By R.L. Bynum
Drake Maye again showed off his improvisational abilities and was again very efficient. But, again, it was in another New England loss on the same day Tez Walker scored his first NFL touchdown.
Maye connected on 19 of 23 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown with one interception in the Patriots’ 30–17 loss at Arizona.
“It’s frustrating because we’re in these games, and I think we can win these games, but the balls are not rolling our way,” Maye said during the postgame press conference.
His touchdown pass came midway through the fourth quarter on a second-and-goal at the Cardinals 4. Maye rolled out to his left and, at the last moment, flicked a pitch-ahead shovel pass for a touchdown reception to DeMario Douglas.
Earlier in that drive, Maye connected for a 37-yard reception to Kendrick Bourne on his best throw of the day for the 3–11 Patriots.
Later in the fourth quarter, with 1:55 left, Maye scored on a five-yard touchdown run.
Tez Walker finally got an NFL pass targeted toward him and he took advantage of it, catching a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the back of the end zone during Baltimore’s 35–14 road win over the New York Giants. That is still the only pass targeted to him all season. He played 11 offensive snaps and 15 special-teams snaps.
For the Giants, Tomon Fox had one assist in 42 total snaps and offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu played four total snaps.
Mack Hollins recovered a Detroit onside kick early in the fourth quarter of Buffalo’s 48–42 victory at Detroit and returned it 38 yards, in addition to one reception for three yards. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky didn’t play.
In Houston’s 20–12 home win over Miami, M.J. Stewart was part of a pivotal fourth-and-two play in the third quarter. He took a direct snap on a fake punt and handed off to Dare Ogunbowale, who got a first down on a touchdown drive. Stewart also had a special-teams tackle and a special-teams assist, playing exclusively on special teams. Storm Duck played 14 special-teams snaps for Miami.
Josh Downs had three catches on eight targets for 32 yards, including a 22-yard reception, in Indianapolis’ 31–13 loss at Denver. For the Broncos, Javonte Williams had six carries for 15 yards and two catches for eight yards, including a nine-yard reception.
Dyami Brown had three catches on four targets for 30 yards in Washington’s 20–19 win at New Orleans.
Linebacker Chazz Surratt had three tackles and an assist for the New York Jets in their 32–25 win at Jacksonville.
Cedric Gray played one defensive snap and 19 special-teams snaps for Tennessee in the Titans’ 37–26 home loss to Cincinnati with no statistics.
Sam Howell played for the second time this season in Seattle’s 30–13 Sunday night home loss to Green Bay, completing 5 of 14 passes for 23 yards and an interception’s Seattle Seahawks hosted Green Bay on Sunday night.
Week 15 concludes Monday night with Ty Chandler and Minnesota hosting Chicago at 8 p.m. (ABC), and Amari Gainer’s Las Vegas Raiders hosting Mike Hughes and Atlanta at 8:30 (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 — 14 games, 23 catches, 236 yards (41 longest), 10.7 average, 1 TD; 1 carry, 4 yards
20–19 win at New Orleans — 3 catches on 4 targets, 30 yards (16 longest); 61 offensive snaps (78%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
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 — 13 games, 50 rushes, 171 yards (25 longest); 6 catches, 42 yards (10 longest); 4 kick returns, 107 yards; sacked once for a 1-yard loss; 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
Minnesota hosts Chicago on Monday night, 8 p.m., ABC
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday at Seattle, Fox
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 — 11 games, 56 catches, 616 yards (69 longest), 4 TDs; 1 carry, 12 yards; 16 punt returns, 161 yards (23 longest); 1 tackle; 1 fumble recovery
31–13 loss at Denver — Started; 3 catches on 8 targets, 32 yards (22 longest); 58 offensive snaps (78%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tennessee, 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 — 10 games, 14 tackles, 7 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 pass defended, 2 tackles on kickoff coverage
20–12 loss vs. Houston — Played 14 special-teams snaps
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday vs. San Francisco, 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 — 13 games, 143 offensive snaps, 40 special-teams snaps
35–14 loss vs. Baltimore — Played 2 offensive snaps (3%), 2 special-teams snaps (10%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, 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 — 7 games, 3 tackles, 4 assists, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 quarterback hits, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
35–14 loss vs. Baltimore — 1 assist; 27 defensive snaps (46%), 16 special-teams snaps (76%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, 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 — 12 games, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists
Las Vegas hosts Atlanta at 8:30 Monday night, ESPN
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Jacksonville, CBS
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 22 | 6–2, 234 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Third-string inside linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 3 special-teams tackles
37–27 loss vs. Cincinnati — Played 1 defensive snap (1%), 19 special-teams snaps (86%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, 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 — 14 games, 24 catches, 295 yards (44 longest), 5 TDs; 1 tackle; 1 special-teams tackle; 1 special-teams fumble recovery; 1 kickoff return, 38 yards
48–42 win at Detroit — Didn’t start; 1 catch on 3 targets, 7 yards; 1 kickoff return on onside kick for 38 yards; 35 offensive snaps (50%), 16 special-teams snaps (44%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New England, 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 — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 INT, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
30–13 loss vs. Green Bay — 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 INT, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Minnesota, 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 — 11 games, 34 tackles, 8 assists, 3 tackles for losses, 3 passes defended
Atlanta plays at Las Vegas at 8:30 Monday, ESPN
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Giants, 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 — 10 games, 191 of 279, 1,898 yards (40 longest), 12 TDs, 9 INTs, 27 sacks for 182; 42 carries, 359 yards (41 longest), 2 TDs; 1 tackle
30–17 loss at Arizona — 19 of 23 202 yards (37 longest), 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 sacks for 7 yards, 99.6 passer rating; 4 carries, 14 yards (6 longest), 1 TD; 51 offensive snaps (100%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, CBS
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 — 12 games, 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery, 2 special-teams tackle, 2 special-teams assist
20–12 win vs. Miami — 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist; took direct snap on fake punt and handed off; 21 special-teams snaps
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Saturday at Kansas City, NBC, Peacock
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 — 14 games, 16 tackles, 3 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 QB hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 3 special-teams assists
32–25 win at Jacksonville — Started; 3 tackles, 1 assist; 22 defensive snaps (26%), 16 special-teams snaps (57%)
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Rams, CBS
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 — 7 games, 3 of 4, 9 yards; 11 carries, -10 yards
48–42 win at Detroit — Didn’t play
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New England, 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 — 4 games, 1 catch on 1 target, 21 yards, TD; 2 special-teams tackles
35–14 win at New York Giants — 1 catch on 1 target, 21 yards, TD; 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 11 offensive snaps (19%), 15 special-teams snaps (71%)
Week 16 — 4:30 Saturday vs. Pittsburgh, Fox
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 — 14 games, 130 carries, 461 yards (20 longest), 4 TDs; 40 catches, 267 yards (34 longest); 2 fumbles
31–13 win vs. Indianapolis — Didn’t start; 6 carrries, 15 yards (4 longest); 2 catches on 3 targets, 8 yards (9 longest); 34 offensive snaps (54%)
Week 16 — 8:15 Thursday at Los Angeles Chargers, Prime Video
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)
Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green (concussion)
Las Vegas defensive tackle Tomari Fox
Dallas offensive lineman Asim Richards (ankle)
On practice squads
Arizona running back Michael Carter
Arizona right tackle Charlie Heck
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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