Patrick Mahomes has praised rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy for "opening stuff up" in the Kansas City Chiefs' win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The Chiefs began their first steps towards an unprecedented three-peat with a 27-20 win over Baltimore on Thursday but had to hang on as the Ravens had a late touchdown overturned.
Worthy scored a touchdown the first time he got the ball in an NFL game with a 21-yard rush, before getting his second in the fourth quarter, a 35-yard catch from Mahomes.
The quarterback lauded Worthy's ability after the game, noting that his touchdowns were not his biggest contributions to the team during the win.
"Just having him out there, it just opens up stuff," Mahomes said. "You saw when he's out there, they're playing shell coverages.
"It's getting guys like [Travis Kelce] and it's getting guys like [Rashee Rice] open underneath, and that's what's so great about this offense is we're able to do all of that, and that's when we're at our best.
"He's so cool, calm and collected all the time. You never even see the excitement on him, but he goes out there and makes plays.
"Obviously, we want to continue to use him more and more, but I thought he had a great day today, making big plays and big moments."
Meanwhile, the Ravens were left frustrated by a late call from the officials as Isaiah Likely was denied a touchdown on the final play of the game.
He caught Lamar Jackson's pass, but it was ruled out by the slightest of margins after initially being given onfield, with replays showing his toe was just outside the line.
"You have to live with that call," Likely said, via the team's website.
"That's on me. I just have to get both feet in. I harp on myself to catch everything and make sure everybody puts us in the best possibility, so I take responsibility. Next time, I'm going to get my feet down."
Jackson, however, was not convinced by the final call.
"I thought it was a touchdown," Jackson said. "I still think it's a touchdown."
Houston Texans put top receiver Nico Collins on IR
Nico Collins, the NFL's leader in receiving yards this season, will miss at least the Houston Texans' next four games after the team placed him on injured reserve Wednesday.
Collins, who has amassed 567 receiving yards during Houston's 4-1 start, injured his hamstring on a 67-yard touchdown catch during the first quarter of the Texans' 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The standout wide receiver will be eligible to return for the Texans' Week 10 clash against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 10.
After recording 80 catches, 1,297 receiving yards and eight touchdowns during a breakout 2023 campaign, Collins was on pace for an even better season in 2024. His 32 catches are tied for third in the NFL, while his seven receptions of 25 or more yards are tied with Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson for the most in the league.
Collins also tops the AFC South-leading Texans with three touchdown catches through five games.
“Nico has been the best receiver in the NFL this year," Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said when updating Collins' injury on Monday. "So, do you replace him? No, everybody just steps up and whatever role you’re asked to do, just step up and play your role the proper way."
The Texans still have proven options at wide receiver despite Collins likely out for the next month.
Stefon Diggs is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who led the NFL in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535) with Buffalo in 2020, while Tank Dell produced 709 yards and seven touchdowns on 47 catches as a rookie in 2023 before having his season cut short after 11 games by a fractured fibula.
Diggs led the Texans with 82 yards on six catches last week in his first meeting with the Bills since being traded by Buffalo to Houston in the off-season.
"Nobody has to be Nico," Ryans said. "There is one Nico. He’s done a great job of that. Now, whoever is next, when your number is called, make the plays that you are supposed to make.”
Saints QB Derek Carr to miss multiple games
The New Orleans Saints will be without starting quarterback Derek Carr for multiple games, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
Carr suffered an oblique injury in the fourth quarter of the Saints’ 26-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, leaving backup Jake Haener to finish the game.
It remains unclear whether Carr will be placed on injured reserve.
Haener, a fourth-round pick in 2023, could be the temporary starter in the coming weeks, but New Orleans could go with fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler.
Neither has started an NFL game.
Carr has been one of the healthiest quarterbacks in the NFL since he entered the league in 2014. He started all 17 games for the Saints last year despite an injury to his throwing shoulder.
In his second season in New Orleans, Carr had the Saints off to a dream 2-0 start, outscoring opponents 91-29. The Saints have lost three straight games since, however, and face the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.
In Weeks 7 through 9, the Saints play against the Denver Broncos, at the Los Angeles Chargers and at the Carolina Panthers.
Carr ranks eighth among qualifying quarterbacks with a 100.7 passer rating this season. He has completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 989 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
Despite leaving Monday’s game with an injury, Carr reached a pair of milestones by going over 40,000 career passing yards and throwing his 250th touchdown.
Patriots plan to start Maye at quarterback against Texans
Drake Maye's time has come.
Maye will start at quarterback for the New England Patriots this Sunday against the visiting Houston Texans, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
The Patriots selected Maye with the third overall pick of this year's draft, and it was only a matter of time before they would name him a starter.
The struggles of Jacoby Brissett may have sped up the decision.
In leading New England to a 1-4 record, Brissett ranks 29th in passer rating (74.2), 30th in average passing yards (139.2), 30th in completion percentage (58.5) and 31st in yards per attempt (5.16) with only two passing touchdowns and one interception.
Maye's only regular-season action came in mop-up duty in the Patriots' 24-3 loss to the New York Jets in Week 3. The 22-year-old was 4 of 8 for 22 yards and also ran twice for 12 yards.
Maye will become the fourth quarterback from this year's rookie class to start in 2024, joining top overall pick Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears, No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders and the Denver Broncos' Bo Nix, who was selected 12th overall.
Those QBs are a combined 13-5 in their starts.
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