By R.L. Bynum
A huge day for Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs and a terrific start for rookie New England quarterback Drake Maye were overshadowed by a controversial hit that gave Maye a concussion.
Maye gave New England an early lead, scrambling out of a collapsing pocket. He ran past Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt and slivered into the end zone just to the left of the pylon for a 17-yard touchdown run.
While sliding later in the first quarter at the end of an 18-yard run, Maye was hit in the back of the head in a helmet-to-helmet collision with Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood on a play that didn’t even draw a penalty. Maye played in the first series of the second quarter but was diagnosed with a concussion and didn’t return to the game.
The only good news for New England is that quarterback Jacoby Brissett came in and did enough for the Patriots to pull out a 25–22 victory to end their six-game losing streak.
“I walked in at halftime and saw him,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said of Maye. “The competitor that he is, obviously he wanted to go back out there and play. But there’s a protocol that he has to go through. Again, can’t wait to get him back.”
Sherwood defended himself on the play.
“All I did was just rally to the ball,” Sherwood told NESN.com. “He slid. I did my best to keep him safe, go over top of him. I think my shoulder might have hit him in the head, but I hope he’s OK.
“I’m already trying to stay as low as possible to get a good angle,” Sherwood said. “I’m not gonna lie. He was running. I was gonna try to put a lick on him.”
Surratt matched his tackle total from the first six games with five, including two for losses. He started the game and then played more after the player he replaced in the lineup, CJ Mosley, suffered a neck injury.
Although Downs only caught four of the nine passes targeted, he made them count for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Colts’ 23–20 loss at Houston. Here is a video of Downs’ best plays.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson found Downs alone at the Texans 40, and he coasted the rest of the way on a 69-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter.
Downs also returned two punts, one for 12 yards, and piled up 22.2 fantasy points.
Safety M.J. Stewart played 4 defensive snaps and 25 special-teams snaps for the Texans with no statistics.
Javonte Williams ran for 44 yards and collected eight reception yards in Denver’s 28–14 home win over the Carolina Panthers.
Cornerback Mike Hughes had five tackles and an assist for Atlanta in the Falcons’ 31–26 victory at Tampa Bay.
Dyami Brown caught the only pass targeted to him for six yards in Washington’s 18–15 home win over Chicago.
In Arizona’s 28–27 win at Miami, offensive lineman Charlie Heck played seven total snaps. Cornerback Storm Duck was inactive for the Dolphins with an ankle injury.
Eight of Ty Chandler’s 10 snaps in Minnesota’s 30–20 Thursday road loss to the Los Angeles Rams were on special teams, and he had no statistics.
Tez Walker played off the bench for the second consecutive game for Baltimore in the Ravens’ 29–24 loss at Cleveland but had no statistics in 23 special-teams snaps.
In Buffalo’s 31–20 win at Seattle, quarterback Mitch Trubisky got in for six snaps, kneeling down for the last three plays of the game. Quarterback Sam Howell didn’t play for the Seahawks. Buffalo’s Mack Hollins recovered a fumble in punt coverage.
In Las Vegas’ 27–20 home loss to Kansas City, the Raiders’ Amari Gainer had one assist in punt coverage, getting all 20 of his snaps on special teams.
Asim Richards played four special-teams snaps for Dallas in the Cowboys’ 30–24 Sunday night loss at San Francisco.
Week 8 concludes Monday night when Joshua Ezeudu, Tomon Fox and the New York Giants visit Pittsburgh at 8:15 (ESPN).
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 8 games, 10 catches, 134 yards (41 longest), 1 TD
18–15 win vs. Chicago — 1 catch on 1 target, 6 yards; 24 offensive snaps (32%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Giants, CBS
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 204 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — First-string kick returner behind Kene Nwangwu; second-string running back behind Aaron Jones
Season statistics — 6 games, 44 rushes, 151 yards (25 longest); 6 catches, 42 yards (10 longest); 6 kick returns; sacked once for a 1-yard loss
30–20 Thursday loss at Los Angeles Rams — 2 offensive snaps (4%), 8 special-teams snaps (32%)
Week 9 — 8:20 Sunday vs. Indianapolis, NBC, Peacock
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | 2nd NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver ahead of Anthony Gould
Season statistics — 6 games, 32 catches, 351 yards (69 longest), 11.0 average, 3 TDs; 1 carry, 12 yards; 10 punt returns, 108 yards (23 longest)
23–20 loss at Houston — Didn’t start; 4 catches on 9 targets, 109 yards (69 longest), 1 TD; 13 rushing yards, 2 punt returns, 12 yards (12 longest); 45 offensive snaps(70%), 6 special-teams snaps (18%); 22.2 fantasy points
Week 9 — 8:20 Sunday at Minnesota, NBC, Peacock
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Third-string right cornerback
Season statistics — 6 games, 7 tackles, 3 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 pass defended, 2 tackles on kickoff coverage
28–27 loss vs. Arizona — Inactive for the game with an ankle injury
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 310 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Starting left tackle
Season statistics — 7 games, 61 offensive snaps, 20 special-teams snaps
The Giants play at Pittsburgh at 8:15 Monday night, ESPN
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Washington, Fox
Tomon Fox, New York Giants linebacker
Age 26 | 6–2, 245 | third NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Third-string right outside linebacker
Season statistics — 2 games, 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 quarterback hits, 1 special-teams tackle
The Giants play at Pittsburgh at 8:15 Monday night, ESPN
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Washington, Fox
Amari Gainer, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker
Age 24 | 6–3, 235 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Fourth-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 8 games, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
27–20 loss vs. Kansas City — 1 assist in punt coverage; 20 special-teams snaps (83%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cincinnati, Fox
Charlie Heck, Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman
Age 27 | 6–8, 311 | 5th NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle behind Paris Johnson Jr.
Season statistics — 5 games, 16 offensive snaps, 14 special-teams snaps
28–27 win at Miami — Played 3 offensive snaps (5%) and 4 special-teams snaps (15%); reported tackle eligible twice
Week 9 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Chicago, CBS
Mack Hollins, Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | 8th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting left wide receiver ahead of Keon Coleman
Season statistics — 7 games, 7 catches, 81 yards (21 longest), 11.6 average, 2 touchdowns, 1 tackle on punt coverage; 1 special-teams fumble recovery
31–10 win at Seattle — 1 fumble recovery in punt coverage; 35 offensive snaps (46%), 3 special-teams snaps (13%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Miami, 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
Season statistics — 1 game, one snap
31–10 loss vs. Buffalo — Didn’t play
Week 9 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 27 | 5–10, 191 | 7th NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting left cornerback ahead of Clark Phillips III
Season statistics — 8 games, 33 tackles, 7 assists, 3 tackles for losses, 3 passes defended
31–26 win at Tampa Bay — Started; 5 tackles, 1 assist; 57 defensive snaps (78%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Dallas, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —-Starting QB ahead of Jacoby Brissett
Season statistics — 4 games, 53 of 84 564 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs, 9 sacks for 77 yards, 1 carries, 114 yards (18 longest); 1 tackle
25–22 win vs. New York Jets — Started; 3 of 6, 23 yards (11 longest), 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 sack, 11 yards, 59.4 passer rating; 3 carries, 46 yards (18 longest), 1 touchdown; left game with a concussion in the second quarter and didn’t return; 20 offensive snaps (30%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, Fox
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
24 | 6–4, 307 | 2nd NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 5 games; 19 offensive snaps, 22 special-teams snaps
30–24 loss at San Francisco — 4 special-teams snaps (13%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, Fox
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 28 | 5–11, 205 | 7th NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string strong safety
Season statistics — 6 games, 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
23–20 win vs. Indianapolis — Played 4 defensive snaps (6%) and 25 special-teams snaps (76%)
Week 9 — 8:15 Thursday at New York Jets, Prime Video
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 27 | 6–2, 233 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string middle linebacker
Season statistics — 7 games, 10 tackles, 1 assist, 2 tackles for losses, 1 QB hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists
25–22 loss at New England — Started; 5 tackles, 2 tackles for losses; 23 defensive snaps (34%), 19 special-teams snaps (73%)
Week 9 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Houston, Prime Video
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–2, 220 | 8th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 of 3, 5 yards; 6 carries, -6 yards (six kneel-downs)
31–10 win at Seattle — 3 carries, -3 yards (three kneel-downs)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Miami, 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
Season statistics — 2 games, 1 special-teams tackle
29–24 loss at Cleveland — Played 23 special-teams snaps (79%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Denver, CBS
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 24 | 5–10, 220 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
Season statistics — 8 games, 90 carries, 345 yards (20 longest), 2 TDs; 27 catches on 34 targets, 173 yards (26 longest); 2 fumbles
28–14 win vs. Carolina — Started; 17 carries, 44 yards (9 longest); 4 catches on 5 targets, 8 yards (4 longest); 42 offensive snaps (58%)
Week 9 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, CBS
On PUP list
Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb (recovering from left knee injury)
On injured reserve
Houston running back British Brooks (had season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus)
Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (shoulder)
Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green (concussion)
Las Vegas defensive tackle Tomari Fox
On practice squad
Arizona running back Michael Carter
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
Photo via @patriots
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