Michael Penix Jr. was back on the practice field Wednesday, a good sign for the Falcons after he dealt with a ribs injury. The Atlanta quarterback said he expects to be ready for Week 6 and sounded confident about where things stand.
“We’re good and I feel good to go this week so that’s the plan. … It’s not always comfortable but I made every throw out there today.”
Across the division, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero defended Akayleb Evans after a rough stat line in Week 4. Evans was targeted 16 times, gave up 208 yards and a touchdown, but Evero pointed to the positives in his overall performance.
“You can play 65 really good snaps and then five or so snaps can really define the game. I want to lean into the snaps that he did a heckuva job on because there were so many good plays out there in coverage and in run support.”
Evero also stopped short of saying whether Evans will keep his starting job in Week 6, though he made clear he believes the issues are fixable.
“There’s things obviously he needs to correct and I’m excited to see what he does with that. I have a lot of confidence he will & they’re very correctable things.”
In New Orleans, Gayle Benson delivered a blunt message about the Saints’ 1-4 start. Speaking Tuesday at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club, the Saints owner made it clear she is not interested in softening the reality of the team’s opening five games.
“I will not make excuses, and I will not accept this level of performance as our standard,” Benson said in a Tuesday address at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club, via NFL.com. “I am committed to making the decisions necessary to improve this team.
Everyone in this organization understands the urgency. We must prepare better, execute consistently and correct the mistakes that are costing us the games.
Words will not restore our fans’ confidence. Our performance must do better.”
Benson did not spell out any specific moves, but her comments left little doubt that she expects change. She also put responsibility squarely on the people at every level of the organization.
“Kellen Moore and his coaches are responsible for preparing our players to perform,” Benson said. “Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success.
Our players are responsible for their preparation and execution. I am responsible for holding this organization accountable.”
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Catch A Huge Break Before Eagles Showdown
The Panthers trip to Philadelphia just got a lot more interesting. Jalen Hurts will miss the upcoming game against Carolina after the Eagles medical staff found a superficial blood clot in his calf during an ultrasound, sidelining the quarterback while the team figures out the right treatment path.
For Carolina, the change reshapes a matchup that had already loomed large on the schedule. Hurts is the kind of player who tilts a game from the opening series, so the Eagles now have to turn to backup options Tanner McKee or Cole Payton if they want to keep the offense on track against a Panthers defense that suddenly sees a very different challenge ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Just Got Pulled Into A Dangerous Justin Herbert Debate
Justin Herbert chatter has a way of pulling other teams into the conversation, and Carolina is one of them. The Panthers have spent the better part of the past two seasons trying to settle the quarterback position around Bryce Young, so any discussion about a star passer potentially available naturally turns the spotlight back on what Carolina has, what it still needs, and how much patience remains in a rebuild that is still taking shape.
Bryce Youngs name coming up in the same breath only sharpens the debate, because any path to Herbert would almost certainly force Carolina to weigh its own recent investment against the chance to reset the position again. There is no confirmed move here, just a speculative market built around performance, contracts and team need, but the fact that the Panthers are even part of the hypothetical says plenty about how unsettled the quarterback picture still feels. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Have A Real Opening In This Eagles Matchup
The Panthers head into their matchup with Philadelphia in a spot that would have looked a lot different not long ago. Carolina carries the better record into the game, and the conversation around this meeting has shifted from simple survival to whether the Panthers can actually press an advantage against an Eagles team still dealing with the aftershocks of a recent retirement and a trade.
On paper, there are a few places Carolina can try to make that happen. Derrick Brown against the Eagles right side of the offensive line is the kind of trench battle that can tilt a game, while Robert Hunts work against Jalen Carter looms just as large on the other side. The skill-position matchups are just as intriguing, with Tetairoa McMillan testing Quinyon Mitchell and Devin Lloyd lining up against Dallas Goedert, giving the Panthers multiple chances to turn a solid opportunity into something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]