NFC South

The Carolina Panthers are promoting cornerback Caleb Farley full time from their practice squad, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter reported Carolina is signing the 2021 first-round pick to a contract that will make him a member of the 53-man active roster.

Farley has appeared in three games for the Panthers this season, logging a total of 52 snaps on defense and special teams.

Injuries have been a dominant theme across the 26-year-old's career.

At Virginia Tech, he tore his ACL in 2017 and then experienced back trouble in 2019, undergoing two surgeries to address the latter. Another torn ACL ended his rookie season with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 after three games before his 2022 campaign ended abruptly due to a herniated disc. The injury kept him out for all of 2023 as well.

Tennessee cut Farley in August and he found his way to Carolina in October.

Panthers general manager Dan Morgan told ESPN's David Newton that Farley's tools were immediately evident in his initial workout with the team.

"You could see why he was drafted in the first round, the athleticism that he showed, the way he can flip his hips, change directions, the way he transitions, the way he can run," Morgan said. "He was really impressive.

"He's had a lot of bad luck. I hope he's happy.''

Carolina has clearly seen enough from Farley to continue the partnership for the remainder of the 2024 season.

The Atlanta Falcons made a change under center amid struggles against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Atlanta pulled quarterback Kirk Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. in the fourth quarter as the Falcons trailed 38-6. Cousins had 173 passing yards and an interception on 18-of-27 passing.

Cousins has had a solid year in his first season with the Falcons. Coming into Sunday's matchup he had 2,634 passing yards, the third-most in the league, and 17 touchdowns, the fourth-most in the league. He had thrown eight interceptions.

The appearance marks the second for Penix in his young career. He played briefly against the Seattle Seahawks in late October and completed his only pass attempt for 14 yards. On Sunday, he completed two of his four passes for 24 yards.

Penix, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2023, had 4,903 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his final collegiate season at Washington.

Despite an outstanding season that ended with a loss in the national championship game, some fans were a bit surprised to see Atlanta take him with the No. 8 pick in the draft. The main reason was his age (24) and the fact that the Falcons had just signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal.

While he entered in a blowout on Sunday, it was another opportunity for Penix to show the Falcons what he could do.

Taysom Hill had an extremely eventful day.

Hill showcased his versatility once again during the New Orleans Saints' 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, contributing in several areas.

Most of the 34-year-old's impact occurred on the ground, as he rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns on a mere seven carries. This included a 75-yard score near the end of the fourth quarter.

Make that 3 TDs for Taysom Hill! An unbelievable day for the TE 👏

📺: #CLEvsNO on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/MeAX5RcJ3H

— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024

Hill also received a team-high 10 targets as a tight end, recording eight catches for 50 yards. He returned a kickoff for 42 yards in the first quarter as well.

It wasn't a flawless performance from Hill, as he lost a fumble and finished with mixed results as a passer. He completed one of his two throws for 18 yards, getting picked off in the opening quarter.

.@Browns steal it outta the air!

📺: #CLEvsNO on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/WLn6kyDXd1

— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024

Still, his efficient production on the ground and three touchdowns helped the Saints secure the blowout win. Hill was also stellar from a fantasy standpoint, as his 41.52 points in PPR scoring represented the highest single-game mark by a tight end during the 2024 season (via NBC Sports' Matthew Berry).

Fans were amazed by his effort.

Taysom Hill is one of only two players in NFL history with:
🏈 25 rushing TDs
🏈 10 passing TDs
🏈 10 receiving TDs

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/fCykcDEEG5

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 17, 2024

TAYSOM HILL 40-BURGER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fcLjtIiuhY

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) November 17, 2024

Saints' Taysom Hill now up to 7 carries for 138 yards and 3 TDs

A career-high 8 catches for 50 yards

1-for-2 passing for 18 yards

1 INT, 1 lost fumble

1 Kickoff return for 42 yards

— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) November 17, 2024

Taysom Hill in this game has:
- Completed a pass
- Caught a pass
- Ran for a touchdown
- Returned a kickoff
- Thrown an interception
- Fumbled

One of a kind in every possible way #Saints

— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) November 17, 2024

How it feels putting Taysom Hill in the TE spot pic.twitter.com/okMgfP7vKt

— Underdog (@Underdog) November 17, 2024

Taysom Hill Hall of Fame Game

— Hold The Mayo (@snowlikejonn) November 17, 2024

This has been one of the most wild Taysom Hill games, and that's saying something.

That's why you can't go away from him even after the turnovers. The dude just makes plays.

— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) November 17, 2024

Taysom Hill having the most Taysom Hill game ever!

- 18 pass yards, INT
- 7 carries, 138 yards, 3 TDs
- 10 targets, 8 catches, 50 yards
- 41.52 fantasy points

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 17, 2024

Rip to whoever is playing Taysom Hill in fantasy

— Matt Nelson (@MNelson_ISU) November 17, 2024

The Saints won their second consecutive game with Hill's incredible performance, improving to 4-7 after snapping a seven-game losing streak from Week 3 through Week 9.

The Carolina Panthers may already have a replacement in mind for quarterback Bryce Young.

Joseph Person of The Athletic reported that Panthers head coach Dave Canales may not "be sold" on Young as the franchise's long-term starting quarterback and that the team may look towards Miami quarterback Cam Ward in the 2025 NFL Draft and could even be intrigued by current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields.

"The Panthers could draft Cam Ward, who's starring for GM Dan Morgan's alma mater, and bring in someone like Justin Fields as a bridge," Person wrote.

Person reported that despite Young leading the Panthers to victory in each of the last two weeks, he still could turn to Andy Dalton as the starter for Week 11.

Young was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and the Panther surrendered a massive trade package to acquire the selection. He had a disappointing rookie season, throwing for 2,977 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while leading the team to a 2-14 record.

He hasn't improved on that in 2024, having thrown for 820 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games. He lost the starting role after the team started 0-2 but has gone 2-1 since returning to the role after Dalton's injury.

He hasn't exactly been inspiring in his return as the starter, but the 23-year-old still has plenty of potential and moving on from him would be a drastic decision for the franchise. Still, if Canales and the Panthers brass are not sold on him, finding a more ideal quarterback could be the correct decision.

The Carolina Panthers traveled to Munich's Allianz Arena this past Sunday and had a number of team legends with them, including wide receiver Steve Smith and linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis.

One player who seemingly wasn't invited was Cam Newton, however.

During Thursday's 4th and 1 podcast (45-minute mark), Newton addressed his relationship with the Panthers' organization in the years since his playing career has come to a close, in particular noting that the team doesn't have his picture up anywhere in the main area of its facilities and declined to work with him in the past when he offered to do a Funky Friday podcast with Panthers' legends in front of a live crowd.

Newton said he didn't have any "quarrel" with team owner David Tepper or anyone else in the organization.

His producer and co-host, Omari Collins, suggested that they were told Newton may need to "mend relationships" within the organizations before events like a collaborative Freaky Friday event could take place, relationships Newton suggested he didn't know were in need of mending. He added he hasn't attended events in the past because he didn't know about them in the first place, and that it takes "two to tango" and that the Panthers have his number, suggesting he feels the organization needs to do its own part in fixing the relationship.

The 35-year-old former quarterback spent 10 years with the Panthers in his NFL career, earning three Pro Bowl bids, an MVP award and one Super Bowl berth.

Russell Okung's bet on Bitcoin four years ago when he was a member of the Carolina Panthers is paying off handsomely.

Per Amit Kumar Jha of Essentially Sports, the former offensive tackle turned his $6.5 million salary in 2020 into $20 million today by being paid in the cryptocurrency.

Okung's salary in 2020 was $13 million, which he requested half of to be paid in Bitcoin.

Panthers OT Russell Okung will get half of his $13M contract paid in bitcoin 💰 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/SAZsqeEALy

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 29, 2020

William Foxley of CoinDesk.com noted in December 2020 the Panthers partnered with Bitcoin platform Zap to split Okung's salary for the season.

The Panthers deposited $6.5 million into Zap's Strike product that allowed traditional paychecks to be converted into Bitcoin, which is sent to a cold storage wallet that belongs to Okung.

Okung, who earned $108.9 million in contracts during his NFL career, was more than happy to take a victory lap after more than tripling his $6.5 million Bitcoin gamble.

odd how the NFL spent millions teaching us not to go broke, but the billionaire owners never shared how to build wealth.

all I did was buy bitcoin, now we make history.

— OKUNG (@RussellOkung) November 12, 2024

started acquiring bitcoin and someone sent me espn 30 for 30 on athletes going broke.

good thing I didn’t listen to you.

— OKUNG (@RussellOkung) November 11, 2024

normal is a trap. I dumped all our bonds because I believed. financial advisors questioned me. https://t.co/kJHY7TOSyl

— OKUNG (@RussellOkung) November 11, 2024

The 36-year-old Okung was a first-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. He started 131 games in 11 seasons with four different teams, with the 2020 season being his final year in the NFL.

Okung was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl as a member of the 2013 Seahawks team.

New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi was confident in himself prior to the team's 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

"Just as I said to the team after the game, I've never been a part of something like this," Rizzi told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. "I said to myself, You're going to change all this s--t."

The Saints dismissed former head coach Dennis Allen on Nov. 4, promoting Rizzi from special teams coordinator to his current interim coaching role.

New Orleans ended a seven-game losing streak on Sunday and improved to 3-7 on the season as a whole.

It wasn't a particularly easy transition for Rizzi leading up to the contest, especially due to a bathroom malfunction that he discovered when arriving to his new office as head coach on Sunday.

"I got to go to the bathroom, I come here early, It's like 8:30," Rizzi explained, per Breer. "I go in the bathroom. And I get up, the toilet's clogged. You got to be kidding me. This is how the day starts. I'm thinking to myself, not a good start."

While New Orleans' defense allowed Atlanta to record 468 total yards, the Saints were still able to emerge victorious by avoiding turnovers and maintaining a late lead in the fourth quarter.

Big 4th quarter interception by the Honey Badger!

📺: #ATLvsNO on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/q1IXxSKxNs

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

Derek Carr wrapped up an impressive performance against the Falcons, finishing 16-of-25 for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 17 yards on the ground.

Derek Carr to MVS for the Saints TD 🙌

📺: #ATLvsNO on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/UFiDPH16J7

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

Rizzi will now look to help the Saints earn a second straight win at home during an upcoming clash with the Cleveland Browns in Week 11.

New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi unwittingly wrote himself into Internet history forever with an odd disclosure following the team's 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Rizzi said in his postgame press conference he clogged the toilet in the head coach's locker room in his first day on the job last week. He quipped he thought it was a sign he was going to have a "crappy day."

MUST WATCH!!!!!

Darren Rizzi: insightful, informative and very real!

The #Saints interim head coach with a no B.S. glimpse into how his day started in the Superdome.

How can you not love this guy!!!!! pic.twitter.com/QrBjLjhMB2

— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) November 10, 2024

The revelation spawned the kind of social media graphics you're bound to see a lot in the future.

Darren Rizzi's day ended better than it started pic.twitter.com/g2QCl5A7Ov

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 10, 2024

The MMQB's Albert Breer provided a little more context behind the situation, reporting Rizzi moved temporarily into the head coach's office that was vacated by Dennis Allen after speaking with team owner Gayle Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis.

Fortunately for New Orleans, Rizzi's mishap wasn't a foreboding sign for Week 10. Derek Carr threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense stepped up in the fourth quarter to stymie Atlanta's comeback bid.

Beyond the win, Rizzi told Breer he has been pleasantly surprised with how the Saints players have responded to his promotion.

"Just as I said to the team after the game, I've never been a part of something like this," he says. "I said to myself, 'You're going to change all this s--t. You're going to have all these guys lined up out your door, b---hing and moaning.' Not f--king one guy."

Athletes and coaches are often a superstitious bunch. If they're on the winning side, they'll try to repeat everything they did in the days leading up to the game.

There's one aspect of his first week Rizzi may not want to relive, though.

Not even the long-awaited return of San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey could pull attention away from Tom Brady, who joined Kevin Burkhardt in the booth to call the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As the 49ers defeated the Buccaneers 23-20 with a game-winning kick from Jake Moody—who redeemed himself after missing three field goals—Brady provided commentary on his former team, which he led for three seasons.

In McCaffrey's return, he recorded 13 carries for 39 yards and six catches for 68 yards. Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 25-of-36 passes for 353 yards with two touchdowns and one fumble.

Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 18-of-29 passes for 116 yards with one touchdown and three fumbles.

"You saw the Niners overreact, and then they counter attacked with the middle screen."@TomBrady breaks down Baker Mayfield's touchdown pass 💪 pic.twitter.com/KZimff9S1e

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 10, 2024

Last month, NFL owners approved Tom Brady's bid to purchase a 10 percent stake in the Las Vegas Raiders alongside a partner. Since the unanimous approval, Brady has faced new restrictions in his broadcasting career.

Despite his new limitations, Brady continues to perform well in the booth under his 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox, making him the highest-paid broadcaster in history.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion had a somewhat rocky start to his broadcast debut, receiving mixed reviews from fans on his announcing skills. However, he has since found his groove, and fans now eagerly tune in to hear his commentary.

@TomBrady sounds damn good today.

— Rome Tatum 💥darkjamesdean💥 (@RomeTatum) November 10, 2024

Why do people knock @TomBrady announcing. He accurate and enthusiastic in his first year.

— kyle yarter (@doggy2965) November 10, 2024

I hate how good Tom Brady is at announcing

— RipCityPac (@RipCityPac) November 10, 2024

I’m impressed by Tom Brady’s improvement in the booth. He gets better each week. Very good today for SF/TB.

— Steve Scott (@SteveScottNEWS) November 10, 2024

Tom Brady getting better week-by-week as a broadcaster. Fun to watch

— Nate Bilgoray (@BilgorayNate) November 10, 2024

Feels like Tom Brady has clearly gotten much better and more comfortable as a broadcaster already this season

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) November 10, 2024

I get it. You hated him 4 yrs ago. He’s a winner. Some people can't handle his success. There have been scandals, lies, & twisted truths, he proves his haters wrong. I know it could get worse over the next few weeks; but Tom Brady is doing a great job as a broadcaster.

— Melissa 🇺🇸🅾️ (@MelBear26) November 10, 2024

Tom Brady is calling a great game today. I've really enjoyed listening to him on this call. He's growing a lot. I thought the early criticism of him was unfair, considering this is a totally new thing for him and he's not getting the same access as other broadcasters. Well done.

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) November 10, 2024

Tom Brady is a great commentator and I’m pleasantly surprised

— ItsArtDummy (@ItsArtDummy) November 10, 2024

Fans are still eagerly awaiting Brady's appearance in the booth for a New England Patriots game, where he spent 20 years of his career. That opportunity could come next week, as the Patriots are set to face the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium, with the game scheduled to air on FOX.

The New Orleans Saints will be under the spotlight during the upcoming offseason given their salary-cap situation and questions about their on-field performance, but they reportedly don't plan to shift into a complete rebuild.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the NFC South team "isn't planning for an overhaul" even though "there will be decisions, from quarterback Derek Carr on down."

Rapoport called the financial realities "the elephant in the room" and projected the Saints to be approximately $60 million over the cap going off a $270 million cap estimate for the 2025 season.

To say this season isn't going as planned for New Orleans would be an understatement.

It has lost seven games after a promising 2-0 start and fired head coach Dennis Allen following the latest defeat to the Carolina Panthers. Injuries have also been a concern, as players such as Carr, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed have missed time.

Rather than competing for what figured to be a wide-open NFC South, the Saints are instead looking at a potential top-five draft pick in what will be an important offseason if things don't change on the field in the season's second half.

Yet Rapoport stressed the front office isn't "envisioning taking their franchise down to the studs, just like they didn't plan a fire sale prior to this past Tuesday's trade deadline. With a roster they believe is far better than their record, one besieged by unrelenting injuries, the Saints believe in pushing forward, rather than stepping back."

The start indicated that a healthier Saints may have battled for a playoff spot, which provides some optimism for 2025. And the salary-cap situation is apparently manageable with Rapoport explaining that restructuring the top-eight cap hits for players such as Carr, Cameron Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu could move the Saints under the number.

KAMARA TAKES IT 57 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 👀

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/Q1ZkNuIU2B

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 15, 2024

Carr could be the most notable decision as the quarterback.

He will be 34 years old next season and has been solid but unspectacular when on the field with a 2-4 record while completing 67.9 percent of his passes for 1,225 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

The veteran is signed through the 2026 season, although he has a potential out on his contract for 2025. Even a restructuring of that deal could put the Saints in better position to compete for a playoff spot next year, though, especially if paired with other moves.

For now, they are largely playing out the string and will face the rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.