By R.L. Bynum
For the first time as professionals, Drake Maye and Sam Howell lined up against each other Saturday night, turning a routine preseason matchup into a reunion of former Carolina quarterbacks on a night that Tez Walker had a breakout game.
The game — a 20–12 New England win in Minneapolis — was loaded with Tar Heel flavor, from Maye and Howell under center to veteran wideout Mack Hollins making plays downfield, to Pats rookie defensive tackle JahVaree Ritzie and Vikings running back Ty Chandler.
Facing Howell made the night even more special. The two quarterbacks overlapped at UNC and remain close friends.
“Sam’s one of my best friends,” Maye said. “Pretty cool for us to start against each other — really the first time we’ve gone head-to-head like that. It was awesome.”
Maye entered fresh off a strong joint practice Thursday against the Vikings and backed it up with an efficient second preseason outing. In two series, he completed 4 of 7 passes for 47 yards, with three completions to Hollins, including a 20-yard strike down the right sideline on third down that helped New England find its rhythm. Hollins caught every ball Maye threw his way.
The night wasn’t flawless — Maye nearly threw an interception on his opening series and later admitted he was frustrated with a delay of game penalty. But those hiccups were lessons worth learning.
“Good to get out there with the guys, go through real game stuff,” Maye said. “I was mad at myself for that delay of game — it’s a reminder to watch the clock, get the guys out of the huddle. Those are things you just can’t replicate in practice.”
Maye settled down on his second drive, leading New England to a touchdown. He said bouncing back from mistakes was part of the growth process.
“It’s good to feel that, to have to get back on track after a penalty or a near turnover,” Maye explained. “Obviously, disappointed in myself, but good to respond.”
Howell, J.J. McCarthy’s Vikings backup, started for the second consecutive week but couldn’t follow up on a solid performance the week before. Howell was 11 of 13 for 105 yards and a 100.3 passer rating over 26 snaps in the Vikings’ 20–10 win on Aug. 9. Against the Pats on Saturday, though, he was 1 of 5 for 13 yards and an interception in 13 snaps.
Chandler, in his fourth season with the Vikings, only played seven snaps with 12 yards on three carries.
Ritzie, listed as the Patriots’ third-string left defensive end, has played 30 total snaps through two preseason games and has two tackles.
While Minneapolis showcased Carolina’s recent quarterback stars, Walker provided the weekend’s most impressive performance.
Walker’s preseason debut against the Colts (Aug. 7) was frustrating. Despite starting and logging 45 offensive snaps, he came away with no receptions on two targets.
That changed in Week 2 for the Ravens’ 31–13 victory against Dallas.
Walker looked every bit like the big-play threat UNC fans remember on Saturday night, catching six passes for 61 yards in Baltimore’s 31–13 preseason victory over Dallas, earning him the player of the game honors on the Ravens’ TV broadcast.
Walker got numerous targets early.
“We knew we wanted to come out here, get that chemistry early with the QBs, make them feel more comfortable and stuff like that,” Walker said, adding that his mindset hasn’t changed from college. “My biggest goal, find that role coming out here, and showcase my abilities.”
Even in a deep receiver room, including veteran DeAndre Hopkins, Walker is focused on proving the Ravens’ belief in him was justified.
“Honestly, I’m here for a reason,” said Walker, who wants to prove the Ravens were right to draft him. “That’s my mindset every day. And then just picking the brains of those guys.”
On one play, Baltimore rookie Kaimon Rucker recovered a fumble and got tackled by Dallas offensive lineman Asim Richards.
Running back Javonte Williams has also been held out of the first two Cowboys preseason games, but remains entrenched as Dallas’ starter.
Colts wide receiver Josh Downs also hasn’t played through two preseason games after a strong rookie season, but he will be a starter.
Rookie offensive lineman Willie Lampkin has turned heads during his Los Angeles Rams camp. He played well in 17 snaps during their 23–22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers before coming out with an injury. There are no reports about the extent of the injury.
For the Chargers, rookie running back Omarion Hampton, who was held out of last weekend’s preseason game, played only eight snaps and had two carries for 12 yards, including a seven-yard gain.
Elsewhere in preseason play:
— Titans linebacker Cedric Gray stuffed the stat sheet against Atlanta: five tackles, two assists and half a sack after collecting two tackles and five assists in their first preseason game.
— Dolphins cornerback Storm Duck has started both games and has four tackles in 41 defensive snaps.
— Running back Michael Carter, listed as the Cardinals’ fifth-string running back, continues to battle for a spot, catching all five of his targets for 19 yards against Denver despite limited rushing success (10 yards on eight carries).
— After getting one carry for seven yards in 10 snaps on Aug. 9, expected Jacksonville Jaguars starting wide receiver Dyami Brown sat out Sunday’s 17–17 tie with the New Orleans Saints.
— Quarterback Mitch Trubisky came off the bench to connect on 7 of 13 passes for 55 yards in the Buffalo Bills’ 38–0 road loss to Chicago. For the Bears, rookie Power Echols had two assists in 23 total snaps.
In the final preseason game of the weekend on Sunday, Power Echols’ Chicago Bears host Mitch Trubisky’s Buffalo Bills at 8 p.m. (Fox).
Note: There was no update after the first full week of preseason games because I was vacationing in London. The numbers for each player from those games are included below.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 26 | 6–0, 195 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 starts, 7 catches, 86 yards (48 longest); 53.5 offensive rating, 57.1 pass game rating, 34.4 run-blocking rating
Week 4 — Colts 30, Commanders 13 (in London) | started: 3 catches on 4 targets, 65 yards (48 longest); 3 kickoff returns, 82 yards (37 longest); 2 assists on kickoff coverage; 10.5 fantasy points; season-high 75.6 offensive rating (previous weeks was 47.6, 46.9 and 46.9), season-high 80.0 pass-game rating, season-low 29.4 run-blocking rating
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Giants, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 starts, 17 catches, 202 yards (25 longest); 77.4 offensive rating, 78.1 pass game rating, 58.7 run-blocking rating
Week 4 — Colts 30, Commanders 13 (in London) | started: 3 catches on 4 targets, 16 yards (9 longest); 4.6 fantasy points; season-low 52.4 offensive rating, season-low 52.4 pass game rating, 59.6 run-block rating (second-lowest this season0
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Pittsburgh, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 4 offensive snaps and 2 special-teams snaps through Week 3
Week 4 — Chiefs 30, Raiders 27 | Played off the bench
Week 5 — Open date
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 3 games, 2 starts, 9 tackles, 7 assists; 68.8 defensive grade, 77.6 run-defense grade, 54.0 pass-rush grade, 57.9 pass-coverage grade
Week 4 — Ravens 24, Titans 18 | started: 2 tackles (1 for a loss), 2 assists, 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; season-high 71.2 defensive rating, 72.8 run-defense rating, 75.6 tackling grade, 54.0 pass-rushing grade, 62.3 pass-coverage grade
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 4 games, 3 starts, 59 carries, 238 yards, 4.3 average, 3 touchdowns; 4 catches, 29 yards, 7.2 average; 2 fumbles (2 lost); 64.1 offensive grade, 58.5 pass game grade, 74.2 pass-block grade, 75.8 run grade
Week 4 — Seahawks 30, Chargers 23 | didn’t start: 9 carries, 45 yards (15 longest), 5.0 average, 1 touchdown (2-yard run, 7:48 left in fourth quarter); 2 catches on 2 targets, 8 yards (5 longest); 13.8 fantasy points; season-high 73.1 offensive grade, 60.1 pass game grade, season-low 25.2 pass-block grade, season-high 75.8 run grade
Week 5 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Denver, CBS
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 3 tackles (both solo), 2 assists; 55.5 defensive grade; 63.4 special-teams grade
Week 4 — Browns 27, Steelers 24 (Thursday) | didn’t start; 1 assist, 1 tackle on kickoff coverage, 1 assist on kickoff coverage; 5 defensive snaps (8%), 18 special-teams snaps (18%); 46.0 defensive grade; 68.0 special-teams grade
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Indianapolis, CBS
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 32 | 6–4, 221 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 3 starts, 15 catches, 209 yards (26 longest), 13.9 average; 81.2 offensive grade, 80.1 pass game grade, 61.6 pass-blocking grade, 71.4 run-blocking grade
Week 4 — Patriots 29, Bills 26 | started: 3 catches on 4 targets, 53 yards (26 longest); left the game with a calf injury with 10:13 left in the third quarter; 8.3 fantasy points; 77.6 offensive grade, 74.8 pass-game grade, 71.4 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Las Vegas, CBS
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
2024 season statistics with Seattle (didn’t play last season; hasn’t played this season); didn’t play in 2025 when with Philadelphia — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 4 — Cowboys 34, Texans 30 | Didn’t play
Week 5 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Tampa Bay, Prime Video
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting cornerback
Season statistics — 3 games, 11 tackles, 4 assists, 2 passes defended; 47.2 defensive grade
Week 3 — Falcons 35, Packers 14 | started: 6 tackles, 1 assist; 56 defensive snaps (85%); 56 defensive snaps (85%); 43.2 defensive grade; 6.5 fantasy points
Week 4 — 8:15 Monday at New Orleans, ESPN
Week 5 — 8:30 Sunday vs. Baltimore, NBC
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 4 games, 19 special-teams snaps; 55.7 special-teams grade
Week 4 — Rams 24, Eagles 20 | 5 special-teams snaps; 57.9 special-teams grade
Week 5 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville in London, NFL Network
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 73 of 117, 854 yards, 4 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 10 sacks (45 yards in losses), 71.0 passer rating; 23 carries, 136 yards, 5.9 average; 5 fumbles (2 lost); 55.5 offensive rating, 49.9 passer rating, 77.0 run rating
Week 4 — Patriots 29, Bills 26 | started: 22 of 37, 269 yards, 1 sack (7-yard loss), 3 touchdowns (14-yard pass to Romeo Doubs with 7:01 left in the first quarter, 2-yard pass to Doubs with 8:15 left in the third quarter, 23-yard pass to Efton Chism III with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter), 2-point conversion completion to Rhamondre Stevenson after third TD pass, 1 interception, 97.7 passer rating; 8 carries, 24 yards (26 longest); 3 fumbles (1 lost; 2 recovered); 27.16 fantasy points; season-high 82.9 offensive rating, season-high 78.0 passer rating, season-high 75.6 run rating
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Las Vegas, CBS
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 102 offensive snaps, 9 special-teams snaps; 58.9 offensive grade
Week 3 — Raiders 35, Saints 27 | started; 74 offensive snaps (100%); 64.1 offensive grade
Week 4 — 8:15 Monday vs. Atlanta, ESPN
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Minnesota, Fox
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist; 52.6 special-teams grade
Week 4 — Seahawks 30, Chargers 23 | Inactive with calf injury
Week 5 — 4:25 Sunday vs. San Francisco, Fox
Mitch Trubisky, Tennessee Titans quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Cam Ward
2025 statistics with Buffalo (hasn’t played this season) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Week 4 — Ravens 24, Titans 18 | didn’t play
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 3 games, 0 starts, 2 catches, 66 yards (47 longest); 56.5 offensive grade, 57.9 pass game grade, 64.3 run-blocking grade
Week 4 — Ravens 24, Titans 18 | didn’t start: 1 catch on 2 targets, 19 yards; season-low 47.4 offensive grade, season-low 52.7 pass game grade, season-low 45.1 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — 8:30 Sunday at Atlanta, NBC
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 62 carries, 231 yards (3.7 average), 5 touchdowns; 15 catches, 77 yards (17 longest), 5.1 average, 1 touchdown; 1 fumble (recovered); 71.0 offensive rating, 83.3 pass game rating, 68.5 pass-block rating, 66.2 run rating
Week 4 — Cowboys 34, Texans 30 | started: 19 carries, 62 yards (13 longest), 3 touchdowns (runs of 8 with 12:55 left in the third quarter, 1 with 6:49 left in the third quarter and 2 with 11:17 left in the fourth quarter); 5 catches on 5 targets, 21 yards (9 longest); 31.3 fantasy points; 64.2 offensive rating, 63.5 pass game rating, 63.3 pass-blocking rating, 63.5 run rating
Week 5 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Tampa Bay, Prime Video
On season-ending injured reserve
— New Orleans running back Ty Chandler; suffered a knee injury in the second preseason game; ran for 45 yards in two preseason games
On injured reserve
— Houston running back British Brooks (hamstring injury)
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
On PUP list
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart (torn quad), who didn’t play during the preseason; estimated return Oct. 11
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all three preseason games
— Tennessee running back Michael Carter by Tennessee; had three catches for 20 yards and a 43-yard kickoff return in the last preseason game
— Houston cornerback Alijah Huzzie
— Minnesota defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie; had four tackles and three assists in 77 total preseason snaps
— Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker; had 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack (6 yards), 2 tackles for losses and 1 quarterback hit in their 41–3 preseason win Friday
Waived
— Cornerback Marcus Allen (with injury settlement) by Minnesota; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— Linebacker Power Echols by Seattle
— Linebacker Tomon Fox by Los Angeles Rams; had 28 tackles and 13 special-teams tackles in two preseason games
— Linebacker Amari Gainer by New England; had 4 tackles and two assists in three preseason games
— Offensive lineman Charlie Heck by the Miami Dolphins
— Defensive end Smith Vilbert by Minnesota; had one tackle in 47 preseason snaps
Waived with injury designation
— Tight end Bryson Nesbit by Minnesota after collecting 3 catches for 29 yards in two preseason games; had been listed as fifth string
Photo via @Patriots
