“I was thinking about this, they’re gonna have to bring someone in,” Shasky said. “It’s probably too early for trades, though I do believe there are some trades that are gonna go down … Let me give you some of the free agents the Niners could sign this week given the Demarcus Robinson injury. Tyreek Hill? No, they’re not gonna do it. This team’s not bringing him in. I’m just gonna tell everyone right now: the Chiefs will, [the Niners] won’t.”

Hill’s history with Chiefs Kingdom could bring him back to Andy Reid’s team, although he would need to be at 100% physically to reach an agreement. For now, it appears that Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers will not have Cheetah’s services.

Hill looks to get back to full strength

Tyreek Hill is working his way back from a horrific left knee injury—including a knee dislocation and multiple torn ligaments like his ACL—suffered last September while still with the Dolphins. After undergoing two surgeries, being released by Miami in February, and navigating a long rehab process where doctors initially worried he might never run the same, the 32-year-old speedster is currently unsigned.

While Hill recently admitted he’s still rebuilding power in that left leg, his agent Drew Rosenhaus noted that medical staff are eyeing a potential return to action around October—meaning once he gets full medical clearance, a contending team will likely scoop him up mid-season for a playoff push.

Hill’s time with the Chiefs

Tyreek Hill’s six-year run with Kansas City from 2016 to 2021 was nothing short of electric, establishing him as the ultimate big-play threat in Andy Reid’s offense. Over 91 regular-season games in KC, Cheetah caught 479 passes for 6,630 receiving yards and 56 receiving TDs, while adding another 712 rushing yards and 6 TDs on the ground.

He made the Pro Bowl in all six of his seasons with the Chiefs, earned three First-Team All-Pro selections, and played a massive role in reaching back-to-back Super Bowls—including bringing home the ring in Super Bowl LIV. He truly transformed the way defenses had to cover Kansas City before being traded to Miami in 2022.

Key takeaways

• Free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill is reportedly expected to sign with Kansas City rather than San Francisco.
• A target return window around October remains set following two knee surgeries.
• During six seasons with KC, he recorded 479 receptions for 6,630 receiving yards.

“Well, I think the way I look at it is … that’s part of the equation, but the other part is allowing Emmett to grow,” Reid said in his Monday video conference. “And so, I think Emmett will continue to get more snaps and then it’ll take a little bit of load, off Kenny, but he wants that ball.

“He wants a ball every play, Ken does, and he’s not asking to be relieved or anything else. But I think as it goes on, you get a nice balance with those two in there and then it keeps them even more fresh as the season goes on.”

The Chiefs opened the season 2-0, with their rushing attack emerging as one of their biggest strengths. Reid is loaded with talent in his backfield, and as the weeks go by, it will be interesting to see whether he continues to keep Walker on the field while giving Johnson more opportunities.

Walker and Johnson’s impact this season

Through the first two games of the season, Kansas City’s revamped backfield is clearly being led by Kenneth Walker, who has taken full control of the primary workload. Walker has posted 47 carries for 290 rushing yards (a massive 6.2 yards per carry) and 1 rushing TD, while adding 9 receptions for 79 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD.

Meanwhile, fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson is stepping nicely into that clear RB2 change-of-pace role, logging 8 carries for 24 rushing yards alongside 2 catches for 44 yards. Walker is handling the heavy lifting and explosive plays, but Johnson is giving Andy Reid a reliable, versatile backup option to spell him when needed.

Chiefs’ next challenges

The Chiefs are gearing up for a tricky stretch ahead: first, they head down to South Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 27 at Hard Rock Stadium, and right after that, they stay on the road for a division clash against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, October 4 at Allegiant Stadium.

Then, after taking an early Bye Week in Week 5, they return home to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, October 18 to host the Los Angeles Chargers. Chiefs Kingdom are looking to keep moving forward as they quickly seek to reclaim their status as contenders.

Key takeaways

• Andy Reid aims to balance backfield workloads between his primary and backup running backs.
• Primary back Kenneth Walker posted 290 rushing yards across the first two regular-season games.
• Kansas City travels to South Florida to play Miami on September 27.

“Right now the plan is for him to be out there in some capacity, and we’ll go from there,” Macdonald said, via the team’s website. “How much? We’ll see from here to Wednesday what that number is, but right now that’s the goal.”

Fortunately for the coach, Drew Lock stepped up and performed very well. The Seahawks opened the season 2-0, and their pursuit of back-to-back titles is looking stronger than ever.

A bitter debut for Darnold

Sam Darnold‘s season opener with the Seahawks ended almost as soon as it started. Just five snaps into Seattle’s opening drive against the Patriots, he took a heavy hit on a third-down sack by Dre’Mont Jones and ended up with a right hip/glute injury as his leg took the brunt of the turf impact.

He limped straight off the field, headed into the blue tent, and was ultimately ruled out for the rest of the night after completing just 1 of 2 passes for 13 yards. Drew Lock had to step in and steady the ship to secure a tight win, but seeing the QB1 forced to the locker room on drive number one definitely sent a quick shockwave through the Seattle faithful.

Lock rises to the occasion

Drew Lock has been remarkably solid guiding the Seahawks to a 2-0 start. Over his first two appearances, he’s completed 35 of 48 passes (a sharp 72.9% completion rate) for 422 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, posting a stellar passer rating.

After game-managing a tight 13-10 win over New England with 187 yards and 1 TD, he popped off in Week 2 against Arizona Cardinals, slinging 235 yards and 3 scores in a 31-7 blowout. He hasn’t turned the ball over once, keeping Seattle’s offense steady and moving while QB1 recovers.

What’s next for Seattle?

The Seahawks hit the road on Sunday, September 27 to take on the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. After that east-coast trip, they head right back to Seattle for a two-game home stand, first hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, October 4 at Lumen Field, followed by a massive divisional clash against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, October 11, also at Lumen Field.

Key takeaways

• Sam Darnold will return to practice in some capacity on Wednesday.
• The quarterback suffered a right hip/glute injury on his fifth snap against New England.
• Replacement passer Drew Lock recorded 422 passing yards and four touchdowns across two victories.

“It eases my mind to know it’s not nothing serious,” Burns said to the press once the game concluded. “I’ve dealt with this before. It all depends on how fast you can get the swelling and inflammation down. I’m going to do everything possible to get as tamed as I can.”

The pass rusher also addressed taking immediate action: “The recovery process starts now, so it will be ice and compression until we get back to the facility and do more work on it, try to stay off it, keep it elevated. That’s all you can do with sprains. I’ve dealt with it before.”

Burns’ situation adds to that of Jaxson Dart, who suffered a scary injury, although his diagnosis also appears to be positive. Clearly, the G-Men’s trip to the West Coast was not productive at all.

What exactly happened to Burns?

It was already a brutal night for the Giants, but things got even worse late in the fourth quarter when Brian Burns went down with a left low ankle sprain. With New York trailing 28-6 and under six minutes left on the clock, his ankle got rolled up on behind the play; he couldn’t put much weight on his leg and had to be helped off the field by trainers.

Before exiting, Burns was having a relatively quiet night in a tough game for the Big Blue defense, finishing with 2 solo tackles, 1 tackle for loss (TFL), and 0.5 sacks while battling through heavy attention from the Rams’ offensive line. Fortunately, postgame tests confirmed it wasn’t a high ankle sprain, though his status for next week remains up in the air on a short week.

Short recovery time

The Giants will host the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, September 27—giving Burns less than six days to get that ankle right, clear medical checks, and somehow be ready for game action.

For an explosive edge rusher who relies entirely on burst and quick get-offs to wreak havoc, losing almost two full days of typical game-week prep makes suited-up playing time an uphill battle.

Key takeaways

• Brian Burns suffered a left low ankle sprain during the Giants’ loss to the Rams.
• The edge rusher recorded 2 tackles and 0.5 sacks before his late fourth-quarter injury.
• New York hosts the Titans on September 27, giving him under six days to recover.

“The game really wasn’t as fast as I thought,” Donald said after the game, via the team’s website. “It was more of me calming myself down, overrunning stuff or just my feet not being in the ground how they supposed to be, not trusting my eyes, little stuff like that.

“But playing the game, when I held out in ’17, ’18 it was the same way when I came back, it took a couple games to get going. It’s a little different. I ain’t played in two years, so I gotta watch the film, see what I did good, see what I did wrong, and just clean it up.”

Donald did not travel to Melbourne for Week 1, precisely so he could be in the best possible physical condition. His return did not disappoint: the Rams defeated the Giants on Monday Night Football, and they are hopeful of having a great season.

Donald’s highly anticipated return

Coming out of a two-year retirement, Aaron Donald made his debut in the Rams‘ 28-6 blowout against the Giants and picked up right where he left off. Playing on a disciplined snap count, he logged 32 total snaps (14 against the run, 18 on pass rushes) and dropped a solid stat line with 3 total tackles, including a tackle for loss on Najee Harris that forced a huge third-down stop.

He also generated a pressure on the quarterback, keeping his ridiculous career streak intact of never finishing a game with zero pressures. Also his average get-off time on pass rush snaps was an insane 0.75 seconds—the third-fastest mark by any defensive tackle in the league so far this season.

McVay knows Donald makes everyone better

Donald’s return has several positive aspects for the Rams, not only because he is one of the greatest players in NFL history at his position, but also because of the emotional boost he provides to his teammates. Sean McVay has the privilege of coaching him once again, and he knows Donald is an important boost for this team.

“I was asked about that at the very beginning, and he just elevates people he’s around, situations he’s a part of,” McVay said. “… And I just think it’s one of those deals that you get an opportunity to say, ‘just watch what the hell I do, follow my freaking lead,’ and that’s what this guy does. I love him.”

What’s next for the Rams?

The Rams have a busy couple of weeks ahead: first, they head into the altitude to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 27 at Empower Field at Mile High; then, on Sunday, October 4, they stay on the road for a tough matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field; and finally, they head back home on Monday, October 12 to host the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald made his return after a two-year retirement in a victory against the Giants.
• Playing 32 total snaps, he recorded three tackles, including one for a loss on third down.
• Head coach Sean McVay praised how his defensive star elevates everyone around him.

According to ESPN, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo, the initial diagnosis for Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is a sprained MCL. An MRI and further testing are scheduled for tomorrow, marking relatively good news for the team regarding Dart, who tried to talk his way back into the game.

Furthermore, X-rays came back negative. While Dart is expected to miss some time, the major silver lining is that nothing appears broken — an encouraging initial diagnosis that the Giants organization hopes will remain unchanged.

How did Dart’s replacement perform?

Dart’s absence will undoubtedly cause major concern, as evidenced by the heavy defeat against the Rams. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception while being sacked in the 28-6 loss after taking over for Dart in the first quarter.

The injury took place on New York’s first possession of the game on a third-down pass. Dart was under pressure and jumped to pass downfield before being hit hard, getting sandwiched between multiple players and injuring his left knee.

Dart was a first-round pick last year and had a promising rookie NFL season. His aggressiveness and running style led to some injury concerns, including being evaluated for concussions five times as a rookie.

Those who led the Rams to victory

Davante Adams made eight catches for 195 yards and hauled in two of Matthew Stafford’s four touchdown passes as the Rams welcomed Aaron Donald back to the NFL, while Stafford passed for 327 yards for the Rams.

The Rams played without injured All-Pros Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, but Stafford and Adams put on a vintage performance while the preseason Super Bowl favorites rebounded competently from last week’s 27-7 debacle of a loss to the 49ers in Australia.

Key takeaways

• A sprained MCL was diagnosed for Jaxson Dart after exiting in the first quarter.
• Negative X-rays were reported, with a follow-up MRI scheduled for Tuesday.
• Jameis Winston replaced Dart in the Giants’ Week 2 loss to the Rams.

Dart had to be helped off the field after getting pummeled by the Rams in the first quarter. He was ruled out for the rest of the game. The 23-year-old Dart went 3-of-5 for 20 yards against the Rams.

While Schoen’s comment did not exactly provide a timeline or clarify the severity of the young signal-caller’s knee injury, it was good to hear a positive comment. In the offseason, the Giants emphasized the need to protect Dart, including urging him to avoid absorbing heavy contact. Dart, who was a regular customer of the blue tent in his rookie year, recently admitted that he is still unlearning his old habits so he can stay on the field.

A return Dart was eager to see

He had a remarkable performance in their 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. He went 23-of-29 for 230 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Before facing the Rams, Dart admitted that he was curious to see Rams defensive end Aaron Donald back in action.

It is a calming message after Dart limped off the field in the first quarter following a hit from both ends by Rams defenders Byron Young and Josiah Stewart. Jameis Winston took over for Dart under center as the Giants work without a backup plan, with third-stringer Jake Haener on the practice squad.

He is not as good as Dart, and the Giants’ NFL season will be sunk if the second-year signal-caller is out for a long time. The Giants would still be in major trouble if Dart only needs a handful of weeks to get back, but that would obviously still beat the worst-case scenario.

Dart protecting himself from big hits and concussions has been a constant story. This, though, was a hit from the pocket, after which his left knee appeared to bend awkwardly.

Key takeaways

• “He’s going to be OK” was stated by GM Joe Schoen regarding Jaxson Dart.
• Three touchdown passes were thrown during a 230-yard performance in Week 1.
• Jameis Winston took over under center following the first-quarter hit.

Finally, Nabers returned to the field, put his helmet on, and ran back out onto the field. He is officially back in action, though close attention will remain on his status in case he continues to deal with shoulder pain.

Nabers’ return is massive, but the Giants must start considering their wide receiver depth chart and backups, knowing that one of their starters could suffer a damaging injury. As a result, New York will remain watchful while also anticipating the involvement of Odell Beckham.

How Nabers suffered the hit

Malik tried to make a contested catch while being covered by Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie. Immediately after the play, Nabers put his left hand over the area between his bicep and shoulder.

It is worth remembering that Nabers returned to action in Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL in his knee last September. It was uncertain whether he would play in the opener until pregame warmups. He caught six passes for 69 yards against the Cowboys. He had one catch for one yard against the Rams before his return for the Giants.

It has been a difficult start to Week 2 for Harbaugh, considering the injury alongside the status of Dart, who suffered a hit to his knee following a heavy collision.

The Giants’ offense, of course, is largely built around Dart, the second-year quarterback, and Nabers, the third-year wide receiver. They played less than half a game together in the 2025 NFL season. For the moment, they still struggle to establish that continuity.

Key takeaways

• Malik Nabers returned to the game following an evaluation for a shoulder injury.
• Six catches for 69 yards were logged in Week 1 after ACL recovery.
• Jaxson Dart exited to the locker room after taking a hit to his knee.

After a short stop by the blue medical tent, Dart headed down the tunnel and into the locker room, not the X-ray room. Perhaps an encouraging sign, the Giants’ starting quarterback against the Rams was able to walk there under his own power, though with a visible limp.

Ahead of the second half, Dart was confirmed out. “Giants have ruled QB Jaxson Dart (knee) out for the rest of the game,” NorthJersey’s Art Stapleton reported. For the time being, Winston will run Matt Nagy’s Giants offense, but the fear of a potentially severe injury remains around Dart.

In Hollywood, New York’s night got off to a horror movie start. To make matters worse, the Giants’ woes continued as Malik Nabers momentarily exited the game injured. However, the wideout quickly returned to action. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Dart. By the fourth quarter, the Ole Miss product was seen in street clothes watching Winston lead the offense.

NY Giants are in QB trouble

With Dart out for the remainder of the Giants’ visit to the City of Angels, Harbaugh is down to his last option at quarterback. While discouraging to watch Dart go down with an injury early in a crucial game, keeping Winston healthy is now a top priority. New York has no other option at football’s most important position.

The G-Men don’t have a third, emergency quarterback designated for their primetime game at Rams House. If anything happens to Winston, they will have to improvise, and that’s far from ideal this early in the campaign. Odell Beckham Jr. could be an option for New York at quarterback in case they need to resort to an “in case of emergency” option.

Dart walking off the field could mean nothing

Although it’s always better than the alternative of being carted off the field, the fact that a player is able to put some weight on his legs after a lower-body injury isn’t as telling as many fans may think. Thus, for the time being, no conclusions can be drawn from Dart walking off the field on his own.

Still, Giants general manager Joe Schoen provided an optimistic update on Dart. That said, until further testing is conducted, every option remains on the table. That includes good, bad, and worst-case news.

Key takeaways

• Jaxson Dart exited Monday’s game early following a hit to his left knee.
• Backup quarterback Jameis Winston entered to run the G-Men offense for Matt Nagy.
• Dart didn’t return to the game and was seen in street clothes in the fourth quarter.

In fact, Nacua only missed one game in the 2025 NFL season, and he was hoping to have a similar Iron-Man-like streak in 2026. However, the Rams’ star pass-catcher and matchup-destroyer is facing adversity of the kind he’s never faced in his professional journey.

The last game Nacua had missed in the NFL was on Oct. 19, 2025. Then, Nacua was ruled out due to an ankle sprain days in advance, before the Rams faced the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL International Game at Wembley Stadium in London.

Rams won last time Nacua was out

If it’s worth anything, the Rams did great the last time they were without Nacua in an NFL regular-season game. Against Jacksonville, Los Angeles won 35-7 in the Big Smoke. Davante Adams shined the brightest with Nacua sidelined, as the veteran wideout caught three touchdown passes.

Perhaps a similar night awaits for him at SoFi Stadium against the Giants. Though similar, this isn’t the same Rams team from a little less than a year ago. Indeed, the fact Aaron Donald is playing for the Rams against the Giants in Week 2 helps, but may not make up for other key absentees.

Most importantly, Myles Garrett isn’t playing for Los Angeles against New York on Monday Night Football as he is on Injured Reserve (IR) following knee surgery. Still, Sean McVay and the Rams will have to do well with what they have. Indeed, they have notable absences and injuries, but they boast a talented roster that can weather the storm.

When can Nacua return?

The last time Nacua missed time due to injury in the NFL, the Rams were fortunate enough to enjoy a bye week, meaning Nacua only missed one game. They won’t have that luxury in 2026, and if Nacua doesn’t make progress, he might be sidelined when his team takes on the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 3.

Last year, Puka caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown upon his return from the ankle sprain. It remains to be seen how he bounces back from the hip injury that is affecting him in 2026.

Key takeaways

• Puka Nacua missed the Rams’ Week 2 game due to a hip injury.
• The star wide receiver previously sat out an International Game in London on Oct. 19, 2025.
• Los Angeles won that prior matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars by a 35-7 score.

The last time Aaron Donald stepped on an NFL field was over two-and-a-half years ago. Donald’s final regular-season appearance before retirement came against these same Giants on Dec. 31, 2023. On New Year’s Eve in New York, Donald recorded five tackles and two sacks as the Rams escaped with a 26-25 victory.

His final game overall came two weeks later on Jan. 14, 2024, when the Rams lost 24-23 to the Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card round. His previous appearance before the home crowd at SoFi Stadium came Dec. 21, 2023, in a 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Monday falls on the 21st as well — exactly two years and nine months, or 1,005 days, later.

Donald and his return with the Rams

Donald is now active for the matchup, where his participation is expected. Donald slowly deliberated over a return, with the Rams providing sporadic updates as he went through the motions of figuring out whether he was ready to play in the NFL again. The answer finally came on Aug. 30, with Donald signing a one-year, $20 million deal to play for the Rams again.

That return came too late for Donald to play in the Rams’ NFL season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, a 27-7 blowout loss. That also represented Donald’s first chance to play alongside Myles Garrett, who was invisible in Week 1 before undergoing knee surgery.

Even with an extended layoff, expectations will be high for Donald, just as they have been for the entire Rams team that entered this season as a Super Bowl favorite. At 35 years old, Donald might occupy a different role than the one he had in his prime, but one thing is certain: it will be worth watching.

Where do the Rams need Donald?

Donald is 35 and has not played a meaningful snap in nearly 1,000 days. The team would be foolish to expect 60 snaps of vintage Donald immediately, and Donald has already acknowledged he will tap out when necessary rather than pretend retirement somehow turned back the hands of time. However, the Rams do not need the old Aaron Donald for 60 snaps. They need Aaron Donald on crucial snaps.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald returns after signing a one-year, $20 million deal on August 30.
• 1,005 days have elapsed since the veteran’s final playoff appearance on January 14, 2024.
• Five tackles and two sacks were recorded during the prior matchup against New York.