Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson was carted to the locker room with an air cast on his left leg during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.Head coach Pete Carroll declined to offer details on the ailment post-game, but conceded that Carson suffered a "significant" injury."We don't know if he needs surgery, that kind of stuff, we don't know that yet," Carroll said. "But it's significant. So, we'll see," Carroll said via NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman.Carson's leg bent awkwardly as he was tackled late in the fourth quarter, and teammates immediately called for the medical staff.Prior to leaving the game, Carson rushed for 42 yards on 12 carries, adding three receptions for 24 yards.Eddie Lacy, J.D. McKissic and Thomas Rawls will likely be in the mix for increased carries in Carson's absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is always full of surprises, but Week 4 was especially eyebrow-raising. Whether it was monster offensive performances or surprising victories, there were plenty of things that left us scratching our heads.Here are the five most surprising:Texans score 57 pointsNo one had previously accused the Texans of being an offensive juggernaut, but that may change after Sunday.Houston put up 57 points on the Titans, as quarterback Deshaun Watson set a rookie record with five touchdowns - four through the air, one on the ground - and he is quickly making fans forget about the Texans' struggles on the offensive side of the ball a year ago.Brock Osweiler threw 16 interceptions in 2016 as the Texans' ineptitude offensively prevented them from being a serious contender. If Watson is the franchise pivot Houston has long been seeking, Houston could make some serious noise in the AFC.Patriots, Falcons, Cowboys all lose at homeIt's not unusual for a strong team to have an off week at home every once in a while, but three stumbling on the same day is.The Falcons, Patriots, and Cowboys all fell Sunday against opponents that most would think they should handle routinely. Atlanta and New England met in the Super Bowl last season, and Dallas finished 13-3, so many would have predicted each would pick up where they left off in 2016.Instead the Bills, Panthers, and Rams, who all missed the playoffs last year, got the better of them on the same day.Greg Zuerlein kicks 7 FGsA big reason the Rams edged the Cowboys was the leg of Greg Zuerlein.The Los Angeles kicker booted seven field goals and when you add a pair of extra points, he was responsible for 23 of the Rams' 35 points. Rookie head coach Sean McVay and second year quarterback Jared Goff deserve much of the credit for the Rams jumping out to a 3-1 start, but a kicker who never misses doesn't hurt either.Saints post a shutoutThe Saints defense looked terrible in the first two weeks and not even a decent performance last week against the Panthers could have set up what we saw Sunday.New Orleans shut out the Dolphins and held Jay Cutler to only 164 yards passing. Sam Bradford and Tom Brady made the Saints passing defense look non-existant earlier this season, but now they've suddenly righted the ship.Perhaps now Drew Brees won't feel like he has to put up 45 points every week to win.Eli Manning rushes for 14-yard TDAt age 36, you could probably time Eli Manning's 40 with a calendar at this point, but the Giants quarterback did, indeed, run for a 14-yard score against the Buccaneers.Believe it or not, Manning now leads the Giants in rushing touchdowns on the season, and a New York quarterback hadn't run for a score that long since 1992. Maybe the Giants should turn Manning loose in the running game if they want to improve on an 0-4 record.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jason Peters delivered a tongue-in-cheek shot at the Los Angeles Chargers fan base, under the guise of concern.Peters and the Eagles escaped with a 26-24 road victory over the Chargers Sunday. The nine-time Pro Bowler said the sparse crowd in Los Angeles contributed to his team's victory."That's crazy," Peters said to Josh Peter of USA TODAY Sports. "I mean, it's almost like the Chargers got 16 away games. It’s going to be tough sledding for those guys.""When we came out, it was like a home game," he added. "A lot of fans here supporting us, and it helped us."The Eagles would later add insult to injury:

Detroit Lions owner Martha Ford asked the team not to kneel during the national anthem Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, players revealed to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Ford promised to donate money to community issues the players were concerned about in exchange for not kneeling."As a team, we came together, talked to Mrs. Ford, the owners, and we understand the issues for the most part, generally," running back Ameer Abdullah said. "Me personally, I definitely want to be an aid in growing the social awareness in this country, that it is a race problem in this country. We do dance around the topic a lot and Mrs. Ford has come forward and said that as long as we compromise as a team and unify and make a unified demonstration, she’ll back us financially. So I’m definitely going to hold her to her word."Only two players knelt for the anthem Sunday, while the others linked arms. Lions linebackers Steve Longa and Jalen Reeves-Maybin were the ones that did and defensive end Cornelius Washington believe they did so for personal reasons. Longa's father passed away last week after being struck by a car while crossing the street and he kept his head down to pray during the anthem, according to Birkett."Those couple guys got some private stuff going on in their lives so that’s more than likely what it was," Washington said.Washington added that taking action now is more important than kneeling."She just asked us not to take the knee and basically told us – not basically, she told us she would back and support financially as well as put her name on whatever issues that we wanted to try to attack," Washington said. "But as far as the kneeling, she just I guess felt like there was better ways to get the point across. And at this point, people know what we’re kneeling for so now trying to take that next step in the plan of action to foster change is, that’s the next part and that’s the part she’s willing to get behind."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Through four weeks, the NFL landscape has developed in surprising ways that prognosticators and fans alike couldn't have imagined.The dormant Los Angeles Rams offense is now among the league's most explosive, the Buffalo Bills have a playoff-caliber defense, and the Detroit Lions are continuing to play the role of the NFL's resident cardiac kids for a second straight year.All of this begets the question: which 3-1 team is the most surprising?Ed. note: To be clear, we're not including unanimous Super Bowl contenders in the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, or Atlanta Falcons.The case for each teamBuffalo BillsBeleaguered fans of this franchise are weary of the team's 3-1 start as the team still holds the NFL's longest active playoff drought, but there's reason to Billieve, again.Tre'Davious White has showed off star potential through his first four games and has definitely proven worthy of his first-round selection, earning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September. LeSean McCoy has been among the NFL's best running backs once again, and while the passing game hasn't been eye-popping, Tyrod Taylor has managed an efficient aerial attack despite the lack of name-brand receivers.When the Bills traded Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby, many believed the team would be accelerating their rebuild. It appears, for the time being, the Bills are smashing that notion to smithereens, leading the AFC East through Oct. 1.Carolina PanthersCarolina was arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL last year, and some predicted a bounce back season. However, the method in which the Panthers have become 3-1 is the most surprising of all the candidates listed.No one knows what to expect from this mercurial Panthers team. After handily defeating the lowly 49ers in Week 1, the Panthers escaped with a 9-3 victory over the Bills, where both teams submitted tepid, uninspired offensive displays. The Panthers were routed by the Saints in Week 3, then responded with a last-second victory over the defending champion Patriots, after seeing a 14-point fourth quarter lead evaporate.Cam Newton doesn't look anywhere near his 2015 MVP form, while the defense vacillates from dominant to indifferent, making it next to impossible to get a read on this club.Denver BroncosTwo years removed from a victory in Super Bowl 50, many predicted the Broncos' rapid demise, in large part due to Trevor Siemian's shaky play at quarterback last year. Siemian's numbers haven't been eye-popping but he's thrown seven touchdowns against four interceptions, while a robust running attack led by C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles have made the Broncos more potent than anyone realized.Defense seldom makes headlines, but the Broncos still possess a world-class unit. Von Miller, Chris Harris, and Aqib Talib are all in All-Pro form once again, while the Broncos have also received strong contributions from Shelby Harris, Derek Wolfe, and Shaq Barrett. Make no mistake, the Broncos won't ever be an aesthetic dream, but they continue to make their imprint known.Detroit LionsThe Lions were expected to be a prime regression candidate after setting an NFL record with eight fourth-quarter comeback wins last season. Detroit is proving to be no fluke, however, with Matthew Stafford running a smooth aerial game.Detroit's secondary has been opportunistic, recording seven interceptions through three games, while giving Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum nothing to throw at during Sunday's 14-7 win. Heading into Week 4, Quandre Diggs was ranked as the 4th-best cornerback in the league by Pro Football Focus and he could be in for a star turn this fall. The Lions have cultivated a reputation as a tough out, with their lone loss to the Falcons marred by a controversial, last-second decision.The Lions still have a difficult schedule to navigate in their final 12 games, but they've proven to be better than the sum of their parts thus far.Los Angeles RamsWhat a difference coaching makes. Sean McVay has proven to be the real deal and has been integral to Jared Goff's rapid development during his sophomore season. The Rams were once defined by their putrid offense, but that's no longer the case.

Indianapolis Colts players and coaches wore t-shirts listing what they stand for following last week's league-wide protests during the national anthem ahead of Sunday night's contest against the Seattle Seahawks.

It appears the Oakland Raiders dodged a bullet Sunday, as head coach Jack Del Rio told Jimmy Durkin of The Athletic after the game the injury that forced Derek Carr to the locker room was back spasms and it “should be something that cleans up quickly.”Carr said he underwent X-rays and that an MRI would likely take place this week, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports.While back spasms are still concerning, it's definitely good news for the club that may have been fearing a more serious ailment.Carr suffered the injury on a sack in the third quarter of the loss to the Denver Broncos, taking a blow to his back as he tumbled to the ground. He would walk gingerly to the sidelines and continue to the locker room for further evaluation.E.J. Manuel came on for the injured starter but was unable to lead the Raiders to a comeback win.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although the Atlanta Falcons were able to mask many of their warts behind a perfect 3-0 record, that will no longer be the case.Week 4's 23-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the comforts of the barely broken in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, exposed the flaws which were disguised in lucky road victories against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, and Detroit Lions in Week 3.The Falcons were among the NFL's best in turnover differential on their road to the 2016 Super Bowl, but already rank near the bottom of the league through four weeks. Former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was able to perfectly balance distributing the ball to star wide receiver Julio Jones, while also mixing in some touches for a host of secondary and tertiary options. But new OC Steve Sarkisian has yet to master this.A year ago, the Falcons were able to avoid any debilitating injuries and didn't face much adversity, but through four weeks this season, they're already being forced to deal with more hurdles.Need to return to positive turnover differentialOne of the Falcons' biggest strengths of 2016 was an NFL rank of fourth in turnover differential at plus-11. Through four weeks, they rank near the bottom of the league at a differential of minus-four, which includes Sunday's two interceptions and lost fumble.They also failed to take the ball away on defense for a second straight week, which is a weakness head coach Dan Quinn was quick to address following the first loss of the season.

Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin is active for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.Baldwin suffered a groin injury last week against the Tennessee Titans and was a game-time decision heading into Sunday.The Seahawks' leading receiver has 20 catches on the season and a touchdown.While Baldwin's inclusion helps the passing game, the running game won't be as formidable. Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise are both inactive against the Colts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson lost two of his teeth during Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns and reflected on the harrowing experience after the 31-7 victory.

The Oakland Raiders are holding their collective breath, as star quarterback Derek Carr left Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos after suffering a back injury after being thrown to the ground in the third quarter.Carr walked gingerly to the sidelines and eventually made his way back to the locker room with the training staff for further evaluation. He was announced on the broadcast as questionable to return to the game and will undergo X-rays on his back.E.J. Manuel came in to replace Carr.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva does not appreciate having his background as a former Army Ranger used to score political points by anyone."I'm tired of the cameras in my face all the time," Villanueva told NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala after Sunday's win over the Baltimore Ravens. "It's completely unacceptable to use me as a tool to push an agenda."Many who disliked players protesting during the national anthem pointed to Villanueva as being in their corner after he stood by himself outside the locker room for the song in Week 3. Villanueva later clarified that he did not stand by himself intentionally as he thought his teammates were right behind him, but many have ignored that bit of information to have it fall in line with their agenda.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill O'Brien's prayers have been answered. The Houston Texans have found a franchise quarterback - for the first time ever.In just three starts, Deshaun Watson has defied the doubters and gone from a young project to a legitimate starter on a contending team.The 22-year-old former national champion began his pro tenure with hopes that he'd eventually become who the Texans desired David Carr would be in 2002, but with few expectations for immediate success in 2017. Even after Watson arrived for training camp, Tom Savage, who had just two pro starts under his belt, was being favored as the starter - even by Houston's top players."If anybody should be a judge of quarterbacks, I've played with the most quarterbacks in NFL history throughout my first four years," star receiver DeAndre Hopkins said in August. "So I put the stamp on Savage, and I think that's all that needs to be said about that."O'Brien clearly agreed, but his decision to open the season with Savage under center didn't last long - exactly two quarters, to be exact - which has proven to be a risk worth taking.Related: Texans ripping up plan for Watson - assuming they ever had oneSince taking over, Watson has injected a boost of energy and belief into the entire Texans organization, winning two of his three starts while pushing the New England Patriots to a razor-thin 36-33 final in his sole defeat.The Clemson product did struggle through his first start of the season against Cincinnati - likely due to the Thursday night matchup leaving him little time to prepare - but he still managed to escape with the win, in large part due to his 49-yard touchdown run. And it's only gotten better from there.Against the Patriots in Week 3, Watson was undone by the conservative game-managing of his head coach, as he amassed 301 passing yards with two touchdowns and 41 rush yards. But more importantly, just as he didn't back down from Alabama in college, Watson showed he wasn't afraid against the defending Super Bowl champions.In Week 4, Watson faced a Tennessee Titans team that had allowed an average of 23 points per game through their opening schedule, and proceeded to absolutely tear them apart. While he was aided by a five-turnover performance from his defense, Watson helped the Texans rack up a franchise-record 57 points on Sunday.Watson's breakout party saw him tie the NFL rookie record for the most total touchdowns in a game, throwing for four scores while running one in himself. He's quickly developed a chemistry with the Texans' talented receiving corps, as Hopkins had 10 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown Sunday, while Will Fuller caught two scores in his first game of the season.With only two quarterbacks logging at least 16 games as a starter in Houston's 16-year history, Texans fans aren't used to seeing a good field general who can lead a team with both tangibles and intangibles.To be fair, franchise passing leader Matt Schaub did lead the league in yards in 2009. He also had future Hall of Famer Andre Johnson on that team, while leading the NFL in attempts. And despite Schaub running a fairly fun offense, only once in his six-and-a-half years as Houston's starter did the team have double-digit wins.Being a franchise quarterback is about more than just yardage totals and fun-filled offenses - it's about leading the team and having others follow. Watson proved he could fill that role in college, going to two straight national championships, and he's about to show Houston what it looks like for next decade.(Photos Courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's Oct. 1 and the Buffalo Bills are alone in first place in the AFC East.Wanna know what's crazy about that? It's probably not even the strangest thing about the division thus far this season.That the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots are tied with the New York Jets in the standings is, perhaps, even more stunning.Outside of the Ryan Tannehill-less Miami Dolphins bringing up the rear in last place, the AFC East has provided the craziest results of any division in the league throughout the opening month of the seasonBuffalo Bills (3-1)After trading Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby just before the season, many had significantly lowered their expectations for the Bills. With new coach Sean McDermott in the fold, the defense was expected to be among the strongest in the division, but the offense was expected to struggle outside of LeSean McCoy. The Bills took care of the Jets to begin the season, but after losing one of the most boring games in recent memory to the Panthers 9-3, the issues on the offensive side of the ball were a glaring problem.The defense carried the load in a massive home win over the Denver Broncos in Week 3, with Tyrod Taylor doing enough to improve the team's record to 2-1, but it was the road win Sunday in Atlanta that announced the Bills as a serious contender this season. The defense ruled the day yet again, forcing Matt Ryan into two picks, while Taylor's efficient approach moved the ball enough to get the Bills the 23-17 win.New York Jets (2-2)Most people assumed the Jets' main goal this season was to ensure the league's worst record and grab the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. If that was indeed their target, they are doing a terrible job of achieving it, as the Jets are now on a two-game winning streak thanks to Sunday's overtime victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The Jets offense remains one of the league's worst units, but the defense under Todd Bowles has shown their mettle throughout the season. With the Cleveland Browns next on the schedule, the Jets could get to 3-2 before hosting the Patriots in what is suddenly an important contest for both teams.New England Patriots (2-2)Not only have the Patriots looked human this year, but a 2-2 record through four games might actually be flattering to Bill Belichick's club. New England barely escaped with a last-second home win over the Houston Texans in Week 3, and that alone has kept them from a last-place tie with the Dolphins.The Patriots offense remains one of the best in the league, but the defense has been as bad as any under Belichick's tenure, allowing an average of 32 points per game. While it's usually wise to trust the legendary coach and his area of expertise, the Patriots might not have the talent to fix things on the defensive end. It will be up to Tom Brady and the offense to be at their best every week to ensure the Patriots dominance of the AFC East continues.Miami Dolphins (1-2)After a dramatic 19-17 win to open the season over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Dolphins have scored a total of six points the last two weeks. Maybe bringing Jay Cutler out of the broadcast booth to replace the injured Tannehill wasn't the best idea?This season may be a wash for the club with their starting quarterback's injury, and with the Tennessee Titans and Falcons next on the schedule, the Dolphins may very well be 1-4 when the Jets come to Miami on Oct. 22.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota will undergo an MRI on his hamstring after injuring it against the Houston Texans Sunday, head coach Mike Mularkey told Jim Wyatt of the team's website.Mariota left the game and did not return after suffering the ailment on a touchdown run.Titans backup Matt Cassel came on in relief and struggled, as Tennessee was blown out 57-14. If Mariota is sidelined for a significant amount of time, the Titans will likely face an uphill climb in trying to make the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos minority owner John Bowlen denied that he's actively trying to sell his minority stake in the franchise, the team said in a release.A report surfaced Sunday that Bowlen is planning to sell his 30-to-35 percent of the team because he's upset about how it's being run, but the Broncos denied that's the case."Broncos minority owner John Bowlen, accompanied by his advisor, indicated at our Sept. 18 board meeting that he is extremely pleased with the way the organization is being operated under Joe Ellis in the absence of his brother, owner Pat Bowlen," the statement reads.Ellis took over the day-to-day operations of the team in 2014 after Broncos majority owner Pat Bowlen stepped away because of Alzheimer's disease."John has never made any statements to the contrary, and at this meeting he voiced his full support for the contract extensions given to Ellis and other key team executives. John also indicated that although he is not actively looking to sell his minority, non-voting stake in the team, he recently was approached by someone who expressed interest in his share of the team. This afternoon, John informed multiple members of the organization that the opinions attributed to him by an anonymous source in a media report did not come from him and do not represent his views."The team also noted that Pat's stake is not for sale, as the plan is to keep it in the Bowlen family.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dalvin Cook's rookie season may be over after only four games, as Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that the club fears the star running back tore his ACL in Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions.The team has scheduled an MRI for Monday to get an official diagnosis.The second-round pick out of Florida State has been solid for the Vikings this season, leading the team with 288 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Cook's injury means Minnesota is now without its starting quarterback and running back, as Sam Bradford has been out since the season opener with a knee injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was a mini New York Jets reunion at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday afternoon.ESPN's Jordan Raanan captured this photo of former Jets quarterbacks Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick catching up prior to the game between the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Marshawn Lynch made it clear where he stands in the political arena.A week after players across the league protested during the national anthem in response to President Donald Trump's criticisms of those who do so, the Oakland Raiders running back arrived to Sunday's game wearing an "Everybody vs. Trump" T-shirt.

Just three home games into their Los Angeles foray, the Chargers are already resorting to placing tarps on unsold sections of their stadium.The Chargers play at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., a soccer-specific stadium with a 27,000-person capacity. It's easily the NFL's smallest stadium, and four weeks into the season, the Chargers are having trouble selling it out.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota left Sunday's game against the Houston Texans in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and is questionable to return, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's website.Mariota completed six of 10 passes for 96 yards, but he threw two interceptions. He also had four rushing attempts for 39 yards and two touchdowns.He was replaced by journeyman backup Matt Cassel.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook suffered a non-contact left knee injury and was taken to the locker room Sunday against the Detroit Lions.The rookie was able to walk gingerly off the field under his own power, but he was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.Warning: Video contains graphic content

John Bowlen, the younger brother of Denver Broncos majority owner Pat Bowlen, is attempting to sell his minority interest in the team, a source told Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post.John owns roughly 30-to-35 percent of the Broncos, added Jhabvala, after helping Pat buy the team back in 1984.Themotivation to sell is because the Broncos aren't "being run the way Pat would have run it in many, many capacities," the source told Jhabvala.The source added, "It is time for a new owner."Pat stepped down from his daily duties as owner in 2014 due to Alzheimer’s disease, and the team was placed in a trust to help transition ownership to one of his seven children.John's potential sale won't affect the transition of Pat's majority interest, added Jhabvala."As it relates to Pat Bowlen's controlling interest of the team, it is not for sale," Broncos president Joe Ellis said Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu were both ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Jones was diagnosed with a hip flexor injury, while Sanu has a hamstring injury, the team announced.Jones walked to the Falcons' locker room under his own power with under five minutes remaining in the first half. Sanu appeared to finish the half, but neither player returned to the field following the break, with the official rulings coming shortly after.Jones had caught three passes for 30 yards prior to his departure, while Sanu's day ended with one 3-yard reception, and a 4-yard rushing attempt on which he was stopped just shy of the Bills' goal line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers' running back Carlos Hyde is officially active for Sunday's divisional tilt against the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced not two hours before kickoff.Hyde suffered a hip injury in last Thursday's game with the Los Angeles Rams, but managed to play through it and compile 84 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.The Niners will look for their first W of the season when they take Arizona.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.