Puka Nacua is officially listed as questionable as a true game-time decision vs Giants due to a hip/groin injury. Nacua missed the Friday and Saturday practices leading up to the game.

According to various NFL analysts and insiders, including Adam Schefter of ESPN, Nacua is trending in the wrong direction to suit up for the Rams. The Rams must submit the list of official inactives 90 minutes prior to the kickoff of the game and it seems like the decision will come down to the wire.

There are huge concerns over Nacua’s possible replacement too

If Nacua isn’t able to suit up against the Giants, there is big trouble. Nacua’s natural replacement is Jordan Whittington, however, the Rams have him with a doubtful designation due to a quad injury.

Hence, if Nacua doesn’t suit up, it will be Davante Adams taking the full workload of a WR1. Tutu Atwell and Xavier Smith could step into the role of Nacua and leave Adams as the first progression.

The Rams must look good in Week 2 vs NY Giants

After a lackluster Week 1 showing in Australia that ended with the team just scoring seven points, the Rams need to come back with a bang against the Giants in primetime hours.

The Giants come in hot after a primetime divisional win against the Cowboys. Now, they could look at a second primetime win if they’re able to pull up another upset. It’s a hugely important game for both teams.

Key takeaways

• Puka Nacua is listed as questionable for Monday Night Football due to a hip/groin injury.
• Official inactive lists must be submitted 90 minutes prior to the game’s kickoff time.
• Backup receiver Jordan Whittington carries a doubtful designation after the Rams scored just seven points in Week 1.

“We had the big play in overtime where we think we stripped the ball—I was actually kinda glad, I didn’t want to see twitters reaction if they would’ve called it a fumble,” Mahomes said during his post-game press conference.

Trailing by three points, Laquon Treadwell caught a pass from Daniel Jones near the 20-yard line and was tackled by the Kansas City secondary. After losing the ball, the officials reviewed the play and ultimately ruled it an incomplete pass rather than a fumble, which would have given the home team an immediate victory at that point.

Andy Reid’s team has established itself as one of the NFL’s winningest teams in recent years, and that level of success often leads to public scrutiny over how they have managed to win so much. Fortunately for Mahomes, the win at Arrowhead was a clean one.

Mahomes rises to the occasion once again

Patrick Mahomes was back to putting on a show in the Chiefs’ wild 33-30 overtime victory against the Colts. He looked completely vintage, putting up a massive line by completing 32 of 47 passes for 382 yards, three touchdowns, and clean sheet with zero interceptions.

On top of slinging it all over Arrowhead, he scrambled twice for another 17 yards on the ground. He was spreading the love all night—hitting Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, and Jalen Royals for scores—and ultimately marched Kansas City down the field in OT to set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning kick.

Have the Chiefs ever been benefited?

In a closely contested matchup between the Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, controversial officiating once again sparked intense debate among fans and analysts alike. The scrutiny centered on Patrick Mahomes’ first touchdown scramble of the season, where Travis Kelce appeared to commit a clear, uncalled holding infraction on a Broncos defender to spring Mahomes into the end zone.

The missed call reignited long-standing accusations of favorable whistle-treatment for Kansas City, a narrative even Kelce later acknowledged with a lighthearted comment regarding the officials’ decision to keep their flags tucked away.

Key takeaways

• The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts 33-30 in overtime during their 2026 season matchup.
• Quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 32 of 47 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns.
• A controversial touchdown scramble against the Denver Broncos featured an uncalled holding infraction by Travis Kelce.

“I’ve been holding up good, feeling good,” Donald said to the press on Sept. 18. “Back-to-back days this week, so I’m feeling like myself. It’s been a great week.” The Rams’ prodigy also has Sean McVay’s backing: “If he said it, he’s going. Whatever Aaron says, I support.”

SoFi Stadium is gearing up for a historic night, as the fans in Inglewood will once again witness one of the greatest players in NFL history at his position. That said, the occasion cannot distract the Rams from the task at hand: securing a win against the Giants, as they will not want to start the season 0-2.

Donald’s last time on the field

Aaron Donald officially played his last NFL game before hanging up his cleats on January 14, 2024, in the Wild Card playoff loss against the Detroit Lions. Though he briefly stepped away from football after that game, he left at that time one of the most dominant resumes in league history: a Super Bowl LVI champion, a 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 8-time First-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, and the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

On top of capping off 111.0 career sacks and 24 forced fumbles as an interior defensive lineman, he was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, cementing his status as an absolute first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Rams-Giants latest showdown

The last official matchup between the Rams and the Giants went down on New Year’s Eve in 2023, and it was an absolute nail-biter. The Rams barely squeaked by with a 26-25 victory at MetLife Stadium, mostly thanks to Kyren Williams shredding New York’s defense for three touchdowns and Matthew Stafford throwing for over 300 yards.

The Giants actually had a chance to steal it late after a wild 80-yard punt return touchdown by Gunner Olszewski, but they missed the two-point conversion and a last-second field goal attempt, letting LA lock up a playoff spot in dramatic fashion.

Kansas City and Indianapolis couldn’t separate on the scoreboard, leading to one of the best games so far on the season, in primetime and on national television. However, as entertaining as it was, it left fans with a bittersweet taste in their mouths. Having played as late into the night as they did, many wanted to experience a tie.

However, it wasn’t to be, and that means there has yet to be a tie game in the 2026 NFL season. The last game that finished in a stalemate was one very early in the 2025 campaign.

When was the last time an NFL game ended in a tie?

There has only been one tie in the NFL since the regular-season overtime rules were changed to give both teams a possession. That was in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season, when the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers tied at 40 points apiece.

As the Chiefs and Colts battled, it seemed the two sides were headed for a draw, as well. But it wasn’t to be. The last tie in an NFL game was also a Sunday night matchup, which only gave fans hope that history could repeat itself in Arrowhead.

When was the last time the Chiefs and Colts tied a game?

The Colts’ last NFL game ended in a stalemate was on Sept. 11, 2022. Back then, Indianapolis tied 20-20 against the Houston Texans in Week 1. Matt Ryan was the team’s QB, while Jonathan Taylor rushed for 161 yards and a TD.

As for the Chiefs, one must travel much farther back for their last draw in the NFL. Kansas City’s last tie was on Nov. 19, 1989, against the Cleveland Browns (10-10 final score). Steve DeBerg was the team’s starting quarterback back then.

After the game, Burrow expressed optimism reminiscent of a championship run, saying, “It feels like early on in 2021,” while praising the Bengals’ defense for completely shutting down the Texans, as noted by Cole McIntire on X.

In 2021, the Bengals reached the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988, ultimately losing 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams. That game was decided when Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with wide receiver Cooper Kupp for a go-ahead touchdown with 85 seconds remaining, followed by a decisive late sack of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow by Aaron Donald.

How the defense supported Burrow

The defense’s elite effort allowed Cincinnati to control the game from start to finish, validating Burrow‘s confidence despite medical concerns that lingered throughout the week.

Pre-game, any doubts about his condition were put to rest when Burrow reached out directly to national media and clarified his status in a text exchange with NFL insider Jay Glazer, stating that he was “Totally good” and dismissing the injury rumors as exaggerated.

With his back injury clearly behind him, Burrow’s commanding presence, alongside the defense’s exceptional performance, has generated excitement among Bengals fans. As Cincinnati builds on this significant win, memories of the 2021 season suggest that the roster is focused and ready for a special run.

Burrow’s performance

The defense has led both victories, which is far from the norm over the last five years. The Bengals have the chance to start 3-0 for the first time since the 2015 NFL season.

Burrow has not been dominant, but he has not been bad either, candidly admitting after Sunday’s game that he played “incredibly average” and has plenty of room to grow after two weeks. He threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans on Sunday, with both scoring passes going to Ja’Marr Chase.

The Bengals will travel for their first division game of the season next Sunday to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are currently 1-1 after falling 20-3 to the New England Patriots on Sunday.

It didn’t take long before the broadcast showed Swift in attendance at the luxury suite. Perhaps waiting for the perfect moment, that was provided by Kelce’s 13-yard touchdown catch. As Kelce celebrated in the endzone, Swift was enjoying the moment surrounded by friends and family up in the box.

By now, Swift attending Chiefs games has become routine. Just like expecting Patrick Mahomes to be Kansas City’s starting quarterback, as he will in Week 2 of the NFL against the Colts, Swift has reached that level of certainty.

As long as Kelce is playing, she will be joining Chiefs Kingdom in the stands. In pure “You Belong With Me” fashion, Swift is on the bleachers for Kelce’s primetime matchup against the Colts — well, not quite the bleachers, as she’s in a luxury suite — but you get the point.

Swift keeps perfect attendance

As Kansas City plays back-to-back night games to start the 2026 NFL season (Monday night in Week 1), Swift is off to a perfect attendance start to the campaign. Two for two at Arrowhead.

With no tours scheduled anytime soon and her new life next to husband Kelce in Missouri, there aren’t many reasons to believe Swift will miss games anytime soon. Not as long as Kelce and the Chiefs play at home, and if it’s in primetime and on national television, even better.

During Week 1, Swift was joined by Tom Cruise, leading to fans asking who his favorite NFL team is and whether Cruise is a Chiefs fan. In Week 2, at least as Swift was shown during the TV broadcast, she didn’t appear to be joined by any other celebrity. She may have no need for such company as long as she is close to her husband. Where Kelce is, Swift isn’t too far behind, and that stays true in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season.

Swift celebrates Kelce’s TD

In Week 2 of the NFL season, Kelce recorded his first touchdown grab of the campaign. Swift was in attendance, and in case anyone missed Kelce’s explosive play, Swift made sure to remind everybody who just scored. Pointing at her ring finger on her left hand (which has sported a wedding ring since July 3), Swift may have had the best celebration across all games on Sunday.

According to stats from USA Today, Kelce’s TD against Indianapolis was the ninth he scored with Swift in attendance — the first since Week 8 of the 2025 campaign.

A member of the Chiefs’ family

Gearing up for Week 2’s Sunday night showdown, Swift joined Kelce and others for Patrick Mahomes’ 31st birthday (Sept. 17) at the steakhouse owned by the Chiefs’ quarterback and tight end, 1587, as reported by People.

Clearly, Swift is another member of the big family in Kansas City, and she has another reason to attend games at Arrowhead Stadium: not only is her husband playing, but her friends are, too.

Basically, the Chiefs decided to move on from Pacheco as their primary back, allowing him to explore free agency. Kansas City ended up signing running back Kenneth Walker III to a lucrative three-year deal, boosting the position with the Super Bowl LX MVP.

The move came as the Chiefs revamped their running game to feature more power running. This shift is in part designed to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes after he comes back from his season-ending knee injury, as Mahomes will almost certainly be far less mobile, especially initially. Pacheco, who suffered a fractured fibula in 2024, couldn’t do much in 2025 with 118 carries for 462 yards and one touchdown in a year where the Chiefs missed the playoffs.

The Lions still saw him as a reasonable free agency option to replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans. Pacheco joined Detroit to become the number-two back behind Jahmyr Gibbs, while also representing insurance protection in case Gibbs got injured.

Isiah Pacheco’s current status

The move turned out to be favorable for the Chiefs, as Pacheco is currently injured after underdoing back surgery, and his status for the rest of the 2026 season remains in question. There is a chance that Pacheco could return in December, but it would be unwise to rely on any consistent contributions from the injury-prone star.

Pacheco‘s trajectory has experienced frustrating low points that explain why the Chiefs ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing production over the past two seasons.

There was a time when the former seventh-round pick appeared to be a long-term solution beyond a single season; however, injuries took a toll and forced Kareem Hunt to become Kansas City’s most reliable running back last season.

For Pacheco, it is sad to see the back continuing to struggle at this level. Having suffered so many setbacks and remaining unable to consistently deliver leaves reason to wonder how many more opportunities await him.

Week 1 was a positive sample for the Chiefs without Pacheco

For the first time in three years, the Chiefs boast a ground game capable of taking pressure off Mahomes, spearheaded by Kenneth Walker following an outstanding debut that brings balance to make Kansas City’s offense a lethal weapon.

Walker lived up to the hype in his first game as a Chief, recording 23 carries for 173 yards and a rushing touchdown along with three catches and 18 yards for a receiving TD, leading the team’s 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Pacheco has yet to make his Lions debut as he recovers from injury. It is a familiar scenario for Chiefs fans, who understand the frustration of being unable to depend on Pacheco during an NFL season.

“Doing much better, appreciate all the prayers and support,” Jayden Reed wrote on his X account, @JaydenReed5. Reed’s statement came on the heels of the Packers’ encouraging update on the wide receiver’s health after the 20-17 win over the Jets.

“Packers say WR Jayden Reed ‘has feeling and movement in all extremities. He will stay overnight for further testing and observation’,” as reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter.

What happened to Reed?

Reed was hit by Jets linebacker Demario Davis, who made direct contact with his helmet. Immediately, Reed collapsed to the ground, losing mobility and consciousness by the time he fell to the turf.

As reported by Jordan Schultz, Reed required a spine board, which was immediately taken as a scary sign of a potential serious spine or neck injury, given where he was hit and everything that followed.

Fortunately, though, it seems the worst is over, and Reed is making progress. For the time being, however, football is the least of Green Bay’s worries, and all the team cares about is having Reed pass his medical evaluations at the hospital, where he will remain for more tests and under the surveillance of health professionals.

Another bad injury for Packers

In the cruelest form of insult to injury, the next play after Reed left the game, offensive lineman Zach Bako-Bewele had to be carted off the field with a knee injury. Speaking after the game, head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t sugarcoat his true thoughts on the right tackle’s health and how it looks in the 2026 NFL season.

“That doesn’t look good, either. I think [Zach Bako-Bewele] could be out for a long time,” LaFleur admitted postgame, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

Needless to say, it was a less-than-ideal rainy afternoon in the Big Apple for the Packers. Their record will say they are back at .500, but this victory sure doesn’t taste so good.

“Oh no,” Brady said as the injury unfolded, before also letting a profanity slip out while reacting to the graphic replay. Brady immediately apologized for the language, acknowledging that he did not expect the broadcast to show such a disturbing replay.

The moment quickly spread across social media as fans reacted not only to Brady’s unfiltered response but also to the severity of Daniels’ apparent injury. The Commanders quarterback was carted off the field after hurting his left elbow on the final play of the first half.

What happened to Jayden Daniels’ left elbow?

Jayden Daniels suffered the injury with Washington facing the Cowboys near the goal line and the clock winding down before halftime. The quarterback took the snap but appeared to have his foot stepped on by an offensive lineman, causing him to lose his balance and reach out with his left arm to brace his fall.

The quarterback’s left elbow appeared to bend awkwardly as he landed, and Daniels immediately showed signs of pain. He was eventually helped from the field and placed in an air cast before being taken to the locker room on a cart.

The injury is particularly concerning because it appears to involve the same left elbow Daniels injured during the 2025 season. Daniels previously suffered a dislocated left elbow and missed time because of it, making Sunday’s incident an especially worrying development for Washington.

For now, the injury should be described as an apparent left elbow injury rather than a confirmed diagnosis. Early reports and video appeared consistent with another dislocation, but the Commanders would need further medical evaluation to determine the full extent of the damage and establish a recovery timeline.

Daniels had been playing well before leaving the game, completing 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown while adding 69 rushing yards on seven carries. Marcus Mariota took over at quarterback after Daniels was forced out.

Brady’s reaction added another viral moment to what was already a frightening scene. The FOX broadcaster’s immediate “Oh no” and subsequent apology showed just how shocking the replay was, while Daniels’ injury left Washington facing major questions about its quarterback situation.

Williams immediately appeared to be in significant pain and was attended to by the Bears’ medical staff before being helped off the field. He was eventually taken to the locker room, bringing his afternoon to an early end as Chicago tried to rally against Minnesota.

The Bears have not yet revealed the severity of the hamstring injury or how much time Williams could miss. Head coach Ben Johnson said the team will know more after further evaluation, making the coming days important for determining the quarterback’s status for Week 3.

Caleb Williams remains positive after suffering hamstring injury

Despite the concerning scene at Soldier Field, Williams reportedly remains positive about his recovery. Mike Florio reported that the Bears quarterback is in good spirits as he prepares to begin the recovery process.

“Bears quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a right hamstring injury while scrambling in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings. And while he was in significant pain after it happened, we’re told that he seems to be in ‘good spirits’ about attacking the recovery process.”

That positive outlook is encouraging for Chicago, but the Bears still need to determine the extent of the injury before establishing a timetable. Johnson acknowledged after the game that his first concern was Williams’ knee, and he was relieved that the injury appeared to involve the hamstring instead.

Williams finished the game 15-of-26 passing for 138 yards and also rushed for 42 yards before leaving. Tyson Bagent replaced him for the final minutes, and the Bears ultimately fell 9-3 to Minnesota.

The Bears now have more than a week before their next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, giving Williams some time to undergo additional testing and begin his recovery. For now, Chicago will wait for more information before determining whether its starting quarterback will be available in Week 3.

• Jayden Daniels
• Marcus Mariota
• Athan Kaliakmanis (emergency third QB)

Mariota replaced Jayden Daniels, who has been ruled out according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Last season, Daniels also wasn’t available much due to injuries. One in particular very similar to this one.

Daniels already suffered an injury to his left elbow

Jayden Daniels previously suffered a severe dislocated left elbow on November 2, 2025, during a game against the Seattle Seahawks. It was the same exact elbow he injured just now against the Cowboys.

Daniels had the grit to still try and finish the play. According to medical clinic Access Ortho, dislocating the same elbow twice greatly increases the risk of chronic joint instability, permanent stiffness, and early-onset arthritis.

How much will Daniels be out?

While imaging and MRIs still need to be taken, it seems like this injury was almost identical to the one he suffered in 2025. In that case, he ended up missing three games for the Commanders.

However, given that this is a re-injury, he could probably miss even more time. This would mean Marcus Mariota is under center for the foreseeable future. Mariota is also a mobile QB, though he doesn’t bring the upside Daniels provides.