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Tag: Professional football

  • Reeling Buccaneers fall to Falcons at home, 29-28

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts Sr., and Zane Gonzalez kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to complete the Atlanta Falcons’ rally for a 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.

    Facing a third-and-28 on the Falcons’ final drive, Cousins completed passes of 14 yards to Pitts and 20 yards on fourth-and-14 to David Sills V to set up Gonzalez.

    The Falcons (5-9) overcame a franchise-record 19 penalties and a 28-14 fourth-quarter deficit.

    Baker Mayfield threw a crucial interception in the fourth quarter as the Buccaneers (7-7) lost for the fifth time in six games to fall a half-game behind Carolina in the NFC South. The four-time defending division champions face the Panthers (7-6) twice in the final three games.

    Wearing their Creamsicle jerseys on the 48th anniversary of the franchise’s first win — that one came after an 0-26 start — the Buccaneers were booed off the field.

    After Pitts made a leaping, acrobatic grab for a 7-yard TD with 3:34 remaining to pull the Falcons within 28-26, Cousins was pressured and threw incomplete on the 2-point conversion try.

    The Falcons forced the Buccaneers to punt and got the ball at their 30 with no timeouts and 1:49 to go.

    Haason Reddick sacked Cousins, forcing a fumble that the Buccaneers grabbed coming out of the pile. But officials ruled it was recovered by both team simultaneously, and the Falcons kept the ball.

    Pitts finished with 11 catches for 166 yards, becoming the first tight end with 150 yards receiving and three TDs since Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe did it in 1996. Cousins went 30 of 44 for 373 yards.

    Mayfield tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Devin Culp, the second-year pro’s first scoring reception in the NFL that made it 20-14.

    On the ensuing drive, Sills dropped what should have been a 44-yard TD catch and the Falcons ended up punting.

    Bijan Robinson fumbled on Atlanta’s next possession after taking a shot from Christian Izien and Jacob Parrish recovered at the Falcons 25.

    Mayfield fired a 3-yard TD pass to Chris Godwin Jr. and the two connected for the 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 28-14.

    But Robinson’s 6-yard TD run cut the deficit to 28-20 with under 10 minutes left. After the Falcons missed the 2-point try, Dee Alford picked Mayfield’s pass and Atlanta drove 67 yards for a score.

    Mayfield had all of his wide receivers available for the first time this season after six-time Pro Bowl pick Mike Evans and second-year pro Jalen McMillan were activated from injured reserve. Evans broke his clavicle on Oct. 20. McMillan broken three vertebrae in his neck in the preseason.

    Evans made an immediate impact, catching six passes for 132 yards and drawing several penalties.

    Pitts was wide open for his first two TD catches. He caught a 17-yard pass from Cousins to give the Falcons a 14-10 lead under one minute left in the first half.

    Cousins tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Pitts to tie it at 7, one play after an offside penalty on cornerback Zyon McCollum during a field goal gave Atlanta a first down.

    Cousins beat the Buccaneers twice last year in his first season with Atlanta. He threw for 785 yards, eight touchdowns and only one interception. He had 509 yards passing against them in one of the wins.

    Chase’s leg

    Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin connected on field goals of 52 and 49 yards. He’s 10 for 10 from 50 yards or beyond.

    Injuries

    Falcons: WR Drake London (knee) was inactive. … CB Mike Hughes (ankle) left in the first quarter.

    Buccaneers: McCollum (hip) left in the first half. … LG Ben Bredeson (knee) was out after being placed on injured reserve. … DB Tykee Smith (neck/shoulder), LB SirVocea Dennis (hip), TE Cade Otton (knee) and CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) were inactive.

    Up next

    Falcons: Visit Arizona next Sunday.

    Buccaneers: Visit Carolina next Sunday.

    Associated Press

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  • Irving is eager to play after a tough time with an injury

    By  ROB MAADDI

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Not playing football may have been tougher mentally on Bucky Irving than dealing with his physical injuries.

    The dynamic running back is nearing a return to Tampa Bay’s lineup this week and spoke about his struggles for the first time on Wednesday. He was a full participant in practice after missing seven games with foot and shoulder injuries.

    “It’s tough, man, (especially) your first time being hurt,” Irving said. “When I step out onto that field — like I always say — I don’t take this game for granted. I love what I do every day. I love my teammates. When I go out there, I show them that each and every time I get the ball, I’m trying to make plays and make things happen for this organization and this team to help them in any type of fashion to win football games. When God takes something away from you, He’s telling you to get closer to Him and lean on Him.”

    Irving, a fourth-round pick last year, ran for 1,122 yards and scored eight touchdowns as a rookie while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He had 237 yards rushing and 19 catches for 193 yards and two scores in the first four games this season before going down.

    While Rachaad White and Sean Tucker filled in nicely during Irving’s absence, the Bucs missed his playmaking abilities. He missed being out there on the field even more.

    “It’s always tough not being able to be out there and go to war with your guys, but being able to go through that, learn from that and being able to move on, I’m happy to be back with my guys,” Irving said.

    Irving has overcome more adversity than most. He lost his dad when he was 2, his grandmother when he was in high school and a half brother when he was a freshman in college. Both his father and half brother were victims of gun violence.

    The 23-year-old leaned on his faith and team resources to help him deal with the emotional strain of being on the sideline.

    “This whole organization. I can’t name everybody from this person to this person, but the people who were with me every step of the way know who they are,” Irving said. “I want to give big praise and a shout out to them for helping me throughout this process. They’ve been around and they’ve seen it before, so just being able to trust them, trust their plan and help me get back and be around my teammates. I love being around my teammates.”

    Irving should provide a spark to the offense when the Buccaneers (6-5) host the Arizona Cardinals (3-8) on Sunday. Baker Mayfield is dealing with a shoulder injury and star wide receiver Mike Evans is out.

    “Anytime you can get a starter back, especially a player of Bucky’s caliber and the way he prepares and the way he loves the game and how he is around his teammates, that should always elevate you,” offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

    Associated Press

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  • Buccaneers try to end 3-game skid against lowly Cardinals

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open a homestand with three games in 18 days looking to snap a three-game losing streak to stay atop the NFC South. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is dealing with a left shoulder sprain and his status is uncertain so Tampa Bay might have to face Arizona with backup Teddy Bridgewater. Cardinals backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett makes his seventh start filling in for the injured Kyler Murray. He has played well, though the Cardinals are 1-5 in his starts and have lost eight of nine overall.

    Arizona (3-8) at Tampa Bay (6-5)

    Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox.

    BetMGM NFL odds: Buccaneers by 3.

    Against the spread: Buccaneers 5-6, Cardinals 5-6.

    Series record: Tied 11-11.

    Last meeting: Buccaneers beat the Cardinals 19-16 in OT on Dec. 25, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona.

    Last week: Jaguars beat the Cardinals 27-24 in OT; Buccaneers lost to Rams 34-7.

    Cardinals offense: overall (15), rush (25), pass (10), scoring (18t).

    Cardinals defense: overall (19), rush (17), pass (20), scoring (24).

    Buccaneers offense: overall (20), rush (20), pass (19), scoring (14).

    Buccaneers defense: overall (21), rush (8t), pass (27), scoring (25).

    Turnover differential: Cardinals plus-5; Buccaneers plus-8.

    Cardinals player to watch

    WR Michael Wilson. He has been great as the team’s No. 1 option at receiver while Marvin Harrison Jr. is recovering from surgery for appendicitis. Wilson has caught 25 passes for 303 yards in the past two games, providing easily the best production of his three-year career. Even if Harrison returns against the Bucs, Wilson’s eye-opening performance makes him a bigger target.

    Buccaneers player to watch

    RB Bucky Irving. He’s expected to return after missing seven games with foot and shoulder injuries. Though he’s expected to be limited in snaps, Irving is a playmaker and a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.

    Key matchup

    Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat vs. Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs. Sweat has nine sacks in 11 games in his first season with Arizona after signing a huge deal in free agency following a 2 1/2-sack performance in the Super Bowl for Philadelphia. Wirfs is an All-Pro and they’ve battled previously. Wirfs protects Baker Mayfield’s blind side. Mayfield is dealing with a left shoulder sprain and his status is uncertain. Teddy Bridgewater would start if he can’t play.

    Key injuries

    Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray (foot) has to miss at least one more game on injured reserve. … Sweat (eye), LB Baron Browning (concussion), RB Emari Demercado (ankle) and S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle) were among those who didn’t practice Wednesday. … DL Walter Nolen III (knee) won’t play Sunday. … RB Trey Benson (knee) and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) were limited at practice.

    Buccaneers: Mayfield could be a game-time decision. … Irving is expected back after missing seven games. … WR Mike Evans (clavicle) and WR Jalen McMillan (neck) remain out. … OLB Haason Reddick (knee, ankle) isn’t expected to play. … LG Ben Bredeson (hamstring), CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and CB Jamel Dean (hip) didn’t play last week.

    Series notes

    The Buccaneers have won two in a row, including the last meeting when Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to an overtime victory on Christmas Day.

    Stats and stuff

    The Cardinals have lost eight of their past nine games after starting the season with a 2-0 record. Six of those losses have come by four points or less. … Cardinals TE Trey McBride enters Sunday’s game with 301 career receptions. He needs one more to pass Jimmy Graham for the most in his first four seasons for a tight end in NFL history. … Arizona QB Jacoby Brissett leads the NFL with 1,887 yards passing since Week 6, providing stellar production since taking over for Murray. … The Cardinals rank second in the NFL with 10 forced fumbles. … The Cardinals have 19 players on injured reserve or non-football injury lists, which is the most in the NFL. … Cardinals DL Calais Campbell will play his 273rd career game on Sunday. That’s the third-most in NFL history behind Jim Marshall (282) and Bruce Smith (279). … Mayfield is fifth in the NFC with 18 TDs. He had 41 last season. … Irving, expected to return for the first time since Week 4, had 165 yards from scrimmage in that game. … WR Emeka Egbuka ranks first among rookies in TD catches (six) and second in yards receiving (749) this season. … Fellow rookie WR Tez Johnson has five TDs. … LB Lavonte David joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers as the only players since 2000 with 40 sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions. David has 41 1/2 sacks, 32 forced fumbles and 14 interceptions in his career. … S Antoine Winfield Jr. needs two sacks to join Jamal Adams (21 1/2) as the only defensive backs since 1982 with 20 sacks in their first six seasons. …. K Chase McLaughlin is 8 for 8 from beyond 50 yards on field goals.

    Fantasy tip

    McBride could have a big day facing Tampa Bay’s poor pass defense. He has had five catches in 13 straight games and leads all tight ends with 80 receptions and 797 receiving yards this season.

    Associated Press

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  • Moehrig to miss Panthers’ game against Rams after suspension appeal denied

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina safety Tre’Von Moehrig will miss the Panthers’ home game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams after losing an appeal of a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct.

    The NFL said Wednesday that Moehrig intentionally hit San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin near the end the game Monday night.

    The suspension will cost Moehrig $65,000, or an 18th of his $1.17 million salary.

    It’s a tough loss for the Panthers, who may be also without starting cornerback Jaycee Horn after he sustained a concussion against the 49ers. Horn remains in the concussion protocol.

    Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown for an NFL-high 30 touchdowns this season.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Associated Press

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  • Christian McCaffrey’s big night leads 49ers to 20-9 victory over Panthers

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey maintained that playing Carolina for the first time since the Panthers traded him to San Francisco three years ago wouldn’t raise his level of urgency one bit.

    McCaffrey responded to the reunion game like he does almost every week, with a productive performance that led the 49ers to another win.

    McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown, and San Francisco overcame a rough performance by quarterback Brock Purdy to beat the Panthers 20-9 on Monday night.

    “Obviously when you see familiar faces, it’s always good to see them before the game and after the game,” McCaffrey said. “But that’s a completely new team than when I was there. So it’s really just business once the ball was snapped.”

    McCaffrey’s big night helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three interceptions in the first half by Purdy to remain in playoff position heading into the stretch run of the season.

    Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to take advantage of their opportunities a week after he threw for a franchise-record 448 yards in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

    Purdy wasn’t much better in his second start back from a toe injury as he became the first player this season to throw three interceptions in the first half of a game. Purdy said neither the toe nor rust was an issue.

    “Honestly, the decisions of going to those spots, I was fine with,” he said. “It’s just the execution of throwing a better ball. I feel like on really all of them, I needed to just drive the ball a little bit more. I kept it up in the air too long on multiple of them.”

    The 49ers went conservative in the second half after Purdy’s rough start to the game, relying mostly on McCaffrey and short passes. The strategy worked with McCaffrey scoring on a 12-yard run to make it 17-3 and the Niners adding a field goal by Matt Gay.

    Young did connect on one big play, a 29-yard TD pass to Tetairoa McMillan, but Carolina couldn’t convert on 2-point try after a penalty moved the ball to the 1.

    Young then threw his second interception of the game to Ji’Ayir Brown with Carolina in scoring position with a 20-9 deficit.

    “Just lack of execution,” Young said. “Couple of plays I’d like to have back, some stuff we could do better. Not what we wanted. We didn’t do good enough and I take ownership of that.”

    The frustration from the loss contributed to a spat, with Carolina safety Tre’Von Moehrig hitting San Francisco receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin after a run play late in the game and Jennings responding with a punch to the helmet after the game.

    “I was just responding to some childish behavior,” Jennings said.

    McCaffrey, who has transformed the 49ers’ offense since being acquired in October 2022, finished with 89 yards rushing and 53 receiving for his 10th 100-yard game of the season — two shy of the franchise record he set in 2023.

    The 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on the first five plays, leading to the first opening-drive TD of the season against Carolina. Purdy connected on a 12-yard pass to Jennings for the score.

    The two offenses did nothing after that. Jaycee Horn had two of Carolina’s three picks of Purdy, but the Panthers turned those takeaways into only three points. Young ruined one drive when he was intercepted by Brown on a first-down play from the 1.

    “I like the call,” coach Dave Canales said. “It was an aggressive call, a play action that we had opportunities on. Unfortunately came out with an interception.”

    The teams traded field goals and the Niners led 10-3 at the half.

    Injuries

    Panthers: Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus left the game in the first half with concussions and didn’t return. … G Chandler Zavala (calf) and CB Corey Thornton (ankle) both left in the second half and didn’t return.

    49ers: DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) left in the second half and didn’t return.

    Up next

    Panthers: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

    49ers: Visit Cleveland on Sunday.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Associated Press

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  • Big plays are hurting Buccaneers against better teams

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Surrendering big plays has cost the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two games in a row.

    That’s turned a promising 6-2 start into a two-game losing streak with a trip to face the NFC West-leading Los Angeles Rams (8-2) up next.

    Josh Allen threw touchdown passes of 43, 52 and 25 yards against Tampa Bay’s defense in Buffalo’s 44-32 victory on Sunday. A week ago, the Bucs allowed four plays of 50-plus yards, including three touchdowns, in a 28-23 loss to New England.

    “The concerning part is when we’re covering, we’re not rushing, and when we’re rushing, we’re not covering,” coach Todd Bowles said Monday. “It’s a combination of everybody on defense — it’s not the back end, not the front end. It’s everybody combined, together. We did better stopping the run because (James) Cook is a dangerous back, but those small details on the two plays we gave up in the first half — that’s critical. Regardless of where they started field-position-wise, you can’t just give them plays. They’re already a good football team, to aid them even more is not what we’re trying to do.”

    The Bucs have lost to some of the NFL’s best teams. The Eagles (8-2), Lions (6-4), Patriots (9-2) and Bills (7-3) are 30-11 combined. Only two of Tampa Bay’s six wins have been against teams that currently have a winning record. They beat the Seahawks (7-3) and 49ers (7-4) in back-to-back games last month.

    Midseason struggles are nothing new for Tampa Bay under Bowles, who has won the NFC South in each of his first three seasons.

    In 2022, the Bucs lost five of six after a 2-0 start and recovered to go 5-3 to clinch before resting starters in Week 18.

    In 2023, they lost six of seven after a 3-1 start. The Bucs went 5-1 down the stretch and then won a playoff game.

    Last season, they lost four in a row to go from 4-2 to 4-6. A 6-1 finish gave Tampa Bay its fourth straight division title.

    With Carolina (6-5) closing in, the Buccaneers need to turn things around quickly.

    “We need to figure it out and be really critical,” Baker Mayfield said. “We want to be a great team and we want to be a great offense. We need to be really critical of ourselves.”

    What’s working

    The run game. The Bucs followed up a solid game against the NFL’s No. 1 run defense last week with a season-high 202-yard performance against one of the league’s worst run-stopping units. Sean Tucker had 106 yards and two TDs. Rachaad White ran for 51 and Mayfield scrambled for 39 with a score. Tampa Bay averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

    What needs help

    Red zone offense. Allen gifted the Bucs an interception at the 7 on Buffalo’s first possession. The offense got 2 yards on three plays and settled for a field goal.

    Stock up

    Tucker has 159 yards rushing and an average of 5.7 yards per carry the past two games. He also has a 28-yard TD catch to go with two rushing TDs. Even when Bucky Irving returns, Tucker has earned an opportunity to get more touches.

    Stock down

    Kickoff coverage. The Bucs gave up returns of 61, 44 and 41 yards that set up Buffalo for short fields. Overall, the Bills averaged 39.5 yards per kick return.

    Injuries

    Irving (foot, shoulder), LG Ben Bredeson (hamstring), WR Chris Godwin (fibula), WR Mike Evans (clavicle), WR Jalen McMillan (neck) and OLB Haason Reddick (knee, ankle) didn’t play. … CB Jamel Dean left with a hip injury.

    Key number

    7.8 — The Bucs allowed 7.8 yards per play.

    Next steps

    The Buccaneers visit the Rams (8-2) on “Sunday Night Football.”

    Associated Press

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  • QBs in spotlight as Panthers, Falcons look for more help from passing game

    ATLANTA (AP) — Carolina’s Bryce Young and Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr. delivered identical somber messages following disappointing performances in losses last week: “I’ve got to be better.”

    The quarterbacks are in the spotlight as the Panthers and Falcons seek more balanced offense in the renewal of their NFC South rivalry on Sunday.

    The Panthers (5-5) and Falcons (3-6) share similar stories of frustration in recent seasons. Each team is looking to snap a streak of seven consecutive losing seasons and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

    Each team is counting on its young quarterback to spark a turnaround, but the 2025 results have been mixed as the running games have been more reliable for Atlanta and Carolina. Penix and Young rank 21st and 25th, respectively, in passing yards.

    Falcons second-year coach Raheem Morris is facing increased pressure as last week’s 31-25 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin left Atlanta with a four-game losing streak. Morris knows criticism is part of his job, but he has spoken more this week about his concern about Penix “being so hard on himself” after completing only 12 of 28 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown against the Colts.

    Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said patience is needed with young quarterbacks.

    “Knowing how difficult this game is, knowing the immense pressure that goes into that position, being the franchise quarterback, all the different expectations that come with young quarterbacks, we can obviously jump on these guys super early in their career and not even give them a chance to develop,” Robinson said.

    Relying on the run

    Each team has relied on deep running games. Carolina’s Rico Dowdle ranks third in the league in rushing and has support from Chuba Hubbard. The Falcons counter with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Robinson, also productive as a receiver out of the backfield, ranks third in the league in scrimmage yards.

    Low point for Penix

    Penix has thrown only three interceptions this season. Two picks came in an ugly 30-0 loss at Carolina on Sept. 21, including one returned for a touchdown by Chau Smith-Wade. Penix completed only 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards and former starter Kirk Cousins took over in the fourth quarter with the Falcons trailing 27-0.

    Penix promised the Falcons will be more competitive.

    “Obviously if you look back at that game, they had success in that game,” Penix said. “So, maybe they do show some of the same things that they did in that game, but we will be ready for every look. We’ll definitely make it a better game than what we did last time.”

    Protecting Young

    The Panthers were held to 175 total yards in last week’s 17-7 home loss to the one-win New Orleans Saints. Young had just 124 yards passing and turned the ball over twice. The Saints stuffed the box on defense to stop Dowdle and forced Young to beat them. Young couldn’t, but it wasn’t all his fault.

    The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft spent most of the day on the run as the Saints were able to get pressure up the middle, disrupting the timing of several pass plays.

    Panthers coach Dave Canales has similar concerns this week facing the Falcons, who come in tied for fifth in the league with 29 sacks, including seven last week. Rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. have helped boost the pass rush.

    “At the end of the day, they got some talented guys, and they got some young speed on the edges,” Canales said.

    Speak for yourself

    Linebacker Nic Scourton said on Sunday the Panthers may have taken the Saints lightly. The rookie’s comments didn’t sit too well with Canales, who said he’d prefer those comments stay in-house.

    Canales added that the Panthers looked sharp in practice Wednesday.

    “It’s a learning opportunity to say, OK, for our guys, speak for your own performance,” Canales said. “If you want to make a general comment about, hey, when we lose, we’re upset, we’re disappointed. But the specific part of it that we can do a better job of just keeping those things within us and the stuff that we talk about.”

    Stopping Bijan

    The Panthers defense shut out the Falcons the first time around. Carolina cornerback Mike Jackson knows duplicating that effort on Atlanta’s home field will take another stellar performance.

    Robinson had 13 carries for 72 yards and six catches for 39 yards but was held out of the end zone. Robinson’s No. 7 jersey will be the focus for the defense.

    “We just played good clean defense, we got a couple of turnovers,” Jackson said. “I feel like we just kind of disrupted their timing. We have to contain No. 7. It all starts with No. 7.”

    ___

    AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed to this report.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Associated Press

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  • In matchup of 6-3 teams, Buccaneers visit Bills for Sunday showdown

    ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.  — Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield likes to joke about how much he looks up to Josh Allen.

    What You Need To Know

    • Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen have mutual respect in a friendship that began in 2018, when they were among five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the NFL Draft

    • They face off on Sunday, when the Bills (6-3) host the Buccaneers (6-3)

    • The meeting on Sunday marks their third, with each splitting the first two, and comes at a critical juncture for their teams’ playoff aspirations

    • Kickoff is at 1 p.m.


    “I have to walkie-talkie to him because he’s so damn tall,” the 6-foot-1 Mayfield said, attempting to maintain a straight face when discussing his relationship with the Bills quarterback, who stands 6-foot-5.

    “So I can’t really have a face-to-face conversation with him,” Mayfield added, before suggesting Allen has small hands for his size.

    Allen shot back by accusing Mayfield of wearing two gloves when he golfs, after the two were paired at a celebrity tournament this summer.

    The playful banter is an indication of a mutual respect in a friendship that began in 2018, when they were among five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the draft.

    The bond has grown given the career challenges they’ve overcome since, in establishing themselves as franchise-caliber players preparing to face off on Sunday, when the Bills (6-3) host the Buccaneers (6-3).

    “I love the guy. He’s awesome,” Allen said. “To see how his career has progressed and the adversity he’s fought through, he’s playing some really, really dang good football right now.”

    Mayfield’s rise has been gradual since being drafted first overall by the Cleveland Browns.

    It took him five seasons and stops with the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams before finally finding the right fit in Tampa Bay. This year might be Mayfield’s most impressive in working his way into the midseason NFL MVP conversation for his production overseeing an injury-depleted offense.

    For Allen, drafted seventh by Buffalo, he shed knocks about his accuracy and mechanics coming out of Wyoming by transforming the Bills into an AFC power and earning MVP honors last season.

    The meeting on Sunday marks just their third, with each splitting the first two, and comes at a critical juncture for their teams’ playoff aspirations.

    The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills have dropped three of five and face a crisis of confidence on offense after the passing game sputtered in a 30-13 loss at Miami.

    The four-time defending NFC South champion Buccaneers still lead their division, but have dropped two of three following a 28-23 loss at New England. Injuries remain the biggest concern, with Tampa Bay playing much of the season without receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and running back Bucky Irving.

    Mayfield refused to use injuries as an excuse by voicing concerns about the team lacking a killer instinct following the loss on Sunday.

    “I’m perfectly fine with it,” coach Todd Bowles said. “When you’re one of the captains of the team, you know what it looks like. … He spoke up, and everybody took it the right way.”

    Associated Press

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  • Panthers QB Young returns to practice after missing game with ankle injury

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and the team is optimistic he might be able to play on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

    Young sat out Carolina’s 40-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday with an ankle injury, the first game he has missed this season.

    “Bryce had a really good day and we are going to take it each day,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “We are going to push it a little more. We had a little bit of a modified mode at practice today, but he handled the load. Tomorrow we will push it again and we will make a decision in the next couple of days. But he looked good.”

    Andy Dalton, who started for Young on Sunday, did not practice because of a sprained thumb.

    Young had won three straight starts before missing the Bills game.

    Canales said that right tackle Taylor Moton got a good report on his injured knee and there is optimism he might play against the Packers after leaving last week’s game.

    Moton did not practice, but the plan is to amp up his load this week at practice and make a determination on his status later in the week.

    Outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen (ankle) missed practice and is not expected to play this week. Center Cade Mays (ankle), linebacker Trevin Wallace (shoulder) and safety Nick Scott (groin) did not practice either.

    Canales also confirmed that guard Brady Christensen’s season is over after he underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn Achilles tendon sustained in the loss to the Bills.

    Associated Press

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  • Bucs defense shines in a 23-3 victory over the Saints

    NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tampa Bay edge rusher Anthony Nelson had an interception for a touchdown to go with a forced fumble and two sacks, Sean Tucker ran for a 1-yard score on fourth down and the Buccaneers beat the hapless New Orleans Saints 23-3 on Sunday.

    Antoine Winfield Jr. recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for the Buccaneers (6-2), who forced four turnovers and also played a role in forcing Saints second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler out of the game.

    First-year Saints coach Kellen Moore inserted rookie QB Tyler Shough late in the third quarter, but the switch did little to improve matters for New Orleans (1-7), now tied for the worst record in the NFL with the New York Jets and Tennessee.

    After saying earlier in the week that he didn’t like the Saints and did not feel they played “clean,” Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield did enough to help his team win comfortably. But the Bucs’ offense did not have the smoothest day.

    The Saints managed to preserve a scoreless tie in the second quarter by stuffing four goal-to-go runs from the 1, only to give up Nelson’s defensive touchdown a couple plays later.

    Rattler was rolling right and appeared to have tight end Foster Moreau open in the flat, but Nelson — who started because of Haason Reddick’s ankle and knee injuries — tipped Rattler’s pass to himself for his first career interception. The seventh-year pro then flattened the Saints QB while basically walking into the end zone to make it 7-0.

    The Bucs appeared to have taken a 14-0 lead on a second defensive touchdown when Winfield recovered receiver Rashid Shaheed’s fumble on the New Orleans 47 and returned it to the end zone. But an inadvertent whistle wiped out Winfield’s return, and a few plays later, Saints defensive end Chase Young forced and recovered a fumble by Mayfield.

    The Saints converted that turnover into Blake Grupe’s 48-yard field goal that made it 7-3 at halftime.

    Tucker’s TD came after the Saints had stopped Mayfield and Co. three more times from the 1 in the third quarter.

    Chase McLaughlin kicked three second-half field goals from 52 or more yards to help the Bucs pull away from there.

    Rattler, who fell to 1-13 in career NFL starts, competed 15 of 21 passes for 136 yards. He also lost the fumble forced by Nelson.

    Shough completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards. The second-round draft choice also was intercepted when his accurate pass to Chris Olave was ripped away by Winfield.

    Injuries

    Buccaneers: CB Jacob Parrish was treated on the field in the fourth quarter, but walked off on his own.

    Saints: CB Alontae Taylor briefly received attention in a blue injury tent kin the fourth quarter, but remained in uniform on the sideline. … DT Bryan Bresee also received apparent concussion tests on the sideline in the final minutes, when Shaheed also hobbled off with an apparent leg injury.

    Up next

    Buccaneers: Have a Week 9 bye before hosting New England on Nov. 9.

    Saints: Visit the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.

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  • Banged up Bucs look to bounce back against rival New Orleans

    NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Displeased as Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers might be about the way New Orleans plays defense, that hasn’t affected Tampa Bay’s recent success rate against its division rival.

    “It has not exactly been clean play from their part when we play them,” Mayfield said this week about his four games against New Orleans — three of them victories — since joining the Bucs in 2023.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tampa Bay (5-2) at New Orleans (1-6), Sunday 4:05 p.m, FOX TV 

    • Fresh off a frustrating loss in Detroit, the Bucs (5-2) now look to retain their perch atop the NFC South 

    • The Buccaneers have won the past two meetings and five of the past six…The Saints are 21-13 against the Buccaneers in games played in the Superdome…The Buccaneers’ longest winning streak in the series is three games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons

    Fresh off a frustrating loss in Detroit, the Bucs (5-2) now look to retain their perch atop the NFC South when they visit the struggling Saints (1-6) on Sunday.

    “Not much else to say,” Mayfield added, “besides for the fact that I do not like them.”

    The person least bothered by Mayfield’s characterization might have been rookie Saints coach Kellen Moore.

    For one, this is Moore’s first time experiencing this matchup since New Orleans hired him after he helped the Philadelphia Eagles win last season’s Super Bowl as offensive coordinator.

    And what coach doesn’t relish bulletin-board material for his locker room?

    “Division games are always fun,” Moore said with a knowing grin. “They’re a little bit different. … You know each other very, very well. My understanding is this is a phenomenal rivalry.”

    Since Tom Brady’s final NFL season with Tampa Bay in 2022, the Bucs have won five of six against the Saints.

    New Orleans, which currently has the worst record in the NFC, has lost its previous two games this season — as well as its past two meetings with the Bucs last season.

    Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles takes no comfort in that, though.

    “All our division games are tough,” Bowles said, adding that the Superdome is “a tough place” for a visiting team to play.

    “We’re preparing for a battle,” Bowles said.

    Seeking balance

    The Buccaneers passed on 54 of 66 plays in a 24-9 loss to Detroit even though the score was within reach for most of the first three quarters.

    Mayfield had his worst game of the season, completing just 56% of those passes with one interception. Bowles would prefer offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard run the ball a little more.

    Too much passing is “not a good formula for success; we can’t run the ball 11, 12 times and throw it 50-plus times,” Bowles said. “We’ve got to be more balanced than that. We were in the game enough — 14-3 at the half — for us to run it a little bit more. The circumstances got crazy at the end, but we’ve got to be more balanced than that and we’ve got to establish more of a run game.”

    Familiar faces

    Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler started both of last year’s losses to Tampa Bay while since-retired QB Derek Carr was injured.

    But Rattler has an entire NFL offseason under his belt at this point and took many first-team snaps throughout camp on his way to winning the starting job. He sees himself as a more prepared player.

    “It’s totally different, having more games under my belt,” said Rattler, who is 1-12 in his NFL career as a starter. “I definitely have grown since that first start. … Definitely feel better coming into this game. That’s for sure.”

    But Rattler’s respect for Bowles’ ability to tailor defensive game plans to each week’s matchups leaves the Saints’ second-year QB expecting some surprises.

    “It’s going to be a different thing every time you play him,” Rattler said. “The looks are going to be different than last year; the looks are going to be different than last week.”

    Rattler has his own issues to worry about after committing four turnovers on three interceptions and a lost fumble during a 26-14 loss to Chicago last weekend. The performance was a deviation for Rattler, who had thrown just one interception in his six previous games.

    “Didn’t play how I wanted to play,” Rattler said. “It’s all fixable things. That’s what’s good.”

    “Definitely don’t plan on doing that every game,” he added. “I’m not going to be scared to take shots down the field. I don’t want to play timid. So, just got to pick your spots.”

    Banged-up Bucs

    The Buccaneers will be missing five starters and other key players on offense, including wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and running back Bucky Irving.

    They have plenty of depth and Mayfield has playmakers around him, but getting healthy during their upcoming bye week will be a priority.

    “Until we just lost, nobody was complaining or moaning about it,” Mayfield said. “It is the nature of the game. You know you have a game every week until your bye. So, you figure it out and move on. … Guys know they have to get ready physically, as well as you possibly can, to play and go from there.”

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  • NFL moves its Pro Bowl festivities to Super Bowl week

    NEW YORK — The NFL is moving its Pro Bowl festivities to Super Bowl week beginning this February, the latest adjustment for the all-star event that became a flag football game a few years ago.

    What You Need To Know

    • The NFL is moving its Pro Bowl festivities to Super Bowl week beginning this February

    • Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the change Wednesday at the league’s annual fall owners meeting

    • The plan is to hold the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday night, Feb. 3, in the Bay Area

    • The NFL is hoping to take advantage of increased interest in flag football ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

    Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the change Wednesday at the league’s annual fall owners meeting.

    “We’ve spent a lot of time evolving our Pro Bowl, talking about how to make our Pro Bowl more attractive, both for our players participating but also our fans,” Goodell said. “We spent a great deal of time talking about the objectives, and the objectives really are to celebrate and honor our incredible players, and second is to use our game as a global platform.”

    The plan is to hold the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday night, Feb. 3, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the venue that is hosting the Super Bowl experience fan fest. The largest ballroom holds 4,000 people, making it a more intimate event than in previous years, with a focus on television.

    It remains a flag football game between the AFC and NFC, though executive VP of international events Peter O’Reilly did acknowledge the format could become more internationally focused in the leadup to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

    “Flag has become a global game,” Goodell said. “Our players have embraced playing that in the all-star format, and we think it’s really important to continue that initiative.”

    NFL owners unanimously approved players participating in the ’28 Games, though work is still being done to finalize the agreement with the union.

    The 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, in Santa Clara, California.

    There will be two new coaches, replacing Peyton and Eli Manning, though O’Reilly said the brothers would remain involved in the event in some capacity. The league is not committing to Tuesday night beyond 2026, according to O’Reilly, who said it’s a process of continuing to learn about what’s best for the Pro Bowl.

    Associated Press

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  • Lions beat Bucs 24-9, Evans leaves with broken collarbone

    DETROIT (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury and didn’t last a half against the Detroit Lions.

    The six-time Pro Bowler was hurt late in the second quarter Monday night when he attempted to make a catch. He was ruled out with a concussion and shoulder injury, which coach Todd Bowles said was a broken collarbone.

    “He’s going to be gone until toward the last of the season,” Bowles said after Detroit’s 24-9 win.

    After the team’s medical staff evaluated Evans on the field, he slowly walked to the sideline. A cart took him to the locker room.

    The Lions (5-2) bounced back from a loss as they have done flawlessly for nearly three years, extending their NFL-long streak of 51 games without dropping two straight in the regular season.

    Tampa Bay (5-2) was outgained by more than 200 yards in the first half, but trailed 14-3 because Detroit had an interception, fumble, turned it over on downs and missed a field goal.

    Rookie Tez Johnson had a 22-yard touchdown reception to open the second half, pulling the Bucs within five points, but they could not slow down Gibbs.

    On the ensuing drive, Gibbs had a 15-yard run and a 28-yard reception to set up his second touchdown that gave the Lions a 21-9 lead late in the third quarter.

    The third-year running back finished with a season-high 136 yards rushing on 17 carries and a season-high 82 yards receiving on three catches, giving him a total that trails just four performances for the franchise this century.

    Gibbs is the first NFL player with at least 135 yards rushing and 80 yards receiving along with two scores on the ground since Chris Johnson pulled off the feat with Tennessee in 2009.

    Detroit’s Jared Goff was 20 of 29 for 241 yards with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the game’s opening drive. Goff, though, lost a fumble and overthrew rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa on fourth-and-2 on the next two possessions and later threw an interception — all in Tampa Bay territory.

    Baker Mayfield was 28 of 50 for 228 yards with one touchdown and one interception against a short-handed defense. Mayfield threw an incomplete pass in the end zone with 4:24 left, ending potential comeback hopes.

    Gibbs took advantage of a big hole and his speed to score on a careerlong, 78-yard run late in the second quarter to put Detroit ahead 14-0.

    After Detroit’s Jake Bates missed a 54-yard field goal, Chase McLaughlin made a 53-yard field goal to end the half and put the Bucs on the scoreboard.

    Bates did connect on a 58-yard field goal early in the fourth, knocking it in off an upright, to give the Lions a 24-9 lead.

    Up next

    Bucs: Visit New Orleans on Sunday.

    Lions: Bye week before hosting Minnesota on Nov. 2.

    Associated Press

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  • Former Bucs RB Doug Martin has died, team confirms

    TAMPA, Fla. — Doug Martin, a former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has died at the age of 36, the team confirmed on Sunday.

    Martin was a first-round draft pick out of Boise State in 2012 and set several franchise records as a rookie for the Bucs.

    They include most rushing touchdowns in a single game (4) and most rushing yards in a season by a rookie (1,454).

    In a statement on Sunday, the Buccaneers said they were “deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing” of Martin.

    “From his record-setting rookie season in 2012 to his multiple Pro Bowl selection during his six seasons as a Buccaneer, Doug made a lasting impact on our franchise,” the statement went on to read. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and everyone whom Doug touched throughout his life.”

    Boise State also remembered Martin on Sunday, calling him “one of Boise State’s best running backs in school history.”

    He was also the school’s first running back to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Panthers face tough decision with RBs Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rico Dowdle has been phenomenal since stepping in as the Carolina Panthers’ starting running back two weeks ago, totaling 473 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in two outings.

    Coach Dave Canales now faces a tough decision: whether to keep Dowdle in the starting lineup once Chuba Hubbard returns from a calf injury, which could be as soon as this week against the New York Jets.

    “A great question,” Canales said after the Panthers’ 30-27 win over the Dallas Cowboys, which moved his team to 3-3. “We’re going to figure that part out. But I know Rico is doing a great job, and he will be a big part of what we’re doing.”

    Canales calls it a good problem to have.

    But that doesn’t make the decision any easier, given the team’s loyalty to Hubbard.

    Dowdle, in his sixth NFL season, is doing it all for Carolina. He ran for 183 yards on 30 carries and caught five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, just days after warning his former Dallas Cowboys teammates to “buckle up.” That effort came seven days after Dowdle rushed for 206 yards on 23 carries while catching four passes for another 28 yards in a come-from-behind win over the Miami Dolphins.

    He set a franchise record for scrimmage yards in back-to-back games. And he become only the seventh player in the last two decades to amass more than 200 yards from scrimmage in consecutive outings.

    Hubbard has been the Panthers’ starter and arguably their best player over the past couple of seasons, and the team rewarded him with a four-year, $33 million contract late last season after he ran for nearly 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s earned Canales’ respect for his toughness and leadership.

    So Hubbard will definitely play.

    But it’s hard to imagine Canales putting a hot hand — a scorching hand, in fact — on the bench after two incredible weeks and two Carolina wins.

    What’s working

    The running game. It’s remarkable what the Panthers have done on the ground the last two weeks — a combined 455 yards rushing against the Cowboys and Dolphins — considering they lost guard Robert Hunt, their best offensive lineman, and center Austin Corbett to injuries in Week 2, and that a third starter, right tackle Taylor Moton, missed Sunday’s game with an elbow injury. Top reserve Chandler Zavala has also missed the last two games. But the Panthers keep plugging and playing guys and seemingly improve each week. It might be time to give offensive line coach Joe Gilbert a raise.

    What needs help

    The Panthers need to take better care of the ball in the first half. Seven of Bryce Young’s eight turnovers this season have come before halftime. He had one on Sunday, but it wasn’t the QB’s fault. Young was intercepted when his pass went straight through the hands of rookie Tetairoa McMillan.

    Stock up

    McMillan may have messed up that catch, but he more than made up for it later in the game. The No. 8 pick in the NFL draft has been solid all season and on Sunday caught his first two touchdown passes from Young. McMillan has 27 catches for 380 yards, which puts him on pace for nearly a 1,200-yard season. He’s still very raw in some respects, but his upside is off the charts.

    Stock down

    Carolina’s pass defense needs to find a way to slow down opposing quarterbacks with more frequency. Although the defense had some timely stops against the Cowboys, the Panthers allowed Dak Prescott to throw three touchdown passes — and that was without CeeDee Lamb. Carolina’s inability to cover the tight end has really stood out, and Jake Ferguson became the latest to find the end zone. Miami’s Darren Waller also had a big game against the Panthers in Week 5.

    Injuries

    The Panthers are expected have “a few more guys” available this week against the Jets, Canales said. Receiver Jalen Coker was close to returning from injured reserve last week and could make his debut on Sunday. Hubbard, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders and defensive lineman Turk Wharton could also be back this week if they make progress in practice. Also, the Panthers plan to open the 21-day window on Corbett, who avoided surgery for a knee injury earlier this year.

    Key number

    2 — Sunday marked only the second time the Panthers have won back-to-back games under Young, their third-year quarterback.

    Next steps

    Carolina has a chance to move above .500 on Sunday with a victory at the winless Jets. The last time the Panthers were above .500 this late in the season was Nov. 3, 2019, when they started 5-3, only to lose all of their remaining games.

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  • Mayfield tosses 2 touchdowns in Bucs 30-19 win over 49ers

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield’s heroics came early in the fourth quarter instead of the final minutes.

    Mayfield threw two touchdown passes and had a spectacular scramble to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the San Francisco 49ers 30-19 on Sunday.

    After winning four games with scores in the last minute, the Buccaneers (5-1) didn’t need a late comeback.

    Up 20-19 early in the fourth, the Buccaneers faced a third-and-14 at their 41. Mayfield ducked away from a sack in the pocket, escaped another defender, scrambled out of trouble, eluded more tackles and dove headfirst, stretching the ball to get a first down on third-and-14.

    A few plays later, Mayfield connected with Tez Johnson on a 45-yard TD pass down the middle to give the 49ers a 27-19 lead. Johnson made an outstretched leaping catch and the rookie celebrated his first career TD with an acrobatic flip.

    The 49ers were driving for a potential tying score when Mac Jones threw an interception to Jamel Dean on fourth-and-5 from the Buccaneers 33 with just under six minutes left.

    The turnover led to Chase McLaughlin’s 45-yard field goal that extended the lead to 30-19.

    Playing through knee and oblique injuries, Jones threw for 347 yards with two picks, losing for the first time in four starts filling in for Brock Purdy.

    The injury-riddled 49ers (4-2) lost four-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to a serious right ankle injury in the first quarter. Warner’s ankle appeared to turn sideways after a couple of players fell into him.

    Everyone on the 49ers bench came onto the field to see Warner before he left the field with an air cast on his ankle.

    San Francisco already was missing star edge rusher Nick Bosa, All-Pro tight end George Kittle, and wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall, along with Purdy and others.

    The Buccaneers, who were missing star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and running back Bucky Irving, lost rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka to a hamstring injury in the second half.

    Mayfield — who finished 17 of 23 for 256 yards — connected with a wide-open Kameron Johnson for a 34-yard TD to extend Tampa Bay’s lead to 20-13 late in the first half. It was Johnson’s first career reception. The Bucs went for the 2-point conversion following a roughing-the-passer penalty on the scoring pass but Rachaad White was stopped on a run.

    Sean Tucker’s 9-yard TD run put the Buccaneers ahead 14-10 in the second quarter. Mayfield connected with Egbuka for 17 yards and Cade Otton for 23 on consecutive plays during the drive.

    Christian McCaffrey ran in from the 1 to give the 49ers a 10-7 lead. It was San Francisco’s first rushing TD of the season on the team’s 148th carry.

    Kindle Vildor set up Tampa Bay’s first score with an interception at the 49ers 25 that could have been a pick-6, but he stumbled twice before getting tackled at the 12.

    White ran in from the 2 to put the Buccaneers up 7-0.

    The Niners’ Eddy Pineiro kicked field goals of 52, 54, 42 and 29 yards.

    Containing Christian

    McCaffrey had 54 yards rushing on 17 carries and seven catches for 57 yards. He entered the game on pace for 133 receptions.

    Injury report

    49ers: Purdy (toe) missed his fourth game and Pearsall (knee) sat out his second in a row.

    Buccaneers: Evans (hamstring), Godwin (fibula), RBs Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and Josh Williams (concussion), CBs Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and Zyon McCollum (thumb) were inactive. … Egbuka had two catches for 24 yards before going down. … RG Luke Haggard (shoulder) left in the fourth quarter.

    Up next

    49ers: Host the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday night.

    Buccaneers: Visit the Detroit Lions next Monday night.

    Associated Press

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  • Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard out, Rico Dowdle to start against Cowboys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard will miss his second straight game on Sunday with a calf injury.

    What You Need To Know

    • Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard will miss his second straight game due to a calf injury

    • He was ruled out on Friday for the game against the Dallas Cowboys after not practicing all week

    • Rico Dowdle, who ran for a career-high 206 yards last Sunday in a win over the Miami Dolphins, will start against his former team

    • The Panthers will also be without right tackle Taylor Moton, defensive lineman Turk Wharton, and defensive back Akayleb Evans


    Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle celebrates after scoring against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (Associated Press)

    Hubbard was ruled out on Friday for the game against Dallas after not practicing all week.

    Rico Dowdle, who ran for a career-high 206 yards in last Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins, will start against his former team. Dowdle played five seasons for the Cowboys before signing with the Panthers as an unrestricted free agent.

    Dowdle said earlier in the week the Cowboys “better buckle up.” He had two runs of 50 yards or longer last week as the Panthers overcame a 17-point deficit. 

    The Panthers (2-3) will also be without right tackle Taylor Moton (elbow), defensive lineman Turk Wharton (toe) and defensive back Akayleb Evans (hamstring). Wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) and cornerbacks Mike Jackson (ribs) and Chau Wade-Smith (chest) are questionable. Coker remains on injured reserve, but could be activated this week.

    Associated Press

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  • Ex-NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez arrested while hospitalized after stabbing

    INDIANAPOLIS — Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez was arrested while in the hospital for his alleged role in an overnight altercation in downtown Indianapolis that left him injured, Indianapolis police said in a statement released Saturday afternoon.

    Police said Sanchez arrested for battery with injury, unlawful entry of a vehicle and public intoxication –– all misdemeanors.

    The former NFL quarterback remained in the hospital and had not been booked into the Adult Detention Center, Indianapolis authorities said Saturday afternoon. Police said that the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decision.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez was arrested while in the hospital for his alleged role in an overnight altercation in downtown Indianapolis that left him injured, Indianapolis police said in a statement released Saturday afternoon

    • Police said Sanchez arrested for battery with injury, unlawful entry of a vehicle and public intoxication

    • The former NFL quarterback remained in the hospital and had not been booked into the Adult Detention Center, Indianapolis authorities said Saturday afternoon

    • Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s Raiders-Colts game, was in stable condition, Fox Sports said on social media

    Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s Raiders-Colts game, was in stable condition, Fox Sports said on social media.

    Indianapolis police initially released a statement that didn’t identify Sanchez but said they were investigating a confrontation that occurred around 12:30 a.m. Saturday between two men, one of whom was hospitalized with stab wounds.

    The other man received treatment for lacerations, police said. Detectives had reviewed video footage of the confrontation, which police said occurred in the popular downtown nightlife Wholesale District next to the Indiana statehouse.

    Police said earlier Saturday that the case would be given to the Marion County prosecutor’s office to decide on charges. That office didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry from The Associated Press.

    Police said neither man was a local resident and called it an “isolated incident between the two men and not a random act of violence.”

    Few other details were available.

    “We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time,” Fox Sports said.

    Sanchez, 38, had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He appeared on ABC and ESPN for two years before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021.

    The Long Beach, California, native, starred at Southern California before he was selected by the New York Jets with the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

    USC football also issued a statement on social media.

    He passed for 3,207 yards and 34 touchdowns while leading the Trojans to a 12-1 record during his junior year, which included a victory over Penn State in the 2009 Rose Bowl.

    He spent four seasons with the Jets, starting each of his 62 games while throwing for 12,092 yards and 68 touchdowns with 69 interceptions. The Jets lost in the AFC championship in each of Sanchez’s first two years in the league.

    Sanchez also appeared in games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington. He finished his playing career with 15,357 yards passing, 86 TD passes and 89 interceptions.

    The Jets and several of Sanchez’s former teammates posted message of support on social media on Saturday.

    “Sending our thoughts and love to Mark Sanchez and his family. Hoping for a speedy recovery, 6,” the Jets said, using Sanchez’s former jersey number.

    “Send prayers up for my former teammate mark.. sucks so much to see this,” Kerry Rhodes wrote.

    “So sad. Pray for his recovery,” Nick Mangold wrote.

    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Emeka Egbuka is the offensive rookie of the month

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of Month for September.  

    The rookie wide receiver had an impressive first month with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

    Emeka Egbuka caught a deep ball that sailed through two defenders and raced toward the end zone before slowing down at the 1, turning around and walking backward to complete a 77-yard touchdown catch.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for September
    • Egbuka has 18 receptions for 282 yards and four touchdowns. He leads all rookies in yards and TDs
    • The Buccaneers visit the Seattle Seahawks (3-1) on Sunday in a homecoming game for Egbuka. He grew up about an hour south of Seattle

    Egbuka has 18 receptions for 282 yards and four touchdowns. He leads all rookies in yards and TDs.

    With Mike Evans sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Buccaneers (3-1) are counting on Egbuka even more. His long TD catch sparked a rally against the Eagles last week that fell short.

    The Buccaneers had other needs when it was their turn to pick 19th in the first round of the NFL draft. But they couldn’t pass up Egbuka, who had a stellar career at Ohio State.

    He’s lived up to expectations.

    “There (have) been a lot of adjustments it has taken to go from college to the NFL,” Egbuka said Wednesday. “There is not specifically one I can point at. Just taking the steps to be able to learn from my mistakes and grow each and every week. It is a very long season (and I have) to be able to not stay the same week in and week out, (have) to continue to grow.”

    The Buccaneers got Chris Godwin back last week for the first time since last October. They have more depth at the position with veteran Sterling Shepard and rookie Tez Johnson. When Evans and Jalen McMillan come back, it’ll give Baker Mayfield even more options.

    Egbuka is already drawing coverage from top cornerbacks.

    “Well, he’s going to attract the attention and he attracted Quinyon Mitchell, who’s a very good corner in his own right,” coach Todd Bowles said. “So, it was a good battle that way. But with Chris coming back, and Shep making plays, and with Tez coming on, we expect those guys to step up and make more plays too, to take some of the attention off him.”

    Egbuka impressed teammates right from the start upon arriving in Tampa Bay. Evans praised his route-running ability and maturity. Egbuka even corrected one of Mayfield’s play calls in his first week.

    Egbuka is soaking in as much knowledge as possible from the playmakers around him.

    “It was amazing,” he said about playing his first game with Godwin. “He is just so cerebral. I feel like there is a lot of similarities people draw between the two of us, so for me to be able to have someone who is like-minded across from me at the ball and just kind of go back and forth on the coverages we are seeing, the plays that we are running, how we can get the best, most opportune-look, we just feed off of each other. His energy is infectious, he is a competitor to the max, and having someone like that back in your room and on the field with you is just so huge for the offense as a whole.”

    The Buccaneers visit the Seattle Seahawks (3-1) on Sunday in a homecoming game for Egbuka. He grew up about an hour south of Seattle.

    There will be plenty of family and friends at the game. Egbuka is focused on the defense he’s going against. The Seahawks have excellent cornerbacks in Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen.

    “All 11 people on their defense play extremely hard. They play with a lot of energy, a lot of fire, they are all flying around to the ball, so playing a group with a lot of energy like that always makes it interesting for us and we (have) to be able to have them match our energy,” Egbuka said. “We want to come out just as energetic as they are. Obviously, they cover very well, they have a ton of great athletes there in their secondary. … There is not really a weak link on their defense.”

    ___

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  • QB Young showed fight Panthers want to see despite loss to Cards

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dave Canales benched Bryce Young two games into the 2024 season for ineffectiveness following a flurry of turnovers resulting in Carolina losing its first two games by a combined margin of 73-13.

    More than six quarters into this season it looked as if Canales might be answering similar questions about Young’s future.

    The Panthers fell behind 27-3 to the Arizona Cardinals and appeared on the verge of getting blown out for the second straight week. Young had two turnovers on the first two drives, one that was returned for a touchdown.

    And then something clicked.

    Young got going in the second half against Arizona, rallying the Panthers to 27-22 with three second-half touchdown passes. The Panthers, aided by a recovered onside kick and a few costly penalties on the Cardinals, had several chances to pull off the largest comeback in franchise history — but Young never managed to complete a single pass on the final drive and Carolina dropped to 0-2.

    But even though Young failed to complete the comeback, he still displayed the resilience and fight that general manager Dan Morgan and Canales have been looking for from the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick as he continues to work through the maturity process in Year 3.

    Young completed 35 of 55 passes for a career-high 328 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona.

    This time, he won’t be benched.

    “He makes some magical plays,” Canales said. “It’s the mistakes that we have to continue to clean up.”

    However, getting the Panthers into the win column became more of a challenge for Young on Monday.

    Canales announced that guard Robert Hunt, who signed a $100 million contract last season, and center Austin Corbett are headed to injured reserve. Hunt tore his left biceps, while Corbett has a grade 3 MCL left knee sprain, which normally means a tear ligament.

    That’s a huge blow to the offensive line, once considered the strength of the team.

    Canales wouldn’t completely rule out either from returning, but it’s clear that would be a long shot.

    What’s working

    There were some questions about whether wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders, would be able to make it back from a severe case of ulcerative colitis which kept him out of last season and a hamstring injury he sustained earlier this year. Even Renfrow had his doubts. But the team’s slot receiver, who failed to make the final roster cut before re-signing with Carolina after it traded Adam Thielen, showed he still has the ability to get open. Renfrow caught seven passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona.

    What needs help

    Turnovers. They continue to be an issue with the Panthers, who have five in two games — all of those belonging to Young. Young’s fumble on the opening possession resulted in an Arizona defensive touchdown and an early 7-0 deficit. He then threw an interception on the second drive.

    Soon, the Panthers trailed 20-3 at halftime and never had a chance to establish the run game.

    “We have to eliminate the mistakes,” Canales said. “Two weeks in a row … early, self-inflicted wounds. … We’re not able to play the complementary football that we’re looking for to be able to mix the runs, the play actions.”

    Stock up

    WR Tetairoa McMillan. The No. 8 overall pick in the draft is clearly Carolina’s No. 1 option in the passing game. McMillan has 11 receptions for 186 yards this season, including six catches for 100 yards — some of which included some nifty moves after the catch — against Arizona. McMillan has yet to find the end zone, but it’s coming soon. The rookie is too talented not to score a bunch, and he showed that knack in college when he caught 26 TD passes in three seasons with the Arizona Wildcats. The Panthers simply need to design a few more plays — and look his way — more when they’re in the red zone.

    Stock down

    Xavier Legette. Carolina’s 2024 first-round draft pick is floundering in Dave Canales’ offense. He could wind up losing his starting job to Brycen Tremayne (3 catches, 48 yards) or veteran David Moore if his production doesn’t improve. Legette was targeted eight times by Young on Sunday, but finished with one catch for minus-2 yards. For the season Legette has 8 yards on four catches despite being targeted 15 times.

    Injuries

    With Corbett and Hunt headed to IR, Cade Mays will start at center and Chandler Zavala at guard. Because of past injuries, both have starting experience with the Panthers. Mays has 15 starts in three seasons, including eight at center last season, and Zavala has nine in two years.

    Key number

    20 — Percent of games (6-24) the Panthers have won with Young as their starting quarterback.

    Next steps

    The Panthers host Interstate-85 rival Atlanta on Sunday in their home opener.

    Associated Press

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