By R.L. Bynum
It’s amazing what Sam Howell can do when he has time to throw.
After getting sacked 40 times in the first seven weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles only sacked Howell once during their tougher-than-expected 38–31 victory over the Washington Commanders, in a career day for the quarterback in his first season as QB1.
The second-year pro took advantage by completing 39 of 52 passes for career-highs of 397 yards (previous high 388 against Chicago on Oct. 5), four touchdowns (previous high three against Atlanta on Oct. 15) and fantasy points with 31.98 (previous best 26.42 against the Bears). His 114.0 passer rating was only topped by his 119.7 against the Falcons.
“I thought those guys up front did a really good job today and I thought we did a good job of mixing things up and getting some quick game calls,” Howell said. “We had a lot of screen calls as well, and I thought we did a lot of things to keep them off-balance. We did a lot of good things, but we had an opportunity there in the fourth quarter to have a chance to go tie the game, and I’ve got to be better. I wasn’t at my best, and it hurt the team.”
He set franchise records with 24 first-half completions and becoming the fastest to 200 career completions.
Howell’s fourth touchdown pass, a 26-yard connection with former Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder, pulled Washington within seven points with 1:08 left, but the Eagles recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Washington didn’t score on its opening drive, but Howell completed five quick, short passes to four receivers to combat the Eagles’ pass rush. That eventually led to big plays, including two 26-yard touchdown passes, connecting with Terry McLaurin in the first quarter and Crowder’s late reception. Howell also had completions of 23 and 21 yards to Jahan Dotson and another 19-yarder to Crowder.
Tyler Larsen replaced Nick Gates at center, and that seemed to help protect Howell better.
On Howell’s only interception, Philadelphia safety Reed Blankenship snagged a high pass targeted to McLaurin midway through the fourth quarter. The Eagles took their first lead two plays later, and McLaurin dropped a couple of Howell throws on Washington’s next drive.
Dyami Brown wasn’t targeted for any passes and got no yards on an end-around run.
Indianapolis rookie wide receiver Josh Downs had another productive day, with seven catches on nine targets for 72 yards, including a 17-yard reception, in the Colts’ 38–27 home loss to New Orleans. With 15.2 fantasy points, he has at least 13 in five of seven games, topped by the 23.5 the previous week against Cleveland. The Colts have lost three in a row after winning three of their first four.
Saints left guard James Hurst missed his second consecutive game with an ankle injury.
Javonte Williams had 85 rushing yards and 13 receiving yards, including a four-yard scoring catch on a first-quarter screen pass, as the host Denver Broncos upset Kansas City 24–9. After rushing a season-high 15 times in last week’s 19–17 win vs. Green Bay, he ran it 15 times on Sunday.
On his touchdown, he bulled his way past two Chiefs defenders and into the end zone.
A right shoulder injury late in the first half to Pittsburgh starting quarterback Kenny Pickett meant that Mitch Trubisky played for only the second time this season.
It was a day with mixed results for Trubisky, playing for the first time since Oct. 1. He was 15 of 27 for 138 yards and a touchdown. But he threw two interceptions, got sacked twice for 15 yards and had a 51.2 passer rating. He gained 18 yards on three rushes, including an 8-yard run.
Trubisky admitted he forced a throw early in the fourth quarter on one of his interceptions with the Steelers trailing by seven.
“That’s on me,” Trubisky said. “I’ve got to do better, just take what they give me, especially with us only being down seven at that point. I should have probably checked it down.”
Linebacker Cole Holcomb collected seven tackles, four assists and a fumble recovery for the Steelers.
A holding penalty on Ivan Pace Jr. nullified what would have been a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Minnesota’s Ty Chandler in the Vikings’ 24–10 win at Green Bay. He got credit for a 27-yard kickoff return in the game. Thirteen of Chandler’s 14 snaps were on special teams.
Mack Hollins had two catches on three targets for 27 yards in Atlanta’s 28–23 loss at Tennessee, playing more on special teams (25 snaps) than on offense (14 snaps). Mike Hughes had one punt return for six yards and one assist for the Falcons, playing five defensive snaps and 13 special-teams snaps.
The New York Jets beat the New York Giants 13–10 in overtime with light contributions from running back Michael Carter (2 carries for 2 yards; no catches on one target) and linebacker Chazz Surratt (2 special-teams tackles and 1 special-teams assist, all on punt coverage).
Right guard Marcus McKethan played six offensive snaps an four special-teams snaps off the bench for the Giants and left tackle Joshua Ezeudu missed his second consecutive game with a toe injury.
M.J. Stewart Jr. played for Houston in the Texans’ 15–13 loss at Carolina, but had no statistics playing exclusively on special teams (23 snaps).
Offensive lineman Asim Richards came off the bench in the Dallas Cowboys’ 43–20 home win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Antoine Green played five offensive snaps and seven special-teams snaps with no statistics in the Detroit Lions’ 26–14 Monday night home win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
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
38–31 loss vs. Philadelphia — 1 rush, 0 yards; 22 offensive snaps (31%), 8 special-teams snaps (29%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 1 start; 6 catches, 87 yards (35 longest), 14.5 average; 1 rush, 0 yards
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at New England, 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
13–10 OT win at New York Giants — 2 carries, 2 yards (1 longest); 0 catches on 1 target; 15 offensive snaps (23%)
Season statistics — 7 games, 8 carries, 38 yards (9 longest); 9 catches, 44 yards (10 longest), 4.9 average
Up next — 8:15 Monday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 204 | second NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — Second-string RB behind Alexander Mattison
24–10 win at Green Bay — 1 kickoff return, 27 yards; holding penalty nullified a kickoff return for 103 yards and a TD late in the third quarter; 1 offensive snap (1%), 13 special-teams snaps (57%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 8 carries, 42 yards (15 longest), 5.2 average; 5 catches, 43 yards (18 longest), 8.6 average; 3 kickoff returns, 82 yards (33 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, 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
38–27 loss vs. New Orleans — Started; 7 catches on 9 targets, 72 yards (17 longest), 15.2 fantasy points; 57 snaps (80%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 6 starts; 40 catches, 473 yards (59 longest), 2 TDs
Up next — 4:05 Sunday at Carolina, CBS
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
13–10 OT loss vs. New York Jets — Wasn’t active because of a toe injury suffered two weeks ago, and may miss the rest of the season
Season statistics — 6 games, 5 starts; 265 offensive snaps and 15 special-teams snaps
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Los Angeles Raiders, Fox
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.
Detroit plays at home Monday night at 8:15 (ABC, ESPN) against the Las Vegas Raiders
Season statistics — 6 games, 1 catch, 2 targets, 2 yards
Up next after Raiders, Week 9 open date — 4:05 Sunday, Nov. 12, at Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
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
20–10 loss vs. Jacksonville — Started; 7 tackles, 4 assists, 1 fumble recovery
Season statistics — 7 games, 7 starts; 26 tackles, 21 assists, 4 tackles for losses, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
Up next — 8:15 Thursday vs. Tennessee, Prime Video
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
28–23 loss at Tennessee — 2 catches on 3 targets, 27 yards (20 longest), 13.5 average; 1 special-teams tackle; 14 offensive snaps (21%), 25 special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 8 games, 2 starts; 14 catches, 26 targets, 211 yards (45 longest), 3 catches of at least 20 yards, 1 catch of at least 40 yards; 1 special-teams tackle
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Minnesota, Fox
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
Age 23 | 6–1, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Starting QB ahead of Jacoby Brissett
38–31 loss vs. Philadelphia — Started; 39 of 52, career-high 397 yards (26 longest), career-high 4 TDs, 1 INT, 1 sack for 9 yards, 114.0 passer rating, 3 carries, 11 yards (5 longest), career-high 31.98 fantasy points; 72 snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 8 starts; 206 of 308, 66.9%, 2,146 yards, 13 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 24 completions of at least 20 yards, 41 sacks; 24 carries, 130 yards (20 longest), 1 touchdown
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at New England, 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
28–23 loss at Tennessee — 1 punt return, 6 yards; 1 assist; 5 defensive snaps (7%), 13 special-teams snaps (37%)
Season statistics — 7 games, 4 tackles, 3 assists, 11 punt returns, 67 yards (16 longest), 6 fair catches; 3 kickoff returns, 46 yards (19 longest), 15.3 average
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Minnesota, Fox
James Hurst, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 31 | 6–5, 310 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2010–13
Roster situation — Listed as starting left guard ahead of Andrus Peat
38–27 win at Indianapolis — Inactive for the second consecutive week with an ankle injury
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts; 367 offensive snaps, 9 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago, CBS
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
13–10 OT loss vs. New York Jets — Played off the bench; 6 offensive snaps (8%), 4 special-teams snaps (11%)
Season statistics — 8 games, 5 starts; 382 offensive snaps, 21 special-teams snaps
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Los Angeles Raiders, Fox
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
Age 23 | 6–4, 307 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left guard behind Tyler Smith
43–20 win vs. Los Angeles Rams — Played off the bench; 11 offensive snaps (17%), 7 special-teams snaps (23%)
Season statistics — 5 games; 32 offensive snaps, 24 special-teams snaps entering the weekend
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Philadelphia, 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
15–13 loss at Carolina — Played but had no statistics; 23 special-teams snaps (96%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 start, 11 tackles, 7 assists, 2 forced fumbles
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tampa Bay, CBS
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 26 | 6–2, 233 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string linebacker behind Quincy Williams
13–10 OT win at New York Giants — 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist (all on punt coverage); 28 special-teams snaps (76%)
Season statistics — 6 games, 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
Up next — 8:15 Monday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2
Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Age 29 | 6–2, 220 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Kenny Pickett
20–10 loss vs. Jacksonville — 15 of 27, 138 yards (22 longest), 1 TD, 2 INTs, 2 sacks for 15 yards, 51.2 passer rating; 3 rushes, 18 yards (8 longest); 39 snaps (58%)
Season statistics — 2 games, 18 of 32, 156 yards (22 longest), 1 TD, 2 INTs; 3 rushes, 18 yards (8 longest)
Up next — 8:15 Thursday vs. Tennessee, Prime Video
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
24–9 win vs. Kansas City — Started; 27 carries, 85 yards (15 longest); 3 catches on 3 targets, 13 yards (14 longest), 1 TD; 45 offensive snaps (63%)
Season statistics — 7 games, 6 starts; 90 carries, 357 yards (21 longest), 3.9 average; 17 catches, 21 targets, 78 yards (17 longest), 1 TD; 2-point conversion run
Up next after Week 9 open date — 8:15 Monday, Nov. 13, at Buffalo, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2
On PUP list
Houston left tackle Charlie Heck (undisclosed injury)
On practice squad
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Andre Smith (has played 1 game and recorded 1 tackle)
New York Giants linebacker Tomon Fox
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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