In other words, is Joe Flacco actually going to help the team win more games than Jake Browning could […] The Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) said enough is enough and decided to plug the holes on the sinking ship that is their pathetic offense. The question is, did they plug them with putty or a plastic bag? In other words, is Joe Flacco actually going to help the team win more games than Jake Browning could have done? That remains to be seen. But for now, we can look at some stats to get an idea of what to expect when Flacco likely takes the field as the starter this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers (2-1). This year, both QBs are near the bottom of the NFL in completion percent above expected and EPA per play according to rbsdm.com. And, according to Pro Football Focus, Flacco was 32 of 33 QBs in EPA per play, while Browning was dead last. However, as you can see in the tweet above, Flacco was average when he was kept clean. If you go by Pro Football Focus’ grades, they give Flacco (60.2) a decent edge over Browning (50.5). Yes, the Bengals’ o-line really struggles with that part. However, Browning did have some clean pockets against the Detroit Lions last week and failed to capitalize on them. If we look at traditional stats, the two QBs are about equally bad. Flacco has two touchdowns, six interceptions, and a QB rating of 60.3 this year on a team that wasn’t expected to compete. Browning, meanwhile, has six touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a QB rating of 70.5, despite having the best WR duo in the league. However, in the previous two years with the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts, Flacco was significantly better than Browning has been, throwing for a combined 25 touchdowns to 15 interceptions with QB ratings over 90 in both years. Let’s also not forget that Flacco won a Super Bowl, and it wasn’t by accident. He scorched the AFC on his way to Super Bowl MVP, throwing 11 touchdowns to zero interceptions in that run. He was solid to good in subsequent postseason games as well. In other words, the man knows how to read a defense far better than Browning ever will. Of course, Flacco is 40 years old, and he wasn’t mobile even in his 20s. But just two years ago, he was able to give the Cleveland Browns quite the downfield passing game just because of the cannon he still has on his right shoulder. So at the very least, Flacco will be able to capitalize on the good opportunities his offense gives him. Now it’s your turn. We discussed the topic in the video below. You can also listen on iTunes or by using the player below. See More: Cincinnati Bengals Analysis
Does the Colts recent success ease the pressure on Chris Ballard?
Ah, winning. Supporting a winning team increases dopamine and pushes fans to seek more input regarding their favorite team: social media, sports talk radio, analysts coverage, and just watching more sports in general. Instead of having to hide from the world for an entire week to forgot about a bad team, winning just makes everything […] Ah, winning. Supporting a winning team increases dopamine and pushes fans to seek more input regarding their favorite team: social media, sports talk radio, analysts coverage, and just watching more sports in general. Instead of having to hide from the world for an entire week to forgot about a bad team, winning just makes everything that much better. The Indianapolis Colts have been winning. Being 4-1 to start the year has been an incredible change in direction from previous seasons, and Chris Ballard deserves credit. Has there been enough winning to make him feel comfortable, though? The start the Colts have had is great, but it doesn’t guarantee them of anything. There is a solid chance they make the playoffs, but there is still a chance they don’t. Everything could fall apart, but right now, things are looking pretty dang good. The recent broadcast mentioned how this roster has been drafted and built as a direct cause for this success. While there are many factors at play, that is simply true. Injuries have played a factor but when healthy, the defense is made up of a lot of homegrown talent, and when turning the mirror around, the offense is even more so. Outside of Daniel Jones and a couple undrafted players, that offense was specifically drafted by Chris Ballard and his team. Ballard has had plenty of misses in his career, but it is looking like his master plan is coming into focus. Not only are the players he directly drafted paying dividends, but his other shrewd moves are coming into play as well. Look no further than the aforementioned Jones. Is any quarterback playing better than him? That will be left for others to debate but much more couldn’t be asked. Ballard saw the potential and brought him in. He made the biggest trade of his career to acquire DeForest Buckner who has been nothing short of phenomenal in the blue and white. Cam Bynum and “Mooney” Ward have been excellent pick-ups to shore up the secondary. That was one Ballard’s greatest weakness; being unwilling to use free agency to build a roster. His first major venture into that arena has proven to be worthwhile. It has taken years but Ballard seems to be pressing the right buttons now. The question is whether this success relieves the pressure he had to be feeling as the season approached. The answer is yes. Yes, with a caveat. The pressure is reducing with each win, but that doesn’t mean it is gone or should disappear completely. Chris Ballard has had nine years to get this right and has made plenty of mistakes getting to this point. We are finally seeing some of the fruits of his labor, but that is a long germination period. The other side of the coin is whether it continues, not just this season but into next. Success in 2025 will most likely mean another year of Ballard, and that is fine. If he shows he can build a winning roster, there is zero reason to move on from him. If the Colts dissolve down the stretch or fall back to the mean next year, it might mean bye-bye Ballard, however. See More: Colts Analysis
Raiders third-year players: Tyree Wilson play time dips
There are four players from the Las Vegas Raiders 2023 draft class currently on the 53-man roster. Here is a look at how they fared in a 40-6 loss at the Indianapolis Colts in Week and looking ahead to Sunday’s home game against the Tennessee Titans. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT. Tyree Wilson: […] There are four players from the Las Vegas Raiders 2023 draft class currently on the 53-man roster. Here is a look at how they fared in a 40-6 loss at the Indianapolis Colts in Week and looking ahead to Sunday’s home game against the Tennessee Titans. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT. Tyree Wilson: The No. 7 overall draft pick’s snap count dipped again. He played 45 percent of the snaps. in Week 4 against Chicago, but played just 33 percent of the snaps at the Colts, his second lowest percentage of the season. He had one tackle. It’s painfully clear he is just a rotational guy and unless he has a major turnaround, the Raiders will not exercise his fifth-year option and let him become a free agent after next season. Michael Mayer: The second-round pick from Notre Dame missed his second straight game because of a concussion he suffered early in a Week 3 loss at Washington. He has been cleared to fully practice week, so he is on track to play Sunday barring a setback. Tre Tucker: The speedy third-round pick played a season-low 88 percent of the snaps in Week 5, a week after he played a season-high 98 percent of the snaps. He’s averaging 92 percent snap count. He had four catches for 62 yards on six targets. Chris Smith: The fifth-round safety from Georgia didn’t play on defense (he’s played three snaps this season) and 73 percent of the special teams snaps, which is in his usual range. See More: Las Vegas Raiders Game Information
Lions, Chiefs injury report: Amon-Ra St. Brown offers positive update
The Detroit Lions (4-1) and Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) were back on the practice field on Thursday, and the Lions were able to return two of their starting receivers to practice. Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the […] The Detroit Lions (4-1) and Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) were back on the practice field on Thursday, and the Lions were able to return two of their starting receivers to practice. Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded. No practice RB Sione Vaki (groin) LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring) CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) S Kerby Joseph (knee) Vaki and Cunningham continue to miss practice. With just one practice remaining, coupled with time missed, it’s unlikely either would be ready to play on Sunday. Decker is “trending in the right direction” to play against the Chiefs, according to Dave Birkett of the Free Press, but fans should be cautious in getting their hopes up, as the Lions are taking a long-term approach to Decker’s rehabilitation process. Add in the fact that the Lions signed Dan Skipper to the active roster this week, and guarded optimism is recommended. Arnold isn’t expected to play this week, based on the roller coaster of reports surrounding his injury, so another missed practice isn’t a surprise. Joseph was able to miss two practices last week, return to a limited practice on Friday, and play on Sunday. Lions fans should be hoping for the same this week, and the fact that he was spotted working with trainers off to the side of practice suggests it’s possible they repeat last week’s path to Sunday. Limited practice WR Kalif Raymond (neck) — upgraded from no practice on Wednesday OT Giovanni Manu (knee) — downgraded from full practice on Wednesday DB Brian Branch (ankle) DB Avonte Maddox (hamstring) — downgraded from full practice on Wednesday Raymond suffered a scary neck injury against the Bengals, so it was not a shock that he missed Wednesday’s practice. He was spotted with trainers on Wednesday and returned to practice on Thursday, suggesting he’s on track to play against the Chiefs, but neck injuries are tricky, and teams tend to be very cautious with them. Branch is practicing despite his ankle injury and appears on track to play this weekend. Maddox being added to the practice report is not ideal, given Detroit is already shorthanded at cornerback with D.J. Reed and Arnold’s injury. Maddox could be in line to be the starting nickel vs. the Chiefs, so let’s hope this is just a minor hamstring injury. Detroit did sign Arthur Maulet to their practice squad this week, and he has plenty of experience at nickel. Manu being added, too, could be problematic. He started at left tackle last week with Decker out, and it’s unclear what his status is this week. That said, Skipper could be the answer, if need be. Full Practice WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (wrist) — upgraded from no practice on Wednesday DT Alim McNeill (ACL — Still on PUP) — Days remaining on clock: 12 St. Brown showing up on this week’s injury report was a bit surprising, but him getting back to practice on Thursday was not. It’s rare for St. Brown to practice and not play in the upcoming game, so there’s significant optimism that he will be available on Sunday, and he expressed such optimism with media on Thursday. ”I feel all good,” St. Brown said. “It’s been bugging me for a little (while), but (Wednesday was) just a day to really rest, get my legs back under me. Nothing to worry about. It’ll be all good.” After getting a projected 50/50 chance of playing last week and stacking back-to-back full practices, McNeill looks on track to potentially be activated from the PUP list this week. The Lions still have time on McNeill’s evaluation clock if they wish to slow down his return to play, but things look very positive right now. Chiefs’ injury report Note: starters are bolded. Did not practice on Thursday WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder/ankle) Full practice QB Patrick Mahomes (groin) RB Kareem Hunt (calf) WR Hollywood Brown (ankle) WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) DT Omarr Norman-Lott (shoulder) DE Charles Omenihu (ankle) LB Nick Bolton (calf) LB Jeffrey Bassa (knee) CB Kristian Fulton (ankle) See More:
6 takeaways from Lions coordinators: Kelvin Sheppard praises 2 defenders
Our weekly check-in with the Detroit Lions’ coordinators covers a couple of defensive players who drew high praise from Kelvin Sheppard, a fearless John Morton, and Dave Fipp falling victim to the 6-7 meme talking about the Chicago Bears’ infamous double-doink. Here are the six biggest takeaways from the Lions’ three coordinators. Offensive coordinator John […] Our weekly check-in with the Detroit Lions’ coordinators covers a couple of defensive players who drew high praise from Kelvin Sheppard, a fearless John Morton, and Dave Fipp falling victim to the 6-7 meme talking about the Chicago Bears’ infamous double-doink. Here are the six biggest takeaways from the Lions’ three coordinators. Offensive coordinator John Morton I ain’t afraid of your stacked box According to NFL Pro, the Detroit Lions face a stacked box—defined as eight or more defenders—on rushing plays 32.2% of the time, third-highest of any team through five weeks. On those plays, the Lions have produced the sixth-highest EPA/rush, eighth in success rate, and second in rushing attempts (49). It makes sense that defenses are trying to stack the box against Detroit’s dynamic running game. But why are the Lions still running—and being successful—when the numbers may not favor them? As Morton explained, they simply aren’t afraid of stacked boxes. “This is who we are. You know that,” Morton said. “I mean, we’re going to pound it no matter what. 10-man box, it doesn’t matter. So, we’ll just keep doing it until they stop it.” Obviously, a strong offensive line gives Morton that faith, but he credits his wide receivers, too. They aren’t just blocking on the perimeter; they’re getting their nose dirty right there at the line of scrimmage early and often. “We block it up, man, because we’ve got wideouts that can block,” Morton said. “Now, if you don’t have wideouts who can block, that’s a different story. But our wideouts block. They’re the best in football, and a lot of teams, they see a loaded box like that, they’re just throwing it. But not with our guys. It’s pretty impressive what our wideouts do. That’s the reason why we’re one of the tops in the run game, because of what they do.” Tate Ratledge is coming along After a tough opener, it’s easy to see the progress the Lions are getting in second-round pick Tate Ratledge. As Detroit’s offensive line settles in, Ratledge’s job at right guard is getting less and less noticeable—a good thing for an offensive lineman. Morton has been impressed with Ratledge’s improved communication. “I just think he keeps getting better and better and better with the RCE [Recognize, Communicate, Execute] as I say,” Morton said. “And when you do that, the game kind of slows down for you a little. You just have to make sure your technique is sound. It’s just a couple things with his technique, whether it’s a twist here and there, and the communication. So, I think that’s where he’s grown. Again, I think he’s got a bright future.” Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard Jack Campbell sees the defense like Shep does It’s fair to say Lions linebacker Jack Campbell is in the midst of his year-three jump. He’s currently third among linebackers in PFF grade (90.7), t-fourth in tackles to go along with his two forced fumbles. Sheppard could not have spoken more highly of Campbell during his Thursday press conference. “This guy was built and born to be a middle linebacker, and it’s been an absolute joy and honor to watch him,” Sheppard said. Specifically, he’s impressed with the mental jump Campbell has made. While Sheppard has seen the football IQ in Campbell since they talked at the NFL Combine over two years ago, he’s seen the young linebacker take the initiative to continue to learn this defense back-to-front, including weekly one-on-one meetings with Sheppard. “He meets with me every week. That’s something that he does not have to do, but he wants to because he wants to understand, ‘Why are you calling that, Shepp, on second-and-five? Well, why do you call that? Why do you tell the nickel that he needs to do this?’” Sheppard said. “He’s asking me this so then he can in turn go back player to player and hold these players accountable. And he wants to be able to—if the green dot, if it (helmet communication) goes out, he believes he’s supposed to call the game, and he takes pride in that.” Amik Robertson, shutdown corner Sheppard gushed over Lions cornerback Amik Robertson and his performance against the Bengals. He lamented the fact that Robertson got a little greedy on Ja’Marr Chase’s 64-yard touchdown, because it overshadowed what he believed to be an excellent game from the Lions’ versatile corner. “Everybody sees that play, and they see Amik Robertson. And he’s an aggressive player, the exact reason why and how we assigned him to Ja’Marr in that game is what kind of came back to bite him late in the game,” Sheppard said. “He was making a lot of plays on the ball, so he got greedy in the situation that he didn’t. I’ll share with y’all like I told the team and like I told the unit, it’s just a shame because this guy is going out and completely strapped up and eliminated two of the best receivers in football, and he doesn’t get the credit because Chase left that game with 110 yards. But the real ball guys know and Chase knows, he had I think 50 yards before that 64-yarder.” While not outright saying it, it appears when Sheppard is talking about two of the best receivers, he’s referencing Robertson’s game against the Vikings last year, when he followed Justin Jefferson. Sheppard knew he had a good one in Robertson when a friend at LSU shared a story about trying to recruit him. “He said, ‘You just got a dog,” Sheppard recalled. “He said, ‘I stood on the table at LSU years ago when they said he was too small.
Eagles activate Nakobe Dean and temporarily elevate practice squad defensive tackle
The Philadelphia Eagles officially announced two roster moves ahead of their Week 6 Thursday Night Football game against the New York Giants. An overview: Note: teams can temporarily promote practice squad players up to three times each in the regular season and an unlimited number of times in the postseason. Let’s sort through this news […] The Philadelphia Eagles officially announced two roster moves ahead of their Week 6 Thursday Night Football game against the New York Giants. An overview: LB Nakobe Dean was activated from reserve/physically unable to perform to the active roster. DT Gabe Hall was temporarily elevated from the practice squad. Note: teams can temporarily promote practice squad players up to three times each in the regular season and an unlimited number of times in the postseason. Let’s sort through this news on a player-by-player basis. NAKOBE DEAN Dean was officially ruled questionable to play on the final injury report but previous reporting indicated the Eagles would activate him. This marks the first game Dean will play in since suffering a significant knee injury about nine full months ago. It’ll be interesting to see how the Eagles use Dean. Vic Fangio indicated the 2024 starting off-ball linebacker won’t play a major role. It’s possible he’s only limited to special teams duty in addition to providing depth. Dean could eventually work his way into more playing time, especially if injury issues arise. For now, Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell remain the primary two linebacker starters. GABE HALL Hall’s elevation seems directly connected to the Eagles unexpectedly adding Jalen Carter to Wednesday’s final injury report. Carter was officially listed as questionable after being added to the report with a heel injury. If Carter can’t suit up, that’s obviously a big blow to Philly’s defense. The Eagles would be left with the following defensive tackles: Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, and Hall. I’m thinking Hall will be DT4 with Robinson still not being trusted to play more than a snap or two. The Eagles’ interior defensive line will be tasked with trying to stop tough-running rookie Cam Skattebo. We’ll find out more about Carter’s status when Eagles-Giants inactives are announced at 6:45 PM Eastern. See More: Philadelphia Eagles News