Kirk Cousins Trolled by NFL Fans for Throwing 4 INTs in Falcons' Loss to Chargers
Dec 1, 2024
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 01: Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins' struggles continued in Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, as he had his worst performance of the 2024 season.
Cousins threw four interceptions, one of which was returned 61 yards for a touchdown by Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still, as the Falcons went on to suffer a 17-13 loss in front of disappointed home fans at Mercedez-Benz Stadium to extend their losing streak to three consecutive games.
The 36-year-old completed 24 of his 39 passes for 245 yards and failed to throw a touchdown for a third straight game. It was his first time throwing four interceptions in a single game since 2014, his third year in the NFL.
After a promising 4-2 start to the season, Atlanta is now 6-6 and hardly looks like a Super Bowl contender.
Fans on social media didn't hold back from expressing their frustration with Cousins throughout Sunday's game:
Cousins now has 13 interceptions this season, one shy of his career-high. After departing the Minnesota Vikings to sign a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons this past offseason, he has not lived up to expectations.
It won't be easy for Cousins to get out of this rut, as he will be playing in front of a hostile crowd in his return to Minnesota when the Falcons visit the Vikings next Sunday.
Bryce Young Rumors: Panthers Not Expected to Pick a New QB Early in 2025 NFL Draft
Dec 1, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 24: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers throws a pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers benched Bryce Young earlier this season, calling into question his future with the team. But since returning to the starting lineup, the young quarterback has reaffirmed the initial belief in his upside and has potentially secured his short-term future in Carolina.
"Now that he is back in the lineup, has gone 2-2, my understanding is that's gone a long way in showing the Panthers organization why they took him No. 1 overall," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday. "He's getting in and out of the huddle better. He's diagnosing defenses better, and simply, he is playing better. As far as the future goes, from what I understand, do not expect the Panthers to draft a quarterback early next year. It does seemāif Young continues to progress as he's beenāthat he has earned the opportunity to be their starter next year, and everyone hopes, beyond."
Young entered the NFL with the weight of expectation planted firmly on his shoulders after the Panthers traded a treasure chest of future assets to move up to the No. 1 overall pick at the 2023 draft.
What the Panthers didn't do, however, was surround him with much talent on the offensive side of the ball, and his rookie season was rough. He finished throwing for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, completing just 59.8 percent of his passes while taking a whopping 62 sacks. He was constantly under siege due to a porous offensive line, and his playmakers out wide didn't do him many favors. His pocket presence and decision-making suffered as a result.
Things didn't look much better early in the 2024 season.
In a season-opening 47-10 loss against the New Orleans Saints, Young finished 13-of-30 for 161 yards, two interceptions and four sacks taken. A week later, he threw for just 84 yards and an interception, taking two sacks.
The Panthers had seen enough and chose to bench him in favor of Andy Dalton. That lasted for five games before Dalton sprained his thumb in a car crash. In the four games since Young was reinstated as the starter, he's thrown for 784 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, taking six sacks.
The Panthers are 2-2 in those games and gave the Kansas City Chiefs all they could handle last week, losing 30-27 on a field goal as time expired. Young has looked like a different player during the four-game stretch.
Dave Canales says Bryce Youngās trust in protections and route runners is helping him be an anticipatory QB. pic.twitter.com/p3YRbqxFUW
"Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities," head coach Dave Canales told reporters after the Kansas City loss. "And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today."
"For me, I just want to focus on what I can control," Young added at the time. "Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence."
For the Panthers, this uptick in performance is more than welcomed. For one, it means they can focus on other parts of the roster in the 2025 NFL draft, hoping Young continues to develop. But it might also mean that the huge price they paid to take Young in the first place isn't eventually regarded as one of the worst trades in NFL history, setting back the franchise for years to come.
The jury is still out on both that deal and Young's future. But the last four games, at least, have provided some reason for optimism.
Report: Saints DT Nathan Shepherd's Fine for Twisting Justin Herbert's Leg Rescinded
Nov 27, 2024
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 27: New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (93) rolls up on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) ankles during the game between the Saints and the Chargers on October 27, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd will no longer owe $11,817 for his controversial tackle of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in Week 8.
The NFL rescinded the fine after Shepherd appealed the penalty, Katherine Terrell reported for ESPN.
Shepherd was fined for unnecessary roughness after Chargers players accused him of deliberately attempting to injure Herbert by grabbing his leg after a tackle on Oct. 27.
Both he and Chargers center Bradley Bozeman, who pushed Shepherd off Herbert, were penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play.
After the game Bozeman called the tackle "one of the dirtier plays I've ever seen."
"The ball was gone two or three seconds and he's still gator rolling, he's on the ground, still gator rolling," Bozeman said.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh gave Bozeman a game ball after the win. He told reporters the play had been particularly concerning because of the high ankle sprain Herbert suffered in Week 2.
"Everybody knows Justin's got a bad ankle," Harbaugh said. "I wasn't out there, I just saw what I saw, and how long it was going on. That was going on too long. It should be an ejection."
Former Saints head coach Dennis Allen later defended Shepherd by saying it was "not accurate" to accuse him of deliberately trying to injure Herbert.
"Here's a guy who's trying to wrap the quarterback up, he's on the ground, he has not idea whether the quarterback has the ball or not," Allen said on Oct. 28. "He's just trying to bring the quarterback down to the ground, so there was nothing malicious about this play."
Allen was fired the following week after the Saints lost a seventh straight game in Week 9.
Under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, the Saints snapped the losing streak with consecutive wins heading into a Week 12 bye. Rizzi will look to lead the team to a third straight victory during Sunday's Week 13 home game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Saints' Chris Olave Has Seen Multiple Specialists After Concussion, HC Rizzi Says
Nov 26, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 03: Chris Olave #12 of the New Orleans Saints looks on prior to his game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has consulted with multiple specialists while recovering from his second concussion of the 2024 NFL season.
Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said that Olave is due to meet with another expert as well.
"He's still going through that whole process," Rizzi told reporters. "He's met with a bunch of people, he's got another meeting coming up here next week. He's met with some different specialists throughout the country. ... He's in a good place."
The third-year pass-catcher suffered his most recent concussion in New Orleans' 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 3. He has had four since entering the NFL in 2022.
Rizzi made it clear at the time that Olave's health took priority over anything else.
"We're more worried about Chris Olave the person and making sure that everything's good," he said. "Then once he goes through that process, we'll bring it back to football to see how that fits in. When I say day to day, it sounds like coach-speak. He's kind of seeing some specialists and we'll go through the process."
The Saints have yet to rule Olave out for the current season. While they placed him on injured reserve, he's eligible to return after sitting out four games. He could suit up as early as New Orleans' Week 15 clash with the Washington Commanders.
Given how cautiously the team is handling the matter, along with the fact Olave is still seeking medical guidance, he may have played his last game for 2024.
Baker Mayfield Sues Father's Company; NFL QB Alleges He Had $12M Stolen
Nov 26, 2024
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 10: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, along with his wife and company, has sued the company belonging to his father over money he alleges was "improperly taken" from his accounts, according to Jonathan Greco of KOCO News.
"The lawsuit says a collection of interconnected entities with common ownership transferred more than $12 million from Mayfield to themselves without authorization, proper documentation or adequate accounting of the transactions," per Greco. "The defendants then allegedly used the money however they desired, 'including to fund acquisitions or to cover general operating expenses (such as to meet payroll obligations),' according to the lawsuit."
According to KXAN's Billy Gates, Mayfield and his representatives reached a confidential settlement with the defendants in January.
As part of the agreement, Camwood Capital Management Group and its subsidiaries were required to begin making payments on $11.7 million plus interest in September. It also had to turn over its financial records.
The quarterback's brother, Matt, has a stake in the company, while his father, James, owns Camwood. Team BRM LLC and Baker's wife, Emily, are also listed as plaintiffs in the suit.
Mayfield's lawyers argued in the suit that Camwood Capital "has not repaid even one dollar under the Settlement Agreement" or provided any transparency into its finances, per Gates.
Greco shared a portion from the suit in which Mayfield's lawyers asserted Camwood Capital "had no intention of making Plaintiffs whole when they entered into the Settlement Agreement."
The money was allegedly taken from Mayfield from 2018 to 2021, which overlaps with his tenure with the Cleveland Browns. As the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, he received a fully guaranteed four-year, $32.68 million contract, which included a $21.9 million signing bonus.
To date, the 29-year-old's career earnings from the NFL total almost $85.3 million, per Spotrac. That number will rise to $155.3 million if he sees out the duration of his three-year pact with the Buccaneers.
Patrick Mahomes: Bryce Young 'Played His Tail Off' in Chiefs Win vs. Panthers
Nov 24, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers takes the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes praised Bryce Young for his gutsy performance in the Kansas City Chiefs' close victory over the Carolina Panthers.
"I thought he played his tail off, man. He throws a really good football," Mahomes said, via Sports Illustrated'sRyan Phillips.
After a 1-7 start to the season, the Panthers have won two of their last three games, including a loss on Sunday to the Chiefs by a walk-off field goal.
"I think it's been cool to see him bounce back these last few weeks and play some great football, because I know he has it because I've seen it for a long time," Mahomes said, per Phillips. "He gave us a scare today, man. He played his tail off... He's been a great player for a long time and won a lot of football games."
Young had a stellar day, nearly keeping pace with the three-time Super Bowl champion.
The 23-year-old completed 21-of-35 passes for 263 yards, one touchdown and one fumble. On the other end of the field, Mahomes completed 27-of-37 passes for 269 yards, three touchdowns and one fumble.
Mahomes' sentiments toward Young were shared with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
"I think he did a heck of a job," Reid told reporter post-game. "Well-coached. He's lucky to have a red head over there, No. 14 (Andy Dalton) too, to help him out. A veteran player that kind of sees things the same way you do."
Although Young and the Panthers hold a 3-8 record and sit last in the NFC South, the team is not throwing in the towel as they continue to show inprovement.
The Panthers will look to bounce back from their tough loss as they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday at home.
Panthers' Bryce Young Impresses NFL Fans Despite Loss to Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Nov 24, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers rolls out of the pocket during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Bryce Young silenced his doubters on Sunday.
Even though the Carolina Panthers fell to the Kansas City Chiefs by the final score of 30-27 due to a last-second field goal, Young wrapped up an impressive performance.
He finished 21-of-35 for a season-high 262 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft also helped the Panthers come back from a 27-16 deficit entering the fourth quarter, leading a game-tying drive that ended with less than two minutes remaining in the contest.
TIE GAME š¤Æ
BRYCE YOUNG AND THE PANTHERS DRIVE DOWN TO FIELD TO EVEN IT UP VS. KC
Fans and former players alike praised Young, who was benched earlier in the year, for his play against the defending champions on Sunday.
Bryce Youngās numbers today arenāt going to blow anyone away, but his performance against a very good Chiefs defense does speak to the argument for letting young players develop and grow before making an ultimate judgement on them.
Easily the most impressive game I've seen Bryce Young play as a pro. He has made several plus throws from the pocket, down the field. Has been splashy the last few weeks, but this has been consistently positive play. I'm impressed.
While Patrick Mahomes dealt with inconsistency to open his 2024 campaign, he looked comfortable in the pocket against Carolina. Mahomes finished 27-of-37 for 269 yards and three touchdowns without getting picked off.
The Panthers' brief two-game win streak came to an end against the Chiefs as they fell to 3-8 on the season as a whole, but Young's improvements during the year have made Carolina's long-term future much brighter.
Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders Released from Hospital After Neck Injury vs. Chiefs
Nov 24, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 24: Drue Tranquill #23 of the Kansas City Chiefs flips Ja'Tavion Sanders #0 of the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was carted off the field during Sunday's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs and taken to the hospital after being tackled and flipped onto his head while fighting for yardage following a first-half reception.
Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders raises his arms to the crowd while being carted off after a scary injury. pic.twitter.com/QTcd68tlwK
The Panthers confirmed that the rookie fourth-round pick out of Texas had movement in his extremities following the injury.
"He's still under evaluation," head coach Dave Canales told reporters after the game. "But certainly a positive sign. He's coming back here to the facility right now [from hospital]."
JaāTavion Sanders has been discharged by the hospital, he has movement, per Canales. #Panthers
The rookie tight end had three receptions for 49 yards during Sunday's contest.
Coming into Sunday, Sanders had notched 26 passes for 253 yards and a score, operating as the team's most threatening tight end. In his absence, Tommy Tremble should see a bump in workload.
Losing Sanders is a big loss, however, as the 3-7 Panthers continue to evaluate the young players they have on the roster while immersed in yet another rebuild. While the playoffs are out of reach, giving rookies like wideout Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks and Sanders the chance to build a rapport with Bryce Youngāa player the Panthers are still evaluating as a potential long-term starter after his struggles to start his career and benching earlier this seasonāwas an important goal for the remainder of the season.
The Panthers have continued to roll with Young after reinstalling him into the starting lineup due to Any Dalton's thumb injury. He's looked like a different player since his benching, leading the Panthers to back-to-back wins before last week's bye.
"This is about the continued progress, Bryce looking more and more confident," Canales told reporters on Monday. "Just an aggressiveness to his play... and of course the end result, winning. He continues to do things to put us in a position to put him back out there and continue to build on that."
Sanders played a major role in those wins, catching four passes for 87 yards in a 23-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints and adding a touchdown in a 20-17 overtime win against the New York Giants.
NFL Rumors: Bucs' Mike Evans 'Planning to Play' vs. Giants After Hamstring Injury
Nov 20, 2024
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 21: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on October 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is "planning to play" in Sunday's game against the New York Giants, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Evans has been out of action since Tampa Bay's 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 due to a hamstring injury.
The Bucs are riding a four-game losing streak, though they're still second in the NFC South at 4-6. Nine wins were enough to win the division last year and that could be the case again with the first-place Atlanta Falcons (6-5) failing to run away from the pack.
Tight end Cade Otton has stepped up in a big way, setting personal highs in catches (49) and yardage (456) already. Rachaad White's pass-catching ability out of the backfield has also been a nice luxury for the offense with Evans unavailable.
His return will be a boost to Tampa Bay's playoff hopes, but the five-time Pro Bowler was performing well below his usual standard when he got injured. He has 26 receptions for 335 yards and six touchdowns through seven games, his 47.9 yards per contest on pace to be a career low.
Still, having Evans at a little below his best is better than nothing when the Bucs are without Chris Godwin for the rest of the year after he dislocated his ankle in Week 7.
Panthers' Eddy Pineiro Passes Justin Tucker on FG% List, Calls Ravens Kicker the GOAT
Nov 18, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 29: Eddy Pineiro #4 of the Carolina Panthers lines up before a field goal attempt against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
On Sunday, one kicker's woes gave another kicker the chance to make history.
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker missed two field goals during Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a rare sight that has become more common for the veteran this season. His two misses made Carolina Panthers' kicker Eddy PiƱeiro, who had this week off, the most accurate kicker in NFL history.
Tucker's missed field goals dropped his career percentage to 89.348 percent (411-of-460) while PiƱeiro has made 89.381 percent (101-of-113) of his field goal tries.
"I would definitely rather get it hitting a kick or something, obviously not on somebody else's downfall," PiƱeiro said, per Darin Gantt of the team website (h/t Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams). "But at the end of the day, Justin Tucker is the greatest of all time. From the amount of kicks that he's kicked and I've kicked, he's kicked four times the amount of kicks that I've kicked. And to stay at that level, him being a seven-time Pro Bowler, I mean, there's no question: He's the greatest of all time."
While PiƱeiro holds the best percentage for now, a few misfires from him and a few makes from Tucker could turn things around. PiƱeiro is also only in his seventh season while Tucker is in his 13th.
Tucker's missed field goals on Sunday were consequential as the Ravens lost 18-16, but the seven-time Pro Bowler's confidence is unshaken.
"I'm still confident I'm going to go out there and nail every single kick," Tucker said after Sunday's game, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "Part of the way we stay confident is by continuing to work and trust the process. I might sound like a broken record, but it's a part of what brings us success -- is just trusting the process and then taking it one kick at a time."
Hensley also reported that Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh said Baltimore has no plans of bringing in competition for Tucker.
Tucker will start working towards regaining his NFL-best percentage next week against the Los Angeles Chargers.
