The Washington Commanders’ offense struggled in a 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels faced constant pressure, particularly from Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Washington’s offense posted its lowest total yardage and yards per play since Daniels became the starter.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offense posted their lowest yardage total since he became the starter.
Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons generated eight pressures, consistently disrupting Washington’s plays.
The Commanders also suffered several key injuries, including to running back Austin Ekeler.

The last offensive play of the Washington Commanders’ 27-18 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers was an encapsulation of how the game went for the unit led by second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels. 

Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons, already looking at home in Green Bay, beat Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil, then dispatched of left guard Brandon Coleman and made a beeline for Daniels, who once again had to throw early in an effort of self-preservation. 

No separation, no time, no chance. 

During the week, Washington coach Dan Quinn said there were plays in a 21-6 Week 1 victory over the ghastly New York Giants that were “close.” 

“Those are the ones that you don’t get second chances in our game, but it shows that we need the timing, we need the execution,” Quinn said. “And that kind of speaks to September football a little bit.” 

Washington managed 15 first downs – two by penalty. The fewest for the Commanders last year, during Daniel’s magical rookie season in which his team made the NFC Championship Game and he won Offensive Rookie of the Year, was 18 (twice). 

The rest of the stats paint a worse picture for the Commanders. The 251 total yards of offense was the worst since Daniels became the starter and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was hired by Quinn. 

Parsons, per Next Gen Stats, had eight pressures (despite just 0.5 sacks), with six of those coming in the second half. Washington could not run the ball, with 51 rushing yards between three ballcarriers (Daniels led the team with seven carries). Daniels finished 24-for-42 with 200 passing yards. That none of his seven scrambles (17 rushing yards) resulted in a first down was a grave error. 

The 3.5 yards per play was the lowest mark for the Commanders in Daniels’ young career. Washington was 5-for-16 on third down. According to NextGen Stats, the Commanders had two explosive plays (65 total) for a 3.1% explosive play rate, which would have been the lowest explosive play rate in a single game all of last season. NFL numbers guy Warren Sharp noted that the Packers blitzed Daniels 12 times, with two sacks, and he completed three passes on those plays. 

Kingsbury’s calls lacked much flair for most of the night. Too often Daniels’ best option on third-and-medium or worse was a back shoulder throw to a receiver down the sideline. And too often that throw wound up low and away and fell incomplete. 

Of course, when the kicker (Matt Gay) misses two field goals (both from 50-plus yards), it’s going to make the offense look worse.

To put lipstick on the final score margin, the Commanders scored the game’s last touchdown with 2:53 left in the game. Daniels still displayed his elite playmaking ability as a pair of Packers had free rushes at him. He still hung in there to find Samuel for a score and extended the two-point conversion in the pocket to hit Luke McCaffrey. 

The brutality extended to the Commanders’ injury report. Running back Austin Ekeler was carted off with an Achilles injury late in the fourth quarter. Prior to that, tight end John Bates – one of the team’s better blockers – exited with a groin injury, the same body part that caused wide receiver Noah Brown to leave as well. Deatrich Wise, a defensive end, was carted off in the first half with a groin injury.  

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel said the injuries were deflating.

‘That kind of takes the fight out of you, a little bit,’ Samuel said, according to the Washington Post. ‘You know all the work they put in, all summer long. Just to see them go down, it kind of hurt. But that’s the nature of this game.’

Joey Aguilar replaced Nico Iamaleava, who left Tennessee for UCLA in a rare college football ‘pseudo-trade.’
Aguilar has impressed in his first two games with the Volunteers, rallying the fan base behind him.
Aguilar faces his biggest test yet against No. 3 Georgia, a team Tennessee has not beaten since 2016.

Trades don’t happen in college football. But there was effectively one when Nico Iamaleva left Tennessee for UCLA, resulting in then-incoming Bruins quarterback Joey Aguilar departing to take over Iamaleava’s spot with the Volunteers.

Like trades that happens in the professional ranks, there’s are winners and losers in player movement similar to this. They can become evident immediately or takes time.

There’s only been two weeks of play this season, but in the eyes of those that proudly belt “Rocky Top,” the decision has become crystal clear: they are much better off than they were before, standing strong behind their quarterback after an impressive start sporting the Power T on his helmet. 

Now, with No. 3 Georgia coming into Neyland Stadium to open SEC play, Aguilar has the chance to prove he can be the guy to guide them back to the College Football Playoff.

Joey Aguilar’s fast start at Tennessee

While Tennessee fans were done with Iamaleava the moment he went back to California, there was uncertainty surrounding Aguilar. He had experience, spending two years at junior college before starting 25 games at Appalachian State. In two seasons with the Mountaineers, he threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns, breaking school records and hovering around the top of several statistical categories.

But life is vastly different in the SEC. Aguilar came to Knoxville knowing there were big shoes to fill. The job wasn’t handed to him either, he had to earn it – and display why he should retain it.

Aguilar made a quick impression in the second quarter of the season opener against Syracuse. On a play action, Aguilar launched a ball over 50 yards in the air and placed it perfectly in the hands of Braylon Staley, who ran it in the endzone for a 73-yard score. 

It was the first of three touchdowns Aguilar threw in his Tennessee debut, finishing the day 16-for-28 with 247 yards in the 45-26 win over the Orange that had the Volunteers feeling optimistic about 2025.

“Man, truly, honestly it’s a blessing to have a quarterback like that in the room,” Staley said after the game. “He’s a leader. He’s out there confident.”

The solid start set Aguilar up for a special debut in Neyland Stadium. With his mom and grandmother emotional in the stands, he put up another strong effort with 288 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-31, all in the first half of the 72-17 rout of East Tennessee State. 

In just six quarters, Aguilar has thrown for 535 with five touchdowns and no interceptions. His play is largely why the Volunteers are fourth in scoring offense (58.5) and second in total offense (605) per game in the Bowl Subdivision.

“He was difficult to defend. There’s no doubt about it,” East Tennessee State coach Will Healy said.

The immediate success has made “Joey Football” a hero in Knoxville.

It helps having Josh Heupel as his coach, who has become a quarterback guru in the college ranks, coaching Sam Bradford, Drew Lock and Dillion Gabriel before landing in Knoxville. Aguilar is also Huepel’s fourth different signal-caller in the past four years.

“You look at a guy that’s come in, three and a half months, whatever it might be. To be able to learn, grasp and play the way he did, it’s a testament to his work,” Heupel said after the Syracuse win.

As if Aguilar’s play couldn’t have made life great for big orange fans, it’s been sweeter considering how Iamaleava’s time at UCLA has started. Iamaleava has struggled in two losses with the Bruins, throwing for just 391 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, including one that ended the chance of a comeback against UNLV.

Joey Aguilar faces biggest test in Georgia

It’s been all fun, but it must be noted Aguilar’s first two games came against two of Tennessee’s easiest opponents.

The honeymoon phase will certainly be tested against Georgia, entering another chapter of a rivalry that hasn’t really been one lately. Huepel is 0-4 against Kirby Smart, and the Bulldogs have won eight in a row against Tennessee. During the streak, the Bulldogs have won by an average of 24.9, with each victory by at least two touchdowns. 

Aguilar did face Power Four teams at Appalachian State. He threw for 275 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in an overtime loss to North Carolina in 2023. Last season, he struggled out of the gate in a blowout loss to Clemson.

Those games against the Tar Heels and Tigers were some of his most inconsistent; they were two of the three games in his FBS career when his completion percentage was less than 52%, including a career-low 43.9% against Clemson.

But with Tennessee and its weapons, he’ll be in better position to play on equal footing.

‘He’s playing really efficiently. He’s got great arm talent. He’s a really good athlete,’ Smart said. ‘He’s been very, very impressive in the two games he played.’

It’s impossible to know how Tennessee and UCLA would have fared without the movement of Iamaleava and Aguilar after spring practice. But with a win against the Bulldogs, Aguilar can continue to have Tennessee thinking about a return to the playoff.

“My transfer from App State to UCLA to now is just another chapter in my life,” Aguilar said. “Coming out here and representing the Big T, GBO, just grateful.”

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2025 NFL season as the clear-cut favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 60.

Just two weeks into the season, the Green Bay Packers have announced themselves as the top challenger to the reigning NFC champions.

The Packers dominated the Washington Commanders 27-18 in Week 2’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup. The game wasn’t quite as close as the score might have indicated, as Green Bay outgained Washington 404-230 during the contest and saw Jordan Love (19-of-31 passing, 292 yards, two TDs) outplay Jayden Daniels (24-of-42 passing, 200 yards, two TDs).

The Packers’ rise as a legitimate challenger comes after they spent most of the offseason flying under the radar. They were able to do so by virtue of being the most mundane team in the NFC North, as the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings all underwent seismic shifts with their coaching staffs (Chicago and Detroit) or quarterback rooms (Minnesota).

But once the Packers – who have made the NFL playoffs in back-to-back seasons as the No. 7 seed – traded for Micah Parsons, their outlook changed. They went from having a good-looking defense to a potentially great one.

How Micah Parsons has helped make Packers defense elite

Through two weeks, the Packers have looked every bit the part of an elite defense. Second-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has the unit playing at a high level, and the reason for their success was evident in the team’s win over the Commanders.

The Packers faced a Commanders team led by Daniels, one of the league’s top dual-threat quarterbacks. Throughout the evening, Green Bay’s defense was able to contain the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, rarely allowing him to make big plays with his legs and limiting his ability to complete long, downfield passes. As a result, the Commanders totaled just 230 yards of offense, their fewest ever in a game started by Daniels.

How did Green Bay do it? Hafley’s defense routinely disguised its coverages to keep Daniels off balance. That forced the quarterback to check the ball down often, which was also a staple of the Packers’ success in their Week 1 matchup with the Detroit Lions. They forced Jared Goff to work more horizontally than vertically with their defensive looks, which limited his average depth of target (ADOT) to a league-low 4.29 yards.

Of course, part of the reason this strategy worked is because the Packers were able to routinely generate pressure with just four rushers. That allowed the team to drop seven into coverage, which crowded the field and made it harder for each quarterback to generate downfield completions.

Parsons is playing a significant role in leveling up Green Bay’s ability to generate pressure with four men. His versatility and quickness off the snap were both on display often as he wreaked havoc against the Commanders.

That consistent pressure is a big part of why the Packers have allowed an average of 15.5 points per game through two games. More impressively, they haven’t allowed a single touchdown in the first three quarters of either contest. All three of the touchdowns they have surrendered have come in the fourth quarter when the team has had a two-score lead.

Eventually, the Packers may run into a team against which the four-man rush and shell coverage isn’t as successful. Still, the Lions and Commanders are no pushovers. Detroit was the NFC’s No. 1 seed last year while Washington beat the Lions to reach the NFC championship game. And each sported a top-four offense in EPA per play.

So, considering the Packers are achieving these results against high-end offenses with Parsons playing a limited role as he works into shape after battling a back injury, Green Bay has to be happy with where its defense is at.

Jordan Love playing at high level gives Packers excellent balance

The Packers spent the 2024 NFL season hoping Love would take the next step after his torrid finish to the 2023 campaign. That never happened as he battled a knee injury that impacted him throughout the season.

Love appears to be making that leap in the 2025 season. The 26-year-old has gotten off to a strong start, looking comfortable as a passer and performing efficiently in each of Green Bay’s wins.

Love looked particularly comfortable against Washington. He read the field well throughout the evening and was largely able to deliver his passes accurately. He did have a couple of overthrows on deep passes that could have gone for big gains, but he didn’t have any critical mistakes, remaining turnover-free for a second consecutive game.

The most impressive part of Love’s performance against the Commanders was that he thrived without one of his top targets, Jayden Reed, available for most of the game. The team’s leading receiver from 2024 suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter and did not return to action.

Love’s progression should strike some fear into Green Bay’s NFC counterparts. He is already elevating the weapons around him without Reed and Christian Watson (torn ACL) available and is also showing a willingness to take chances downfield. He logged the NFL’s second-highest ADOT among quarterbacks in Week 1 (11.5).

How will Love do when Reed returns, or after he develops more chemistry with rookie first-round speedster Matthew Golden? The sky is the limit for the young quarterback.

Add in Green Bay’s strong, Josh Jacobs-helmed running game and its elite defense and the Packers look like one of the best-balanced teams in the NFL.

That should be enough to make the Eagles sweat as they watch their previously unquestioned stranglehold on the NFC begin to diminish.

It’s a big fight with an even bigger paycheck.

Canelo Alvarez is guaranteed to make more than $100 million to fight Terence Crawford on Saturday, Sept. 13, said Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi matchmaker and deal broker who has led his country’s massive investment in boxing.

One of the biggest deals Alalshikh made is a three-fight deal with Alvarez. And on Sept. 11, during the final press conference before the two boxers face off, he responded when asked if he would become the first person to guarantee a Mexican athlete $100 million.

“No, you get the number wrong,’’ said Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. “… More than that.’’

Alalshikh, often referred to as “His Excellency,’’ offered no other details. But this fight will mark the second of the three-fight contract with Alvarez coming off his lackluster victory over William Scull by unanimous decision.

Alalshikh has been credited with putting together the fight between Alvarez and Crawford – two of the best fighters of their generation – and it will be live-streamed by Netflix. He also has brought in UFC CEO Dana White as a business partner.

“When Sheik Turki asked me to be a part of this thing, there’s absolutely no way you wouldn’t do it,’’ White said. “… It’s going to be an incredible fight on Saturday night and I’m honored to be here.’’

Terence Crawford seeks to quiet doubters

Crawford used the press conference as an opportunity to air his grievances, largely about failing to get the credit he thinks he deserves from the boxing world. He said people have taken issue with the quality of boxers he’s fought while going 41-0.

“And for what everybody say, I haven’t fought anybody,’’ Crawford said. “So come Saturday we’re going to all see.’’

That’s been a theme of the pre-fight buildup, Crawford saying he’s been disrespected while winning world titles in four weight classes. A victory over Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) would end the doubt about Crawford’s greatness, the boxer from Omaha, Nebraska, said.

“It’s been a long time coming, it’s been long overdue,’’ Crawford said, “and come Saturday I’m going to show the world what they’ve been missing out on.’’

Exuding confidence, Crawford said he thought he could beat Alvarez not only in boxing, but anything else.

“The only thing he probably can beat me in is horseback riding because I don’t ride horses,’’ Crawford said. “But anything else you don’t come close.’’

Not surprisingly, Crawford elicited boos from the pro-Alvarez crowd – and it brought a smile to his face.

Canelo Alvarez faces drought

Alvarez made no promises about ending his knockout drought. His last one came eight fights ago, when he beat Caleb Plant by ninth-round TKO in 2021.

“If the knockout come, good,’’ Alvarez said. “If not, I’m going to show why I’m the best.’’

Whereas Crawford griped about his doubters and agitated Alvarez supporters, Alvarez embraced the role of grateful champion.

“This fight for me is big,’’ he said. “It’s one of the biggest fights in my career.’’

But some people already are looking ahead.

One reporter asked Alvarez if, before the boxer’s career ends, he would fight David Benavidez, the WBA world light heavyweight champion. Alvarez has sidestepped that matchup, which likely would test Alvarez.

“Look, I never say no to anything,’’ he said. “We’ll see later, but I’m focused 100% on this fight.’’

This story has been updated with new information.

Linebacker Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers earned their second win in as many games to start the season.

Parsons had two tackles and half a sack in the win and stopped by the Thursday Night Football postgame show desk afterwards.

The Packers fans stuck around to show their appreciation for Parsons, who was traded to Green Bay by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Aug. 28.

The fans were chanting “Thank you, Jerry!” Parsons was seen on the broadcast encouraging them to scream louder.

The Washington Commanders already lost one of their defensive players, Deatrich Wise, to injury in their ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Now, they have lost running back Austin Ekeler to a non-contact leg injury.

Ekeler went down on a passing play in the fourth quarterback away from the ball. The 30-year-old veteran appeared to be making a cut but fell to the ground, reaching for his right lower leg.

Ekeler attempted to get up, but the Commanders’ medical staff had him remain down on the turf. He eventually got up to stand and was helped off the field, putting no weight on his right leg.

The Amazon Prime broadcast initially showed Ekeler sitting on the bench while continuing to get treatment. However, just a few minutes later, the veteran running back was seen being carted into the locker room.

The Commanders quickly ruled Ekeler out for the game with an Achilles injury, stoking fears he had suffered a significant injury.

Austin Ekeler injury update

The belief is Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles at the end of the Commanders’ loss to the Packers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Ekeler will have an MRI on Friday to confirm the diagnosis.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said the team won’t have an update until Monday.

Commanders RB depth chart

Ekeler is listed as the top running back on Washington’s depth chart. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, whose nickname is Bill, would likely see an uptick in playing time if Ekeler’s MRI confirms an Achilles tear.

Below is the full look at Washington’s running back depth chart:

Austin Ekeler
Bill Croskey-Merritt
Jeremy McNichols
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Donovan Edwards (practice squad)

Rodriguez did not dress for Thursday’s game. The bruiser would likely replace Ekeler on the active, game-day roster and become the short-yardage and potential goal-line back in Washington’s backfield-by-committee.

(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)

A trio of SEC stars sit atop our 2026 NFL Draft QB prospect rankings after two weeks of college football play.
Leading the way is LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina, followed by LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Texas’ Arch Manning.
Oklahoma’s John Mateer is the big riser this week.

Week 2 of the season had fewer ranked matchups than the first week. Oklahoma and Michigan loomed as the lone game between two ranked opponents and did not disappoint.

It was another week of film for the top players in the 2026 NFL Draft class, quarterbacks included. A much deeper class than 2025 could see a handful of passers drafted in the first round.

Week 2 didn’t see much change as SEC quarterbacks held the top three spots in the rankings with solid to OK performances. The biggest riser came from that ranked matchup as John Mateer’s game against Michigan bumps him ahead of two other passers.

We’ll be following the top players at the position throughout the season and updating our rankings in the wake of weekly results.

2026 NFL Draft QB prospect rankings

1. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (last week: 1)

Week 2 vs. South Carolina State: 11-19 (57.9%) passing, 128 yards, one touchdown; six carries, 28 yards, one fumble

South Carolina needed a special teams touchdown to kick-start the team and get past visiting South Carolina State in the Gamecocks’ home opener.

Sellers showed out well in Week 1 against Virginia Tech but wasn’t quite on the same mark in Week 2. He threw deep more with an average depth of target (ADOT) of 11.0 yards compared to 7.9 in Week 1, per Pro Football Focus. Yet he only had 128 passing yards and faced fewer pressures than against the Hokies.

He could’ve scored a touchdown as runner on a key third-down conversion in the opening drive of the second half. Instead, he ran into the lone defender – occupied by a Gamecocks wide receiver who was blocking – left between him and the end zone. That shows a potential worrying trend that he showed in Week 1, when he ran into contact that kept him from scoring instead of moving around it to score.

Still, in a down week for most of the top quarterbacks in the class, Sellers retains his No. 1 spot. The Gamecocks stay home in Week 3 for a game against 2-0 Vanderbilt.

2. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (last week: 2)

Week 2 vs. Louisiana Tech: 26-41 (63.4%) passing, 237 yards, one touchdown, one interception

Nussmeier followed his outstanding showing against Clemson with a solid game against Louisiana Tech. The game plan was vastly different than what the Tigers did in Week 1; Nussmeier’s ADOT was 9.1 yards, more than double what it was against Clemson (4.4).

He started off a bit scattershot with unsettled feet. An overthrow with a clean pocket that would’ve been a chunk gain to Barion Brown in the first quarter stands out. He found his rhythm more in the second half as the Tigers eventually pulled away for a 23-7 win.

Nussmeier had relatively clear pockets but stood tall against pressure to deliver, including when the Tigers were backed up in their own territory. This wasn’t Nussmeier’s best game statistically as the Louisiana Tech secondary played physically against the Tigers’ wideouts. He still made enough throws to keep his standing at No. 2.

LSU has Florida up next in its first SEC matchup of the season.

3. Arch Manning, Texas (last week: 3)

Week 2 vs. San Jose State: 19-30 (63.3%) passing, 295 yards, four touchdowns, one interception; three carries, 30 yards, one touchdown, one fumble

Manning’s scoring spree in Week 2 improves his outlook in general but, given the level of competition, doesn’t bump him up the rankings.

He played with a lot more confidence against San Jose State but still had some of the issues we saw in Week 1 against Ohio State. His footwork impacted his accuracy even with more open throws on offer against the visiting Spartans.

Manning and the Longhorns face UTEP at home this week. It should be another opportunity for him to build on his improvements from the San Jose State game.

4. Drew Allar, Penn State (last week: 4)

Week 2 vs. FIU: 19-33 (57.6%) passing, 200 yards, two touchdowns

Allar had a strong start to the year against Nevada but, like Nussmeier and Sellers, some issues cropped up in Week 2 – along with the flashes that scouts like to see.

His footwork was inconsistent at times and that caused the ball to miss the mark, hence his nearly 30-point drop in completion percentage. Penn State pushed the ball on Saturday and Allar had a 9.1-yard ADOT but missed the mark more than you’d like.

Still, his second touchdown was one of the reasons why scouts and fans alike should be excited about his potential. Allar faked a handoff and powered a ball 55 yards in the air to Devonte Ross in the end zone for the score.

When he’s right, it’s quite right. Allar and Penn State have a tune-up against Villanova before their bye week and a showdown at home against Oregon.

5. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (last week: 5)

Week 2 vs. Kennesaw State: 18-25 (72%) passing, 245 yards, four touchdowns; three carries, 20 yards

Mendoza wasted no time showing off both his passing and running skills against Kennesaw State. He led consecutive touchdown drives in the first quarter and capped off the second with a nicely-placed slot fade to Elijah Sarratt.

That duo connected multiple times on Saturday – including three touchdowns. The last score came on a wide open shot up the middle to extend the lead.

Mendoza’s settling in at Indiana after transferring from Cal. His footwork looked improved overall in Week 2 and that showed in his high completion percentage. The Hoosiers have one more game against an unranked opponent – Indiana State – in Week 3 before taking on their first ranked team of the season in No. 9 Illinois. That game will be crucial for his evaluation.

6. John Mateer, Oklahoma (last week: 8)

Week 2 vs. Michigan: 21-34 (61.8%) passing, 270 yards, one touchdown, one interception; 19 carries, 75 yards, two touchdowns

Mateer jumps up the rankings after putting on a great showing against a good Michigan defense in Week 2 following his historic performance against Illinois State in Week 1.

Mateer showcased his pocket mobility and varied arm slots against the Wolverines. He was more aggressive than the other passers on this list and it could’ve come back to bite him. It didn’t this time, leaving him a great performance both as a passer and a runner in Week 2.

A crucial third-down conversion stands out as his best play in the Sooners’ 24-13 win over the Wolverines.

Oklahoma heads on the road for the first time in Week 3 for a game against Temple.

7. Cade Klubnik, Clemson (last week: 6)

Week 2 vs. Troy: 18-24 (75%) passing, 196 yards, two touchdowns, one interception; four rushes, 7 yards

The Tigers were nearly upset at home by Troy and had to roar back from a 16-3 halftime deficit to win 27-16. Klubnik and the offense as a whole started slow in the first quarter.

His footwork was troubling early on and a tipped pass became a 4-yard pick-six to put the Tigers down 16-0. That’s a tough start against an unranked opponent.

To his credit, Klubnik came back in the second half. One of his best throws of the night came against pressure up the middle with a 34-yard dime to Bryant Wesco Jr. for a touchdown.

He’s yet to put together a complete game but there’s still plenty of time for that. Clemson heads on the road to face Georgia Tech in its ACC opener this week.

8. Taylen Green, Arkansas (last week: NR)

Week 2 vs. Arkansas State: 17-26 (65.4%) passing, 239 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions; nine carries, 151 yards, one touchdown

Green makes his debut on this ranking behind another multi-touchdown performance in Week 2. At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, he’s similar in size to Sellers with outstanding athleticism, as well.

He leads the FBS in passing touchdowns after his four on Saturday. He showed off his athleticism on one play by scrambling for a first down (and hurdling a defender) before firing a shot to Jalen Brown from 8 yards out for a touchdown.

Green’s dual threat abilities and production have him on the radar early in the season. This week’s game against Ole Miss on the road will be massive for his draft outlook.

Next two up: Sam Leavitt, Arizona; Nico Iamaleava, UCLA

Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was fined but not suspended for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
The incident has made Carter the face of the NFL’s renewed emphasis on improving sportsmanship.
The NFL is cracking down on non-football acts, which an executive described as having reached an ‘intolerable’ level.

Jalen Carter just might be the face of the future for game-wrecking defensive tackles in the NFL. Maybe someday the Philadelphia Eagles star will go down with the likes of Aaron Donald, Warren Sapp (aka QB Killa) and Mean Joe Greene for historical greatness.

Someday. Maybe.

As he gears up for the chance to make the life of Patrick Mahomes a bit miserable on Sunday in a rematch of Super Bowl 59, though, Carter is undoubtedly the current face for the NFL’s campaign on sportsmanship. Or, given his disgusting act of spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the season opener, he’s at least the poster child for what not to do in the name of sportsmanship.

Carter, 24, was fined $57,222 but avoided, well, an extended suspension as the NFL considered his ejection from the game against Dallas as something of a de facto, time-served suspension – and everybody who might have objected, including the NFL Players Association and Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, signed off on it without an appeal.

NFL Week 2 picks straight up and against spread: Packers or Commanders on Thursday night?

It’s fair to question whether he could have drawn a stiffer penalty, but the NFL’s logic with the discipline is tight enough. Carter already missed a game. The Eagles’ defense was weakened in a key game in which the centerpiece player was tossed before playing a single snap. The fine covers his Week 1 game check. And remember, precedents for spitting incidents dictate fines, not suspensions.

Of course, there are always the optics. That Carter spat in such a high-profile moment – the start of the NFL’s kickoff showcase – forced a strong response. Then again, had the spitting occurred in, say, the fourth quarter, I’m doubting that the discipline would have been settled as it was – precedent or not, given the league’s point of emphasis on sportsmanship.

In any event, with his sordid act, Carter unwittingly did the NFL a huge favor, too. No, Roger Goodell didn’t want the filthy controversy to dominate the water cooler talk to kick off the new season. But as the NFL messages about the need for “zero tolerance” Carter showed exactly why there’s this spotlight on game-day decorum.

Last season, penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct skyrocketed 133% from 2023, which included a 52% spike in violations for gestures that were sexually suggestive. Taunting penalties had a 55% rise.

“We have clear video examples we’ll share with the players and about what it means to be a professional at all times,” Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president for football operations, said during the NFL owners’ meetings last spring.

Well, example added.

Vincent, who played 15 NFL seasons as a defensive back, has pretty much adopted a crusade to preserve sportsmanship, with energy similar to efforts over the years to take the helmet out of the game as a weapon, and also take measures to better protect defenseless players. While some deride the NFL as the “No Fun League” when it comes to curbing excessive celebrations, in my opinion there’s clearly a need to cut out the taunting that can ignite fights, gyrating hips that defy standards of decency, “throat-slash” gestures and surely, mimicking the use of weapons as some sort of celebratory image.

As part of the crackdown, NFL owners last spring also amended a rule that outlawed the so-called “nose wipe” gesture that has been associated with gang culture.

“Some of the things we’ve seen, there’s just no place in the game for it,” Vincent said on a video distributed to the NFL community before the season. “There’s no place in the game to be standing over your opponent. There’s no place in the game to have violent gestures. That’s not the game of football. We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles.”

It’s a theme similar to the message Vincent shared at the start of the NFL playoffs in January, when he conducted a call with coaches and executives from the 14 playoff teams and maintained that officials would have zero tolerance for non-football acts that had reached what he described as an “intolerable” level.

Vincent told the teams that it wasn’t the mission of officials to inject themselves into a competitive situation by removing players due to unsportsmanlike conduct. Thus, he wanted a heightened alert on conduct and asked that the teams help with the message.

That call set the tone for the offseason actions, including the point of emphasis from officials. For all of that emphasis, though, the NFL probably didn’t foresee a spitting incident to kick off the season. But no doubt it’s part of the package. And now it’s on Carter’s resume as a stain on his reputation.

“Carter has to be smarter than this, he has to be better than this,” Jason Kelce, the former Eagles center, said during the “New Heights” podcast he hosts with his brother, Travis. “He has a chance to be one of the best defensive linemen in this era of football. That’s how good this kid can be.”

32 things we learned in NFL Week 1: Relocated stars Micah Parsons, Aaron Rodgers shine

Will the NFL’s message on sportsmanship sink in? I’m guessing it hits home with Carter, who quickly apologized for his actions and pledged to be better.

Yet spitting aside, it’ll be interesting to see whether the larger theme on sportsmanship sticks across the league. Not long after Carter was ejected, Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith (who incidentally played with Carter at Georgia) drew a flag for taunting as he flexed and hovered over Cowboys running back Miles Sanders following a tackle.

On Sunday, Green Bay Packers cornerback Xavier McKinney similarly stood over Detroit Lions receiver Kalif Raymond after blowing up a block in the second quarter. And he hardly regretted getting penalized 15 yards for his taunting.

“Hey, it is what it is,” McKinney told reporters after the game. “I had to set the tone not just for our team but for our defense of how we want to play. I’ll take the flag, I’ll live with it.”

In other words, not everyone is buying into the NFL’s efforts to preserve sportsmanship.

 Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell

On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social

Browns safety Grant Delpit downplayed the difficulty of tackling Ravens running back Derrick Henry.
Henry responded to Delpit’s comments, saying ‘we’ll see on Sunday.’
Henry is coming off a 1,921-yard season and a strong performance in the 2025 season opener.

Giving Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry bulletin-board material is certainly a strategy.

One Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit is fine deploying ahead of the division foes’ Week 2 matchup in Baltimore on Sunday.

Delpit was asked Thursday how difficult it was to bring down the notoriously tough-to-tackle Henry, who was second-team All-Pro last year and finished fourth in Offensive Player of the Year voting following his first season with the Ravens.

‘Not hard,’ Delpit replied.

He continued: ‘We’re playing tackle football. Somebody got the ball you got to bring them down.’

Henry tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (16) in 2024 and went for 1,921 total yards, nearly eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark for the second time in his career (he had 2,027 yards in 2020 with the Tennessee Titans).

By the time the media swarmed his locker following Thursday’s practice, Henry had indeed heard about Delpit’s remarks.

‘I saw that … we’ll see on Sunday,’ Henry said.

The Browns’ official social media account also leaned into Delpit’s comments by posting a big hit the safety delivered on Henry during the first matchup between the teams last season, a 29-24 Browns upset victory.

Delpit hit Henry with the ‘too small’ celebration after that tackle, one of a team-high nine he made that day.

Henry punished the Bills for 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the 2025 season opener, a 41-40 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.