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Michael Carter helped the New York Jets pull off one of the season’s biggest upsets. He ran for a season-high 76 yards and a touchdown as they knocked off the Buffalo Bills 20–17 on Sunday. It was the second-best rushing game of his NFL career, only topped by a 118-yard game last season in a 26–21 home victory Dec. 26 over Jacksonville.
On a day that UNC alums didn’t put up big numbers, there were some nice stories with defensive end Jalen Dalton finally making his NFL debut, rookie offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu making his first NFL start and rookie linebacker Tomon Fox playing his best professional game. Wide receiver Mack Hollins was one of the few bright spots for the Las Vegas Raiders in their 24–0 road loss to the New Orleans Saints. Hollins caught seven passes on eight targets for a team-leading 64 yards, including a 14-yard reception. Star wide receiver Davante Adams, who battled through sickness last week, only had one catch on five targets for three yards.
The Chicago Bears have agreed to trade former Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, who is having one of his least-productive seasons, to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, pending a physical. After breaking Richard Dent’s Bears single-season sack record last season with 18½, he has only one through seven games and only has six tackles and two assists. Last season, he had 38 tackles and 11 assists.
Las Vegas wide receiver Mack Hollins was questionable to play Sunday because of a heel injury, but the Tar Heel once again showed that he’s a proven play-maker in the NFL while showing off his personality along the way. Another Tar Heel, New York Jets running back Michael Carter, should be a starter again and see his playing time rise after a season-ending injury to a talented rookie running back.
Mitch Trubisky has been playing on Pittsburgh’s scout team the last two weeks and not getting live reps in practice, but that didn’t seem to matter Sunday when rookie Kenny Pickett left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. Two games after Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin benched him in favor of the rookie from Pitt at halftime of the Oct. 2 loss to the New York Jets, Trubisky looked more aggressive and confident. That helped the Steelers hold on for a 20–18 home upset of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dyami Brown had a quiet rookie season with Washington and didn’t get many chances to show his talent in the first four Commanders games this season. He got his chance on Sunday and took advantage by making two spectacular touchdown receptions, including a career-high 75-yard play, in Washington’s 21–17 home loss to the Tennessee Titans. Linebacker Cole Holcomb also put up big numbers in that game. New York Jets running back Michael Carter also had two touchdowns.
With one unfortunate play, Javonte Williams’ second NFL season in Denver is reportedly already over after four games. According to multiple reports, Williams is out for the season after tearing the ACL and LCL in his right knee on the first play of the second half of the Broncos’ 32–23 road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
There wasn’t that much good news for UNC alums in the NFL on Sunday, with Pittsburgh benching quarterback Mitchell Trubisky at halftime, Denver running back Javonte Williams injuring his right knee and Jets running back Michael Carter putting up a season-low rushing total. At least for now, Trubisky’s time as Pittsburgh’s starter appears to be over in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett, the former Pitt star, after the Steelers’ 24–20 home loss to the New York Jets.
Mack Hollins made a lot of fantasy football owners happy with the best performance of his career Sunday as he continues to put up more significant numbers than star Devonte Adams, his fellow wide receiver with the Las Vegas Raiders. Hollins made two clutch catches on a late touchdown drive in the Raiders’ 24–22 loss at Tennessee on Sunday and showed that he’s a dangerous weapon for them. UNC fans already knew he was versatile, and he proved that by also throwing a pass and downing a punt.
While there is growing frustration among Pittsburgh Steelers fans with the team’s offense under the direction of Mitch Trubisky after a second consecutive defeat, Coach Mike Tomlin is sticking with the former UNC quarterback. Trubisky didn’t throw a touchdown pass for the first time in three games, and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost at Cleveland 29–17 Thursday night. Otherwise, though, Trubisky had his best statistical game as a Steeler with season-highs of an 81.1 passer rating and 207 passing yards. He completed 20 of 32 passes with no interceptions and ran 1 yard for a second-quarter touchdown.
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