By R.L. Bynum
Drake Maye’s rough start to his third NFL season grew worse in Week 3 while New England teammate Mack Hollins had a big day, as did Dallas running back Javonte Williams and Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs.
Maye threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in a 35–6 loss at Jacksonville that dropped the Patriots to 1–2. Maye finished 14 of 25 for 199 yards with no touchdowns, three sacks and a 29.5 Pro Football Focus offensive grade. He ended up on the bench in the fourth quarter while backup Tommy DeVito finished the game.
Maye has six interceptions, a lost fumble, one touchdown pass, a 41.2 PFF offensive grade and a 39.6 PFF passing grade through three games after finishing as the runner-up for league MVP last season. It was Maye’s 10th career game with multiple turnovers, which is tied for the most in the NFL since 2024.
The first turnover came when he fumbled the ball while trying to pass. He said that center Jared Wilson was bleeding and the blood made the ball slippery. The Patriots were down 28–3 when he threw his second interception.
Maye did not dodge responsibility, saying that he needed to look in the mirror and treat the loss as a turning point.
“It’s been unacceptable for three weeks,” Maye said of the offense’s performance.
Maye pushed back on suggestions from reporters that his confidence was shaken, saying that he was “always going to be confident in myself to make plays.”
He also compared the moment to last season, when the Patriots were 1–2 before a run that carried them through an unexpected playoff push.
Hollins was one of the few bright spots in the loss, catching six passes on nine targets for 87 yards, including a 21-yard reception, nearly doubling the target count of the next closest receiver, DeMario Douglas. He has 12 catches for 156 yards this season, and with A.J. Brown on injured reserve with an ankle injury, he likely will continue to have an expanded role.
PatriotsWire wrote that Hollins hasn’t changed even though his role has.
Hollins’ PFF offensive grade of 84.4 was the best of all Tar Heels in Week 3, followed by Downs at 82.1, who was also productive.
Downs had five catches on 11 targets for 77 yards, including a 24-yard reception, in Indianapolis’ 19–17 win over Houston. Spencer Shrader kicked a 43-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to give the Colts their first win of the season.
Downs now has 14 catches for 186 yards (13.3 average) through three games, and former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones said that Downs can win one-on-one and is, in Jones’ words, “dangerous with the ball in his hands after he makes a catch.”
Williams had his best game of the season in a 34–31 loss to Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro. Williams carried 19 times for 98 yards, had a 22-yard run, scored on a 2-yard first-quarter touchdown run and added two catches for 5 yards.
Williams was two yards short of 100 when Dallas had first-and-goal from the 2 in the closing seconds, and he said that the thinking on the sideline was: “We’re just trying to go win it.”
Williams had not topped 41 yards in either of Dallas’ first two games.
Elsewhere:
— New Orleans lineman Asim Richards started and played all 74 offensive snaps with a 64.1 PFF offensive grade in a 35–27 loss to Las Vegas.
— Atlanta cornerback Mike Hughes started in a 35–14 win over Green Bay and had six tackles and an assist on 56 defensive snaps (85%).
— Tennessee (0–3) lost 12–7 to the New York Giants, and linebacker Cedric Gray started and had two tackles and four assists with a special-teams tackle and registered the best PFF defensive grade among Tar Heels at 71.4.
— Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has 15 carries for 56 yards (10 longest) in a loss to Buffalo that left the Chargers winless.
— Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb had a tackle in a 30–27 win over Cincinnati and had a 67.7 special-teams grade.
— Kansas City offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu played one offensive snap in Kansas City’s 24–10 win over Miami.
— Washington wide receiver Dyami Brown had no catches on one target in a 33–31 win over Seattle, while Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt played 23 special-teams snaps (68%) in that game.
— Baltimore wide receiver Tez Walker was targeted once without a catch.
— Philadelphia offensive lineman Willie Lampkin played six special-teams snaps after only combining for eight in the first two games.
— Backup quarterbacks Sam Howell of Dallas and Mitch Trubisky of Tennessee did not play, and neither has played in a game since the regular season started.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Third-string running back
Season statistics —2 games, no statistics; 47.2 special-teams grade
Week 3 — Colts 19, Texans 17 | didn’t start: no statistics; 12 special-teams snaps (50%); 59.2 special-teams grade
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Dallas, Fox
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 — 3 games, 4 catches, 21 yards (18 longest); 41.5 offensive grade
Week 3 — Commanders 33, Seahawks 31 | didn’t start: 0 catches on 1 target; 21 offensive snaps (30%), 5 special-teams snaps (15%); 41.5 offensive grade
Week 4 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Indianapolis in London, NFL Network
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 — 3 games, 14 catches, 186 yards (25 longest), 13.3 average; 85.0 offensive grade
Week 3 — Colts 19, Texans 17 | started: 5 catches on 11 targets, 77 yards (24 longest); 48 offensive snaps (68%)12.7 fantasy points; 82.1 offensive grade
Week 4 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Washington in London, NFL Network
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; 60.0 special-teams grade
Week 3 — Chiefs 24, Dolphins 10 | didn’t start; 1 offensive snap (2%)
Week 4 — 4:25 Sunday at Las Vegas, CBS
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 2 games, 6 tackles (5 solo), 5 assists; 65.0 defensive grade; 63.8 special-teams grade
Week 3 — Giants 12, Titans 7 | started: 2 tackles, 4 assists; 1 special-teams tackle; 5.0 fantasy points; 30 defensive snaps (47%), 14 special-teams snaps (61%); 71.4 defensive grade; 67.0 special-teams grade
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, 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 — 3 games, 50 carries, 193 yards, 3.9 average, 2 touchdowns; 2 catches, 21 yards, 10.5 average; 2 fumbles (both lost); 59.8 offensive grade
Week 3 — Bills 24, Chargers 16 | started: 15 carries, 56 yards (10 longest); 0 catches on 1 target; 29 offensive snaps (42%)5.6 fantasy points; 52.8 offensive grade
Week 4 — 4:25 Sunday at Seattle, 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 — 3 games, 2 tackles (both solo), 1 assist; 65.0 special-teams grade
Week 3 — Steelers 30, Bengals 27 | 1 tackle; 4 defensive snaps (6%), 15 special-teams snaps (54%); 67.7 special-teams grade
Week 4 — 8:15 Thursday at Cleveland, Prime Video
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 — 3 games, 12 catches, 156 yards (21 longest), 13.0 average; 78.3 offensive grade
Week 3 — Jaguars 35, Patriots 6 | started: 6 catches on 9 targets, 87 yards (21 longest), 14.5 average; 48 offensive snaps (70%), 7 special-teams snaps (30%); 14.7 fantasy points; 84.4 offensive grade
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, 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 3 — Ravens 34, Cowboys 31 | didn’t play
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, Fox
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
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 — 3 games, 14 special-teams snaps; 56.6 special-teams grade
Week 3 — Bears 27, Eagles 7 | 6 special-teams snaps; 57.9 special teams garde
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Rams, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
Season statistics — 3 games, 51 of 80, 585 yards, 1 touchdown, 6 interceptions, 9 sacks (38 yards in losses); 15 carries, 82 yards; 2 fumbles (1 lost); 41.2 offensive grade, 36.6 passing grade
Week 3 — Jaguars 35, Patriots 6 | started: 14 of 25, 199 yards (38 longest), 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 3 sacks (11 yards in losses), 48.6 passer rating; 4 carries, 18 yards (9 longest); 2 fumbles (1 lost); 51 offensive snaps (81%); 6.76 fantasy points; 29.5 offensive grade, 28.1passing grade
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, 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 1 — Lions 31, Saints 30 | didn’t start: played 5 special-teams snaps (15%); 60.3 PFF special-teams grade
Week 2 — Saints 24, Ravens 17 | didn’t start: played 28 offensive snaps (41%), 4 special-teams snaps (17%); 54.9 PFF offensive grade; 60.3 PFF special-teams grade
Week 3 — Raiders 35, Saints 27 | started; 74 offensive snaps (100%); 64.1 offensive grade
Week 4 — 8:15 Monday vs. Atlanta, ESPN
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 3 — Commanders 33, Seahawks 31 | didn’t start; 23 special-teams snaps (68%); 64.0 special-teams grade
Week 4 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
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 3 — Giants 12, Titans 7 | Didn’t play
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, 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 — 2 games, 1 catch, 47 yards; 67.0 offensive grade
Week 3 — Ravens 34, Cowboys 31 | didn’t start: 0 catches on 1 target; 17 snaps (27%), 14 special-teams snaps (47%); 60.1 offensive grade
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tennessee, CBS
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 3 games, 43 carries, 169 yards (3.9 average), 2 touchdowns; 10 catches, 56 yards (17 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 fumble (recovered); 72.3 offensive grade
Week 3 — Ravens 34, Cowboys 31 | started: 19 carries, 98 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown (2-yard run, 4:32 left in the first quarter); 2 catches on 3 targets, 5 yards (3 longest); 1 fumble (recovered); 18.3 fantasy points; 56 snaps (76%); 52.1 offensive grade
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, Fox
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
— 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 @dallascowboys
