By R.L. Bynum
Javonte Williams continues to be productive with the chances Denver is giving him as he split carries with starter Melvin Gordon III in the Broncos’ backfield but got more offensive snaps.
Both had 15 carries in Denver’s 15–10 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but Williams ran for 72 yards compared to 54 for Gordon. Williams also outperformed him on receptions with four catches for nine yards compared to one catch for eight yards for Gordon.
Williams got 44 offensive snaps compared to 31 for Gordon.
There is always at least one amazing Williams run in every game and this week’s memorable moment came on a play near the Denver goal line midway through the fourth quarter.
It looked like Williams might be tackled in the backfield, possibly for a safety. But he recovered to avoid a disastrous play and turned it into a 15-yard gain, bulling past three Bengals defenders in the process.
Williams has at least 72 yards in three consecutive games and six of the last eight games.
After missing three weeks on injured reserve with a low-grade high ankle sprain, running back Michael Carter was back in the New York Jets’ starting lineup for their 31–24 loss at Miami.
Carter got only 18 yards on eight carries and had one catch for two yards. The rushing total was his lowest since gaining six in the season-opening loss at Carolina.
Mack Hollins had no catches on one target for the Dolphins.
Safety M.J. Stewart Jr. started and was game captain in depleted Cleveland’s 16–14 Monday night home loss against the Las Vegas Raiders.
He was thrust into duty after safeties John Johnson III, Grant Delpit and Ronnie Harrison Jr. all were placed on the COVID-19 list, and played all 69 defensive snaps in addition to 13 special-teams snaps.
After collecting 12 tackles and three assists in his first nine games, Stewart had eight tackles, three assists, broke up a pass and forced a fumble in the Browns’ loss.
In Minnesota’s 17–9 win Monday night at Chicago, Robert Quinn had two sacks for the Bears on the day that he was named to his third Pro Bowl.
That gives Quinn 16 for the season, after collecting only two last season, to inch closer to Richard Dent’s Bears record of 17.5 in 1984. Quinn tied Dent’s mark of 16 in 1985.
Quinn wasn’t happy with the officiating in the game.
“Some of these calls are starting to get a little crazy,” Quinn said. “These refs seem like they’re controlling the game a little too much. So, when a play is clean and they’re throwing a flag for something that they thought they could change a game [with] just by one flag? Let guys play ball. If this was a couple years ago, half of this stuff wouldn’t even be called. But now they got so many of these stupid rules, they dang near in a ref’s hands [and] could change the game in any given moment. I think they need to go check the refs they hire and not our coach.”
Bears wide receiver Dazz Newsome was activated from the practice squad for the game and made his NFL debut. After Chicago picked him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft, he had surgery in June to repair a broken left collarbone, which delayed the progress of his rookie season. He had no catches on one target.
For the Vikings, safety Myles Dorn was activated from the practice squad for the game and recorded one special-teams assist. Chazz Surratt was inactive for the game.
In the Buffalo Bills’ 31–14 home win over Carolina, Andre Smith had one special-teams tackle and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky didn’t play.
Charlie Heck started and played every offensive snap at right guard as the Houston Texans won 30–16 at Jacksonville.
James Hurst started at left tackle and played every offensive snap of New Orleans’ 9–0 win Sunday night at Tampa Bay.
In Washington’s 27–17 loss Tuesday at Philadelphia, linebacker Cole Holcomb had six tackles and four assists. Dyami Brown had one special-teams assist.
Two Tar Heels were out this week on injured reserve: Tampa Bay running back Giovani Bernard with a hip injury and Pittsburgh tight end Eric Ebron with a knee injury.
Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
9–0 loss vs. New Orleans — On injured reserve; missed the first of at least three games with a hip injury
Season statistics — 10 games, 8 rushes, 58 yards (24 longest); 23 catches, 123 yards, 3 TDs, 1 fumble; 1 kickoff return for 18 yards; 2 punt returns, 7 yards
Up next — at Carolina, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle)
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Dyami Brown, Washington wide receiver
27–17 loss at Philadelphia — 1 special-teams assist; 9 offensive snaps (16%), 6 special-teams snaps (24%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 9 receptions on 21 targets, 87 yards (longest 22 yards); 1 rush for -4 yards
Up next — at Dallas, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC (WNCN in Triangle)
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Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
31–24 loss at Miami — Started; 8 carries, 18 yards (6 longest); 1 catch on 2 targets, 2 yards; 31 offensive snaps (54%)
Season statistics — 11 games, 119 carries, 448 yards (3.8 average, longest 39), 4 TDs; 33 receptions, 310 yards (9.4 average; longest 23)
Up next — vs. Jacksonville, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings safety
17–9 win at Chicago — 1 special-teams assist
Season statistics — 7 games, 1 special-teams assist
Up next — vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
19–17 win vs. Tennessee — On injured reserve: Missed fourth consecutive games with knee injury
Season statistics — 8 games, 12 receptions, 84 yards (7.0 average, longest 19), 1 TD; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TD
Up next — vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Charlie Heck, Houston Texans right tackle
30–16 win at Jacksonville — Started; 59 offensive snaps (100%), 6 special-teams snaps (19%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 10 starts; 574 offensive snaps, 31 special-teams snaps
Up next — vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Cole Holcomb, Washington outside linebacker
27–17 loss at Philadelphia — Started; 6 tackles, 4 assists; 71 defensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 14 games, 72 tackles, 47 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 2 interceptions, 1 TD, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovered fumble
Up next — at Dallas, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC (WNCN in Triangle)
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Mack Hollins, Miami Dolphins wide receiver
31–24 win vs. New York Jets — 0 catches on 1 target; 13 offensive snaps (18%), 18 special-teams snaps (60%)
Season statistics — 14 games, 13 catches, 183 yards (14.1 average, 65 longest), 4 TDs; 5 special-teams tackles; 1 tackle
Up next — at New Orleans, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN
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James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle
9–0 win at Tampa Bay — Started at left tackle; 61 offensive snaps (100%), 3 special-teams snaps (11%)
Season statistics — 13 games; 11 starts; 614 offensive snaps, 45 special-teams snaps
Up next — vs. Miami, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN
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Dazz Newsome, Chicago Bears wide receiver
17–9 loss vs. Minnesota — 0 catches on 1 target
Season statistics — 1 game, 0 catches, 1 target
Up next — at Seattle, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears outside linebacker
17–9 loss vs. Minnesota — Started; 2 tackles, 2 assists, 2 sacks for 14 yards, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, 1 forced fumble; 49 defensive snaps (77%)
Season statistics — 13 games, 36 tackles, 9 assists, 16 sacks, 15 tackles for losses, 11 QB hits, 3 forced fumbles
Up next — at Seattle, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Andre Smith, Buffalo Bills weakside linebacker
31–14 win vs. Carolina — 1 special-teams tackle; 17 special-teams snaps (77%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 3 special-teams tackles, 4 special-teams assists
Up next — at New England, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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M.J. Stewart Jr., Cleveland Browns strong safety
16–14 loss vs. Las Vegas — Started; 8 tackles, 3 assists, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup; 69 defensive snaps (100%), 13 special-teams snaps (15%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 20 tackles, 6 assists, 1 forced fumble, 4 special-teams tackles, 1 pass breakup; 1 kickoff return, 20 yards
Up next — at Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle), NFL Network, Amazon
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Chazz Surratt, Minnesota Vikings weakside linebacker
17–9 win at Chicago — Inactive for the game
Season statistics — 7 games, no statistics
Up next — vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
31–14 win vs. Carolina — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 4 games; 5 of 7 passing for 28 yards (longest 8), 1 interception; 10 rushes for 27 yards (longest 22), 85.4 passer rating
Up next — at New England, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
15–10 loss vs. Cincinnati — 15 carries, 72 yards (14 longest); 4 catches on 4 targets, 9 yards (8 longest); 44 offensive snaps (59%)
Season statistics — 14 games, 170 carries, 815 yards (4.8 average; longest 49 yards), 3 TDs; 38 catches, 288 yards (7.6 average, 42 longest), 1 TD
Up next — at Las Vegas, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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On practice squads
Jake Bargas, Minnesota Vikings fullback
Antonio Williams, Buffalo Bills running back
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Injured and out for the season
Jalen Dalton, New Orleans Saints defensive tackle, suffered a triceps injury
Ryan Switzer, Cleveland Browns wide receiver, had ankle surgery Aug. 20
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