Daniel Jones' first NFL start was certainly a memorable one.Taking over for Eli Manning, Jones completed 23 of 36 passes for 336 yards and four total touchdowns in the New York Giants' comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The Giants trailed by as much as 18 in the thrilling win. Down 28-18, the first-round rookie delivered his first clutch play, hitting Sterling Shepard with a pretty 7-yard touchdown.

The New York Giants are expected to be without star running back Saquon Barkley for the next four-to-eight weeks due to his high ankle sprain, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.An absence closer to eight weeks is considered more likely, Schefter adds. Barkley could be sidelined until the Giants' Week 11 bye, setting him up to return for the team's final six games.Head coach Pat Shurmur confirmed the injury Monday but noted the team will "just have to see" in regards to Barkley's time frame.The multi-week estimate confirms earlier reports that Barkley would miss games. He was spotted on crutches after injuring himself Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.A Buccaneers defender attempting to tackle Barkley twisted the dynamic back's ankle shortly before halftime. The Giants quickly announced he wouldn't return to the game.Wayne Gallman and Elijhaa Penny are the only other running backs on New York's roster. Gallman led the backfield following Barkley's injury.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts safety Malik Hooker is expected to miss the next four-to-six weeks after tearing his meniscus Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Hooker returned to the field despite suffering the injury.The Colts selected the Ohio State product at No. 15 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He's battled multiple injuries and has missed 12 games since entering the league.Hooker's absence is a blow to Indianapolis' stingy pass defense. George Odum and Khari Willis will see snaps at safety in the interim.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone provides his Week 3 takeaways, recaps all the injuries from Sunday, and takes an early look at waiver wire adds.

Another week brings another collection of gut-wrenching bad beats for football bettors.There's a reason we wait until Monday to release these. Hopefully, if you were on the wrong end of one or more of these outcomes, you've had enough time to hit the reset button.As always, if you bet on any of these, our sincerest condolences.Houston 31, Tulane 38Bad beat: Houston +5.5Week 1 of the college football season had some bad beats, starting with Stanford covering over Northwestern and Auburn over Oregon.But this? This is just painful.At one point, Houston was up 28-7. Then it all unraveled.Tulane ripped off 24 unanswered points to go up 31-28, then the Cougars tied it up with a late field goal - after dropping the go-ahead touchdown. Hey Houston bettors, want to lose this game in overtime? No, you'll lose in regulation on the most electric two-play sequence of the season.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will miss his second straight game with a foot injury, and his absence could extend beyond Week 4."What Cam needs right now is time and rest for his foot," head coach Ron Rivera said Monday in a news release. "We want him at 100% when he's ready, so there's no exact timetable for his return. At this point, we're going to go forward with Kyle (Allen) as our starter."Newton sat out the Panthers' first win of the season Sunday as Carolina toppled the Arizona Cardinals 38-20 in the desert. In his place, Allen threw four touchdowns.Newton sprained his left foot in the preseason but recovered in time to start the regular season. He struggled through the first two games and told the team he aggravated the foot injury in Week 2.The Panthers travel to face the Houston Texans in Week 4 before returning home to host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After announcing he "will not be playing in the NFL anymore," Antonio Brown appears to have planned his next endeavor.Brown posted on his Instagram story Monday morning that he'll be going back to school at Central Michigan and displayed his enrolled courses for the fall 2019-20 semester.

Amid heavy trade speculation, disgruntled cornerback Jalen Ramsey called the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night to inform them he'd be unable to practice Monday due to illness, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ramsey believes he has the flu and may not practice at all this week, sources told Schefter. He played in last Thursday's win over the Tennessee Titans despite his desire to be moved."I'm not getting into that," head coach Doug Marrone said Monday when asked if he found the timing of Ramsey's sickness odd, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. "I don't know anything. If you're sick, you're sick - what are you going to do?"The 24-year-old requested a trade after Jacksonville's Week 2 loss to the Houston Texans. Ramsey said he made the request after "some disrespectful things were said" about him during a conversation with members of Jacksonville's front office.Ramsey remains resolute in his desire to be dealt, though the Jaguars want to keep him, which could lead to a standoff. Team owner Shad Khan is reportedly at the forefront of the decision to at least attempt to keep the star defensive back.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Many observers wrote off the Indianapolis Colts after Andrew Luck retired shortly before Week 1, but Jacoby Brissett is filling in admirably so far.Brissett completed 28 of 37 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts' 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Head coach Frank Reich sang his praises following the effort."Jacoby was unreal,” Reich told reporters, according to Zak Keefer of The Athletic. "You can't play quarterback much better than he did today."Reich added, "We just had a lot of confidence from Day 1. Everything about him says that he has (confidence). … He's doing it. This is as great as he's played today."Through three weeks, Brissett's completed nearly 72% of his passes and has thrown for seven touchdowns to just one interception. Indianapolis is tied for the AFC South lead at 2-1, and the quarterback's teammates are taking note of his resilience."That's exactly how he's been since the minute 12 retired," wide receiver Chester Rogers said. "He's had this 'I'm the captain now' attitude - just this look that told us all, 'I'm ready. Let's roll.'"Linebacker Anthony Walker said, "(I've) been saying all along I believe in Jacoby. I played a full season with him in '17. I saw what he was about. That's my guy."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Amid reports that a handful of New England Patriots players privately voiced displeasure with the team's decision to release receiver Antonio Brown, Tom Brady refused to share his thoughts on the situation."I do have a lot of personal feelings, none of which I really care to share," Brady told reporters following New England's Week 3 win over the New York Jets, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. "That's about it. It's a difficult situation. That's kinda how I feel."Appearing on "The Greg Hill Show" on Monday, Brady didn't address the Brown situation directly but did discuss his philosophy on team bonding."There's a lot of human elements," he said after being asked about Brown, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "As a player, as a person, I care deeply about my teammates. I want everyone to be the best they can possibly be. From the day I started with this team, even back in college, you try to provide leadership, and you try to care for people ... I've had a lot of teammates over the years, so you invest - not just your head, but your heart. You invest your soul."That's what makes a great team. That's what makes a great brotherhood."Some players in the Patriots' locker room reportedly felt Brown made a positive impression during his 11-day tenure with the club.The decision to cut ties with the volatile receiver, however, came from owner Robert Kraft after intimidating text messages from Brown to a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct came to light."I think we're in a culture where we want to cast judgment so quickly on people," Brady said. "We want to disparage people so quickly. And it just speaks to me that a lot of people are probably hurting, because when you're not feeling great, you want other people to know that. I think it becomes very emotional."Again, it's a tough life. Life is not easy. Football is not easy. Evolving and growing as people is not an easy thing ... We all go through different aspects of our life and we try to do the best we can do."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns' offense looked out of rhythm for most of Sunday night's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. However, one play, in particular, stood out for all the wrong reasons.Down 17-13 in the fourth quarter, the Browns were facing a fourth-and-9 from the Rams' 40-yard line - a situation that everyone, rightfully, would expect a pass to be called.Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens instead called a Nick Chubb run, which was stuffed for just two yards."It just didn't work," said Kitchens, according to Ben Axelrod of WKYC. "It was a bad call ... We're trying to win the game and we're on their side of the field."Kitchens' play-calling woes didn't end there, though.The Browns were gifted a chance to take the game to overtime by a late fourth-quarter interception from Jared Goff. Cleveland managed to quickly get in the red zone, but Kitchens then seemingly forgot his ground game despite being at the Rams' four-yard line.Four straight unsuccessful pass plays later and the Browns dropped to 1-2 after an offseason full of hype.

CLEVELAND (AP) Cooper Kupp's comeback is complete. The Rams have another weapon.The shifty wide receiver caught two touchdown passes from Jared Goff and Los Angeles stopped Baker Mayfield four times from the 4-yard line in the final minute as the Rams hung on for a 20-13 win on Sunday night over the short-handed Cleveland Browns, who were missing their entire starting secondary.The Rams (3-0) remained unbeaten - and perfect against AFC teams in the regular season under coach Sean McVay - by barely holding back the Browns (1-2).On the Browns' final drive, Mayfield, who was under pressure most of the night, tried to force a pass to receiver Damion Ratley on fourth down. Safety John Johnson III picked him off.Kupp underwent surgery on his left knee and missed the final six games last season, as well as the Rams' run to the Super Bowl. But he's back, giving Goff an additional target and McVay more firepower to work with. McVay is 9-0 against the AFC, with his only loss coming against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.Kupp finished with a career-high 11 receptions for 102 yards.Greg Zuerlein kicked two field goals for the Rams.The Browns showed they can hang with one of the NFL's elite teams. However, their star-studded offense remains out of sync, Cleveland had too many penalties and first-year coach Freddie Kitchens made a questionable decision on fourth down in the fourth quarter.Mayfield threw one TD pass but isn't playing with the same confidence he showed as a rookie. He finished 18 of 36 for 195 yards and was sacked three times - twice in a three-play span in the fourth by Rams star Aaron Donald (his first this season) and Clay Matthews III, who had two sacks.Goff's second TD pass to Kupp gave the Rams a 17-13 lead with 12:48 left. After a false start penalty moved the Rams back to the 6, Goff hit Kupp streaking across the end zone virtually uncovered.The Browns marched to the Rams 40 and stalled. But instead of punting on fourth-and-9, Kitchens went for it and Nick Chubb was stopped for 2 yards.Cleveland caught a break when safety Juston Burris intercepted Goff with 2:46 left. Mayfield completed a 27-yard pass on third-and-15 and drove to the Rams' 4, but he threw four straifght incompletions as the comeback came up short.The Browns came in battered and bruised. They were missing eight starters, including their entire defensive secondary and it was such a desperate situation that Burris, who was claimed Friday off waivers from Oakland, started and played the entire game.The Rams wasted no time in the third quarter, taking the second-half kickoff and driving 75 yards in 10 plays to take a 10-6 lead on Goff's 11-yard pass to Kupp.On third-and-goal, Goff waited for Kupp to get some separation before hitting him on the left side of the end zone.The Browns responded with their own, 11-play scoring drive that Mayfield capped with a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Demetrius Harris. It was the first touchdown pass allowed by the Rams this season.MATTHEWS HONOREDClay Matthews, a steady and popular linebacker for 16 seasons with the Browns, was inducted into the team's ring of honor at halftime. Matthews was a four-time Pro Bowler, played in 278 games and had 76.5 sacks. He's a semifinalist this year for the third time to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.His son, Clay, who is in his first season with the Rams, emerged from the locker room at the end of the ceremony and hugged his dad.UP NEXTRams: host Tampa Bay next Sunday. The Rams have won the last five matchups between the teams.Browns: visit Baltimore on Sunday. AFC North rivals split their two games last season.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.A star is bornDamn, Daniel.After months of taking heat for what many considered a reach when the team selected Daniel Jones with its sixth overall pick, Dave Gettleman and the Giants' front office have to be feeling pretty good.Jones took the first step toward proving his doubters wrong, throwing for 336 yards and two touchdowns during his first NFL start on Sunday, and running for two more scores while leading New York to a comeback win on the road in Tampa Bay.We're not about to crown Jones as the next big thing, as there's still a long way to go. But there was a lot to like from his first game after taking over for Eli Manning, and now one of the league's marquee organizations has finally been given a reason for optimism.Good on the Giants, too. Recognizing early in the year that Eli is indeed done (a little late on that realization, but hey), they handed the offensive keys to Jones far sooner than most probably expected. They'll be better for it, he'll be better for it, and Jones' early development now becomes one of the most intriguing storylines to follow this season.Ravens need to trade for RamseyA tightly contested loss in Kansas City removed any lingering doubt about the Ravens being a legitimate contender. Baltimore is absolutely for real, with budding superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the way.Jackson has taken the next step as a passer, making him a dual-threat nightmare for opposing defenses. Now one of the only remaining questions about Baltimore is how the team's secondary matches up against the high-powered passing attacks that await in the AFC playoffs, an issue raised Sunday when the Ravens allowed some big plays. Lucky for them, the league's best cornerback is looking for a trade.Jacksonville's price for Jalen Ramsey is reportedly high, but that shouldn't scare off a Ravens team just now entering what could be a long championship-contending window. True shutdown cornerbacks never become available at the age of 24. Give up the picks, or whatever it takes, and capitalize on the rare opportunity to add a generational talent who could help against Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady in January.Cooper trade paying offRichard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettySpeaking of trading picks for good young players, remember when the Cowboys flipped their first-rounder for Amari Cooper?NFL teams, and their fans, tend to overvalue draft picks. They're important, sure, and ditching them recklessly for old and/or risky players is asking for trouble. But Cooper, just like Ramsey, presented a different case. And boy did the Cowboys ever hit a home run with that move.Cooper is quietly emerging as one of the NFL's best receivers. It's a loaded position across the league, but there are few who match the Alabama product's blend of athleticism and route-running ability. He snatched six receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's win over the Dolphins.It's no coincidence that Dak Prescott has taken his game to a new level since Cooper was added to the mix in Dallas, and the Prescott-Cooper combination will only get better as the two continue to grow together. The price for each player's eventual contract extension goes up by the day, and that could present an issue for the Cowboys down the road, but they'll figure it out.Stockpiling talent is the goal. With some impressive draft hauls, and bold moves like the Cooper trade, Dallas is doing that as well as any team in the NFL right now.Wyd, Browns?It's officially time to start worrying about the Browns' offense.Now three games in, we still haven't seen the kind of high-powered attack that became the talk of the league toward the end of last year, or the further improvements expected following the trade to acquire Odell Beckham Jr.It's tough to pinpoint exactly what's wrong, but the passing offense just isn't clicking. A leaky offensive line isn't helping, but the play-calling and overall design seem to lack imagination.And although people may not be ready to talk about it, Baker Mayfield hasn't been very good either. The ball often doesn't come out of his hand on time, his pocket presence seems to have regressed, and we're seeing the kind of misreads and missed throws that he so promisingly avoided as a rookie last year.There's still time, and we're certainly not writing off a team with this much talent, especially after everything we saw last year and the defense holding up without four starters in the secondary (!) in Sunday night's loss to the Rams. But the offense struggling in this bizarre fashion is extremely concerning after a big selling point of the Freddie Kitchens hire was that he could continue his work with Mayfield et al.Enjoy it while you can, Bills fansBryan M. Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyStop us if you've heard this before: After the Buffalo Bills entered the season as a relatively anonymous team, fans in western New York are starting to "Billieve" following a hot start.But don't start circling the wagons just yet. Of the seven teams sitting at 3-0, the Bills easily stand out as the most fraudulent.For all the improvements made on defense, at receiver, and across the offensive line, major questions remain at quarterback. Josh Allen's wild and maddening inconsistencies - throwing a dime one play before airmailing an open receiver the next - are going to be far more costly as Buffalo enters the less forgiving parts of its schedule, starting with New England next week.Things are heading in the right direction, but this still feels like a .500 team at best.Kyle Allen stars in place of CamCam Newton sat out on Sunday with a sore foot and a throwing shoulder that still doesn't seem to be healed. It could be a while before we see him back on the field, and that's great news for the Panthers.Unheralded sophomore Kyle Allen was nearly perfect in relief of the 2015 MVP. Allen went 19-of-26 passing for 261 yards and four touchdowns as the Panthers dominated the Cardinals for their first win this season.Allen wasn't even supposed to be Newton's backup. That role was slated for Will Grier, who the Panthers selected with their third-round pick this past spring, but he still isn't ready for NFL action. Now, Allen is the starter, and he should remain in that role into October and perhaps beyond.Newton is still the franchise cornerstone, and he could return to his MVP form later this season. But the last we saw of him, he looked like a broken player. It was hard to watch Newton struggle with quarterback fundamentals and not wonder if he might follow Andrew Luck as the next $100-million man to limp into early retirement.A long rest is exactly what Newton needs. Now, mercifully, he'll get one.Minkah trade tough to justifyIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDon't mistake Minkah Fitzpatrick's immediate impact with the Steelers as evidence that the team's trade to acquire him was wise.The former Dolphins defensive back, who demanded to be let off that sinking ship, registered an interception and forced fumble during his debut in black and gold. Fitzpatrick played with a chip on his shoulder, and he even crossed the line once or twice - including a roughing the passer penalty - to conjure memories of Steelers legend Troy Polamalu.Fitzpatrick may go on to a long and fruitful career in Pittsburgh, but that doesn't make the decision to trade a first-round selection in next year's draft for him any less befuddling.With Ben Roethlisberger out for the season, the Steelers are extreme long shots to make the playoffs. Mason Rudolph's limitations were clear during his first start on Sunday, with the 2018 third-round pick going 14-of-27 passing for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the loss, which dropped Pittsburgh to 0-3. The Steelers could finish with a bottom-10 record, making the pick they gave up for Fitzpatrick a painfully high one.NFC South unpredictable and intriguingThe NFC South may be the NFL's most interesting division, but not for the reasons many of us expected.New Orleans and Atlanta were popular playoff locks, Carolina was a widely picked sleeper, and even the Bucs (their offense, at least) was hyped coming into the year with Bruce Arians making his return to the sideline. There was the makings of an ultra-competitive division.The theme so far with this group, however, is expecting the unexpected.An injury to Saints ironman Drew Brees has suddenly put a perennial contender in a vulnerable position. The Falcons, meanwhile, lose games they're supposed to win, and win games they're supposed to lose. And the Panthers somehow look better with Kyle Allen than they did with Cam Newton, while the Bucs' defense is making more plays than the team's talent-rich offense.The NFC South is going to be both fascinating and impossible to predict.Sack BarrettIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTeams must be regretting not topping the one-year, $5-million deal Shaq Barrett signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent in March.Just three games into his time with the Bucs, the former Broncos pass-rusher already looks like the steal of the offseason. Another four sacks during Sunday's game gives him eight on the season, tying Mark Gastineau (1984) for the most over three games to start a campaign. Oh, and that contract he signed reportedly includes a $250,000 bonus for getting to eight sacks and another $250,000 if and when he reaches 10.Barrett's breakout is one of the best individual stories of the year so far. With NFL teams constantly searching for pass-rush help, he's setting himself up for a nice payday next offseason.Eagles' depth being testedThe Eagles were widely considered Super Bowl favorites this summer because of their depth. Thanks to shrewd roster management, Philadelphia entered the season with no apparent weaknesses, and high-end backups at key positions - like first-round pick offensive tackle Andre Dillard - that would start for many teams.Through three weeks, that depth has deteriorated. Injuries have decimated the team's roster, forcing the Eagles into making the rare choice to hold a walk-through this past Wednesday instead of a full practice.It's impossible to say whether the usual allotment of practice time would have made a difference in Sunday's error-filled loss to the Lions, but there's no disputing the reinforcements failed to deliver.Now sitting at 1-2 and with a Thursday game in Green Bay next on the schedule, it's fair to call this crisis time in Philly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley has been diagnosed with an ankle sprain and is expected to miss time, sources told ESPN's Jordan Raanan.The injury is a high-ankle sprain, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Barkley will reportedly undergo an MRI on Monday.He needed assistance to get to the locker room during Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Barkley appeared to be limping heavily.The 22-year-old exited a few minutes before halftime, and the Giants quickly announced he wouldn't return.Barkley came back to the sideline on crutches and with a boot on his ankle:

Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal is believed to have torn his Achilles versus the Indianapolis Colts, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Neal was carted off the field on Sunday after suffering what the team called an Achilles injury. He threw his helmet after going down late in the second quarter and was in tears as the cart drove onto the field to take him off.The 24-year-old made the Pro Bowl in 2017 but played in only one game last year before going down with a torn ACL. He entered Week 3 with 10 tackles through two games.Atlanta also lost running back Ito Smith due to a concussion.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jets' slow start this season hasn't discouraged running back Le'Veon Bell, who on Sunday called for fans to stick with the winless team."I'm not frustrated at all," he said after Gang Green fell 30-14 to the New England Patriots, according to SNY. "I just know this team has a lot of talent, we gotta put it all together. It's a new system, guys' first time playing together, new coaching staff, so we gotta just mesh everything together and we gotta get on board."The Jets dropped to 0-3 after their Week 3 loss, and they failed to score an offensive touchdown for the second straight game. The club squandered a 16-0 lead over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 before getting blown out the last two contests.Bell, who signed a four-year, $52-million contract with the Jets in free agency, has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry this season. He totaled 35 yards on 18 carries versus the Patriots, adding 28 yards on four receptions.

Life could be better at Mile High.After the Denver Broncos lost 27-16 to the Green Bay Packers to fall to 0-3, veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders voiced his frustrations with the team's lack of success over the past few seasons, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala."Times are tough around here. Obviously the past three years - it's been tough. Trying to get it right," said Sanders. "We sit at 0-3, living in a world of suck."The Broncos have now lost seven straight games going back to the tail end of last season. The team has been in a sort of purgatory ever since the departure of Peyton Manning following the Broncos' Super Bowl 50 win in 2016, putting together a less-than-ideal 20-28 record with no playoff appearances since then."Football is still fun, but it's not so much fun when you're losing, especially when you prepare as hard as you can," said Sanders, who had just 10 yards on two grabs Sunday. "But there's always next week, so I'm optimistic."Though the Broncos have continued to struggle in 2019, Sanders was having something of a renaissance during the first two weeks; The SMU product had 16 grabs for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns before Week 3's dud.Sanders and the Broncos will look to bounce back and get their first win of the season next week when the Jacksonville Jaguars come to Mile High.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman suffered a chest injury in Sunday's 30-14 win over the New York Jets.X-rays came back negative, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who reports that, more specifically, the injury is to Edelman's rib.Edelman suffered the injury before halftime, but the Patriots didn't declare him out for the rest of the game until the fourth quarter.The 33-year-old wideout caught seven passes for 62 yards and his first touchdown of the year before getting hurt. The Super Bowl LIII MVP entered Week 3 tied with Phillip Dorsett for the team lead in receiving with 134 yards.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts have ruled receiver T.Y. Hilton out for the rest of Sunday's game with a quad injury.Hilton was a game-time decision as he nursed a quad injury, yet he suited up and put together eight receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown before exiting the contest.The Colts led 20-3 before losing their top wideout for the rest of the game.With him in the lineup, quarterback Jacoby Brissett was an efficient 22-for-28 for 226 yards and two touchdowns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded a 2020 first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick last week due in large part to their optimism regarding second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph.Pittsburgh placed a first-round grade on Rudolph prior to the 2018 NFL Draft and views him as a successor to Ben Roethlisberger, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. The Steelers' long-term projection for the former third-round pick reportedly contributed to their willingness to part with a high selection in the Fitzpatrick deal.Roethlisberger was ruled out for the season with an elbow injury Monday. The veteran fully intends to play out the remaining two years of his contract.Rudolph, 24, is making his first NFL career start Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. He completed 12-of-19 passes for 112 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in relief of Big Ben last week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown targeted many during a Sunday morning tweetstorm, including NFL Hall-of-Famer-turned-broadcaster Shannon Sharpe.Sharpe has been critical of Brown's behavior during the latter's brief stints with the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots. Seemingly addressing the former tight end's criticisms in one of several pointed tweets, Brown cited a sexual assault accusation levied against Sharpe in 2010.Sharpe soon hit back, comparing Brown to rapper 6ix9ine, who has tied fellow rappers to gang affiliations while testifying in federal court.

Antonio Brown is filing a grievance in an attempt to get the $10 million guaranteed on his contract with the New England Patriots, reports ESPN's Chris Mortensen.The Patriots could cite language that was built into the contract as grounds not to pay the $10 million. A clause said the team could void guaranteed money if the player "takes any action that materially undermines the public's respect for, or is materially critical of, the club, the player's teammates, or the club's ownership, coaches."Brown was named in a lawsuit filed one day after he signed with New England that alleged him of raping his former personal trainer. Other accusations of misconduct surfaced in the following days.The Patriots released Brown on Friday. Earlier in the week, Brown appeared to send threatening texts to a woman who accused him of making an unwanted sexual advance while she was contracted to paint a mural in his Pennsylvania home in 2017.The NFL Players Association will represent Brown in his grievance.Before joining the Patriots, the Oakland Raiders used fines to void $30 million guaranteed on his deal with them. Brown declared Sunday morning on Twitter that he won't play in the NFL again due to the canceled agreements.

This game was billed as a potential Super Bowl showdown when the schedule was released earlier this summer. Instead, off a miserable Week 1 loss and predictable Week 2 win, the Cleveland Browns enter Sunday as 3.5-point home underdogs (+110) against the reigning NFC champion Los Angeles Rams.Here's everything you need to know about the game from a betting perspective.Line movementThis contest has hovered around Rams -3 since the line opened, with some shops - including theScore Bet in New Jersey - nudging the line to -3.5. The total is down from 51 to 47.5.Jay Rood, Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader, told theScore on Friday that his book has seen 12 times as many tickets and 50 times as much money come in on the Rams.Betting trendsIn the past three decades, the Rams are 5-2 against the spread and 3-0 on the road against Cleveland, though any trend pre-2019 likely won't favor the Browns. Sean McVay is also 6-1 ATS in his last seven games and 4-2 ATS in his last six as a road favorite.Still, some general trends favor Cleveland here. Home underdogs of +3.5 or shorter are 31-21-2 ATS (59.6%) since the start of last season, and Baker Mayfield is 4-2 ATS in that spot. McVay is also 7-10-1 ATS coming off two straight wins.The most reliable trend to bank on here might be the under. Games with a short home dog have gone under in five straight contests, and McVay is 5-2 to the under in his last seven as a road favorite.On the field, this matchup trends under, too. The Rams' defense ranks second in Pro Football Focus coverage grades and coaxed poor performances from Cam Newton and Drew Brees in the first two weeks. If Mayfield struggles against L.A.'s star-studded secondary, the Browns may not be able to provide enough support for over bettors.The X-factorTwo weeks into the year, the Browns' injury report is in midseason form. Cleveland will be down three starters - tight end David Njoku, linebacker Christian Kirksey, and safety Damarious Randall - and listed 18 players in its full injury report ahead of Sunday's game, with 12 out or questionable.PickHealth alone could be a good enough reason to fade the Browns in this spot, particularly their team total. Cleveland hasn't looked like the team most expected this year, and last week's drubbing of a hapless Jets team does little to inspire confidence against the Rams' stout D.Los Angeles' passing attack has taken a back seat to its run game through two games, and McVay will likely stick to the script against a mediocre Cleveland run defense. That signals value on the game under, though following the sharps on a short favorite should cash, too.If you're down on the Browns' chances in this game, it's worth hitting "no" on Cleveland's playoff odds, especially if they're still plus-money. The Rams are the first of five undefeated teams in the Browns' path, with upcoming games against the Ravens, 49ers, Seahawks, and Patriots.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed could be forced into retirement due to his latest concussion, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Reed has an extensive concussion history and is believed to have suffered the fifth documented one of his NFL career during the preseason. He had two documented concussions in college.Reed has yet to make his 2019 regular-season debut and was already ruled out for Week 3 when Washington faces the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.The one-time Pro Bowler has been bogged down by various injuries throughout his career and has never played 16 games in a single season. His most productive campaign came in 2015, when he notched 87 receptions for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns.Reed reportedly still hopes to resume his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will undergo season-ending elbow surgery but he doesn't require Tommy John surgery, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Roethlisberger is expected to "be fine for next season," a source told Schefter, adding that "no one is concerned that next year is going to be a problem."Big Ben left last week's game with an elbow injury and was ruled out for the year on Monday. The 16-year veteran fully intends to return from the injury and play out the remainder of his contract with the Steelers, which has two additional seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Several New England Patriots players privately voiced their displeasure with the team's decision to release receiver Antonio Brown, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Some players in the locker room felt Brown had made a positive impression on teammates in his 11 days with the Patriots, Rapoport reports, believing he did things in practice that others couldn't.However, the decision to cut ties with the volatile wideout came from team owner Robert Kraft after intimidating text messages from Brown to a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct came to light, sources told Rapoport. The Patriots also were under the impression that the end of the off-field drama wasn't near.New England signed Brown for $10 million guaranteed, $9 million of which came in the form of a signing bonus. However, the team is expected to withhold $5 million of his bonus, which was due Monday, and force Brown to file a grievance to see the money, Rapoport adds.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are not interested in trading star cornerback Jalen Ramsey despite the player's desire to be moved, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ramsey would have been moved by now had the Jaguars wanted to trade him, Schefter adds. Team owner Shad Khan is reportedly at the forefront of the decision to keep the disgruntled 24-year-old.The fifth overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft requested a trade after last week's loss to the Houston Texans. Ramsey said he made the request after "some disrespectful things were said" about him during a conversation with members of the Jaguars' front office.The former All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler remains adamant about being traded, Schefter reports. The situation could lead to a showdown between team and player.Ramsey played in Thursday's win over the Tennessee Titans, racking up nine tackles.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free agent Antonio Brown is drawing interest from prospective teams, his agent Drew Rosenhaus says, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The New England Patriots released the receiver on Friday after he spent just 11 days and one game with the team. Serious allegations about past off-field transgressions cut his time in New England short.After he signed with the Patriots, Brown's former personal trainer filed a lawsuit against him, accusing the 31-year-old of rape. Another woman accused him of sending intimidating texts after she spoke to Sports Illustrated and alleged he made an unwanted sexual advance toward her.Rosenhaus said he's had contact with "a few teams that are interested," and those clubs "want information regarding his legal situation and the NFL investigation."The NFL is investigating the multiple allegations against Brown. After the wideout's release from the Patriots, the league announced he may be subject to discipline "if the investigation finds that he has violated the law or league policies."The league interviewed Brown's first accuser, Britney Taylor, on Monday and has since conducted an interview with his second accuser, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Teddy Bridgewater will get the start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints in Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks with Taysom Hill sprinkled in throughout the game, reports ESPN's Dianna Russini.Head coach Sean Payton refused to name a starter earlier in the week after Drew Brees underwent thumb surgery. On Wednesday, Payton said he'd "approach the game with two QBs."After Brees left last Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams with the injury, Bridgewater took all of the snaps, going 17-for-30 for 165 yards. Hill only saw time at receiver, catching two passes for 16 yards.Hill - a quarterback, running back, receiver, and special-teamer for the Saints - has yet to attempt a pass this season. The third-year pro threw seven passes and completed three of them in 2018. He spent most of his time carrying the football, running for 196 yards at a 5.3 yards-per-carry average.Bridgewater hasn't seen extensive time as a starting quarterback since 2015 when he was with the Minnesota Vikings. He shredded his knee in the 2016 offseason and made a miraculous comeback before signing with the Saints in 2018. In his lone start last season, in Week 17, he went 14-for-22 for 118 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a loss.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 3.Half PPR

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 3 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 3 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartJosh Allen, QB, Billsvs. BengalsBrett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / GettyAllen has become a regular in this space over the past few weeks given his high ceiling as a dual-threat quarterback. Since we've talked up Allen so much recently as a fantasy option, let's allow Establish The Run's Adam Levitan to help us out this time:

A late penalty call against the Denver Broncos helped put the Chicago Bears in position to kick a game-winning field goal in their 16-14 Week 2 road victory, and the league has apparently since admitted that was the wrong call.Broncos general manager John Elway said this week that NFL officials admitted that the 15-yard penalty on defensive end Bradley Chubb for roughing the passer was "dead wrong," according to Joe Rubino of The Denver Post.The call gave the Bears the ball on their own 45-yard line with 24 seconds remaining in the game.

The player prop market is a hot one for bettors. While standard spread and total bets account for an entire game, individual props focus on specific matchups. With a full slate of games Sunday, here are five bets to consider for Week 3.Austin Ekeler Over 107.5 rushing + receiving yardsEkeler's been a great fill-in during Melvin Gordon's holdout, eating up yards both on the ground and through the air at a torrid pace for the Chargers. The small-school product nearly passed the century mark in receiving yards in the opener against Indianapolis and has already registered close to 300 yards from scrimmage through the first two weeks. As ESPN's Matthew Berry noted, the Texans are allowing an NFL-worst 4.52 yards per rush before first contact this season; Ekeler has a ton of upside in Week 3.Kyle Allen Over 230.5 passing yardsIt's a bit bold to start taking props on fairly unknown backup quarterbacks, but I'll take a flier on Allen in this spot. Though last season's one-game sample came during a meaningless Week 17 contest, Carolina's second-stringer sure looked comfortable on the road at New Orleans: He threw for 228 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 19-point rout.This is as much a fade on Arizona's secondary as it is a play on Allen. The Cardinals are allowing 12.1 yards per completion so far this season, good for 25th in the league. Don't be surprised if the Panthers' passing game sees an uptick in production after Cam Newton completed just 56.2% of his passes without a touchdown through the air in Carolina's two losses this season.Christian Kirk Over 57.5 receiving yardsHello, it's me, the person who loves the over in the Panthers-Cardinals game. I'll continue grabbing players from this matchup to put up numbers, specifically Kirk, the second-year wide receiver who's developed an immediate rapport with quarterback Kyler Murray. As our own Justin Boone pointed out in his latest Week 3 fantasy piece, Kirk is tied for 11th in the league in targets this season. He also went off for six catches and 114 yards last weekend despite a formidable defensive opponent in Baltimore. As Boone notes, Kirk's been lining up primarily in the slot, so he should avoid most of the tough outside matchups against Carolina's cornerbacks.Jimmy Garoppolo Under 271.5 passing yardsI expect the 49ers to take advantage of a Pittsburgh run defense that ranks 23rd in the league in rushing yards allowed per game this season. Garoppolo doesn't mind slinging it around when he needs to, but that hasn't been the approach so far this season. He's averaging 4.0 yards per completed attempt and his 9% aggressiveness rating is third-lowest among qualified quarterbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. Considering Pittsburgh's playing a backup in Mason Rudolph and the total's in the low 40s, this one doesn't exactly have "shootout" written all over it.Kirk Cousins Over 219.5 passing yardsThere probably aren't many who want anything to do with Cousins. I actually think he's a good buy-low candidate against the Raiders in Week 3. It turns out Oakland's season-opening defensive performance against the Broncos was a fluke, as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs torched the Raiders last weekend. Week 3 could be a breakout for the Vikings' offense, which faces an Oakland defense allowing the most yards and touchdowns on deep balls so far this season.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown's time with the New England Patriots ended after just 11 days, but the embattled wide receiver is already looking to get back on the field.Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, tweeted Friday that his client intends to continue his NFL career and "hopes to play for another team soon" following his release by the Patriots.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew has captivated NFL fans since taking over for the injured Nick Foles, both with his play on the field and through a series of wild stories.The latest tale, as told by Minshew on Friday's episode of Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast, involved him trying to break his throwing hand to receive a medical redshirt while at East Carolina. This didn't come as a surprise to Minshew's former coach at Washington State, Mike Leach."We have a deal where during camp we'll have some of the guys talk to the team and talk about their background or whatever, and yeah, he told that story to the whole team," Leach said Friday on "The Rich Eisen Show."When asked what he thought of it, Leach replied: "By then I'd known him a little bit. I mean, I know it sounds strange but after you know Gardner for not too long of a period of time, that really doesn't surprise you that much."Leach also shared the pitch Washington State made to Minshew."About the time we sorted out that we want to recruit him, he'd committed to Alabama. So we figured we'd call him anyway, 'cause we knew we threw it more than Alabama did," Leach said. "So we called him up and said, you know, 'Hey, you want to hold a clipboard at Alabama or you want to lead the nation in passing?' And he came to Washington State."

The Cleveland Browns placed tight end David Njoku on injured reserve Friday because of a wrist ailment, sidelining him for at least eight weeks.Njoku suffered the injury on Monday Night Football in the Browns' victory over the New York Jets. The third-year pro also suffered a concussion in the contest.The Browns haven't revealed the exact diagnosis for the injury; early reports suggested Njoku broke his wrist, but those rumors haven't been confirmed.Njoku posted four receptions for 37 yards and one touchdown in his first two outings of the season. He had 56 catches for 639 yards and four scores in 2018.In a corresponding move, Cleveland claimed safety Juston Burris off waivers from the Oakland Raiders.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots released wide receiver Antonio Brown on Friday after one game with the team."We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time," a Patriots representative said.Brown was due a $5-million signing bonus on Monday. It's unclear whether the organization will attempt to either not pay or recoup the money, citing a clause in Brown's contract that could potentially void his guarantees.

Tony Romo will choose golf over work next Sunday in the unlikely chance he makes the cut at the Safeway Open, according to the New York Post's Andrew Marchand.The CBS broadcaster accepted a sponsor's invitation to participate in the PGA Tour event held in Napa, California, next week as an amateur. He's also scheduled to call the Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears game Sunday, Sept. 29 alongside Jim Nantz, which he'd skip to play in the final round of the tournament.A replacement for Romo is lined up in the off chance Romo plays well enough to make the cut, according to Marchand.Despite owning a very respectable golf game for an amateur, Romo hasn't found any success in three previous attempts on the PGA Tour. He finished last in the 2018 Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, beat a single player in the same tournament earlier this year, and missed the cut by 10 shots at the 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson.Chances are Romo will be in Chicago for the broadcast with plenty of time to spare.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera officially ruled Cam Newton out for his team's Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.Newton, 30, has yet to make a full recovery after aggravating a mid-foot sprain he suffered during the preseason. Kyle Allen will start at quarterback in his absence."He worked through a lot of the soreness this week, felt pretty good at the end of the week," Rivera told reporters Friday. "The one thing we don't want to do is have another setback. So we want to make sure he is ready to roll and his foot can handle it."The former MVP aggravated the foot injury in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was still sporting a walking boot during practice this week.Allen played in two games last season, starting one. The 23-year-old threw two touchdown passes in a Week 17 win over the New Orleans Saints.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid ruled out running back Damien Williams and left tackle Eric Fisher for the club's Week 3 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, according to team reporter BJ Kissel.Williams hurt his knee in the Chiefs' Week 2 victory over the Oakland Raiders, while Fisher will undergo core muscle surgery. The club has yet to announce a timetable for his recovery.Reid added that LeSean McCoy had "a great practice" Friday as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.Wide receiver Tyreek Hill will also miss Sunday's contest as he's expected to be out for at least two more games. Hill injured his collarbone in Week 1.If McCoy is officially cleared for Week 3, he'll likely assume the majority of Kansas City's backfield duties with rookie Darwin Thompson spelling him for a handful of snaps.Williams was still limping considerably Thursday, according to NFL Network's James Palmer, but the Chiefs haven't ruled him out for any games beyond this week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The legend of Gardner Minshew continues to grow.The Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie quarterback has revealed he attempted to break his throwing hand while at East Carolina in order to receive a medical redshirt and be eligible for an additional year of football."It was my first year there," Minshew said on Friday's episode of Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast. "I went there from junior college and the situation was I had two seniors above me, so I was hoping to go in, redshirt, and be able to play three (seasons). It was an awesome setup, you know?The situation didn't play out as Minshew had hoped, however. After team injuries forced him into game action for a single half, he realized his chance to receive a redshirt was in jeopardy."So I'm like 'dang, man, I just played a half and I really wasted a year on playing a half of ball,' you know? So I was pretty pissed and started looking around at what I can do, what my options were. And the only thing I could do would be to get a medical redshirt. But if I played in this next game, then that would be off the table."So I get an idea. I go home, I grab a bottle of Jack Daniel's and I grab a hammer. I go back to my room and take a pull of Jack Daniel's, put my hand down on the table and - Boom! Boom! Boom! One, two, three - (I) hit the hell out of my hand, dude. I'm sitting there shaking but I know it's not broke, so I'm like 'God, come on.' I take another pull. One, two, three, again, still nothing. I'm just shaking at this point, man. I knew it wasn't broken so one more time, another pull, another three hits, and that was all I could take. I couldn't break my own hand.Unfortunately for Minshew, he failed to obtain a redshirt and finished that year with the Pirates. He later transferred to Washington State."Yeah, I mean, I ended up playing some," he said. "It was good getting that experience. But dude, I had a swollen-ass hand for about a few weeks. I just told the coaches I closed it in a car door."The 2019 sixth-round pick is coming off his first career NFL win in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Against convention, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey suited up and showcased his All-Pro abilities in Thursday's win over the Tennessee Titans - three days after his trade request became public. Now the clock is ticking on talks for Ramsey, who reportedly doesn't expect to be with the Jaguars by Week 4.Here are the odds for Ramsey's next team, with a few clubs that stand out:TEAMODDSKansas City Chiefs5-2New England Patriots5-1Oakland Raiders6-1New Orleans Saints9-1Tennessee Titans9-1Los Angeles Chargers10-1Dallas Cowboys10-1Philadelphia Eagles10-1Green Bay Packers10-1Seattle Seahawks10-1San Francisco 49ers10-1Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)The Chiefs have been pegged as front-runners in the Ramsey race since his intentions first became public. But Kansas City already traded away an enigmatic star cornerback in Marcus Peters just over a year ago. Why bring in Ramsey now?Simply put, the Chiefs need him more than any other team. Defense has been their bugaboo amid otherworldly offensive numbers from Patrick Mahomes. Going all-out for Ramsey could be the solution in a potential January rematch with the Patriots.New England Patriots (5-1)The Patriots are usually the team trading away stars for first-round picks, not the other way around. But Ramsey would be a particularly nice fit with New England, which led the league in man-coverage percentage (56.8%) last year and has played man more frequently than any other team since 2016.Ramsey has been vocal about his frustration with Jacksonville's zone defense, so he'd likely welcome a move to a legitimate contender that can optimize his skill set. The Patriots have shown a willingness to gamble on talent this year; could Ramsey be next?Oakland Raiders (6-1)The Raiders certainly aren't shy about taking swings for disgruntled difference-makers, and Ramsey has previously indicated a desire to play in Las Vegas, the team's new home starting in 2020. Oakland also has an extra 2020 first-round pick from the Khalil Mack trade, which could help the Raiders meet Jacksonville's reported asking price of multiple first-rounders.Could Oakland satisfy Ramsey's desire to play for a contender? The cornerback won't be calling the shots with his new team, but the Raiders may be hesitant about acquiring another outspoken star after the Antonio Brown debacle.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Belichick said Friday that the New England Patriots are "looking into" controversies surrounding Antonio Brown off the field, but didn't provide details."I know there are questions about Antonio," the head coach told reporters. "We take all the situations with our team very seriously. There are some things we're looking into but I'm not going to have any comment on any of the off-the-field situations or questions on that."Brown was hit with a lawsuit Sept. 10, one day after he signed with the Patriots, that accused him of raping his former personal trainer. Troubling allegations from other people have followed.Late Thursday night, a woman told Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko that Brown was sending her "intimidating" texts. Earlier this week, the outlet published a story in which she alleged Brown made an unwanted sexual advance toward her in 2017 while she was contracted to paint a mural in his home.When asked whether he expects Brown to be in the lineup Sunday for his second contest with the Patriots, Belichick was vague."He's on our roster," he said.Belichick walked out of his press conference moments later as the questions regarding the wide receiver persisted.

Every Friday during the NFL season, theScore's sports-betting writers will release their best bets for the week. Each writer has been given an imaginary $1,000 bankroll to manage throughout the campaign. If you decide to follow any of the picks, please gamble responsibly.Odds courtesy of theScoreBet.Thomas Casale ($1,045)Season Record: 2-1, +$45Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo BillsLine: Bills -6The Bills enter this game 2-0 while the Bengals are 0-2 after last week's ugly 24-point home loss to the 49ers. So, the Bills should win this game easily, right? Not so fast.Cincy did lay an egg in Week 2, but the team gives us some value with this line. Buffalo's two wins came over the Jets and Giants - teams that are a combined 0-4. The Bengals' two losses, meanwhile, came against teams with a combined 4-0 record in the Seahawks and 49ers. And now the offensively challenged Bills are nearly a touchdown favorite? That's an overreaction to last week's results.The Bills aren't used to long winning streaks. They're 3-13 straight up and 4-12 against the spread in the contests following their last 16 two-game runs. The Bengals, on the other hand, have been profitable in this spot, going 8-2 ATS in their last 10 outings as road underdogs. There's too much value for me not to pounce on this line. Don't be surprised if Cincinnati wins this game outright.Pick: Bengals +6 ($75)Alex Kolodziej ($965)Season record: 3-3, -$35Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City ChiefsTotal: 52One of our editors joked I had a good bounce-back week following a superb 0-3 start. Aren't my intentions obvious? I always try to lose as much as possible as early as possible so my limits go up, only to lay the hammer down the rest of the season. I doubt I lose another game, to be honest.Now, about this Ravens-Chiefs game, the first I bookmarked last Sunday. I was all for anything under 55, so this was the first game I locked in for Week 3. There isn't a bad matchup for Patrick Mahomes in the entire league. Whether it's the Ravens' defense or the Dolphins' defense, the only way Mahomes and the Chiefs fail to scheme receivers open is if they forget to set their alarms. I, for one, do not fear Baltimore's defense.The nail in the coffin for taking the total here is Lamar Jackson. This new offensive approach of taking shots deep is the optimal way to exploit Kansas City's defense, and Jackson is currently the league leader in average completed air yards at 8.7 through two weeks. Hollywood Brown and the Ravens' 31 tight ends have been huge in creating explosive plays so far. Baltimore's faced a couple of porous defenses, but the Chiefs' secondary shouldn't intimidate Jackson. Expect an incredible pace and a bunch of chunk plays.Pick: Over 52 ($30)Carolina Panthers at Arizona CardinalsTotal: 45.5I watched the Cardinals pretty closely last week. They're fun. They aren't good, bless their hearts, but they're exciting to watch. What Arizona's offense lacks in efficiency, it'll make up for with ridiculous pace; the Cardinals run no-huddle more than 50% of the time as Kliff Kingsbury tries to morph them into Texas Tech.Kyler Murray had a tough go in his first start but fared pretty well on the road at Baltimore. Back at home for his third start and getting more comfortable, he faces a Panthers defense that's allowing 9.0 air yards per attempt. Whether it's Cam Newton or Kyle Allen at quarterback - imagine saying this two seasons ago - I'll fade the Cardinals' defense any chance I get with totals in the mid-40s.Pick: Over 44.5 ($30)Oakland Raiders at Minnesota VikingsLine: Vikings -8.5I don't enjoy laying close to double digits in the NFL market, but this is a good spot to back Minnesota. Quarterback Kirk Cousins finally gets to play a bad team, so shouldn't we see the good version of him in Week 3? His numbers aren't great, but he's still getting the most time in the pocket of any quarterback in the league. He should have a field day whenever he's not feeding Dalvin Cook, who already has 265 yards and three scores on the ground.The problem with backing Oakland in this spot is that the offense has to score points. Last time I checked, that's how you win and cover games. But there are no real threats at the skill positions outside of Tyrell Williams, who should have his hands full with Xavier Rhodes. Minnesota had a couple of tests early against Atlanta and Green Bay, but this is a severe step down in class.Pick: Vikings -9 ($30)Alex Moretto ($908)Season Record: 1-2, -$92Oakland Raiders at Minnesota VikingsLine: Vikings -8.5The fact Minnesota isn't 2-0 will be eating away at Mike Zimmer and his team all week. After a pathetic first 16 minutes, the Vikings outscored the Packers 16-0 and outgained them 367-164 - only to find themselves a head-scratching, fist-through-the-wall Kirk Cousins interception away from a huge divisional win at Lambeau Field. Cook did his part, but Zimmer will be furious with what was assuredly one of Cousins' worst games in purple and yellow. It speaks volumes about this Vikings team that even with Cousins completing 43.75% of his passes, Minnesota should have upset the Packers.Zimmer, ever the disciplinarian, will be on his offense all week, putting extra emphasis on getting the passing game into a rhythm. That's unfortunate for the Raiders, who will be on the receiving end of a get-right spot for the Vikings on Sunday in Minneapolis. The Vikings will pound the ball again with Cook but also ramp it up through the air to get Cousins back into a groove. And you have to pity Derek Carr against this Minnesota defense, especially with Josh Jacobs battling an illness and an injury.The Vikings are 22-6-3 ATS (78.6%) as home favorites under Zimmer, and 10-2-2 as favorites of six or more points during his tenure. The Raiders just don't have the talent on either side of the ball to match them. It could get ugly at U.S. Bank Stadium.Pick: Vikings -8.5 ($80)C Jackson Cowart ($864)Season record: 2-4, -$136Miami Dolphins at Dallas CowboysTotal: 47.5Instead of playing an unappetizing slate of side action this week, I'm all-in on the under in the Dallas-Miami game, for which oddsmakers have nudged the total from 47 to 47.5 despite the Dolphins' glaring inability to score touchdowns. Miami's plan to start Josh Rosen will likely turn a conservative offense into a frozen one, while the Cowboys can run to their hearts' content with a sizable lead.In the last 30 years, games with a 21-plus-point favorite are 3-2 to the under, and the two overs featured the '07 Patriots and '13 Broncos in contests with totals eclipsing 50. There won't be enough juice in this game to reward an over ticket.Pick: Under 47.5 ($75)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To say Gardner Minshew's pro career is off to a hot start is an understatement.Casual followers of the NFL draft likely weren't overly familiar with Minshew as most of the focus was on Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, and Dwayne Haskins. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder was the 10th quarterback chosen this past April when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with their sixth-round pick.Minshew won the backup job in training camp but was firmly behind Nick Foles entering the season. That all changed when Foles broke his collarbone early in Week 1. The Washington State product was subsequently thrust into the starting spot and quickly took the reins.Here are key numbers from Minshew's historic start that illustrate how he's found immediate success.AccuracyMinshew's best trait as a passer has always been his accuracy. In his final collegiate campaign, he led all draft-eligible quarterbacks with an 80.6 adjusted completion percentage, according to Pro Football Focus.The Flowood, Mississippi, native carried this momentum to the NFL. His 73.8 completion percentage currently ranks third in the league and is the highest mark through a player's first three games in league history.YearTeamPlayerCompletion percentage2019JAXGardner Minshew73.81993SEARick Mirer70.92007BUFTrent Edwards70.51997SEAJon Kitna68.9This season, Minshew has been accurate on 81.4% of his passes, per PFF, which ranks him sixth among quarterbacks with more than one start.In his debut, the 23-year-old completed 22 of 25 passes and set an NFL record with 13 straight completions to begin a career.Minshew ranks near the middle of the pack averaging 7.9 yards per attempt, but he's making his throws count. The rookie's 100.6 passer rating is the highest through a quarterback's first three games in the Super Bowl era.Deep passing and under pressureThe former Pac-12 star has illustrated much more than an ability to string together short throws through three weeks. Though he's attempted passes of more than 20 yards in the air at a lesser rate than some of the NFL's elite, Minshew was accurate on 70% of deep passes (third among quarterbacks) and earned a 137.5 passer rating (ranking sixth) on such attempts.Passing distanceCompletion %TD-INTQBRShort (Behind LOS-10 yards)78%0-182.54Intermediate (11-20 yards)77%4-0147.44Deep (20+ yards)60%1-0137.5The Jaguars aren't known for their stout offensive line despite a desire to be a power run team. However, Minshew is completing a respectable 55.6% of his attempts while under pressure and ranks eighth at his position with a 99.6 rating, per PFF.Foles is targeting a Week 11 return to the lineup, but Jacksonville will have every chance to compete in a wide-open AFC South if Minshew continues his high level of play.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jalen Ramsey appears intent on leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars, but ownership may reportedly try to entice him to stay.Jaguars owner Shad Khan would be willing to make Ramsey the league's highest-paid cornerback as soon as possible, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.It's currently unknown whether the star defender would be willing to remain with Jacksonville if he received a lucrative contract offer. He previously said he would ask for an "ungodly" amount of money to re-sign with the club.The 24-year-old's trade request came after a "disrespectful" conversation with decision-makers Tom Coughlin and David Caldwell.Ramsey suited up for Thursday Night Football against the Tennessee Titans despite the fact that he reportedly doesn't expect to be with the Jaguars by Week 4.The two-time Pro Bowler isn't short of suitors on the trade block. Jacksonville reportedly set its asking price for the cornerback at two first-round picks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marcus Mariota had a day to forget Thursday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel wasn't ready to make a switch at quarterback.Backup Ryan Tannehill was spotted on the sideline with his helmet on in the fourth quarter, but Vrabel stuck with his starter despite Mariota's lackluster game."Not very (close)," Vrabel told reporters when asked if he considered replacing Mariota with Tannehill, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "(Tannehill) just can hear the calls when he puts his helmet on."Mariota, 25, completed 23-of-40 passes for 304 yards while taking nine sacks. Though the box score suggested a solid effort, the former No. 2 overall pick struggled with accuracy and failed to make a big play."I've got to find that out because I can't start games like that," Mariota said of his struggles. "You know, I didn't help our team at all in the first half, didn't give our guys chances to make plays and I felt I need to go out and just muster something together."I've got to continue to have that mentality throughout the season and just give our guys opportunities to go make plays."After dominating the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, Tennessee has lost two straight games, scoring just a combined 24 points in those contests.The Titans next face the Atlanta Falcons in a Week 4 road tilt.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A woman who alleged that Antonio Brown made an unwanted sexual advance toward her in 2017 said she received "intimidating" texts from the New England Patriots receiver on Wednesday night, according to a letter that the unnamed artist's lawyer sent to the NFL and Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko obtained.In Klemko's story published on Monday, the woman claimed Brown invited her to his Pennsylvania home to paint a mural of him, but "ghosted" after she rebuffed his advance.While kneeling down on her second day of work, the woman says she turned to find Brown behind her, naked, holding a small hand towel over his genitals.This week, the woman said she received a text chain that appeared to come from the same phone number Brown provided to her in 2017. In the group message, which has four other phone numbers on it, the texter accuses the artist of fabricating her story "for money."Robert Klemko / Sports IllustratedThe texter then refers to her as a "super broke girl with a lot of kids," and then asks "Eric B" to investigate her past.A screenshot of the woman's children from an Instagram post was also included, with the texter adding that "she's awful broke clearly."Brown's lawyer, Darren Heitner, was included in the group message, but he didn't repsond to the texts.The artist's lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, wrote to the league on Thursday evening, calling Brown's conduct "intimidating and threatening" and a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy."Our client ... is understandably frightened by these text messages, which are clearly intended to threaten and intimidate her,” the lawyer wrote. "While she certainly qualifies as a 'starving artist,' she has never approached Mr. Brown, nor will she, about seeking money to compensate her for his sexual misconduct, contrary to his allegations in the text messages."Within an hour of receiving the letter, the NFL arranged a phone call between investigators and the attorneys for the artist, a source told Klemko.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If NFL team owners get their way, it could become much harder for players to hold out.During the latest round of talks for a new collective bargaining agreement, some owners proposed changes that would significantly strengthen the punishments for players who stay away from their teams during training camp, sources told Dan Graziano of ESPN.Players who hold out from the summer workouts can currently be fined up to $40,000 for each day of training camp missed.While it's unknown exactly what owners are proposing, one of Graziano's sources described the proposals as "draconian."It's becoming commonplace for players to skip all of training camp to force new contracts.Running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon both did so this offseason, with Elliott later signing a big-money extension right before the regular season, while Gordon remains absent and reportedly won't return until sometime between Weeks 6 and 8.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack has been placed in the concussion protocol after exiting Thursday night's win against the Tennessee Titans, the team announced.Jack appeared to take a knee directly to his head while attempting to make a backfield tackle toward the start of the second half.The 24-year-old is a key leader of Jacksonville's talented defense. He racked up a half-sack and nine tackles over the first two games this season.With Jack sidelined, Najee Goode entered for the Jaguars, playing alongside Quincy Williams and Leon Jacobs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.