Week 8 brought a mixed bag for the NFL’s rookie class, with a few young players flashing real value while others ran into the kind of growing pains that come with life in the league.
Mansoor Delane took on a tough assignment in coverage, spending his week on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, one of, if not the best, WRs in the NFL. It was easily his toughest opponent since returning from injury, and while the game showed that there’s still work to do, Delane still had some nice moments and reinforced why he was worth the selection.
The Chiefs will need more from him in those kinds of matchups going forward. Week 8 offers a different kind of test, with Kansas City set to meet the Denver Broncos in one of the season’s top games.
For Delane, the setup looks favorable: Jaylen Waddle is dealing with an injury, and Courtland Sutton is having a career-low season, which makes this one a strong spot for him.
A.J. Haulcy is starting to leave his mark on the Colts defense.
After leading the team with nine tackles in Week 7, he’s finally showing the kind of impact people were expecting earlier in the year. It’s arriving a little late, but it’s still a positive development for Indianapolis.
The challenge doesn’t get easier, though, because Haulcy is headed for a Jaguars offense that likes to hunt big plays - the same area that has caused him trouble this season.
Harold Perkins also turned in a more involved outing. Unlike last game, he was on the field for most snaps and came away with some really great tackles against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. He continues to look like a strong addition to the Falcons defense, and the next matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could give him a chance to make some massive plays.
Zavion Thomas, meanwhile, hit a rough patch after things had been trending in the right direction. He managed a career-high three receptions for 25 yards, but multiple penalties undercut the offense and made for a frustrating showing.
For a young player still fighting to lock down a roster spot, those mistakes matter. With Ben Johnson known for keeping his WRs accountable, Thomas may not see much of the offense next game.
Barion Brown’s role with the New Orleans Saints has continued to grow, and last week was his best stretch yet. He was excellent as a returner and also produced the Saints’ longest reception of the year, hauling in a 57-yard pass from Tyler Shough.
The Saints are on bye now, and when they return, first round pick Jordyn Tyson should be back, which will cut into Brown’s opportunities. Even so, there’s reason to think he can still find ways to contribute during games.
Bauer Sharp didn’t make much of a mark in the passing game during the Bucs’ blowout win, but he did his work as a blocker. He wasn’t part of the receiving plan, though his blocking was valuable throughout.
After getting his first reception last week, it would have been nice to see him add another, but that’s not really his role. Next game, the expectation is that Sharp will again be used mainly as a blocker.
Not every rookie even got onto the field. Jack Pyburn was inactive for the Chiefs, while Patrick Mahomes being healthy meant another rookie did not play.
In Other News...
LSUs Transfer Gamble Is Now Defining The Playoff Push
LSUs playoff push has been shaped as much by the transfer portal as by anything built in Baton Rouge, with newcomers stepping into major roles and helping steady the Tigers through the 2026 season. Quarterback Sam Leavitt, left tackle Jordan Seaton, defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and safety Ty Benefield have all given the roster the kind of impact the staff was hoping for when it loaded up on outside help, and that kind of production has mattered with the postseason race tightening.
But the portal has not been a clean success story across the board, and the uneven returns are part of what makes this stretch so interesting for LSU. Wide receiver Jayce Brown and tight ends Malachi Thomas and Zach Grace have yet to match expectations, while the offensive line remains a work in progress with transfer starters still trying to lock down their spots. For a team trying to separate itself late in the year, the question is no longer whether the gambles paid off in spots, but whether enough of them will hold when the pressure climbs. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Bye Week Still Carries Real Playoff Pressure
After eight games and a 6-2 start, LSU gets a bye week with no chance to hide from the bigger picture. The Tigers still control plenty of their own destiny, and the path is clear enough: win out the regular season, get into the SEC championship game and keep the College Football Playoff conversation alive.
Even if LSU ends up at 9-3, the rsum debate will not be simple, because the path back into the playoff picture also depends on a series of other results around the country. Conference races, head-to-head outcomes and how the committee weighs the final stretch will all matter, which means this bye week is less of a breather than it looks. The Tigers can rest, but they cannot really relax. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Has A Huge Skyy Clark Boost With Uncertainty Still Looming
LSU got a meaningful lift in the Skyy Clark case this week when the Kentucky Court of Appeals denied the NCAAs request for an emergency stay of a temporary injunction that keeps the guard eligible to play in the 2026-2027 season. It is a notable development for a roster that has been watching the courts as closely as the practice floor, especially with Clark and teammate Donovan Dent both carrying temporary eligibility through separate legal battles.
Will Wade confirmed the status on Clark and Dent and also pointed to another ongoing issue involving Levy, whose eligibility is still being reviewed through an NCAA exception tied to military service. Even with the immediate boost for LSU, the larger picture remains unsettled, with more appeals expected and more waiting likely before anyone can be fully certain how the roster will look when the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]