By R.L. Bynum
Javonte Williams had his best game of the season, “feeling like the old days,” and Josh Downs had a huge day, leading their teams to Week 4 victories on Sunday.
Some wondered about Williams as he struggled to get going in the first three games. After losing 11 pounds in the offseason, he hoped to return to the form that dazzled the NFL before his ACL tear in 2022.
The vintage Williams may not be totally back, but he showed flashes of that Sunday. He easily topped his rushing numbers from the first three games combined in Denver’s 10–9 road win over the New York Jets.
After only getting 24 carries and 52 yards in the first three weeks, Williams ran the ball 16 times for 77 yards, his best game since rushing 21 times for 79 yards last season on Nov. 14 against Buffalo. His 4.8 yards per carry were his best since averaging 5.5 against Green Bay on Oct. 22 last season.
“It was huge, getting out there and feeling like the old days,” said Williams, who caught two passes for three yards.
Williams admitted that he heard the detractors after he struggled before Sunday.
“You just got to go out and prove it to them that I’ve still got it,” said Williams, wearing a New York Yankees cap. “People might think I don’t, but then it’s my job to go show them that I do.”
With Denver trailing by two with 13:34 left, Williams started the drive with back-to-back nine-yard runs, then shot up the middle on a second-and-nine for a season-high 16-yard run. That drive produced Will Lutz’s game-winning 47-yard field goal.
“Definitely [the best performance] this season,” said Williams, who produced 10.0 fantasy points. “It just felt good to get back to hitting holes like I’m used to and just seeing [the field] open up again.”
For the Jets, linebacker Chazz Surratt started and had two tackles.
Downs had only three catches for 22 yards in his first game back in Week 3 after recovering from a high-ankle sprain. But the second-year Indianapolis wide receiver was productive in the Colts’ 27–24 home win over Pittsburgh to give the Steelers their first loss.
Downs caught eight passes on nine targets for 82 yards, including a 25-yard reception and a four-yard touchdown catch, and had some big third-down catches.
“I stayed after [practice] on Friday and just watched a lot of film with our assistant receivers coach,” Downs said in a TV interview. “I knew there were some things I was cloudy about. I knew maybe it would work, and maybe it wouldn’t. We just sat there and watched and watched and watched, and it paid off.”
Joe Flacco was the Colts’ quarterback for most of the game after Anthony Richardson injured his hip, and Downs got 33.3% of his targets. Often, Pittsburgh had linebackers cover Downs, and he took advantage of those matchups.
If Downs is available in your fantasy league, pick him up! His 22.2 fantasy points were easily the best performance by a former UNC player this season.
In Atlanta’s 26–24 home win over New Orleans, cornerback Mike Hughes had a season-high seven tackles, including a crushing hit on Alvin Kamara.
Ty Chandler had three carries for five yards and one catch for eight yards in Minnesota’s 31–29 victory at Green Bay. After getting 39.6% of weighted opportunities in the first two games, he has got only 17.5% in the last two games.
Dyami Brown had one catch for four yards in Washington’s 42–14 victory at Arizona. Offensive lineman Charlie Heck didn’t play for the Cardinals.
In Houston’s 24–20 home win over Jacksonville, running back British Brooks (21 of 27 snaps on special teams) and safety M.J. Stewart (25 of 27 snaps on special teams) played off the bench for the Texans with no statistics.
In Dallas’ 20–15 Thursday road win over the New York Giants, Cowboys offensive lineman Asim Richards and Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu each played five special-teams snaps.
Linebacker Amari Gainer played 22 special-teams snaps with no statistics in Las Vegas’ 20–16 home win over Cleveland.
Mitch Trubisky played eight snaps late in Buffalo’s 35–10 Sunday night loss at Baltimore, completing 1 of 2 passes for 2 yards. Mack Hollins had one catch for five yards in six targets. Tez Walker, who still hasn’t made his NFL debut, wasn’t active in the game for the Ravens.
Week 4 concludes Monday with Tennessee playing at Storm Duck’s Miami Dolphins at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) and Sam Howell’s Seattle Seahawks playing at Detroit at 8:15 p.m. (ABC).
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 — 4 games, 1 carry, 2 yards; 1 special-teams tackle
24–20 win vs. Jacksonville — Played 6 offensive snaps (8%) and 21 special-teams snaps (72%)
Week 5— 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Buffalo, 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 — 4 games, 5 catches on 7 targets, 37 yards (12 longest)
42–14 win at Arizona — 1 catch on 1 target, 4 yards; 18 offensive snaps (25%), 3 special-teams snaps (13%); 1.4 fantasy points
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, 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 — 4 games, 28 rushes, 117 yards (25 longest); 4 catches on 3 targets, 33 yards (10 longest); no kick returns; sacked once for a 1-yard loss
31–29 win at Green Bay — 3 carries, 5 yards (3 longest); 1 catch on 1 target, 8 yards; 8 offensive snaps (12%), 9 special-teams snaps (31%); 2.3 fantasy points
Week 5 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets in London, NFL Network
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
Season statistics — 2 games, 11 catches on 14 targets, 104 yards
27–24 win vs. Pittsburgh — Started; 8 catches on 9 targets, 82 yards (25 longest), 1 TD (4-yard reception); 41 offensive snaps (62%), 3 special-teams snaps (11%); 22.2 fantasy points
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Jacksonville, 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
Tennessee plays at Miami at 7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN. Duck was limited in practice last week with a shoulder injury
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New England, Fox
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 — 4 games, 11 special-teams snaps
20–15 Thursday loss vs. Dallas — Played five special-teams snaps (20%)
Week 5 — 4:25 Sunday at Seattle, CBS
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
20–16 win vs. Cleveland — Played 22 special-teams snaps (85%)
Week 5 — 4:05 Sunday at Denver, Fox
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.
Season statistics — 1 game, 11 offensive snaps
42–14 loss vs. Washington — Didn’t play
Week 5 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday at San Francisco, 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
35–10 loss at Baltimore — Started; 1 catch on 6 targets, 5 yards; 36 offensive snaps (61%), 11 special-teams snaps (41%)
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, CBS
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
Seattle plays at Detroit at 8:15 Monday night, ABC
Week 5 — 4:25 Sunday vs. New York Giants, CBS
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 — 4 games, 16 tackles, 5 assists, 3 tackles for losses, 2 passes defended
26–24 win vs. New Orleans — Started; 7 tackles; 57 defensive snaps (77%), 4 special-teams snaps (14%); 7.0 fantasy points
Week 5 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Tampa Bay, Prime Video
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
Season statistics — 1 game, 4 of 8, 22 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 2 sacks for 13 yards, 56.2 passer rating; 2 carries, 12 yards
30–13 loss at San Francisco — Didn’t play
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Miami, 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 — 4 games; 1 offensive snap, 15 special-teams snaps
20–15 Thursday win at New York Giants — Played five special-teams snaps (20%)
Week 5 — 8:20 Sunday at Pittsburgh, NBC, Peacock
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 28 | 5–11, 205 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string strong safety
Season statistics — 2 games, no statistics
24–20 win vs. Jacksonville — Played 2 defensive snaps (3%), 25 special-teams snaps (86%)
Week 5— 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, 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 — 4 games, 3 tackles, 1 assist, 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
10–9 loss vs. Denver — Started; 2 tackles; 16 defensive snaps (26%), 18 special-teams snaps (64%); 2.0 fantasy points
Week 5 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Minnesota in London, NFL Network
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 — 3 games, 2 of 3, 5 yards; 3 carries, -3 yards
35–10 loss at Baltimore — 1 of 2, 2 yards, 56.2 passer rating; 8 offensive snaps (14%)
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, CBS
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
35–10 win vs. Buffalo — Not active for game; still hasn’t made NFL debut
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cincinnati, CBS
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 — 4 games, 40 carries, 129 yards (16 longest); 12 catches on 14 targets, 80 yards (14 longest)
10–9 win at New York Jets — Started; 16 carries, 77 yards (16 longest); 2 catches on 3 targets, 3 yards (4 longest); 57 offensive snaps (57%); 10.0 fantasy points
Week 5 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Las Vegas, Fox
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 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
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