By R.L. Bynum
On Sunday afternoon, it felt like 2020 when Javonte Williams and Michael Carter were scoring touchdowns for Carolina. Sunday night, Drake Maye showed he’s poised to be a star in the NFL.
In their fifth NFL seasons, it was a big day for Carter, who got his first start since last season’s finale and scored a touchdown. But it was a massive day for Williams behind a patchwork Dallas Cowboys offensive line. Then Maye won in his first prime-time start.
Elsewhere, Cedric Gray had another big day, and Omarion Hampton injured his left ankle.
In his first season with the Cowboys (2–2–1), Williams rolled up a career-high 135 rushing yards with 8.4 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns to help them roll to a 37–22 road victory over the winless New York Jets.
Williams, who had 20 touches and 25.9 fantasy points, powered Dallas to two touchdowns in the final 1:02 of the first half, first with a five-yard touchdown run around right end.
On the first Dallas play after forcing the Jets into a three-and-out, Williams sped through the left side of the line in the second quarter and ran untouched until getting caught at the Jets 1 on a 66-yard run. Dak Prescott threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson on the next play with 19 seconds left.
That gave Williams 108 rushing yards, the most by a Cowboys running back in a first half since DeMarco Murray ran for 115 first-half yards in 2014 against Tennessee.
Previously, Williams had more than 100 rushing yards in a game twice, both in 2021 with the Denver Broncos: 111 on Nov. 7 against Dallas and 102 on Dec. 5 against Kansas City. That Chiefs game still stands as his best total yardage game, with 178 yards, because he also had 76 receiving yards.
Williams put the game away with 4:31 left when he caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Prescott.
It was Williams’ second career game with a rushing and receiving touchdown after doing it for Denver against Detroit on Dec. 12, 2021. It was his third game with two touchdowns, including when he ran for two touchdowns for Denver against New Orleans on Oct. 17, 2024.
Williams’ performance came despite the Cowboys only playing one regular starter on the offensive line, with four others out: left guard Tyler Smith (knee), left tackle Tyler Guyton (concussion), right guard Tyler Booker (ankle) and center Cooper Beebe (foot).
Maye and the New England Patriots gave the Buffalo Bills their first loss with a 23–20 road victory, making some amazing plays in the process.
“It was awesome,” Maye told NBC after the game. “Give thanks for the good Lord. What a team win, man. Defense, played great. And what atmosphere. It felt good.”
During the Patriots’ drive to the game-winning field goal, Maye, who was 22 of 30 for 273 yards and a 101.1 passer rating, appeared to be sacked but somehow connected with Stefon Diggs on a pass for 12 yards just before he got brought down.
“They couldn’t stop us. Trying to get these guys the football and just trying to keep positive plays,” said Maye, who completed 13 of 14 passes for 184 yards and a 118.8 passer rating in the second half.
Maye faced consistent blitzing in the second half after not seeing much of it in the first half and weathered it well.
“I probably should have stayed in the pocket. There were some good pockets,” said Maye, who was sacked four times, said in the postgame press conference. “I think a lot of the sacks were my fault. I’ve just got to hang in there. I think they’re diving the edges in and keeping the backers kind of spying on me. So, just got to stay in the pocket and know that those guys are playing the butt off up there.”
Maye was asked what he accomplished with this win.
“What I feel like I did tonight? I didn’t hurt the team,” he said. “Made some plays, protected the football, and gave us a chance to win and used my teammates around me. That’s the biggest thing. We’ve got a lot left. We’ve got to keep going.”
In the last four weeks, Maye’s adjusted completion rate of 86% is the best in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Maye and Tom Brady are the only players in NFL history with four or more consecutive games in one season with at least 200 passing yards, completing at least 73.3% of their passes with a passer rating of at least 100.
Mack Hollins started for New England and had no statistics in 40 total snaps.
Carter went from the Arizona Cardinals’ scout team two weeks ago to being elevated from the practice squad for Week 4 and getting one carry to starting after running backs James Conner (foot injury) and Trey Benson (knee injury) went on injured reserve.
Carter’s one-yard touchdown run up the middle in the first quarter gave Arizona an early lead in the Cardinals’ 22–21 loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans after leading 21–3. It was his first touchdown since scoring in Arizona’s 47–24 win over San Francisco on Jan. 5, 2025.
Gray, starting for the fifth consecutive week, had another big game for the Titans with six tackles, six assists and a tackle for a loss. This comes after he collected eight tackles and seven assists the weekend before at Houston. He played 56 defensive snaps and 17 special-teams snaps.
Hampton ran for 44 yards and had 26 receiving yards before injuring his left ankle in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Chargers’ 27–10 home loss to Washington. He left the locker room wearing a walking boot.
He was going out on a short pass route when he tripped on a Washington defender.
Elsewhere for Tar Heels around the league:
— Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs had six catches on eight targets for 54 yards, including a 12-yard reception.
— In his season debut, Houston running back British Brooks had two carries for 15 yards, including a nine-yard run on a third-and-one on the game’s opening drive that produced a touchdown. He also had a tackle on kickoff coverage, playing 18 of his 29 snaps on special teams.
— Jacksonville wide receiver Dyami Brown had two catches on four targets for 15 yards, including a 13-yard reception.
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart came off the bench to record two tackles, two assists and a kickoff coverage assist.
— Seattle linebacker Chazz Surratt had one assist on kickoff coverage playing all 14 of his snaps on special teams.
— Baltimore’s Tez Walker had one assist on punt coverage, playing all 14 of his snaps on special teams.
— Tampa Bay offensive lineman Charlie Heck started and played all 61 offensive snaps in addition to six special-teams snaps, while New Orleans offensive lineman Asim Richards played eight special-teams snaps.
— Miami cornerback Storm Duck wasn’t active because of an ankle injury suffered in Week 1, and Philadelphia quarterback Sam Howell didn’t play and still hasn’t made his season debut.
—Cole Holcomb’s Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Hughes’ Atlanta Falcons had the weekend off.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Fifth-string running back
2024 season statistics — 5 games, 1 carry, 2 yards; suffered season-ending torn meniscus in Week 5
Week 5: Texans 44, Ravens 10 (season debut) — 2 carries, 15 yards (9 longest); 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 11 offensive snaps (16%), 18 special-teams snaps (62%)
Week 6 — Open date; next game 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at Seattle, ESPN
Dyami Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–0, 195 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 12 catches, 131 yards (23 longest), 10.9 average, 1 TD; 3 carries, 15 yards (9 longest)
Week 5: Jaguars 31, Chiefs 28 — Started; 2 catches on 4 targets, 15 yards (13 longest); 38 offensive snaps (66%)
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Seattle, Fox
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 26 | 5–8, 201 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Fourth-string running back
Season statistics — 2 games, 19 carry, 52 yards (7 longest), 1 touchdown; 5 catches on 5 targets, 22 yards (9 longest)
Week 5: Titans 22, Cardinals 21 — Started; 18 carries, 51 yards (7 longest), 1 touchdown; 5 catches on 5 targets, 22 yards (9 longest); 39 offensive snaps (57%)
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Touchdown:
— 1-yard run up the middle, 10:57 left in the first quarter
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 5 games, 3 starts, 20 catches, 175 yards (29 longest)
Week 5: Colts 40, Raiders 6 — Started; 6 catches on 8 targets, 54 yards (12 longest); 33 offensive snaps (50%)
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Arizona, Fox
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Starting right cornerback
Season statistics — 1 game, 1 start, 1 tackle, 1 assist, 1 pass defended
Week 5: Panthers 27, Dolphins 24 — Not active because of an ankle injury suffered in Week 1
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 22 | 6–2, 234 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting left inside linebacker
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 27 tackles, 19 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 quarterback pressure, 1 special-teams tackle
Week 5: Titans 22, Cardinals 21 — Started; 6 tackles, 6 assists, 1 tackle for a loss; 56 defensive snaps (82%), 17 special-teams snaps (57%)
Week 6 — 4:05 Sunday at Las Vegas, Fox
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 22 | 6–0, 220 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 66 carries, 314 yards (54 longest), 2 touchdowns; 20 catches, 136 yards (22 longest)
Week 5: Commanders 27, Chargers 10 — Started; 12 carries, 44 yards (8 longest); 6 catches on 6 targets, 26 yards (12 longest); 39 offensive snaps (58%); suffered left ankle injury in the third quarter
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Miami, CBS
Charlie Heck, Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman
Age 28 | 6–8, 311 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Starting right tackle
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 tackle; 273 offensive snaps, 27 special-teams snaps entering Week 5
Week 5: Bucs 38, Seahawks 35 — Started; 61 offensive snaps (100%), 6 special-teams snaps (21%)
Week 6 — 4:25 Sunday vs. San Francisco, CBS
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 28 | 6–1, 240 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 8 tackles, 1 assist, 1 forced fumble, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
Week 5 — Open date
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 5 games, 4 starts, 5 catches, 42 yards (11 longest), 2 TDs
Week 5: Patriots 23, Bills 20 — Started; no statistics; 35 offensive snaps (58%), 5 special-teams snaps (20%)
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New Orleans, CBS
Sam Howell, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Third-string quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); hasn’t played this season — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 5: Broncos 21, Eagles 17 — Didn’t play
Week 6 — 8:15 Thursday at New York Giants, Prime Video
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 28 | 5–10, 191 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting right cornerback
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 7 tackles, 4 assists, 2 passes defended
Week 5 — Open date
Week 6 — 7:15 Monday vs. Buffalo, ESPN
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —-Starting QB ahead of Joshua Dobbs
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 113 of 143, 1,261 yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 17 sacks (54 yards in losses); 27 carries, 110 yards (15 longest), 2 touchdowns; 3 fumbles (1 lost)
Week 5: Patriots 23, Bills 20 — 22 of 30, 273 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 4 sacks (6 yards in losses), 101.1 passer rating; 3 carries, 12 yards (9 longest); 60 offensive snaps (100%); 12.12 fantasy points
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New Orleans, CBS
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 24 | 6–4, 307 | third NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 5 games, 105 offensive snaps, 24 special-teams snaps
Week 5: Saints 26, Giants 14 — Played 8 special-teams snaps
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New England, CBS
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 29 | 5–11, 205 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string free safety
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 start, 4 tackles, 3 assist, 1 pass defended, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists
Week 5: Texans 44, Ravens 10 — 2 tackles, 2 assists, 1 assist on kickoff coverage; 32 defensive snaps (74%), 11 special-teams snaps (38%)
Week 6 — Open date; next game 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at Seattle, ESPN
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 28 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-team middle linebacker
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 tackle, 1 special-teams tackle, 4 special-teams assists
Week 5: Bucs 38, Seahawks 35 — 1 assist on kickoff coverage; 14 special-teams snaps (50%)
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Jacksonville, Fox
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 1 game, 1 of 2, 32 yards; 3 carries, -3 yards (3 kneel-downs)
Week 5: Patriots 23, Bills 20 — Didn’t play
Week 6 — 7:15 Monday at Atlanta, ESPN
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–1, 198 | second NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Third-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 start, 3 catches, 60 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 special-teams assist
Week 5: Texans 44, Ravens 10 — 1 assist on punt coverage; 14 special-teams snaps (48%)
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Rams, Fox
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 25 | 5–10, 220 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Miles Sanders
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 79 carries, 447 yards (66 longest), 5 touchdowns; 17 catches, 78 yards (11 longest), 1 touchdown
Week 5: Cowboys 37, Jets 22 — Started; 16 carries, 135 yards (66 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 catch on 2 targets, 4 yards, 1 touchdown; 46 offensive snaps (77%); 25.9 fantasy points
Touchdowns:
— 5-yard run, 57 seconds left in the second quarter
— 4-yard pass from Dak Prescott, 4:31 left in fourth quarter
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
On injured reserve
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, knee injury
New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezudu (IR with designation to return), undisclosed injury
Philadelphia Eagles center Willie Lampkin, leg injury (Rams released him in camp)
On practice squads
Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker
Minnesota tight end Bryson Nesbit
On reserve/non-football injury list
Houston cornerback Alijah Huzzie
Waived from practice squads
Linebacker Power Echols by Chicago
Linebacker Tomon Fox by the New York Giants
Defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie by New England
Released during training camp
Linebacker Eugene Asanti by Miami
Tight end John Copenhaver by Jacksonville
Linebacker Desmond Evans by Tennessee
Wide receiver Nate McCollum by Arizona
Defensive back Kyler McMichael by Pittsburgh
Photo via @NFLGameDay
tarheeltribune.com 