Carrington Valentine barely needed one snap to remind Green Bay what he can do.
After spending the last few weeks mostly parked on special teams duty, the Packers cornerback got thrust back into the spotlight when a starter went down with a fourth-quarter injury against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. On his first play, Dak Prescott went right at him with CeeDee Lamb lined up across from him, and Valentine responded by attacking the ball and snaring what looked like a clean interception.
The celebration didn’t last. Officials wiped it out with a roughing the passer penalty on Green Bay, turning a highlight into a what-might-have-been.
Packers fans and media were livid, and the call looked especially soft. Even so, the play still served as a sharp reminder that Valentine can hold his own at corner when called upon.
He stayed on the field for 19 snaps and posted the top defensive grade on the Packers with a 91.7. Green Bay rolled past Dallas, 23-13.
Za’Darius Smith also made his presence felt after returning from injury for the Falcons. Cleared after going through concussion protocol, he was back on the field and wasted little time getting a sack. Smith played only 16 snaps, but one of them turned into a drive-killer when he brought down Caleb Williams.
That sequence came with another flag involved. Officials first said Williams had released the ball in time and flagged Atlanta for pass interference, but review changed everything.
Smith was ruled to have Williams down by contact in the backfield, the penalty disappeared, and the sack went on the books. The Bears still won, 31-23.
Elsewhere in the BBNFL notes, Barion Brown hauled in the first official catch of his NFL career. It went for just five yards, but he added a 41-yard kick return and continues to make noise in the return game. As the line goes, when it comes to big returns for Brown, it’s cookies.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the Jaguars in rushing yardage in London against the Texans. Working behind Tuten, who stood out in the passing game, Rodriguez carried 11 times for 55 yards and kept grinding out positive gains.
There was injury news, too. Brandin Echols left the Steelers’ game after just three defensive snaps because of a hamstring issue. On the other sideline of the league, veteran Bud Dupree was inactive for the Chargers while dealing with a neck injury.
Green Bay also had Jager Burton as a healthy scratch. The fifth-round pick has seen limited action this season, and the Packers didn’t activate him at all in Week 6.
Carrington Valentine (GB) was the biggest standout in the snap counts and grades, but a few other Kentucky products showed up on the list as well. Deone Walker finished with a 69.1 grade for Buffalo after logging a pressure, three tackles and two assists.
Josh Hines-Allen posted three pressures for Jacksonville. Barion Brown totaled 66 return yards to go with his first NFL reception.
Za’Darius Smith’s sack gave him a 55.8 grade, while Ray Davis, Maxwell Hairston, Dru Phillips and others filled out the rest of the week’s production.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Vanderbilt Plan Just Got More Complicated Before Week 8
Kentuckys preparation for Vanderbilt picked up a new wrinkle when the SEC injury report dropped ahead of Week 8, giving a clearer picture of who may and may not be available when the Wildcats try to keep their momentum rolling. The biggest note on Kentuckys side is linebacker Sam Greene, who is doubtful, while running back CJ Baxter is listed as probable, a sign the Wildcats could be leaning on their ground game as they sort through the defensive uncertainty.
Vanderbilts report brings its own set of considerations, led by starting cornerback Cayden Daniels being probable. With several other players on both sides carrying different injury designations, the final availability picture still has room to shift before kickoff, and that uncertainty leaves both staffs juggling depth, matchups and game-planning in the final stretch of the week. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys SEC Title Push Just Took A Brutal Hit
Kentuckys push for a 10th straight Southeastern Conference regular-season volleyball championship took a jolt Friday night when Tennessee stormed back from two sets down to win in five. The Wildcats looked in control early, taking the first two sets with a dominant start, but the match flipped as Tennessee settled in and began to dictate the final stretches in Knoxville.
Brooklyn DeLeye still delivered a big night for Kentucky with 25 kills, but the Wildcats could not hold off Tennessees balanced attack once the Volunteers found their rhythm. Kentuckys level dropped in the last three sets, and a match that had seemed headed toward a routine road win instead turned into a costly setback in the SEC race. [Read more 🡒]
Kenny Minchey Still Has One Loyal Voice In Vanderbilt Territory
A familiar name in the Kentucky-Vanderbilt buildup is pulling double duty emotionally this week. Justin Geisinger, a former Vanderbilt player now coaching high school football, has ties to both programs that make Saturdays matchup feel a little more personal than usual. He once coached Kentucky starting quarterback Kenny Minchey at the high school level, and he also shared a college locker room with Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea.
Geisinger has made no secret of the pull in both directions, which is part of what gives this game a more human layer beyond the SEC standings. On one side is the quarterback he helped develop, and on the other is a former teammate now leading the opposing sideline. For Kentucky fans tracking Mincheys rise, Geisinger is a reminder that these connections run deep, even when the scoreboard is about to force a choice. [Read more 🡒]