Khalil Shakir turned one play into the fastest run of the 2026 NFL season.
With Buffalo needing someone else to step up after No. 1 receiver DJ Moore was sidelined by a shoulder injury, the former Boise State standout delivered in a big spot on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. Shakir finished with three catches for 80 yards, highlighted by a 57-yard catch-and-run on the Bills’ first overtime possession.
He came within inches of the end zone before Kamren Kinchens tripped him up just outside the red zone. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Shakir reached a top speed of 21.89 miles per hour on the play, the fastest mark by any ball carrier this season.
The previous high belonged to New York Giants defensive back Deonte Banks, who hit 21.85 miles per hour on a Week 4 pick-six.
Buffalo gave some of that momentum right back on the next play with a fumble, but the game stayed alive when Greg Rousseau blocked Harrison Mevis’ 48-yard attempt to win it. Josh Allen then used his legs to get the Bills into field goal range, and Tyler Bass finished the job with a 45-yarder for a 37-34 overtime road win.
Shakir, a fifth-round pick by Buffalo in 2022, now has 18 receptions for 256 yards on the season. The Bills improved to 4-1 and sit one game ahead of the New England Patriots in the AFC East.
Week 5 also brought another round of mixed results for the rest of the former Boise State group.
Bates had one catch for one yard in the Commanders’ 27-27 tie with the New York Giants. Casey stayed on the sideline for the fifth straight game as the Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 on the road.
Cleveland started at left guard in the Vikings’ 19-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in London. Hassanein was inactive again as the Lions rolled past the Arizona Cardinals 45-21 on the road.
Holani had a tough day against the San Francisco 49ers, finishing with two fumbles, including one that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. He totaled four carries for seven yards and four catches for 24 yards, and the Seahawks lost at home 32-29.
Jeanty posted 10 carries for 27 yards and three catches for 50 yards in the Patriots’ 45-17 road win over the Bills. Lawrence added a pass breakup in the loss to the 49ers, while Skinner recorded two tackles in the Broncos’ win over the Chargers.
In Other News...
Former Boise State DB At Center Of Eligibility Fight Fans Should Watch
Former Boise State cornerback Jeremiah Earby is back in the middle of a bigger NCAA eligibility fight that could have ripple effects beyond football. Earby, who entered the transfer portal, was one of two players granted temporary restraining orders by the Washtenaw County Circuit Court in Michigan, a ruling that allowed him and former Miami tight end Alex Bauman to keep their college football eligibility while their cases play out.
For Boise State fans, the story is worth watching because the NCAAs pushback on eligibility lawsuits involving class of 2022 athletes has already produced mixed results in court. That uncertainty has reached other Broncos as well, including basketball player Lamar Washington, who remains ineligible, making Earbys case part of a much broader test of how far players can go to challenge the NCAAs rules. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Lost A Key Defensive Piece Fans Wont Ignore
Michigan has added two more portal names to its roster in former Miami tight end Alex Bauman and former Boise State cornerback Jeremiah Earby, giving the Wolverines some extra depth as they gear up for Penn State. Both players have enrolled at Michigan after receiving temporary restraining orders that opened the door to another season of eligibility, a wrinkle that has become an increasingly familiar part of roster building in the transfer era.
For Boise State, Earbys move lands with some extra bite because it strips away a defensive back who had already earned a reputation in the Mountain West before heading elsewhere. Michigan is happy to supplement its depth chart, but for the Broncos it is another reminder of how quickly proven pieces can disappear once the portal and eligibility questions enter the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State's Playoff Push Just Got A Lot More Real
Boise States early-season surge has put the Broncos in a spot they rarely get to enjoy this time of year: being talked about as a real playoff contender, not just a team with an outside shot. At 5-1 and sitting atop the Pac-12 at 2-0, the Broncos have positioned themselves as the Group of Six team everyone else is chasing, and the numbers are starting to reflect that momentum.
DraftKings Sportsbook now has Boise State as the favorite among Group of Six programs to reach the College Football Playoff, and the wider projection world is treating the Broncos like a legitimate part of the conversation. National bowl forecasts are beginning to map out a path that would put Boise State in the playoff field, with the race still leaving plenty to settle before anything becomes official. [Read more 🡒]