The NFL’s highest-paid player is in a slump but even worse, there’s new injury concerns for the Bengals quarterback.
Chargers coach Brandon Staley started the season on the hot seat and after a 0-2 start, he needs to right the ship quickly to save his job.
Meanwhile, former number 1 pick Baker Mayfield is silencing his critics with the Bucs quarterback reaching a feat that not even his predecessor Tom Brady achieved in his time at Tampa Bay.
Read on for our Monday morning NFL Wrap!
INJURY HORROR FOR $275 MILLION MAN AS BENGALS DROP FIRST TWO
Look away Bengals fans.
Cincinati quarterback Joe Burrow has re-aggravated a calf injury late in the 27-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, although the early signs appear to be positive.
Burrow, who missed the preseason and much of training camp with a right calf issue, was seen receiving treatment on the injury in the fourth quarter.
“It’s pretty sore right now but no telling how it’s going to feel so I think we’re going to take it day-by-day,” Burrow said.
The 26-year-old, who became the highest-paid player in NFL history when signing a 5-year, $275 million contract extension on September 7, hasn’t been anywhere near his best or worthy of that pay packet to begin the season.
Burrow was benched against Cleveland in Week 1, and while he was much better against the Ravens on Monday morning (AEST), a number of erratic throws sunk his team’s chances.
It has been a less-than-ideal start for the Bengals, who have now lost their first two games, both against division rivals.
It’s a long season, so Burrow and the Bengals have plenty of time to turn it around, but for a team picked by many to win the AFC, very few would have anticipated this start.
What fans can take solace in is that the Bengals were able to bounce back from a 0-2 start last season to reach a AFC Championship game.
BAKER, BUCS PROVE WEEK 1 WAS NO FLUKE
The Bucs have so far proven to be the surprise packet of the NFL at this early stage.
Former number one pick Baker Mayfield has been outstanding over the first two games, throwing for 490 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Importantly, Tampa Bay is 2-0.
Star wideout Mike Evans, who has so far refused to commit to the Buccaneers past this season, had a huge game (six receptions, 171 yards and a TD).
The Bucs defence came up big when it mattered, shutting down Chicago’s run game with quarterback Justin Fields unable to threaten with his legs.
It’s a dream start for a team that weren’t given much winning hope this season.
This is mainly due to the lack of expectations placed on this team since the retirement of Tom Brady, with the new quarterback room at Tampa Bay much-discussed this offseason for all the wrong reasons.
Mayfield started training camp in a battle with third-year pro Kyle Trask for the job, but the reports and videos that filtered out of Tampa were anything but positive.
Mayfield, on his fourth team in three years since leaving the organisation that drafted him (Cleveland Browns), ended up winning the job, but it wasn’t a decision that pleased everyone, with many feeling Trask has the more upside at this stage of his career.
However, coach Todd Bowles’ decision is proving a masterstroke at this stage, as Mayfield enjoys a career resurgence.
In fact, Mayfield’s 2-0 start without throwing an interception is something that Brady never achieved in his three seasons in Tampa.
CHARGERS COACH FIRMLY ON THE HOT SEAT
The Los Angeles Chargers dropped their second straight game to begin the season on Monday, which has only warmed the seat their coach Brandon Staley sits on.
The Chargers lost in overtime to the Titans in Week 2, and could easily end up starting the season 0-4 with games against the Vikings (away) and Raiders up next.
Staley began the season on a short leash thanks in part to his team’s infamous loss to the Jaguars in the Wild Card Round when somehow coughing up a 27-7 lead.
It’s hard to be too critical, considering the Chargers have lost both games by less than three points against teams expected to challenge for a playoff spot in the Titans and Dolphins.
However, to lose so many close games like this throughout Staley’s tenure isn’t a coiencedence, it’s more an ugly trend that has failed to be rectified.
Staley is 19-17 at the helm, but on paper, leads one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
If Staley fails to turn it around in the coming weeks, he’ll be on the hunt for a new gig.
FIRST ROUND QB’S PROVE THEIR WORTH
It was a battle of first round quarterbacks in Indianapolis on Monday, with Texans’ second-overall pick CJ Stroud and the Colts fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson facing off in a AFC South battle.
Both rookies had shaky starts to their careers in Week 1, but were able to bounce back with strong showings in Week 2 in their time on the field.
Unfortunately, Richardson left the game early after suffering a concussion. Colts owner Jim Irsay said post-match that the quarterback was “fine.”
Richardson ran for two touchdowns and went 6/10 for 56 yards before being replaced by Gardner Minshew in the second quarter, who wound up leading the Colts to a 31-20 win.
Stroud showed off his arm talent by throwing for a whopping 384 yards, adding two touchdowns.
The former Ohio State quarterback has quickly formed a strong rapport with third-year reciever Nico Collins. Collins had 145 receiving yards, with him and Stroud linking up for a number of long gains throughout the game.
This included an 8-yard touchdown in the first quarter which was Stroud’s first in the NFL.
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