Samwise NFL Newsletter
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Giants QB Jaxson Dart’s Knee Injury Could End His Rookie Season
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is facing a potentially season-ending knee injury after suffering damage on the team’s first drive in Monday night’s 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Initial evaluations suggested a sprained MCL, but further testing revealed the damage is worse than anticipated. The Giants have not made a final determination, with evaluations still ongoing, but Dart is expected to miss an extended period. Jameis Winston is in line to take over the starting quarterback job beginning in Week 3. New York, which fell to 0-2 on the season with the lopsided Monday night defeat, is bracing for life without its rookie signal-caller.
Sources: NBC Sports
Daniels Dislocated Elbow Forces Commanders to Turn to Mariota for Multiple Weeks
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is expected to miss multiple games after dislocating his left elbow on the final play of the first half in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. X-rays returned no fracture, but Daniels was scheduled to meet with specialists Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the full extent of the damage. The injury occurred in the same left elbow Daniels dislocated during a Week 9 loss to Seattle last November. Backup Marcus Mariota is expected to start for at least a couple of games, with reports indicating Daniels’ September is over at the earliest.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Falcons Name Penix Jr. Starting QB for Thursday Night Football at Green Bay
The Atlanta Falcons have officially named Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback for Thursday night’s Week 3 game at the Green Bay Packers. Penix is making his first start since tearing his ACL in Week 11 last November. Backup Cooper Rush started both of Atlanta’s first two games in 2026, with the Falcons going 0-2. Penix was listed as a full participant in Monday’s estimated practice report. The struggling Falcons will face a hostile environment at Lambeau Field in the Packers’ home opener. The Week 3 game is scheduled for Thursday Night Football.
Caleb Williams Week-to-Week With Hamstring Strain as Bears Enter Week 3
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is listed as week-to-week after sustaining a hamstring injury during Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Williams exited the game with the injury, and his availability for Week 3 remains uncertain. The hamstring issue adds another complication for the Bears, who managed just three points against Minnesota’s defense, with their offense entirely shut down. Williams and the Bears already face a tight competition in the NFC North against the 2-0 Vikings. Chicago fell to 1-1 on the season with the loss. The Bears are expected to have more clarity on Williams’ status later in the week.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Bengals Defense Ends NFL-Record 65-Game Streak of Allowing TDs in 20-6 Win
The Cincinnati Bengals defense delivered a statement performance in Week 2, shutting out the Houston Texans 20-6 at Reliant Stadium on Sunday to snap a remarkable NFL record. Cincinnati did not allow a single touchdown, ending a franchise-long and NFL-long streak of 65 consecutive games in which the team had given up at least one touchdown. The last time the Bengals held an opponent without a score was Week 3, 2022, in a road game at the Jets. The victory improved Cincinnati to 2-0, with the Steelers, Ravens, and Browns all sitting at 1-1 in the AFC North.
Sources: Cincy Jungle
Kirk Cousins Joins Raiders Legend Ken Stabler With Three-TD Gem in 26-14 Win
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 253 yards, three touchdowns and one interception Sunday as the Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 at SoFi Stadium, improving to 2-0 for the first time since 2021. In doing so, Cousins joined Ken Stabler as the only Raiders quarterbacks to throw at least three touchdown passes in each of the team’s first two games of a season. Through two games, Cousins has thrown six touchdown passes. The win left Las Vegas tied atop the AFC West with Kansas City, while the Chargers fell to 0-2 on the year and 0-1 in division play.
Sources: NBC Sports
Mahomes’ Three-TD Day Pushes Chiefs to 2-0 in OT Thriller Over Colts
Patrick Mahomes completed 32 of 47 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns, posting a 114.0 passer rating, as the Kansas City Chiefs survived the Indianapolis Colts 33-30 in overtime on Sunday to improve to 2-0. Travis Kelce turned in nine receptions for 101 yards, with the first of Mahomes’ three touchdowns going to Kelce, as Kansas City battled back from three first-half deficits. Kicker Harrison Butker sealed the win with a 40-yard field goal in overtime. The Chiefs are tied with the Las Vegas Raiders atop the AFC West, with both teams 2-0 after two weeks.
Packers WR Jayden Reed Hospitalized After Neck Injury, Season Status Uncertain
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was hospitalized after suffering a neck injury early in Sunday’s Week 2 game against the New York Jets. Reed lasted just two offensive snaps before taking a hard hit, after which medical personnel immobilized him and he was removed from the field on a spine board. He has movement and feeling in all extremities, according to the Packers. Reed returned to Green Bay and is undergoing a series of tests. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday it was way too early to determine if Reed will return to play this season, and Green Bay listed him as a nonparticipant in Tuesday’s walkthrough.
Sources: NBC Sports
Eagles Shore Up Secondary With CB Kenny Moore Signing, Also Add TE Zach Ertz
The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran cornerback Kenny Moore to a one-year contract Monday and added tight end Zach Ertz to the practice squad. The moves come after Philadelphia improved to 2-0 with a dramatic 24-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2, when quarterback Jalen Hurts connected with Darius Cooper in the back of the end zone with 14 seconds remaining to seal the win. Moore adds cornerback depth for a Philadelphia defense that has won back-to-back games to open the season. The Titans took a 20-17 lead on a Joey Slye field goal before the Eagles’ late-game surge.
AFC Standings — After Week 2
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Las Vegas Raiders | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 2 | 0 |
NFC Standings — After Week 2
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Minnesota Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Carolina Panthers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency