By R.L. Bynum
Indianapolis’ Josh Downs finally made his season debut, and Houston’s British Brooks got his first NFL carry during Week 3, but there wasn’t much production from former Tar Heels.
After missing the entire preseason and the first two games of the regular season with a high ankle sprain, the second-year wide receiver helped the Colts get their first win in three games, a 21–16 home victory over Chicago.
Downs caught three passes on five targets for 22 yards, including a 13-yard reception, in 32 offensive snaps. He ran routes on 16 of quarterback Anthony Richardson’s 23 dropbacks, third among Colts wide receivers behind Michael Pittman (21) and Alec Pierce (21).
In addition to Downs, New England’s Drake Maye, Houston’s M.J. Stewart and Arizona’s Charlie Heck also made their season debuts.
Week 3 started Thursday when Chazz Surratt’s host New York Jets beat Maye’s New England Patriots 24–3. Maye made his NFL debut, going 4 of 8 for 22 yards, while Surratt had a tackle and assist. Read more about Maye’s debut here.
Ty Chandler ran seven times for 13 yards to put him over 100 yards for the season (112) in Minnesota’s 34–7 home rout of Houston. Brooks got his first NFL carry for the Texans, going for two yards. He played three offensive snaps and 17 special-teams snaps.
Stewart came off the bench after missing the first two Houston games with a knee injury and had no statistics in 24 special-teams snaps.
The Arizona Cardinals activated Heck from their practice squad for his season debut. Listed as the backup left tackle, he played 11 offensive snaps off the bench in Arizona’s 20–13 home loss to Detroit.
Dyami Brown matched his reception yardage total from the first two games in Washington’s 38–33 Monday win at Cincinnati with two catches on two targets for 16 yards. He made up for a fourth-quarter false start with an eight-yard reception two plays later.
In Buffalo’s 47–10 Monday night home win over Jacksonville, Mitch Trubisky played for the second straight week, coming in with 9:58 left in the game. He completed his only pass attempt for 1 yard while leading the Bills to a field goal on his first drive and a touchdown on his second drive, playing 8 snaps.
Mack Hollins started and only had one catch on two targets, but it was a 16-yard gain caught in the flat for a first down in the third quarter. He played 58 snaps, 46 on offense.
Javonte Williams’ struggles to gain yards on the ground continued, although his Denver Broncos won at Tampa Bay 26–7. Wiliams had five carries for 12 yards to give him 52 through three games. He caught all four passes targeted to him for 29 yards, including an 11-yard reception.
Cornerback Storm Duck had a tackle and three assists in 25 defensive snaps during Miami’s 24–3 loss at Seattle. In six special-teams snaps, he had a tackle on kickoff coverage.
In Las Vegas’ 36–22 home loss to Carolina, linebacker Amari Gainer had no statistics in 10 defensive and 22 special-teams snaps.
Joshua Ezeudu played four special-teams snaps for the New York Giants in their win at Cleveland. Linebacker Tomon Fox was back on the practice squad after getting limited Week 2 action.
In Atlanta’s 22–17 Sunday night home loss to Kansas City, Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes had three tackles, three assists and defended a pass in 52 defensive snaps.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 24 | 5–11, 225 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Fourth-string running back
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 carry, 2 yards; 1 special-teams tackle
34–7 loss at Minnesota — 1 carry, 2 yards; 3 offensive snaps (4%), 17 special-teams snaps (65%)
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, CBS
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 3 games, 4 catches on 6 targets, 33 yards (12 longest)
38–33 Monday win at Cincinnati — 2 catches on 2 targets, 16 yards (8 longest); 13 offensive snaps (22%), 6 special-teams snaps 23%)
Week 4 — 4:05 Sunday at Arizona, Fox
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 204 | third NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — First-string kick returner behind Kene Nwangwu; second-string running back behind Aaron Jones
Season statistics — 3 games, 25 rushes, 112 yards (25 longest); 3 catches on 3 targets, 25 yards (10 longest); no kick returns; sacked once for a 1-yard loss
34–7 win vs. Houston — 7 carries, 13 yards (5 longest); 22 offensive snaps (35%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%); 1.3 fantasy points
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Green Bay, CBS
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver ahead of Anthony Gould
21–16 win vs. Chicago (season debut) — Didn’t start; 3 catches on 5 targets, 22 yards (13 longest); 32 offensive snaps (57%); 5.2 fantasy points
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Pittsburgh, CBS
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Third-string right cornerback
Season statistics — 3 games, 2 tackles, 3 assists, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 tackles on kickoff coverage
24–3 loss at Seattle — 1 tackle, 3 assists, 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 25 defensive snaps (39%), 6 special-teams snaps (22%); 3.5 fantasy points
Week 4 — 7:30 Monday vs. Tennessee, ESPN
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 310 | third NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle behind Thomas Andrew
Season statistics — 3 games, 6 special-teams snaps
21–15 win at Cleveland — Played four special-teams snaps (15%)
Week 4 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Dallas, Prime Video
Amari Gainer, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker
Age 24 | 6–3, 235 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Fourth-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 3 games, no statistics
36–22 loss vs. Carolina — Played off the bench; had no statistics; 10 defensive snaps (14%), 22 special-teams snaps (73%)
Week 4 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
Charlie Heck, Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman
Age 27 | 6–8, 311 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle behind Paris Johnson Jr.
20–13 loss vs. Detroit (season debut) — Played 11 offensive snaps (19%) off the bench
Week 4 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Washington, Fox
Mack Hollins, Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting left wide receiver ahead of Keon Coleman
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 catches on 5 targets, 41 yards (16 longest), 1 touchdown, 1 tackle on punt coverage
47–10 Monday win vs. Jacksonville — Started; 1 catch on 2 targets, 16 yards; 46 offensive snaps (72%), 12 special-teams snaps (48%)
Week 4 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC, Peacock
Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Geno Smith
2023 statistics (Washington) — 17 games, 17 starts; 388 of 612, 63.4%, 3,946 yards (51 longest), 21 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 78.9 passer rating; 1 two-point conversion completion; 48 carries, 263 yards (24 longest), 5.5 average, 5 TDs
24–3 win vs. Miami — Didn’t play; still hasn’t made season debut
Week 4 — 8:15 Monday at Detroit, ABC
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 27 | 5–10, 191 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting left cornerback ahead of Clark Phillips III
Season statistics — 3 games, 13 tackles, 5 assists, 3 tackles for losses, 2 pass defended
22–17 loss vs. Kansas City — Started; 3 tackles, 3 assists, 1 pass defended; 52 defensive snaps (70%), 5 special-teams snaps (21%); 5.5 fantasy points
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Jacoby Brissett
2023 statistics (UNC) — 12 games, 269 of 425, 3,608 yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs; 12 carries, 112 yards, 9 TDs; 2 punts, 40.5 average
24–3 Thursday loss at New York Jets (NFL debut) — 4 for 8, 22 yards (15 longest), 2 sacks for 13 yards; 2 carries, 12 yards (11 longest); 16 offensive snaps (31%); 2.08 fantasy points
Week 4 — 4:05 Sunday at San Francisco, Fox
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
Turns 24 Oct. 2 | 6–4, 307 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 3 games; 1 offensive snap, 10 special-teams snaps
28–25 loss vs. Baltimore — Played 3 special-teams snaps off the bench
Week 4 — 8:15 Thursday at New York Giants, Prime Video
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 28 | 5–11, 205 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string strong safety
34–7 loss at Minnesota (season debut) — Played 24 special-teams snaps
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, CBS
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 27 | 6–2, 233 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string middle linebacker
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 tackle, 1 assist, 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
24–3 Thursday win vs. New England — Started; 1 tackle, 1 assist; 6 defensive snaps (12%), 14 special-teams snaps (67%); 1.5 fantasy points
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Denver, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–2, 220 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 2 games, 1 of 1, 3 yards; 3 carries, -3 yards
47–10 Monday win vs. Jacksonville — 1 of 1, 3 yards, 79.2 passer rating; 1 carry, -1 yard (a knee down); 8 snaps (12%)
Week 4 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC, Peacock
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–1, 198 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver behind Rashod Bateman
2023 statistics (UNC) — 8 games, 41 catches, 699 yards, 7 TDs; 3 carries, 23 yards
28–25 win at Dallas — Not active for the game; still hasn’t made NFL debut
Week 4 — 8:20 Sunday vs. Buffalo, NBC, Peacock
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 24 | 5–10, 220 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
Season statistics — 3 games, 25 carries, 52 yards (9 longest); 10 catches on 11 targets, 77 yards (14 longest)
26–7 win at Tampa Bay — Started; 5 carries, 12 yards (5 longest); 4 catches on 4 targets, 29 yards (11 longest); 35 offensive snaps (51%); 6.1 fantasy points
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, CBS
On PUP list
Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb (recovering from left knee injury)
On injured reserve
Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (shoulder)
Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green (concussion)
Las Vegas defensive tackle Tomari Fox
On practice squads
Arizona running back Michael Carter
N.Y. Giants linebacker Tomon Fox (has played 1 game with 1 special-team tackle)
Waived during training camp
Offensive lineman Charlie Heck by the Houston Texans
Offensive lineman Marcus McKethan by the New York Giants
Cornerback Kyler McMichael by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive end Myles Murphy by the Arizona Cardinals
Offensive lineman Spencer Rolland by the Minnesota Vikings
Linebacker Andre Smith by the Denver Broncos
Photo via @Colts
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