By R.L. Bynum
There was a lot of buzz during the preseason about how good Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Mack Hollins looked. Although it wasn’t evident in the Raiders’ opener, Hollins showed his ability in their 29–23 overtime home loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Hollins, in his first season with Las Vegas, pulled down five catches on eight targets for a career-high-tying 66 yards, matching the same numbers he put up for Miami in a 33–25 win on Dec 13, 2020, against Kansas City. His career-best receptions total was seven when he had 62 reception yards for Philadelphia against Detroit on Sept. 22, 2019.
Hollins, who even made a solo tackle on punt coverage, tied for the Raiders’ longest play of the day on a deep pass up the middle from quarterback Derek Carr that went for 23 yards. That catch on the game’s opening drive helped Las Vegas jump to a 7–0 lead.
The breakout game came after he caught the only pass targeted to him for 16 yards in Las Vegas’ 24–19 Week 1 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
It might help to be playing on the same offense with Davante Adams, considering that defenses must always swarm around him. Adams caught only two of the seven passes targeted to him for 12 yards.
Hollins put up the highest fantasy football total among Tar Heels for the weekend with 12.60 points.
Javonte Williams got more carries and was targeted for fewer passes, but he did enough for the Denver Broncos to move to 1–1 with a 16–9 victory over the Houston Texans in their home opener.
Williams went from seven carries for 43 yards in the Monday night Week 1 loss at Seattle to 15 carries for 75 yards against the Texans. After catching 11 of 12 passing targets for 65 reception yards against the Seahawks, he was only targeted four times and had one catch for 10 yards.
Back-up running back Melvin Gordon III had 10 carries for 47 yards and one catch for six yards. Williams got 47 offensive snaps compared to 23 for Gordon.
For the Texans, offensive lineman Charlie Heck came off the bench to play and M.J. Stewart Jr. had two special-teams tackles.
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s passer rating wasn’t much different in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 17–13 home loss to New England than a week earlier, putting up a 73.8 after a 78.2 in the opener. But the reaction from the fans to the offense’s struggles signaled their displeasure with his play.
Steelers fans chanted rookie backup Kenny Pickett’s name several times during the game, starting in the first half when the offense was sputtering and Trubisky was also booed.
“It is what it is,” Trubisky said of the boos and the chants for Coach Mike Tomlin to replace him with Pickett, who played in that same stadium for Pitt. “You just block it out and continue to play football.”
Trubisky was 21 of 33 for 168 yards and one touchdown but threw his first interception of the season. Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson tipped the pass, and defensive back Jalen Mills intercepted it.
Trubisky, in his first season with the Steelers, led Pittsburgh to two second-half scoring drives, though. Trubisky connected with tight end Pat Freiermuth on a 7-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter, pulling Pittsburgh within three. But the Steelers couldn’t pick up a first down on their final two possessions.
“We can be better at everything,” Trubisky said. “I can be better at decision-making. We had some missed opportunities. I had some missed throws. Bottom line, we’ve got to score more points.”
Trubisky had trouble throwing downfield much of the game, going 4 of 10 with one interception and a 22.9 passer rating on passes 10 yards or long.
It’s a quick turnaround for Pittsburgh, which visits Cleveland on Thursday night at 8:15 (Prime Video.)
Michael Carter started again for the New York Jets but shared carries with rookie Bryce Hall in their 31–30 win at Cleveland. Both had seven carries, with Hall running for 50 yards and Carter for 23 yards. Carter caught all five passes targeted to him, however, for 27 yards, while Hall caught his one pass for 10 yards. Carter played 43 snaps, compared to 19 for Hall.
Carter, who only had single-digit carries six times in 17 games last season, had a message for the media after the Jets rebounded from an opening-game loss to win.
“Y’all take one loss way too serious,” said Carter, evidently not familiar with the unforgiving New York press corps. “I can’t blame y’all because I wasn’t here two years ago, and there probably was a lot of losing. But that’s not our fault.”
In the Chicago Bears’ 27–10 loss Sunday night at Green Bay, Robert Quinn had two tackles, 1 sack and a tackle for a loss.
With Quinn’s second-quarter sack of Aaron Rodgers, he moves to 33rd on the Bears’ all-time sack list with 20.5 to give him 102 for his career.
In the Washington Commanders’ 36–27 loss at Detroit, middle linebacker Cole Holcomb had three tackles and seven assists. Dyami Brown had no statistics, and Sam Howell wasn’t active for the game.
In the New York Giants’ 19–16 win at Carolina, Tomon Fox played 25 total snaps, Joshua Ezeudu to play 22 total snaps, and Antonio Williams made his season debut but had no statistics with 17 of 19 snaps on special teams.
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Giovani Bernard injured an ankle in the third quarter and didn’t return. He returned the second-half kickoff 14 yards during Tampa Bay’s 20–10 win at New Orleans.
For the Saints, James Hurst started at left tackle, recovered a fumble and recorded a tackle on an interception return.
On Monday night, Ty Chandler wasn’t active for Minnesota’s 24–7 loss at Philadelphia and Myles Dorn was placed back on the practice squad after playing in the opener.
Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
20–10 win at New Orleans — 1 kickoff return for 14 return (left in third quarter with an ankle injury); 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Season statistics — 2 games; 14 return yards
Up next — 4:25 p.m. Sunday vs. Green Bay, Fox
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Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
36–27 loss at Detroit — No statistics; 1 offensive snap (1%), 7 special-teams snaps (22%)
Season statistics — 2 games, no statistics
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
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Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
31–30 win at Cleveland — Started; 7 carries, 23 yards (8 longest); 5 catches on 5 targets, 27 yards (12 longest); 43 offensive snaps (61%); 10.0 fantasy points
Season statistics — 2 games; 17 carries, 83 yards (4.9 average, 22 longest); 12 catches on 14 targets, 67 yards (5.6 average, 12 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cincinnati, CBS
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Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
24–7 loss at Philadelphia — Inactive for the game
Season statistics — Hasn’t played
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Detroit, Fox
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Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
19–16 win at Carolina — Played; drew false-start penalty; drew ineligible downfield penalty (declined); 17 offensive snaps (23%), 5 special-teams snaps (17%)
Season statistics — 2 games; 45 offensive snaps, 7 special-teams snaps
Up next — 8:15 p.m. Monday vs. Dallas, ESPN, ABC, ESPN2
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Tomon Fox, New York Giants linebacker
19–16 win at Carolina — 20 defensive snaps, 5 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 2 games; 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 QB hit
Up next — 8:15 p.m. Monday vs. Dallas, ESPN, ABC, ESPN2
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Charlie Heck, Houston Texans left tackle
16–9 loss at Denver — Reported tackle-eligible once; 1 offensive snap (2%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Season statistics — 2 games, 1 start; 6 offensive snaps, 7 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Chicago, CBS
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Cole Holcomb, Washington Commanders middle linebacker
36–27 loss at Detroit — Started; 3 tackles, 7 assists, 6.5 fantasy points; 61 defensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 2 games; 5 tackles, 10 assists
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Chicago, CBS
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Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
29–23 loss vs. Arizona — 5 catches on 8 targets, 66 yards (23 longest); 58 offensive snaps (87%), 4 special-teams snaps (19%)
Season statistics — 2 games, 1 start; 6 catches on 9 targets, 82 yards (13.7 average, 23 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, Fox
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Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
36–27 loss at Detroit — Inactive for game
Season statistics — Hasn’t played
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
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James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle
20–10 loss vs. Tampa Bay — Started at left tackle; recovered fumble; 1 tackle on interception return; called for false-start penalty; 68 offensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 2 games; 2 starts, 1 fumble recovery, 1 tackle on an interception return, 129 offensive snaps (100%), 4 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
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Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears defensive end
27–10 loss at Green Bay — Started; 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss; 52 defensive snaps (76%); 4.0 fantasy points
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts; 3 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston, CBS
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M.J. Stewart Jr., Houston Texans safety
16–9 loss at Denver — 2 special-teams tackles; 23 special teams snaps (88%)
Season statistics — 2 games; 4 special-teams tackles
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Chicago, CBS
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Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
17–14 loss vs. New England — Started; 21 of 33, 168 yards (23 longest), 1 TD, 1 INT, 3 sacks; 1 rush, 7 yards; 73.8 passer rating, 12.42 fantasy points; 59 offensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts; 42 of 71, 362 yards, (5.1 average, 32 longest), 2 TDs, 1 INT, 4 sacks; 4 rushes, 16 yards; 76.1 passer rating
Up next — 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Cleveland, Prime Video
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Antonio Williams, New York Giants running back
19–16 win at Carolina — No statistics; 2 offensive snaps, 17 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 1 game, no statistics
Up next — 8:15 p.m. Monday vs. Dallas, ESPN, ABC, ESPN2
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Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
16–9 win vs. Houston — Started; 15 carries, 75 yards (17 longest); 1 catch on 4 targets, 10 yards; 47 offensive snaps (65%); 8.50 fantasy points
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts; 22 carries, 118 yards (5.4 average, 17 longest); 12 catches on 16 targets, 75 yards (6.2 average, 13 longest)
Up next — 8:20 p.m. Sunday vs. San Francisco, NBC
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Suspended (violating performance-enhancing substance policy)
Linebacker Andre Smith, Buffalo (first game will be Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. Green Bay)
On practice squads
Defensive back Myles Dorn, Minnesota (Played Week 1)
Cornerback Kyler McMichael, Buffalo
Linebacker Chazz Surratt, New York Jets (released by Minnesota)
Released during camp and unsigned
Fullback Jake Bargas, Chicago (earlier by Minnesota)
Defensive tackle Aaron Crawford, Baltimore
Linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, Denver (earlier by San Francisco)
Wide receiver Dazz Newsome, Chicago
Wide receiver Austin Proehl, New York Giants
Offensive tackle Jordan Tucker, Pittsburgh
Released from injured reserve with settlements
Defensive lineman Jalen Dalton, Atlanta
Tight end Bug Howard, Tampa Bay
Photo via @Raiders
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