By R.L. Bynum
On a day that Washington quarterback Sam Howell and his offensive line struggled, one of his former passing targets, Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs, had the best game of his rookie season.
Downs is showing the NFL what Tar Heels fans have known for a while: He’s good at getting open and is talented when a pass comes his way.
Downs was targeted a team-high 12 times, catching eight passes for 57 yards, including a 12-yard reception, in the Colts’ 22–19 overtime win at Baltimore on Sunday. He easily had the best day in terms of fantasy points among UNC alums with 13.7 (equalling his total for the first two weeks).
Downs’ eight catches were more than the seven he combined for in his first two games, as Gardner Minshew started at quarterback for Indianapolis in place of injured rookie Anthony Richardson.
Downs averaged 3.23 separation yards, bettering the league average of 2.94. He’s second on the team in receptions with 15 behind Michael Pittman Jr. (25).
Howell’s first NFL loss after winning his first three starts was forgettable.
In the Washington Commanders’ 37–3 home loss to Buffalo, Howell was sacked nine times, pressured 22 times, threw four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and was 19 of 29 for 170 yards (including a 37-yard reception) for a 41.5 passer rating and only 4.6 fantasy points.
One of those interceptions was on the only pass targeted to Dyami Brown, who made the tackle on the play.
“A lot of things didn’t go right today, and it starts with me,” Howell said. “The good thing is the sun will come up tomorrow, another opportunity to get better and go to work.”
On the minor plus side, Howell’s yardage total was above the 162.5 average gained through three games against the Bills.
Washington coach Ron Rivera said it was a case of Howell missing opportunities and turning the ball over. He said he considered pulling Howell but that “you have to give him opportunities to see if he can grow and develop.”
Javonte Williams’ Denver Broncos suffered a 70–20 loss at Miami. He had 11 carries for 42 yards and two catches for 23 yards for 8.5 fantasy points.
In Minnesota’s 28–24 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Ty Chandler had three carries for 27 yards and one catch for four yards.
Michael Carter had one catch for three yards in the New York Jets’ 15–10 home loss to New England. Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt played exclusively on special teams and had no statistics.
Antoine Green played with no statistics in Detroit’s 20–6 home victory over Atlanta, playing 14 offensive snaps and six special-teams snaps.
Mack Hollins came off the bench for the Falcons to get one catch on four targets for 23 yards. Mike Hughes returned three punts for 11 yards and two kickoffs for 27 yards.
James Hurst started at left guard for New Orleans in the Saints’ 18–17 loss at Green Bay.
In the New York Giants’ 30–22 Thursday loss at San Francisco, Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan each started on the offensive line for the second consecutive game and each played all 50 offensive snaps.
McKethan is now listed on the depth chart as the starter ahead of Mark Glowinski. Ezeudu is listed as the second-string left tackle, but started against the 49ers because Andrew Thomas was out with a hamstring injury.
Dallas left guard Asim Richards played four special-teams snaps in the Cowboys’ 28–6 loss at Arizona.
After starting for Houston in Week 2, M.J. Stewart had no statistics playing off the bench in Houston’s 37–17 win at Jacksonville.
Linebacker Cole Holcomb had five tackles, one for a loss, in Pittsburgh’s 23–18 win Sunday night at Las Vegas. Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky didn’t play.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string WR behind Terry McLaurin
37–3 loss vs. Buffalo — 0 catches on 1 target; 1 tackle (after an interception on a pass intended for Brown); 23 offensive snaps (32%), 10 special-teams snaps (33%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 catches, 25 yards (9 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Philadelphia, Fox
Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
Age 24 | 5–8, 201 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string RB behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook
15–10 loss vs. New England — 1 catch on 1 target, 3 yards; 1.3 fantasy points; 15 offensive snaps (24%), 4 special-teams snaps (13%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 carries, 14 yards (6 longest); 4 catches, 5 targets, 18 yards
Up next — 8:20 Sunday vs. Kansas City, NBC
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 204 | second NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — Second-string RB behind Alexander Mattison
28–24 loss vs. Los Angeles Chargers — 3 carries, 27 yards (12 longest); 1 catch on 2 targets, 4 yards; 4.1 fantasy points
Season statistics — 3 games, 7 carries, 27 yards (12 longest); 4 catches, 31 yards (18 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 22 | 5–9, 171 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver ahead of Isaiah McKenzie
22–19 OT win at Baltimore — Started; 8 catches on 12 targets, 57 yards (12 longest); 13.7 fantasy points; 67 offensive snaps (80%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 2 starts; 15 catches, 124 yards (22 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Rams, Fox
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 24 | 6–4, 308 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Listed as second-string left tackle behind Andrew Thomas
30–12 Thursday loss at San Francisco — Started at left tackle (Thomas missed game with hamstring injury); called for face mask penalty; 50 offensive snaps (100%), 2 special-teams snaps (7%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 2 starts; 132 offensive snaps and 9 special-teams
Up next — 8:15 Monday, Oct. 2, vs. Seattle, ABC, ESPN
Antoine Green, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–2, 199 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver behind Marvin Jones Jr.
20–6 win vs. Atlanta — No statistics; 14 offensive snaps (20%), 6 special-teams snaps (22%)
Season statistics — 2 games, 1 catch, 1 target, 2 yards
Up next — 8:15 Thursday at Green Bay, Prime Video
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 26 | 6–1, 240 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Listed, along with Kwon Alexander, as starting left inside linebacker
23–18 win at Las Vegas — Started; 5 tackles (one for a loss), 1 pass defended; 53 defensive snaps (74%), 3 special-teams snaps (10%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 10 tackles, 8 assists, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, CBS
Mack Hollins, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Age 30 | 6–4, 221 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Listed as starting wide receiver ahead of KhaDarel Hodge
20–6 loss at Detroit — Didn’t start; 1 catch on 4 targets, 23 yards; 3.3 fantasy points; 48 offensive snaps (72%), 3 special-teams snaps (11%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 start; 7 catches, 14 targets, 114 yards (45 longest)
Up next — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville in London, ESPN+
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
Age 23 | 6–1, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Starting QB ahead of Jacoby Brissett
37–3 loss vs. Buffalo — Started; 19 of 29, 170 yards (37 longest), 0 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 41.5 passer rating; 1 carry, 18 yards; 4.6 fantasy points; 73 offensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 57 of 89, 670 yards, 4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions; 9 carries, 59 yards
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Philadelphia, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 26 | 5–10, 191 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Second string cornerback behind A.J. Terrell
20–6 loss at Detroit — 3 punt returns, 11 yards (8 longest), 2 fair catches; 2 kickoff returns, 27 yards (17 longest); 7 defensive snaps (10%), 11 special-teams snaps (41%)
Season statistics — 2 games, 5 punt returns, 31 yards (16 longest), 3 fair catches; 3 kickoff returns, 46 yards (19 longest)
Up next — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville in London, ESPN+
James Hurst, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 31 | 6–5, 310 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2010–13
Roster situation — Starting left guard ahead of Andrus Peat
18–17 loss at Green Bay — Started at left guard; called for holding; 77 offensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 219 snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tampa Bay, Fox
Marcus McKethan, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 23 | 6–7, 335 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Listed as starting right guard ahead of Mark Glowinski
30–12 Thursday loss at San Francisco — Started at right guard; called for offensive holding; 50 offensive snaps (100%), 2 special-teams shaps (7%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 2 starts; 118 offensive snaps, 9 special-teams snaps
Up next — 8:15 Monday, Oct. 2, vs. Seattle, ABC, ESPN
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
Age 22 | 6–4, 307 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left guard behind Tyler Smith
28–6 loss at Arizona — Played four special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 3 games; 14 offensive snaps, 10 special-teams snaps
Up next — 4:25 Sunday vs. New England, Fox
M.J. Stewart Jr., Houston Texans safety
Age 28 | 5–11, 200 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string safety behind Jimmie Ward
37–17 win at Jacksonville — No statistics; 4 defensive snaps (5%), 22 special-teams snaps (76%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 start, 8 tackles, 7 assists, 2 forced fumbles
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Pittsburgh, CBS
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 26 | 6–2, 233 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string linebacker behind C.J. Mosley
15–10 loss vs. New England — No statistics; 22 special-teams snaps (71%)
Season statistics — 2 games, no statistics
Up next — 8:20 Sunday vs. Kansas City, NBC
Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Age 29 | 6–2, 220 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Kenny Pickett
23–18 win at Las Vegas — Didn’t play
Season statistics — Hasn’t played.
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, CBS
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 23 | 5–10, 220 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
70–20 loss at Miami — Started; 11 carries, 42 yards (16 longest); 2 catches on 3 targets, 23 yards (17 longest); 8.5 fantasy points; 30 offensive snaps (45%)
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 36 carries 138 yards (16 longest); 8 catches, 12 targets, 42 yards
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Chicago, CBS
On PUP list
Houston left tackle Charlie Heck (undisclosed injury)
On practice squads
New York Giants linebacker Tomon Fox
Atlanta linebacker Andre Smith
Waived during training camp
Fullback Jake Bargas by New Orleans
Defensive back Myles Dorn by Miami
Cornerback Kyler McMichael by Arizona
Wide receiver Dazz Newsome by San Francisco
Nose tackle Raymond Vohasek by Jacksonville
Other free agents
Aaron Crawford, defensive tackle — Baltimore released him in training camp before last season; the New York Giants signed him Nov. 8 but released him the next day.
Jalen Dalton, defensive tackle — Atlanta waived him on June 7 (he had 8 tackles, 5 assists in 7 games for the Falcons last season), Carolina claimed him June 8 but waived him June 12 with a failed physical designation.
Jeremiah Gemmel, linebacker — San Francisco released him early last season, then Denver signed and later released him.
Bug Howard, tight end — Tampa Bay released him during training camp last season on an injury settlement. He signed with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars on Feb. 8 but they put him on the inactive list on March 19.
Austin Proehl, wide receiver — The New York Giants released him last season during training camp. He played this spring for the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks. In nine games, he caught 25 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown.
Robert Quinn, defensive tackle — His contract expired after finishing last season with Philadelphia. The 33-year-old veteran played 13 games, with seven starts, eight tackles (1 for a loss), two assists and one sack.
Jordan Tucker, defensive tackle — Pittsburgh released him during 2022 training camp. He signed with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in the offseason and didn’t make the roster in preseason but is back on their roster.
Antonio Williams, running back — He was briefly on the New York Giants’ practice squad last season but was released on Oct. 5. He signed on Feb. 13 with the CFL’s BC Lions, who released him on June 27.
Photo via @Commanders
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