Woah – this was an action-packed weekend for former Hawks. We have a couple of houes calls. We have defenders making huge plays all day Sunday. Let’s attempt to unpack a busy Week 2.
George Kittle
Somehow, someway, Kittle is back a little over nine months since he ruptured his Achilles in Philadelphia. Amazing. After easing back in Week 1, Kittle returned to San Francisco Santa Clara for his first home game and didn’t disappoint. Kittle led the 49ers in both receptions (4) and yards (80) in their 35-13 romp of Miami. He also pulled in his first touchdown of the year.
Miami – woof. That team STINKS.
Sam LaPorta
It’s great to have LaPorta back too after his 2025 season was cut short due to a back injury. Things aren’t as rosy for the Lions – this team cannot get stops, as over the last six quarters plus overtime of Week 1 they’ve allowed 71 points. But, nice start to the season for LaPorta, who found the end zone for the first time as well, a 1-yard TD in Detroit’s 41-31 loss in Buffalo’s new stadium.
Lukas Van Ness
Hercules! Here’s another guy that missed time last year due to injury. Van Ness shone through in Green Bay’s come-from-behind win against the Jets. Van Ness finished with an astonishing 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks. and 3 tackles for loss, playing all over the field in this game. He’s already at 2.5 sacks for the season. His career high in a year is 4. Yeah, he’ll fly past that. Here are a few of his highlights. Enjoy!
Kaleb Johnson
Speaking of Green Bay – Kaleb Johnson is alive! After a turbulent rookie season in Pittsburgh, Johnson was traded shortly before this season started to the Packers. Johnson led the Packers with 8 carries on Sunday, picking up 32 yards. His long of the day was this carry. That looks like the Kaleb Johnson we all loved in Iowa City. It’s not a huge line for the day, but you have to start somewhere.
Riley Moss
So far, it’s been a tough season for Moss. Denver’s second corner opposite Pat Surtain, Moss is constantly thrown at and has a big target on his back from the fans. He’s just not Surtain, you guys. After missing tackles in Denver’s embarrassing Week 1 loss to Kansas City, people were on edge. Then Moss was called for a penalty early in Sunday’s game with Jacksonville that negated a Denver fumble recovery. Fans were pissed off.
Then it happened. With the Broncos trailing 13-6, Jacksonville near midfield and possibly ready to plunge the dagger into the Mile High City, Trevor Lawrence threw his worst pass of the day. Moss played great coverage on the play and pulled down the pick, his first of the year.
It’s obviously early, but that could be one of those early turning point plays in this season. Denver looked to be in massive trouble, a scary 0-2 start looming with a tough schedule ahead (Rams, at 49ers, Seahawks to name a few upcoming opponents.) Instead Moss makes the biggest play of the game, Denver ties the game, then eventually wins it to move to 1-1. Whew.
Amani Hooker
Hooker joined the turnover club in Tennessee’s tight 24-20 loss to Philadelphia that was played in an oven (field temperatures at 157 degrees in this game.) Hooker 6 tackles and this interception that he nearly took to the end zone.
Potpourri
In other tight end news, I see no targets for Noah Fant, while T.J. Hockenson nabbed 3 catches for 29 yards. No worries for either player – the Saints picked up the upset of the day, winning in Baltimore 24-17, while Minnesota won in a soggy Soldier Field, 9-3, that ended with some of the best memes you’ll find on Twitter around Caleb Williams’s hamstring injury that appears to be not serious at all.
To the comments!
About the Author
