PodcastFrom NFL: The Insiders
The Insiders Podcast: Eagles OT Lane Johnson announces retirement + Seattle Seahawks not signing RB Joe Mixon
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
56 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Oct 7, 2026
Published
Wed, October 7, 2026
38
Player insights
38
Players mentioned
Topics
Bijan RobinsonBo NixBrock BowersBrock PurdyBryce YoungCaleb WilliamsDak PrescottDaniel JonesDenzel BostonDeshaun WatsonDrake MayeEmanuel WilsonHunter HenryJ.J. McCarthy
Player analysis
Player insights
Bijan Robinson
PositiveUsage30:05
Bijan Robinson is performing at an elite level in primetime, averaging 145.4 yards per game, and is being utilized effectively in the Falcons' explosive offense.
Insight pageBo Nix
NegativeUsage85:23
Bo Nix struggled in the Broncos' loss to the 49ers, completing only one of nine pass attempts of 10+ yards downfield, leading to questions about the offense's efficiency.
Insight pageBrock Bowers
NegativeUsage32:08
Brock Bowers is a known and established weapon in the Raiders' passing attack, contributing alongside other receivers.
Insight pageBrock Purdy
PositiveProjection26:43
Brock Purdy is playing at an elite level, drawing MVP buzz with 10 passing touchdowns and zero sacks taken in his first four games. He is exceptionally effective against the blitz, leading the league with seven passing touchdowns against it while maintaining a 73% completion rate.
Insight pageBryce Young
PositiveProjection76:55
Bryce Young is leading the NFL in passing and deep ball completion rate. Cam Wolfe notes that Young has shown great resiliency in his contract year, effectively throwing over the middle of the field despite previous narratives.
Insight pageCaleb Williams
NegativeInjury15:33
Caleb Williams will not play against the Packers this week and is still considered to be a couple of weeks away from returning to action.
Insight pageDak Prescott
PositiveProjection22:15
Dak Prescott has thrown for 600+ yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions over the last two games, showing strong form despite the team's defensive struggles. He is preparing for a short week with a focus on film study and recovery modalities, and he maintains high confidence in his ability to perform.
Insight pageDaniel Jones
PositiveUsage88:20
Daniel Jones recorded a rushing touchdown in the Colts' win over the Commanders in London.
Insight pageDenzel Boston
PositiveBreakout34:03
Denzel Boston is one of the young Browns players who has stepped up to become a core part of the team's offense this season.
Insight pageDeshaun Watson
PositiveProjection33:51
Deshaun Watson is benefiting from Todd Monken's offensive scheme, which incorporates elements from his successful time in Houston. He is not being asked to be a hero but rather to execute within the system, leading to improved performance.
Insight pageDrake Maye
PositiveBreakout29:50
Drake Maye showed significant improvement in week four against the Bills, throwing three touchdown passes and using his legs to scramble. He appears to have regained his confidence and avoided the catastrophic decision-making errors seen earlier in the season.
Insight pageEmanuel Wilson
PositiveUsage28:48
Emmanuel Wilson has stepped up as a key contributor for the Seahawks' backfield due to injuries to other running backs, providing necessary depth for the team.
Insight pageHunter Henry
PositiveUsage30:52
Hunter Henry remains a reliable target for Drake Maye, successfully catching a pass after a fumbled snap in the recent game against the Bills.
Insight pageJ.J. McCarthy
NegativeDepth Chart74:06
J.J. McCarthy is expected to serve as the backup quarterback this week, but his path to the starting role remains a week-to-week conversation based on Jameis Winston's performance.
Insight pageJa'Marr Chase
NegativeInjury19:57
Ja'Marr Chase remains in the NFL's concussion protocol following a hit to the head against the Jaguars, making his availability for the upcoming game uncertain.
Insight pageJadarian Price
NegativeInjury28:23
Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price is injured and will be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four weeks.
Insight pageJalen Hurts
NegativeUsage35:52
Jalen Hurts has struggled when facing the blitz, and the Eagles' offense is currently in disarray as they try to balance a scheme that fits his preference for shotgun formations with the coaching staff's desire for under-center play-action.
Insight pageJalon Daniels
PositiveBreakout24:39
Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalen Daniels is a mobile threat who cannot be overlooked by the Cowboys defense. He demonstrated his rushing ability with 55 yards against Green Bay, including a 21-yard run, and is supported by Baker Mayfield in the building.
Insight pageJameis Winston
PositiveRole72:21
Jameis Winston has led the offense to back-to-back wins and showed improvement, throwing three touchdowns in his latest outing despite two interceptions; however, his hold on the starting job is week-to-week with J.J. McCarthy lurking.
Insight pageJayden Daniels
PositiveInjury13:30
Jayden Daniels is expected to have a full week of practice following his elbow dislocation. The team believes his throwing mechanics will not be affected, and he is on track to start against the Giants if he clears practice without setbacks.
Insight pageJoe Burrow
NegativeProjection21:47
Joe Burrow has played unevenly but is expected to hit his stride eventually as one of the league's best quarterbacks, though he may be shorthanded this week due to receiver injuries.
Insight pageJoe Mixon
NegativeInjury27:35
The Seahawks declined to sign Joe Mixon after he failed a physical due to a degenerative foot issue. There is significant doubt regarding whether he will ever play in the NFL again.
Insight pageJustin Herbert
NegativeProjection87:03
Justin Herbert has looked lost, with his completion percentage dipping below 60% for the first time. He has already thrown six interceptions on throws of 10+ yards, matching his total from all of last season.
Insight pageKirk Cousins
PositiveProjection31:47
Kirk Cousins is playing at a high level for the Raiders, effectively utilizing a group of lesser-known receivers to keep the offense competitive. His performance is a major reason for the Raiders' 3-1 start.
Insight pageLamar Jackson
NegativeInjury11:26
Lamar Jackson is dealing with an unconventional, rare ankle sprain after being rolled on against the Titans. He is considered unlikely to play Sunday night against the Falcons, with an outside chance depending on Thursday practice, and potentially faces a multi-game absence.
Insight pageMalik Nabers
NegativeUsage73:48
Malik Nabers caught a touchdown pass from Jameis Winston and noted that the offense is still developing chemistry and timing with their new quarterback due to limited practice reps.
Insight pageMichael Penix Jr.
PositiveBreakout30:36
The addition of Michael Penix Jr. has transformed the Falcons' offense, which is now scoring 40 points per game and looking explosive.
Insight pageRashee Rice
PositiveInjury79:03
Rasheed Rice is expected to return to the Chiefs' lineup following their bye week.
Insight pageSaquon Barkley
NegativeInjury10:05
Saquon Barkley is dealing with a hamstring injury and is considered unlikely to play in the upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Insight pageTank Bigsby
NegativeInjury10:10
Tank Bigsby has been officially placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for the upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Insight pageTee Higgins
NegativeInjury20:04
Tee Higgins is considered day-to-day with an adductor injury and has a better chance of playing this week than Ja'Marr Chase.
Insight pageTrevor Lawrence
PositiveProjection36:35
Trevor Lawrence has been playing in a 'flow state' since week 11, showing improved footwork, progressions, and decisiveness. The Jaguars' offense is maximizing his efficiency by getting the ball out of his hands quickly.
Insight pageTyquan Thornton
NegativeInjury79:14
Tyquan Thornton suffered a dislocated ankle and is expected to miss three to four months, a significant blow to the Chiefs' offense given his deep-threat role.
Insight pageTyreek Hill
NegativeValue80:08
There is speculation about a potential reunion between Tyreek Hill and the Kansas City Chiefs, though team sources indicate he is likely a few weeks away from being able to play, potentially mid-November at the earliest.
Insight pageTyson Bagent
NegativeRole15:38
Tyson Bagent is expected to start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears against the Packers this week.
Insight pageWill Shipley
PositiveSleeper9:56
The source explicitly recommends picking up Will Shipley in fantasy football because Saquon Barkley is unlikely to play due to a hamstring injury and Tank Bigsby has been placed on injured reserve, leaving the Eagles backfield depleted.
Insight pageXavier Worthy
PositiveRole82:24
With Tyquan Thornton injured, Xavier Worthy is expected to step into the deep-threat role for the Chiefs, despite not being known as a primary deep threat throughout his career.
Insight pageZach Charbonnet
NegativeInjury28:33
Zach Charbonnet is currently working his way back from a torn ACL and will be unavailable for the next couple of weeks.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. We'll preview and recap every game.
0:04Listen to NFL Daily on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:09Hey, it's Drew Franklin from NFL Cover Zero. The 2026 season is underway and we are loving football on TV.
0:16Here's what you can expect from the podcast in our second season.
0:20I would suggest for these preseason games, I think they should do what they do on the NFL draft.
0:26You know, when coverage of the NFL draft is basically for moms and they're just like, hey, he has a lot of money.
0:33He has a dog named Spartan. Listen to NFL Cover Zero on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:40I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sykema. If you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the field, check out our show, NFL Pro.
0:49Every week we break down the biggest plays, trends, and matchups using exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content you will not find anywhere else.
0:57Whether you're new to football, a fantasy football fanatic, or a diehard fan, NFL Pro will help you analyze the game like a pro.
1:04Listen to NFL Pro on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
1:10Mark Jackson's ankle injury already cost him time. How much time remains to be seen?
1:15We search for the answers and an update on Jaden Daniels as he tries to get back to the field for the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys.
1:23The first of three consecutive day games in primetime for the Dallas Cowboys.
1:28Hey, everybody. Welcome to the Insiders. Patrick Claiborne here in the newsroom.
1:31Ian Rappaport, Mike Garofalo, and Judy Battista with us as well.
1:35We normally get a good bit of news coming in through the early afternoon here in the newsroom.
1:41We are a good bit today as this is what's new today.
1:44Coming into the newsroom, Lane Johnson announces retirement after 171 starts in the NFL since 2013.
1:49Multiple all pro seasons, two Super Bowl championships, health and mental health noted as key features in a part of his statement
1:56that he released today saying in part, Right now it is critical that I focus on my mental health.
2:02I owe it to my teammates, coaches, the organization, and the fans to have my head and heart 100% in the game.
2:09And the Eagles tweeting an all-time great congratulations on your retirement.
2:13Lane, a great career for Lane Johnson in Philly comes to an end, Ian.
2:17Yeah, it certainly does. And a shock for the Philadelphia Eagles and really all across the NFL with Lane Johnson, one of
2:24the best players in his position, still deciding to walk away midway through the season.
2:29This is really something you almost never see. And Lane Johnson did consider, strongly consider retirement before the season.
2:35Mike, really get into it. It was really up in the air whether or not he was going to return.
2:41Lane Johnson ultimately did decide to return with the hope that his full 100% focus would be on the field despite dealing
2:48with a situation, health situation with some people very close to him despite, as he mentioned, some of the mental health concerns
2:55that he has been at the forefront of. When he came back, it was all seemed to be going well.
3:01And then last week, right before kickoff, Lane Johnson elected not to play, was replaced in the lineup about 10 minutes before inactives ended up being announced.
3:10That was the last time that we saw him on an active roster, deciding after 14 star-studded seasons, Mike, that he was done in the NFL.
3:18Ian, that happened years ago. He just got in his truck up and drove.
3:23And it was the morning of the game. I was covering the game and all of a sudden it was a surprise.
3:30Lane Johnson is inactive. They had to go out and talk to him.
3:34Big Dom talked to him, got him back. You talked about what happened right before training camp.
3:39I'm going to tell you there were other times that folks never knew about.
3:43Maybe one day, Lane Johnson will write a book and he'll talk about it.
3:48Like even games where they won and he played well, there was a lot that went on him mentally.
3:54A mental toll to play at the level that he did.
3:57And he was open about it and he's been a mental health advocate.
4:01So no doubt on the way out, he will make it clear that this is something that's extremely important to him.
4:08He managed it throughout his career. He handled it well.
4:11Selfishly, he was, he was unselfish, but selfishly, I'm going to say that I appreciate all the time that he gave us
4:18in the media, how fair and open he was.
4:21So I wish him the best and mental peace in retirement.
4:25Judy, I went back and looked at it today, the 2013 draft.
4:28Chip Kelly's the new coach of the Eagles. Deion Jordan from Oregon.
4:32They're connecting the dots. Dolphins go over the Eagles, jump them and take Jordan.
4:37The Eagles take Lane Johnson. It would have been, you know, which way would they have gone if they had, but it
4:44worked out great for the Philadelphia Eagles. It sure did.
4:47And of course, Lane Johnson is an almost certain Hall of Famer in a few years coming up here.
4:53But there were a lot of people around the league who really admired him for his candor about mental health issues.
4:59Among them was the Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Ursae, the late Jim Ursae.
5:03A few years ago, I was talking to him.
5:06This was around the time that his own family launched Kicking the Stigma, which was designed to kick the stigma around mental health issues.
5:14And Ursae brought up how much he admired Lane Johnson and how valuable it was to have someone like Lane Johnson talking
5:21about mental health issues for people to be able to see somebody who looked like Lane Johnson.
5:26So big, so tough, so dominant at his position in football, talking about his vulnerability and about mental health, how much good that would do.
5:34So certainly a Hall of Fame career on the field and very impactful off the field as well.
5:40Yeah, great career for Lane Johnson, but we do have to look at his team that's taking a trip to play at
5:47Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend, Mike, where the offense against the Rams, especially in the run game, a lot of struggles last week.
5:54How did they turn it around? I just got a text not 20 seconds ago from a friend that says, am I
6:01picking up Will Shipley in fantasy football? Yes, you are picking up Will Shipley in fantasy football because that guy, unlikely to
6:08play with that hamstring injury, Saquon Barkley. And Tank Bigsby now officially placed on injured reserve.
6:13So running backs one and two for the Philadelphia Eagles, not likely to be available against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
6:19This is just the tip of the iceberg for what the Eagles are dealing with right now from an injury standpoint.
6:26And in the case of Lane Johnson, a retirement standpoint, Nick Sirianni right now with a lot going on, has to find
6:33a way through this, as well as offensive coordinator Shawn Mangin giving Saquon Barkley, that difference maker in the backfield, not going
6:40to be there and his backup as well. We're going to try to summarize some of that lot going on in Philadelphia
6:46later on in the show on the injured left ankle Lamar Jackson.
6:50He got stepped on, rolled on against the Titans in the first half Sunday.
6:55They didn't return, had an MRI yesterday. They've got the resurgent Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
7:00So a nation of Lamar Jackson fans. A lot of fantasy managers want to know as well.
7:05Ian, what can you tell us about number eight for the Baltimore Ravens?
7:09No firm word, but doesn't seem to be in a good place for Lamar Jackson to be able to play on Sunday night.
7:17The Baltimore Ravens want to see if he's able to practice.
7:20Thursday really is going to be the big day to be able to practice on Thursday.
7:25And at least he has a shot to play on Sunday.
7:29From my understanding, he has an outside chance of playing considered to be unlikely, not impossible, but unlikely.
7:34And yes, he got his foot trapped a little bit.
7:37The question is always, is it a high ankle?
7:40Is it a low ankle? This is a bit of an unconventional type ankle sprain, a kind of rare ankle sprain, but
7:47it's a little bit up in the air as far as when he actually returns.
7:52If he misses this game, he's still going to be iffy for the next game as well.
7:57So yeah, there is a possibility for Lamar Jackson that he misses a couple games here.
8:02Snoop Huntley is his very capable backup quarterback. Yeah, so he's been in this situation before.
8:07First time with Declan Doyle as a play caller.
8:10Jayden Daniels expected to have a full week of practice.
8:13He dislocated his elbow once again against the Cowboys back in week two.
8:18The hope is that he'll be able to practice all week for the Washington Commanders.
8:22We'll get back to Mike Garofalo. What can you tell us about the elbow and the circumstances for Jayden Daniels?
8:29Sounded like everything went pretty well for him, showing that he was able to operate with that brace on his arm.
8:35You know, how's he going to have to hand off with his right hand even when you usually hand off with your left going that way?
8:43Yeah, maybe that kind of stuff is going to have to be adapted.
8:48But from a throwing standpoint, they don't feel like the mechanics are going to be affected at all.
8:53He's got to show it through practice this week.
8:56And if he does with no setbacks or any concerns whatsoever, then he'll wind up being the guy this Sunday against the Giants.
9:03And I know that this was a big part of Jayden Daniels evaluation when he went to get checked out regarding that
9:10elbow injury, trying to avoid surgery, trying to get back as fast on the field as fast as he possibly can.
9:17So it looks like a short term absence for what was a ghastly injury that had people cursing Tom Brady on the air.
9:24Remember that, Patrick? Yeah, I remember. Tom can do that.
9:27A lot of us can't. As we go to another quarterback coming back, we hope, eventually from injury.
9:33No return this week, though, for the Bears' Caleb Williams.
9:36He'll be out against the Packers. Tyson Bajit will play in his stead.
9:40Ian, I say play because he kind of gets into semantics with starting.
9:44He started a wide receiver. Case Keenum was taking the first step.
9:48What's your general idea of how the Bears will facilitate the quarterback position?
9:52Okay, so this week, and I say this week very specifically, Tyson Bajit is expected to start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
10:00Seems like Caleb Williams is still a couple weeks away, so not going to play this week.
10:05Perhaps able to practice next week. The reason I say that so specifically is because last week there was a lot of
10:12reporting by me and some others as well that Tyson Bajit would be the starter.
10:17Ben Johnson declined to say that that was the case.
10:20And then the first snap happened and you had Case Keenum at starting quarterback.
10:24But Tyson Bajit at receiver, seeing it right here, just so Ben Johnson could say, Look, I said I would start both quarterbacks.
10:32I said I could say they're both starters. Look, they're both starters.
10:35And I will say, as someone who covers this and knows that sometimes when you report things that teams don't want you
10:42to report, I very much appreciated the good-natured way that Ben Johnson handled this.
10:47And also kind of funny. Really. It was funny.
10:50Let's see how he rolls this week when they face the Packers.
10:53The Packers slightly improved last week. They won the game, first of all, against the Bucs.
10:58And the offensive line, which of course is being remade on the fly, improved a little bit.
11:04They certainly passed protected for Jordan Lovebetter. They're still really struggling to run the ball without Josh Jacobs.
11:09But remember, they brought in three veteran offensive linemen last week.
11:13Blake and Tomlinson started the game at left guard and did well.
11:17And LaFleur was really happy with the physicality there.
11:20So he will probably be locked in there at left guard.
11:23And we could see another change this week. Kevin Zeitler, who also joined the team last week, he could show up at right guard this week.
11:31He is an experienced right guard there. That would be, if they make that change, that would be the fifth different offensive line combination in five games.
11:40Which is certainly not where you want to be.
11:43But this may be the best iteration of their offensive line as they try to get this offense going without Josh Jacobs.
11:50Almost doubled their season-long rushing average last week. The two biggest pieces of the passing attack for the Cincinnati Bengals with injuries.
11:57First of March, Chase. He remains in the league's concussion protocol after a hit to the head in the first half against the Jags.
12:04And then his teammate, Tee Higgins, tried to come back in in the second half.
12:09He left with an adductor injury. He could not get back in the game.
12:13Ideally, Ian, for the Bengals, they would both be available.
12:16What's the outlook for the Cincinnati Bengals passing attack?
12:19It seems that Tee Higgins has a better chance to be out on the field than Jamar Chase.
12:25The reason I say that, Higgins is considered day-to-day with that adductor injury.
12:29Chase is in the NFL's concussion protocol. You just do not know how a player is going to respond.
12:35You don't know how quickly he's going to be able to be on the practice field or how quickly he progresses.
12:42That said, for the Cincinnati Bengals, they really are at an interesting point.
12:46Started 2-0. Backs a little bit. And last week, you know, it was the kind of game where the offense was a little uneven.
12:53The reality is they were basically a yard away from having another set of downs.
12:58Literally one yard away from having another set of downs and potentially taking down the Jacksonville Jaguars.
13:04That is how close things are for the Cincinnati Bengals.
13:07Joe Burrow has played okay and consider how incredibly talented he is.
13:11Surely he could play a lot better. At some point, Joe Burrow is going to hit the stride to remind all of
13:17us that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
13:21If it's this week, he might have to do it without at least a complete and full cast of characters.
13:28More injuries around the league. The Chiefs wide receiver room hit hard as well.
13:32Taequann Thornton going to be out up to 18 weeks of recovery after his ankle injury.
13:37Rasheed Rice with a hamstring left the game. DJ Moore with a shoulder.
13:41Three chargers in Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater, and Derwin James leaving the game.
13:45Patrick Sertan and Quinjon Mitchell. A couple very talented corners in the NFL.
13:49More insiders to come. 0-4 already statistically improbable to make it to the postseason.
13:54How do the Bucs approach Thursday night football as the Dallas Cowboys are on the other side?
13:59Two different sides of late game magic that they've seen in back-to-back weeks.
14:03Jane Slater on how the Cowboys approach this one.
14:06Coming up next on the Insiders. The new NFL season is here and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61.
14:15Last year, we had Mike McDonald, Sam Darnold on the field after the game.
14:19But that was last year. If you're a football sicko like me, NFL Daily is your kind of show.
14:25It is in the name. NFL Daily. Fresh content in your feed every day, all season long.
14:31Matthew Stafford coming off his MVP season. On a dazzling dart from Matthew Stafford.
14:35Big time trades that shake up the NFL. A.J.
14:38Brown is loose. And of course, those Seahawks trying to run it back and win another Lombardi trophy.
14:44The Seahawks win Super Bowl 60. They are bringing the Lombardi back to the Northwest.
14:49If it's happening on a football field, NFL Daily will cover it.
14:52Listen to NFL Daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
14:57I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sykema. Have you ever watched a game and wondered what really made the difference beyond the final score?
15:05That's exactly why we created NFL Pro. Got a man wide open.
15:09Touchdown! Seahawks! Every week, we use exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content to break down the biggest stories, matchups, and moments from around the league.
15:17We go beyond the box score to uncover the numbers, the tendencies, and details that help explain what actually happened on the field.
15:24Fires it out in the flat to Barkley, who beats one man, spins past another, leaps over a third.
15:30And don't worry, this isn't just a show for stats experts.
15:34We use advanced analytics to help tell the story behind the game, turning the numbers into insights that every fan can understand and enjoy.
15:41So whether you're a casual fan learning more about football or a hardcore fan who can't get enough analysis, our goal is
15:48to help you see the game in a whole new way.
15:52If you've ever wanted to know why a play worked, how a matchup was won, or what most fans missed on Sunday,
15:59NFL Pro delivers insights you simply can't get anywhere else.
16:02Listen to NFL Pro on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
16:07Hey everyone, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sykema.
16:10And together, we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
16:13Fantasy season is upon us. Are you ready to dominate your league?
16:16Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, you're already playing from behind.
16:22Every episode, we're going to dive into the biggest fantasy headlines.
16:26Injury updates that you'll need before kickoff. The best starts and sits across every position.
16:31And matchups you can exploit to destroy your league mates.
16:34Now we're talking sleepers, breakout stars, and the guys you cannot afford to bench.
16:38From rookies on the rise to longtime stars still at it, we cover it all.
16:43Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count.
16:51Weekly analysis, hot takes, and unique insider knowledge all in one place.
16:55Does fantasy dominance sound appealing to you? Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
17:03Football's back! Hey, it's Drew Franklin from NFL Cover Zero.
17:07Enjoy the NFL season while listening to NFL Cover Zero.
17:10We have storylines, predictions, and lots of silliness. Here's what you can expect from the podcast in our second season.
17:16When you meet people and you say your job's a sports announcer, it's always interesting to see what the first thing they say is.
17:24I did have one of the more difficult questions, though.
17:27He sits next to me and he sees I'm on my computer and he goes, big sports fan.
17:33And I was like, yeah, actually. And he goes, what do you think about my Jaguars this year?
17:38I realized, like, no one's ever asked me that question ever about anything.
17:42And I was like, do you fall? Listen to NFL Cover Zero on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
17:50Back on the Insiders, looking back to Monday Night Football.
17:5320 years to the day of the rebirth game is Steve Gleason's iconic block punt.
17:58Memorialized in that statue out there. He was there for the game.
18:02Problem for the Saints. They were taking on the Falcons.
18:05And B. John Robinson, who has 145.4 yards per game in primetime games.
18:09That 59-yard untouched touchdown on the third play from scrimmage really helped out.
18:137-0 Falcons later on. First and goal from the fourth.
18:16It's another B. John Robinson touchdown. Falcons took a 14-0 lead there.
18:20He's going to head to the fourth quarter. It's the other B.
18:24Robinson. This is Brian Robinson Jr., his third touchdown of the game.
18:28Falcons tie a franchise record with five rushing touchdowns.
18:30Win it big. 45-24. And just look at this tale of two different versions of the Atlanta Falcons.
18:36The addition of Michael Penix Jr. They're scoring 40 points a game.
18:40Yards per game. They're up to 459. Passing for more.
18:43Running for more. Everything seems to be better with the addition of Michael Penix Jr.
18:48as the Atlanta Falcons are just dominant on primetime right now.
18:51Are you? I'm kind of laughing a little bit because two weeks ago we were all like, man, the Falcons are on primetime again?
18:59We're going to have to watch the Falcons. It's going to be terrible.
19:03And guess what? They're actually really fun and interesting.
19:06And I can't get enough of this storyline. The reason I say that is because through the first two weeks they were, you know, terrible.
19:14They really were terrible. And you talk to people in the building and the response was like, yeah, yeah, no, we're going to be good.
19:22We're going to be good. Michael Penix is coming back.
19:25And he had really not been proven. Hadn't really shown that he was a surefire starter.
19:30And you're like, okay, let's see. And now we have to see.
19:34Two games. Penix has played great. The Falcons offense looks explosive.
19:37And the way they are running the ball is unbelievable.
19:40All of a sudden the Atlanta Falcons look like a team we really might need to pay attention to.
19:46Yeah. But John Robinson is doing a great job finding space and creating even more than what's blocked.
19:52But what's being blocked is plenty as well. Bill Callahan.
19:55Look at it. It's a teach tape at times what they're doing down there in Atlanta.
20:00And they've tied a lot of money up in their guards.
20:04Matthew Bergeron got an extension before the season. Chris Lindstrom got one a couple of years ago.
20:09Probably due for a new one here at some point in the near future.
20:13This is a really good offensive line that has been playing excellent football the last couple of weeks.
20:19And when you're giving that guy right there space to operate, which he didn't have the first couple of weeks because it
20:26took him a little bit to get in rhythm.
20:29I mean, look at the push. That's where these four or five yard runs become home runs, Judy.
20:35Bill Callahan and that offensive line doing a great job down there.
20:38They are thrilled with what he's been able to do for Kevin Stefanski and his coaching staff.
20:44Well, one of the reasons the Falcons were always convinced that things were going to be OK was because they thought their defense was going to be OK.
20:53And that's because Jeff Ulbrich stayed on when Kevin Stefanski came.
20:56One of Stefanski's best decisions to retain Jeff Ulbrich.
20:59This defense is the number one rush defense in the league.
21:02They've only allowed 48 yards on average per game in the run game.
21:07They're playing without two of their best players right now.
21:10They're getting great pressure without blitzing. Jeff Ulbrich was the former interim head coach for the New York Jets.
21:16He left the Jets. He went to Atlanta as the defensive coordinator stayed on.
21:20And now he has this defense, a top 10 overall defense again, number one against the run.
21:26Great job. He just keeps giving the ball back to that offense.
21:29And we've seen what the offense does with it.
21:32Yeah, let's look ahead to some Thursday night football.
21:35Dak Prescott of the Cowboys is thrown for 600 plus yards, two touchdowns, no picks in the Cowboys last two games, one
21:42a late loss, another late comeback win. Trouble is Dallas is giving up 64 points in those two games on defense.
21:49As we look at the dichotomy points per drive, they're first in the NFL.
21:53Yards per drive first in the NFL. Points per drive allowed on the defensive side.
21:5830 yards per drive, 30 first. But there are some things that they can't control because the schedule makers have them on
22:05a 10 hour flight back from Rio. As Jane Slater joins us on the insiders.
22:09Now a short week into the game in Houston.
22:12Now an actual short week for Thursday night football at AT&T Stadium.
22:16What are they saying about their approach? Well, prioritize the mind, keep the body engaged.
22:21That's really the mantra from Brian Schottenheimer. And when you look at this week, they've only been able to get one meaningful practice in.
22:28And that was today. And Schottenheimer made sure that eight plays took place for both the offense and defensive side of the ball at full speed.
22:37Talking to Dak Prescott. He says the one thing that he's got to do this week is cram about five days of film session into just a few.
22:45And then focus on the modalities, the things like red light therapy, the sauna, the cold plunge.
22:51Still, if you talk to Dak, he's got plenty left in the tank ahead of this one.
22:56Oh, it's going to be 100. It's going to be 100.
23:00That's how much, you know, I love this game, how much I've put in this game throughout my life.
23:06And through the off season, you know, you prepare and you condition, you do a lot of things for these type of moments.
23:13And at the end of the day, you're getting to do, you're getting to play the game that you've, that you're blessed
23:20to play and that you're so fortunate to play, whether it be on a short week or back to back.
23:26If I had to play today, yeah, it might not be ideal, but I'd find a way and I'd be 100%.
23:33And that's, that starts with just your mentality and your preparation.
23:36And so we've got three days. It's not like it's new to anybody in the league.
23:41So we'll get ourselves together. And that's what 11 years in the league will give you a little bit of confidence in yourself.
23:49One body we're keeping an eye on is all pro left guard, Tyler Smith.
23:53Now they opened up his 21 day practice window.
23:56Today was the first day he put those pads on.
23:59I caught up with them at the locker room because there is a chance he could play on Thursday.
24:05He told me the biggest thing for him at this point is grip strength.
24:10And this is funny guys. I asked him, how do you do that?
24:14Do you have like a ball or something? And he said a yellow rubber ducky, Patrick.
24:19I didn't expect a large man like Tyler Smith to be warming up for a game and have that.
24:25One of those ways is a yellow rubber ducky.
24:28But now you've got that in your mind. Yeah, he contains multitudes.
24:31He could be many different things as the, the, the opponent this week in contrast to Dak Prescott is an undrafted free agent quarterback.
24:39The Bucks are 0 and 4, but there's one part of his game that the Cowboys can't overlook.
24:45What is that? Listen, I cover Jalen Daniels at the East West Shrine Bowl.
24:49And the one area you cannot overlook is his mobility.
24:52And if you look at the way he played Green Bay, he had 55 yards.
24:57And when I looked at it, one of them was a 21 yarder.
25:01Why is this important when you're talking about this Cowboys defense over the first three games, you look at some of the
25:08quarterbacks they face combined 188 rushing yards allowed. That was nearly seven yards to carry and the challenge this week.
25:14You can't simply devote another defender to the quarterback when you've got Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka outside.
25:20And that's where Joey Porter Jr. can help without ever touching the football.
25:24When I caught up with him today, he said he doesn't know how much his workload increases Thursday, but he's comfortable with whatever they give him.
25:32If Christian Parker can trust Porter without safety help, it gives him a little flexibility with the extra defender.
25:38Now, Brian Schottenheimer says the key is close and constrict.
25:42Sticky coverage on the back end. Discipline rush lanes up front because against a mobile quarterback, lose your lane and you've created his escape route.
25:49So they are not overlooking Daniels. He is an undrafted rookie free agent.
25:54This is an 0-4 team. But Patrick, if you look at the way they played a lot of these games, we're talking one score games.
26:01These guys are maintaining their confidence and they also say it's really helped that Baker Mayfield has stuck around the building.
26:08He's high-fiving him. He's on the sidelines. And he will be back in Dallas for this one to help Jalen Daniels.
26:15It's the coin toss nature of football as we saw a lot of those games with the other way early in the season for the Bucs.
26:23Thanks to Jane Slater checking in on Thursday night football.
26:26Also looking forward to this big week five game between the 49ers at the Seahawks, a matchup of former teammates, former Brock
26:33Purdy backup Sam Darnold taking on his old team.
26:36As we look at what Brock Purdy has been able to do with the quarterback position, comparing to Dan Marino, 10 passing
26:43touchdowns and no sacks taken in the first four games.
26:46Judy Batista, Brock Purdy simply dealing right now. He really is.
26:49He is. Look, he's one of the best stories and has been one of the best stories since he entered the league.
26:56But he is playing now at a level that he has not been playing at before.
27:01He seven, one interception, no sacks in four games against the Blitz.
27:05He's always been really good at handling the Blitz.
27:08He's exceptional right now. He's already got seven passing touchdowns against the Blitz.
27:12That's most in the league. No sacks, no interceptions.
27:15His completion percentage is nearly 73% against the Blitz.
27:18Seattle doesn't Blitz all that much. They do get plenty of pressure without Blitzing.
27:22So we'll see how they try to disrupt Purdy.
27:25Nobody has been able to do it. And that is why you are already hearing MVP buzz, Ian, for Purdy.
27:32Meanwhile, for Seattle, they had a situation that is worth discussing here.
27:35Joe Mixon, the free agent running back, one of the biggest named free agent running backs, visited yesterday and the Seahawks did not pass him on the physical.
27:44There was reports that they were going to sign him due to a degenerative foot issue that may never allow Joe Mixon to play again.
27:52The Seahawks elected not to sign him. And Mike, this is not a surprise.
27:56This is something the Houston Texans have known this is why he did not play his final year in Houston.
28:03And I would say whether or not he plays again ever is certainly up for debate.
28:08Mike McDonald was asked why they were going to sign Joe Mixon here.
28:12And he said, we have running backs that are hurt.
28:15We need guys. Like that's how he sort of said it was a weird exchange.
28:20But it was a good exchange and an honest exchange.
28:23They need help because Jadarian Price, the rookie that they thought was going to play a huge role for them, he's injured.
28:30Zach Charbonnet working his way back from a torn ACL.
28:33Both of those guys are not going to be available for the next couple of weeks.
28:38Emmanuel Wilson carried this team and frankly by my fantasy team as well.
28:42Because I have those other two guys. I had to pick up somebody.
28:46So I got Emmanuel Wilson right there. So they've got depth, which is good.
28:51But they'd like to get all these guys back.
28:54They'd like to find some other bodies as well.
28:57They're going through the process of that right now.
28:59Price is not going to be a season ending injury, but he's obviously going to be down for four weeks plus being placed on injury reserve.
29:08Thank you, Michael. We come back here on the Insiders.
29:11There's a look into the second straight week in London.
29:14Eagles, Jags and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A couple teams going in different directions.
29:18Get to one of those directions specifically. Next on the net on that one.
29:22And zero is your hero. And zone for Chisholm who pulls it in.
29:27Patriots have the lead back again. Going to come down to the Buffalo offense here.
29:31Allen spins out of it. Throws deep. Looking for Palmer.
29:34And it's picked off. How did the Patriots knock off the Buffalo Bills on the road?
29:40They played much better on offense. Look at the points per game up to 29 points in week four after 12 points per game.
29:47Weeks one through three. The touchdown interception ratio significantly better as Drake May seems to have fixed things.
29:53At least he did against the Buffalo Bills after the very slow start as we're back with Judy Batista.
29:59It's all over. Everything is better now for the representative of the AFC in the Super Bowl.
30:04Judy? Well, I mean, Drake May did say it was a relief.
30:08I think it was a relief for the entire franchise too.
30:11You know, all you kept hearing about Drake May struggles was like he had lost his confidence.
30:17He had to get his confidence back. And I was like, well, how does that happen?
30:22You're already in the middle of the season. The answer was he just sort of had to play his way through it.
30:29And he did that in week four. One of the things that was different was he used his legs a little bit more in the game.
30:37He was scrambling around a little bit. So maybe that helped him get settled down.
30:42But he also just did not seem to get rattled there.
30:45He had an interception and a fumble. But on another play, like he fumbled a snap and he just picked the ball
30:52up and then completed a pass to Hunter Henry.
30:55So he just did not seem to have these sort of catastrophic decision errors that we had seen in the earlier weeks.
31:02He also had much more success getting the ball to his wide receivers than he had earlier in the season.
31:08He had three touchdown passes and one interception when targeting his wide receivers.
31:12So that was a big reversal from how it had been in the earlier weeks.
31:17Certainly, they hope this is a turnaround that now propels them going forward.
31:21It is a turnaround that might very well have saved their season last week.
31:26We will see if it continues this week against the Raiders.
31:29Yeah, the Raiders seem like they're in the midst of a turnaround to really one of the feel good stories of this young NFL season.
31:37Three and one had a chance to be four and oh last week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
31:43The comeback that Kirk Cousins was engineering did not end up coming to fruition.
31:47Kind of got stopped short a little bit. But the fact that it was close, the fact that it was a real
31:54game, the fact the Raiders went toe to toe with a really, really good Kansas City Chiefs team tells you all you
32:01need to know about where Raiders are and where Kirk Cousins is.
32:05And there's a lot of weapons that we haven't heard of.
32:08We know Brock Bowers, obviously. We know Ashton Gentry.
32:11He has helped in the pass game as well.
32:14But a lot of people we do not know.
32:17And the fact that Kirk Cousins is finding and trusting a bunch of no-name receivers is really impressive.
32:23For Fernando Mendoza, we are not clamoring for Fernando Mendoza because Cousins is playing great.
32:27And that helps explain why the Raiders are where they are.
32:31Just needs to keep it going against the Patriots this week.
32:34Yeah, the Raiders fell to 3-1, which happens to be the same record as the Cleveland Browns after their win on Thursday Night Football.
32:42A late, great job of execution down the stretch.
32:45The kick by Schmidt gives the Browns the win and improves them to 3-1, an opportunity to be in first place in
32:52the AFC North, depending on how things go this week.
32:55And it was after a win on the road, as we welcome in Cam Wolf, where Todd Munkin said they're not the same Browns.
33:02He used an expletive in that. And folks are starting to believe the way that this offense is turning around, Cam.
33:09Yeah, Patrick, let's start there because the Todd Munkin effect on this Browns team is real.
33:14I just talked to a Browns player last week who cited that moment.
33:18The, we're not the Browns, the FU moment as a moment that really shifted things within the locker room.
33:24This is a Youngs Browns team, and a lot of the conversation all offseason was about the quarterback.
33:30Who is it going to be looking towards 2027?
33:33Quietly, the Browns have believed they've built a young core that is ready to contend.
33:38They've just been waiting for the right guy to help run that operation at quarterback.
33:42And I want to focus on Munkin's quarterback development because all offseason we talked about the operation as the reason why Deshaun Watson was maybe ahead of Shadur.
33:51You're seeing it in real time. A lot of the Houston elements Deshaun had success with, Munkin has put within this offense.
33:58He is not asked to be Superman. He's asked to step up when it's needed.
34:03And those young players like Denzel Boston, like Carson Swechinger, have really stepped up and been the core of a Browns team
34:10that believes they can truly compete this year even as the quarterback questions swirl.
34:14Thank you, Cam. The NFL is returning to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the second straight week as the Philadelphia Eagles take on
34:21the Jacksonville Jaguars live in London, 9.30 a.m. Eastern right here on NFL Network.
34:26Billy, the numbers are hideous. This is the worst short yardage offense in the NFL right now.
34:31There's execution errors. There's coaching errors. Everybody contributed to that.
34:34You know, we had our opportunities and we didn't take advantage of them.
34:38So here's a look at the Eagles offense. Avert your eyes, Philly fans.
34:42The points per game, they're ranked 26th, yards 29th, pass yards in three and out percentage.
34:47They're 31st. They went 0 of 12 on third down without Lane Johnson against the Rams last week.
34:53And they're going to be without Lane Johnson forever.
34:56The two-time Super Bowl champion, two-time first team all pro announced his retirement today, citing mental health, physical health concerns.
35:02So there's a long list of things the Eagles have to overcome.
35:06Now there's another thing that they're adding to that on an offense that has frankly been bad, Cam.
35:12Yeah, Patrick, the loss of Lane Johnson is massive.
35:15You can't overstate that. And Jordan Maialata, their left tackle just talked on WIP and said, Lane was the last of the old guard.
35:22Now he's gone. And that's what this really feels like the end of an era, at least for this offensive line.
35:29Lane Johnson is now retired. You got Cam Juergens and Landon Dickerson injured and declining.
35:34And really Maialata is the only starter left from that Super Bowl team two years ago.
35:39And I talked with some execs the last couple of days, even before Lane retired and asked, what's the biggest problem with the Eagles team?
35:47The number one answer was the offensive line. It's really affecting their chase for an offensive identity.
35:52They're split between the Shawn Mannion scheme that wants to be under center and run play action.
35:57They're among the fewest in the NFL on that.
36:00And the shotgun scheme that Jalen Hurts prefers to run.
36:03They've got to figure that out starting this week in Jacksonville, who they're going to be.
36:08And they're playing a Jaguars defense that had 20 pressures on Joe Burrow this past week.
36:13I'd expect them to bring some pressure on Jalen Hurts, who's really struggled when teams have blitzed.
36:19Definitely a offense in disarray and certainly needs to adjust going forward.
36:23As you mentioned, game a very good Jags team.
36:25They're coming off of a road win against the Bengals.
36:29They had exactly 27 runs, 27 passes on their way to a win, as we've seen since week 11.
36:35Trevor Lawrence has been super hot. They've been spreading the ball around, committed to the run game.
36:40A very good Jags offense. Patrick, it's time to put the Jacksonville Jaguars among the Super Bowl contenders.
36:46They are there. They're playing excellent ball. And you mentioned the 27 pass to run balance.
36:51They play in a flow state. The run game is really connected.
36:54And you got to give Liam Cohen and Grant Udinski credit for what they've done with Trevor Lawrence.
37:00I spent a lot of time with them last year.
37:03They were working on his footwork and his progressions.
37:06Now this year has turned on maximizing his timing, his decisiveness.
37:10He's really efficient. They get the ball out of his hands really quickly and they get the ball to their playmakers.
37:16And they play an Eagles defense that is banged up in the secondary.
37:20Quanion Mitchell's been banged up. Johnny or Gennar has been banged up.
37:24They have another opportunity to put 20, 25 points on the board.
37:28And for the Jags, that's been enough with their really good defense on the other side of the ball.
37:34930 AM Eastern on Sunday morning when we come back.
37:37The Rams got a win without either of the future Hall of Fame defenders that they got in the offseason.
37:43One of them though could be on the way back.
37:47We'll tell you who next on the inside. The new NFL season is here and you should be listening to NFL Daily
37:54as we march along to Super Bowl 61. Last year, we had Mike McDonald, Sam Darnold on the field after the game.
38:01But that was last year. If you're a football sicko like me, NFL Daily is your kind of show.
38:07It is in the name. NFL Daily, fresh content in your feed every day, all season long.
38:12Matthew Stafford coming off his MVP season. On a dazzling dart from Matthew Stafford.
38:16Big time trades that shake up the NFL. A.J.
38:19Brown is loose. And of course, those Seahawks trying to run it back and win another Lombardi trophy.
38:25The Seahawks win Super Bowl 60. They are bringing the Lombardi back to the Northwest.
38:30If it's happening on a football field, NFL Daily will cover it.
38:33Listen to NFL Daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
38:38I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sikama. Have you ever watched a game and wondered what really made the difference beyond the final score?
38:46That's exactly why we created NFL Pro. Got a man wide open.
38:50Touchdown! Seahawks! Every week, we use exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content to break down the biggest stories, matchups, and moments from around the league.
38:58We go beyond the box score to uncover the numbers, the tendencies, and details that help explain what actually happened on the field.
39:05Fires it out in the flat to Barkley, who beats one man, spins past another, leaps over a third.
39:11And don't worry, this isn't just a show for stats experts.
39:15We use advanced analytics to help tell the story behind the game, turning the numbers into insights that every fan can understand and enjoy.
39:22So whether you're a casual fan learning more about football or a hardcore fan who can't get enough analysis, our goal is
39:29to help you see the game in a whole new way.
39:33If you've ever wanted to know why a play worked, how a matchup was won, or what most fans missed on Sunday,
39:40NFL Pro delivers insights you simply can't get anywhere else.
39:43Listen to NFL Pro on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
39:48Hey everyone, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sikama.
39:51And together, we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show.
39:54Fantasy season is upon us. Are you ready to dominate your league?
39:57Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, you're already playing from behind.
40:03Every episode, we're going to dive into the biggest fantasy headlines.
40:07Injury updates that you'll need before kickoff. The best starts and sits across every position.
40:12And matchups you can exploit to destroy your league mates.
40:15You know, we're talking sleepers, breakout stars, and the guys you cannot afford to bench.
40:20From rookies on the rise to longtime stars still at it, we cover it all.
40:24Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count.
40:33Weekly analysis, hot takes, and unique insider knowledge all in one place.
40:37Does fantasy dominance sound appealing to you? Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
40:45Football's back! Hey, it's Drew Franklin from NFL Cover Zero.
40:48Enjoy the NFL season while listening to NFL Cover Zero.
40:51We have storylines, predictions, and lots of silliness. Here's what you can expect from the podcast in our second season.
40:58When you meet people and you say your job's a sports announcer, it's always interesting to see what the first thing they say is.
41:05I did have one of the more difficult questions, though.
41:08He sits next to me and he sees I'm on my computer and he goes, big sports fan.
41:14And I was like, yeah, actually. And he goes, what do you think about my Jaguars this year?
41:20I realized, like, no one's ever asked me that question ever about anything.
41:24And I was like, do who've all? Listen to NFL Cover Zero on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
41:31We're back on the Insiders Week 5's Monday Night Football game comes back to SoFi Stadium as the Bills will take on
41:38the Rams Monday at 8 o'clock Eastern on ABC, ESPN, ESPN The Book.
41:42That's also available on the ESPN app. Looking forward to that game, which will be right across the street at SoFi.
41:49My girl, the question is, will any of the Rams' great defenders that were missing last week be back this week?
41:56Well, let's talk about one, a really important one, Aaron Donald.
41:59And yes, he is important because I know we talked about him coming back and like almost a cherry on top here
42:06and he can kind of play situationally here and there.
42:09He's integral to what they're doing because of how he wants to play and how he wants to be his usual self.
42:16And that's going to be a factor here this week as he tries to work his way back from a back injury.
42:23Can he be in his normal self? Can he be as effective?
42:27I mean, that was the whole process of him deciding to come back in the first place.
42:32So they are hopeful that he is going to be able to play and this will be a one game absence, but
42:39it's going to be in large part up to him and how he feels as he gets through this week.
42:46Yeah, and you can talk about a mid-30s player and we know we're in our mid-40s.
42:51There's probably some similarities there. You ever know what you can feel one week to the next week?
42:56Anyway, let's talk about the Buffalo Bills. Lost to the Patriots in a bit of a wake-up call there.
43:02You know, they were really riding high and in the previous week, they'd committed, I believe it was five turnovers, still escape to the win.
43:10We're kind of going through the skin of their teeth a little bit.
43:14You know what? Wake-up call for the New England Patriots.
43:18Kind of a reminder of how much has to go right through when they're very talented, they're explosive offensively.
43:24Defensively, it sounds like they have been as good as they had hoped.
43:28But to get someone to come in, surprise them a little bit, can do a good thing in refocusing them.
43:34Not going to need that against the Los Angeles Rams in what is a big time matchup on Monday Night Football.
43:41The Giants' lone loss came to the Rams on Monday Night Football, but they are 3-1 back-to-back wins with Jameis Winston as the starting quarterback.
43:49They have got the Washington Commanders coming up Sunday.
43:51They are playing on the road where we hadn't seen them get a win in the Jackson Dart era without Jackson Dart.
43:58Now they've done it, Judy, in two consecutive weeks.
44:01They do it after they acquire another quarterback in J.J.
44:04McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings. Yeah, the offense definitely took a step in the right direction.
44:09First of all, they got back into the end zone where they hadn't been since week one when Jackson Dart was still healthy.
44:17So that was a big step forward for Jameis Winston's lead offense.
44:20And Jameis played better. There's no question he played better.
44:24He still had two interceptions, but he also had three really nice touchdown throws.
44:28And in the locker room afterwards, Malik Nabors, one of the touchdowns went to Malik Nabors, talked about how it takes time
44:35to develop chemistry and timing with a quarterback. And because Jameis had only started getting the first team reps, they haven't had that much practice time together.
44:44So you are starting to see that. However, J.J.
44:46McCarthy is lurking. He is likely, I would say, to be the backup quarterback this week.
44:51This is going to be a week-to-week conversation. How is Jameis playing?
44:55How's the offense looking? J.J. McCarthy, when will he get on the field?
44:59Jameis at Commanders coming up on Sunday. More to come on the Insiders.
45:03Ted Aron McNeill had an incredible game Sunday night.
45:06We'll try to put it in some historical perspective when we come back on the Insiders on NFL Network.
45:12Rice throws deep down the right side. He drops it.
45:15Fillet makes the catch. Touch center coach. Career night continues.
45:19Throwing end zone once. He would have got him.
45:21Touchdown Detroit Lions. The Lions are right back in this game.
45:25Fourth and essentially the ball game. Goff steps up.
45:28Throws. Completes the test long. Does he get to the marker?
45:31No! He is short! The Panthers had the biggest stage in the NFL this weekend.
45:36They shine. It's time for Good Coverage, presented by Progressive Insurance.
45:39Ten of a row, McMillan had 14 catches, 192 yards and two touchdowns.
45:44Accounting for 45.2 fantasy points. The highest total by any player this season.
45:48The second 45 point game by a wideout since the start of last season.
45:52The third most fantasy points in the game in Panthers history behind two CMC games in 2018 and 2019.
45:58That fantasy point explosion came after just scoring 3.7 points in week three.
46:02That was the loss against the Cleveland Browns on the road where maybe some doubt had started to creep into the minds of other people.
46:10But Bryce and the Panthers offense came right back, Cam, with a nice performance.
46:15Yeah, Patrick, Bryce Young in this Panthers offense is my favorite story to start this season.
46:20Look, this guy was benched two years ago and now he's hearing MVP chants from his teammate as he comes into the locker room.
46:27He leads the NFL in passing. He leads the NFL in deep ball completion rate.
46:32And he's doing what they say he can't do, throwing over the middle of the field.
46:37And I talked with their general manager, Bryce Dan Morgan, in the offseason about Bryce Young.
46:42He's entering a contract year. He came away confident through their conversations that Bryce wouldn't fold on the pressure of the contract year.
46:49And instead he would show his resiliency. And Dan Morgan said if he balls out and the price goes up, we'll just live with that.
46:57It looks like the Panthers may live with that because he is balling and playing great ball.
47:03And you mentioned Tedderola McMillan. Their trust has been a big part of this.
47:07The Panthers have played McMillan a lot more in the slot.
47:11That has been their plan throughout the year. And he's feasted.
47:14They see him as a mini Mike Evans with a lot more wiggle.
47:18And they've been able to see that playmaking ability.
47:21And there were hints of play on Sunday where you could think about that Cam Newton, Steve Smith connection they had 15 years ago.
47:29And maybe this Panthers team will one day have that glory as well.
47:33To the extent we're quoting Steve Smith in the game.
47:36And thank you to Cam Wolfe. We'll look over to the Chiefs who have some injury problems, significant ones at wide receiver.
47:43Rasheed Rice is expected to be back after the bye against the Chargers.
47:47The Chiefs off this week. The real rough news from that game against the Raiders comes from Tyquan Thornton on a play
47:54that might have saved the game for the Kansas City Chiefs.
47:57He's dislocated his ankle. He is expected to miss three to four months.
48:01But there could be help available out there in free agency as we're back with Mike Garofalo as well as welcoming Jeff
48:08Chidia to this edition of the Insiders. Drew Rosenhaus sending out tweets saying that Tyreek Hill has some interested teams.
48:15Could we see a reunion with Tyreek and the Kansas City Chiefs, Mike?
48:19We could. I think we sort of not expected it.
48:22And now we're expecting it. But we were kind of thinking about it as the season approached and Tyreek Hill made it
48:29clear that he was likely to return at some point.
48:32It just felt like a natural reunion. Now there's a need.
48:36Because Tyquan Thornton was having a career game, a career year, and was getting over the top of defenses consistently.
48:42Well, Tyreek Hill, even at, I don't know, 90%, let's just throw out a number, he can do that better than a lot of guys in this league.
48:51And I know that he's feeling good or feeling better as he gets through his rehab process.
48:56Jeff, if you're Drew Rosenhaus, you're telling people, I'm going to start negotiating with teams this week, everybody.
49:02And there are multiple teams that are interested, just to be clear, because as an agent, that's what you do.
49:08However, the best fit seems to be this one.
49:11It does seem to be Kansas City, and I've heard from the team sources that they love him or they like the
49:18idea of him as an option, Mike. But also they recognize it's going to be a few weeks before he's able to play football.
49:25And they're talking about maybe mid-November at the earliest point that they got on the field.
49:31And the problem is, Chiefs need somebody right now after that bye week because of the way Tyquan Thornton has been playing, averaging 20 yards a catch.
49:39And they have to find somebody to fill that void now with that play action pass.
49:44So I certainly expect Xavier Worthy, who has not been a big, deep threat throughout his career, to take on that role.
49:51They have some younger players, and Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals, who they want to go out in the field as well.
49:58And so we'll see how they factor into it.
50:01But that dimension that Tyquan Thornton gave this team with that deep speed is so vital, and they're going to need that
50:08as they come off this bye and get back into competing to win the AFC West again.
50:13In that division in the AFC West, there's a couple of quarterbacks who are having some issues.
50:19One in Denver, the other in Los Angeles. We'll check on both teams when we come back on The Insiders.
50:25Back on The Insiders, looking forward to an SEC tripleheader on ABC Saturday.
50:29Texas A&M taking on Missouri. It's Texas at Oklahoma at 3.30 p.m.
50:33Eastern. And then Georgia at Alabama at 7.30 p.m.
50:36Eastern. It's all Saturday on ABC. Speaking of the University of Alabama...
50:39Nick did a very good job of hiding the total human being.
50:43Alabama wins! I'm driven to make ordinary people want to do extraordinary things.
50:47Genius. Traitor. Champion. I just recall the ass-chewings. He didn't get it.
50:51There was a method to that madness. Seventh National Championship.
50:54Right now at the time. We fight! We fight!
50:57We fight! Saban, presented by Verbo, the man, the coach, the process.
51:01Six-part series premieres Thursday at 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
51:04All episodes available to stream on the ESPN app.
51:07A couple of offenses in need of some adjustments in the AFC West.
51:11The Broncos and the Chargers who are looking up at the Chiefs and the Raiders right now.
51:16They take on each other Sunday, 4-0-5 Eastern. The Broncos coming off a loss in Santa Clara to the 49ers in which
51:23Bo Nix was one of nine in attempts more than 10 yards downfield.
51:27Mike Garofalo have had slow starts in the Sean Payton era, but that play caller has a significantly larger body of work than Davis Webb.
51:35He does, and Sean Payton is trying to show patience while also dropping little hints along the way that maybe he won't have so much patience.
51:44Now, I know that they've felt like that there's been spurts along the way or moments along the way, I should say,
51:51where it seems like it's clicking, but it's going to have to get better.
51:55I mean, I've got people around the league asking me, you know, you think that this is the week where Sean Payton takes back the play calling.
52:04I think there's going to be a few steps along the way, Judy, but Davis Webb and the Broncos offense got to start clicking soon.
52:11Well, Jim Harbaugh is fielding questions about Mike McDaniel too.
52:15This was supposed to be one of the genius hires of the offseason.
52:19It definitely has not worked out that way so far through the first four weeks.
52:23Justin Herbert has looked lost, quite frankly. His completion percentage has dipped below 60% for the first time.
52:29He has already thrown six interceptions on throws of over 10 yards in the air.
52:34That's as many as he had all of last season.
52:37He just looks lost repeatedly. He's making bad decisions.
52:40He's been pressured a lot. They don't seem to have any answers.
52:44Justin Herbert doesn't seem to have any answers. Mike McDaniel hasn't had any answers so far.
52:49Jim Harbaugh has stood by him so far. We'll see where it leads.
52:53How about the Colts and the Steelers? A couple of 500 teams getting there in a much different fashion, meeting up Pittsburgh on Sunday.
53:00Daniel Jones had a rushing touchdown in London as the Colts beat the Commanders.
53:05Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers had multiple chances in Cleveland Thursday, but couldn't execute down the stretch.
53:10Ian, the Colts have won back-to-back games now, largely because of that run game.
53:15It does not feel like the Colts have won back-to-back games.
53:18It doesn't feel like the Colts have won any games.
53:21That's what's going to be so interesting about watching them down the stretch.
53:25They're 2-2. They have not garnered a lot of confidence.
53:29The way they played against it, they really, really banged up.
53:32Commanders team in London did not do a lot to make their fan base believe that they are headed in the right direction.
53:39That is certainly a situation we are going to be watching if the Indianapolis Colts cannot get it together, Patrick.
53:46We'll see. If everybody has an opportunity, even the 0-4 teams that are taking teams on here in week 5, we'll have
53:53a chance for Ian Rappaport, Mike Garofalo, and Judy Batista.
53:56I'm Patrick Blaybom. The Insiders will be back tomorrow as we can look ahead to Thursday Night Football.
54:01See you then. The new NFL season is here.
54:04And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61.
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54:15That game-winning drive. Maybe it's Herbert. Maybe it's Gino.
54:18Maybe it's Mahomes. We'll have the highlights. If Fernando Mendoza or any of the rookies are balling out, we'll break down the tape.
54:25Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and an all-star cast of co-hosts as we preview and recap every game.
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55:05Hey, it's Drew Franklin from NFL Cover Zero. The 2026 season is underway, and we are loving football on TV.
55:11Here's what you can expect from the podcast in our second season.
55:15I would suggest for these preseason games, I think they should do what they do on the NFL Draft.
55:21You know, when coverage of the NFL Draft is basically for moms, and they're just like, Hey, he has a dog named Spark.
55:28Listen to NFL Cover Zero on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
55:34I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sikama. If you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the NFL, check out our show, NFL Pro.
55:42Every week, we break down the biggest plays, trends, and matchups using exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content you will not find anywhere else.
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