NFL BUZZ - SEPTEMBER 28th RAPID FIRE

Here’s all your NFL news from around the league for 9/28, pulled together from some of the most reliable sources in the game. Everything you need in one snapshot, so you don’t have to spend your night searching for it yourself. My mission is simple: make your life easier and leave the hard work to me. Now enjoy!

🐬 Miami Dolphins

• 🚨 De’Von Achane tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. Miami subsequently placed him on injured reserve. (Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport)
• Miami’s available backfield now consists of Ollie Gordon II, Jaylen Wright and practice-squad RB Jarquez Hunter. Gordon steps into the spotlight after handling an 83.3% opportunity share, 69% route participation, every two-minute RB snap and 76.5% of third-down work after Achane went down.
• Wright is day-to-day with a stinger and foot injury. HC Jeff Hafley said Miami's available backs will each have roles rather than naming one permanent replacement.
• Chris Bell was ramped up to a 72% snap share after expectations that Miami would keep him around 50%. The knee is now the thing to monitor heading into the week. If the swelling is manageable, his increased usage puts him firmly on the Week 4 radar.

🏈 New England Patriots

• Rhamondre Stevenson remains firmly atop the Patriots backfield, handling a 52.6% opportunity share, 54.5% route share, 80% of two-minute snaps, 88.9% of third-down work and both carries inside the five.

✈️ New York Jets

• 🚨 Breece Hall is considered week-to-week with a quadriceps injury. Braelon Allen replaced him during the fourth quarter Sunday and becomes the immediate backfield beneficiary. (Ian Rapoport)
• Kenyon Sadiq continues to draw prominent waiver consideration following his Week 3 breakout.

🐦‍⬛ Baltimore Ravens

• Zay Flowers played only 21 snaps under a planned limit in Week 3 and is pushing toward a fuller role. (HC Jesse Minter)
• Derrick Henry handled an 84.4% opportunity share and received all seven Baltimore RB attempts inside the 10.

🟤 Cleveland Browns

• 👀 KC Concepcion is now running nearly every route, with Jerry Jeudy no longer taking snaps away from him. The role continues to grow even if the production hasn't caught up yet.
• Quinshon Judkins handled 74.1% of Cleveland's backfield opportunities and the only RB attempt inside the 10. Raheim Sanders, however, led the backs in route participation.

🟡 Pittsburgh Steelers

• 🔥 Jaylen Warren handled a massive 91.3% opportunity share, 81.1% route share, 91.7% of third-down work and every Pittsburgh RB target with Rico Dowdle unavailable.
• Dowdle was listed as a nonparticipant Monday because of a toe injury.

🐅 Cincinnati Bengals

• Chase Brown maintained a 75% opportunity share, 62.5% route share and 88.9% of Cincinnati's two-minute work. Samaje Perine received the team's only RB attempt inside the 10.

🐂 Houston Texans

• HC DeMeco Ryans is hopeful Nico Collins can return in Week 4 from his hamstring injury.
• Without Collins, Houston's Week 3 route leaders were Kayshon Boutte, Dalton Schultz and Jaylin Noel, giving that trio the clearest immediate receiving opportunities if Collins remains unavailable.
• 🚨 Xavier Hutchinson left Sunday's game late and went to the blue medical tent after a 28-yard reception. He finished with 3 catches for 51 yards on a team-high six targets before exiting.
• Medical concern for Hutchinson is a possible left AC-joint injury versus clavicle fracture, with the diagnosis and timetable still TBD.

🐆 Jacksonville Jaguars

• 📈 Bhayshul Tuten handled 52.2% of Jacksonville's meaningful backfield opportunities against New England when garbage time is removed. His touchdown came during garbage time, but his role had already expanded before then.

⚜️ New Orleans Saints

• 🚨 Travis Etienne Jr. will miss time with a hamstring injury, according to HC Kellen Moore. (Katherine Terrell)
• Before leaving Week 3, Etienne handled 71.4% of the Saints' backfield opportunities and all of the two-minute work, creating a meaningful short-term opening in the New Orleans backfield.

🏹 Kansas City Chiefs

• Kenneth Walker III handled a 74.1% opportunity share and 69.2% route share in Week 3, continuing to operate as Kansas City's clear lead back.

🪖 Washington Commanders

• 👀 Washington is expected to sign Austin Ekeler to its 53-man roster, pending a physical. Ekeler has recovered from his Achilles tear. (Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo)
• HC Dan Quinn said Jayden Daniels will return to practice this week. Daniels reportedly declined surgery in an effort to return sooner.

🗽 New York Giants

• 🚨 The Giants acquired QB J.J. McCarthy from Minnesota for a 2027 fifth-round pick. The trade is pending McCarthy's physical. (Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo)

🦅 Philadelphia Eagles

• Saquon Barkley is cleared to play Monday night.
• Philadelphia elevated TE Zach Ertz for Monday night's game, officially completing his return.

🐻 Chicago Bears

• Case Keenum will start Monday night. Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol and is active, but he's expected to serve as Keenum's backup after practicing only once during the week.

🧀 Green Bay Packers

• Green Bay signed G Laken Tomlinson to the active roster, added G Mekhi Becton to the practice squad and placed OL Zach Bako-Bewele on injured reserve.
• The Packers' offensive line has struggled considerably through three weeks, particularly in pass protection and run blocking, despite the offense continuing to play at a fast pace with a concentrated target distribution.

🟣 Minnesota Vikings

• Good news for Justin Jefferson: his MRI revealed an ankle sprain without a serious long-term injury. Jefferson has a chance to play in Week 4 depending on swelling and how he progresses throughout the week. (Kevin O'Connell, Kevin Seifert)

🏴‍☠️ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Baker Mayfield's MRI showed no fracture and no ligament or tendon damage following his dislocated right thumb. HC Todd Bowles estimated an absence of approximately three weeks, with Jalon Daniels expected to start while Mayfield is unavailable.
• 🚨 Jalen McMillan has been diagnosed with a PCL sprain after re-aggravating the same knee injury he suffered during training camp. The initial recovery estimate is 6–8 weeks, although McMillan will seek a second opinion. (Jenna Laine)
• Bucky Irving is NOT listed on the injury report despite leaving late in Sunday's game and being seen receiving apparent back treatment.

🐾 Carolina Panthers

• Bryce Young will undergo imaging after sustaining a lower-body injury. HC Dave Canales believes Young was stepped on and was dealing with foot soreness during Sunday's game.
• Chuba Hubbard dominated the Carolina backfield with an 82.1% opportunity share, 70.6% route share, every two-minute snap and 80% of third-down work while Jonathon Brooks was unavailable.

☠️ Las Vegas Raiders

• Ashton Jeanty handled an 81.5% opportunity share, 65.8% route share, 76.9% of third-down work and 78% of the Raiders' RB receiving work.
• 👀 Mike Washington Jr. may have earned himself more work. OC Klint Kubiak said Washington made a major impact against New Orleans and has “definitely earned more opportunities.” Washington handled an 18.5% opportunity share behind Jeanty in Week 3. (Klint Kubiak via Jesse Merrick)
• Las Vegas utilized unusually heavy 12-personnel in Week 3, another offensive tendency worth monitoring.
• Brock Bowers said his knee had bothered him since training camp and didn't improve until he addressed the injury. Bowers said he's glad to be back for the longer portion of the season.

⚡ Los Angeles Chargers

• HC Jim Harbaugh publicly challenged Justin Herbert's decision-making following Week 3, saying it needs to “be better.” This is a coach assessment to monitor rather than an indication of a quarterback change.

🏔️ Denver Broncos

• J.K. Dobbins handled a 62.1% opportunity share and three of Denver's five carries inside the five. His route and third-down involvement remained considerably smaller than his rushing role.

⭐ Dallas Cowboys

• Javonte Williams handled a 75% opportunity share, both Dallas RB carries inside the five, 84.6% of two-minute snaps and 74% of the backfield receiving work.
• Jake Ferguson's ball security and blocking are worth monitoring after his eighth fumble since 2024. (Marcus Mosher)

🌵 Arizona Cardinals

• 🔥 Jeremiyah Love handled an 81.2% opportunity share in Week 3, another strong indication that his workload ramp-up is complete.

🌉 San Francisco 49ers

• Christian McCaffrey handled a 74.1% opportunity share, 79.3% route share and 88.9% of third-down work.
• Kaelon Black remained the complementary option and received one of San Francisco's two RB attempts inside the 10.

🐏 Los Angeles Rams

• HC Sean McVay is hopeful Puka Nacua can return in Week 4, although an earlier update suggested that “sooner rather than later” could still mean after this week.
• Terrance Ferguson suffered a medial ankle sprain and is unlikely to play Week 4, while Colby Parkinson suffered an AC-joint sprain.
• The Rams still have Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen available, making it unclear how large an opportunity Max Klare would receive despite the injuries to Ferguson and Parkinson.
• Kyren Williams handled a 71% opportunity share, every two-minute snap and 82.4% of third-down work. Los Angeles used Williams as its lone back on approximately two-thirds of its drives.
• 🔥 Davante Adams caught six passes for 89 yards on just 11 routes against Patrick Surtain's coverage and added another 49 yards when working away from him.