Week 2 is packed with the kind of individual battles that can swing a game before the fourth quarter even arrives, and a few of them jump off the page.
Start in New England, where Will Campbell is about to get a long afternoon against one of the league’s most dangerous edge groups. The Patriots tackle has already shown some inconsistency when dealing with elite pass rushes, and the Steelers are bringing exactly the kind of heat that can expose that.
T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig give Pittsburgh a real chance to wreck passing plays, and the challenge for Campbell gets even trickier because Watt is expected to move around to different sides of the field this season.
With Pittsburgh also planning to keep all three rushers on a "pitch count" to keep them fresh under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Campbell is likely to see a fresh body coming after him snap after snap. Watt and Highsmith were both dominant in Week 1, and Herbig has already shown he can be disruptive off the edge.
If Campbell can hold up, it matters a lot for how that game plays out.
Monday night brings another heavyweight test, this time with Aaron Donald expected to make his 2026 debut for the Rams. It will be his comeback game, and the timing lines up well for Los Angeles after Myles Garrett was placed on IR and will miss at least the next four games.
Donald’s return matters for more than just the Rams’ pass rush. It also gives everyone a chance to see what kind of player he still is after two years away from football.
He is 35, and there’s real uncertainty about how much he can give this season, even with the reputation that comes with being one of the best defensive players of all time - and maybe the best ever. If he comes out and dominates the Giants’ interior offensive line, that would be a strong sign for the Rams.
If New York can keep him under control, it would help the Giants move toward an impressive 2-0 start to the John Harbaugh era.
Then there’s a true star-on-star matchup in Cincinnati: Ja'Marr Chase against Derek Stingley Jr. This is as good as it gets at the position.
Stingley Jr. has been a first-team All-Pro in each of the last two seasons, and Chase has done the same at wide receiver while leading the league in multiple categories. Chase was quiet in Week 1 even though the Bengals won, and Houston is trying to avoid an 0-2 start.
Joe Burrow’s health could affect Chase’s production, but the Bengals quarterback looks good to go and should be looking to get his top target more involved.
In Other News...
Puka Nacuas Breakup Drama Just Took Another Public Turn
Puka Nacuas off-field situation has become a public legal matter in Los Angeles County, where Hallie Aiono filed a petition to determine parental relationship to establish the Rams receiver as the legal father of their unborn son. In the filing, Aiono also requested joint legal custody, with full physical custody for herself, along with financial support tied to the pregnancy, the birth and attorney fees.
Aiono and Nacua have both since posted on social media in ways that suggest they are moving on with new relationships, adding another visible layer to a dispute that is already playing out beyond the courtroom. For a Rams team that has relied on Nacua as one of its most important players, the football side of his year now sits alongside a personal issue that is likely to keep drawing attention until the legal process runs its course. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Defense Faces A Big Week 2 Availability Question
The Rams opened the week with a familiar sort of early-season injury report, and the focus quickly landed on the defensive side. Kam Curl, Omar Speights and Nate Landman were all limited in practice because of injuries, while Kam Kinchens sat out entirely with a hamstring issue. Davante Adams also received a veteran rest day, but the bigger concern for Los Angeles is how healthy its defense can be heading into a Week 2 matchup with the Giants.
Myles Garrett was also placed on injured reserve, adding another layer to a group already being monitored closely before Sunday. The Giants have their own list of affected players, including Paulson Adebo, who did not practice because of a knee injury, but the Rams are the team with the clearest question hanging over the week: how many of their defensive pieces will actually be ready when the game gets here? [Read more 🡒]
Former Rams Receiver Charged After Deeply Embarrassing Arrest
A former Rams receivers name resurfaced this week for the wrong reason, with Stedman Bailey arrested in Florida after an incident at a Pembroke Lakes Mall entertainment complex. Police were called to the Round1 Bowling & Arcade after a witness reported Bailey and a woman engaging in explicit sexual activity, turning what should have been a routine public outing into an ugly and deeply embarrassing scene.
Bailey was later charged with one misdemeanor count of exposure of sexual organs, and he admitted to officers that his pants were down. He reportedly blamed heavy alcohol consumption for his behavior while denying that physical penetration occurred, leaving another jarring off-field headline for a player whose NFL career already feels long removed from the field. [Read more 🡒]