Week 2 in the NFL brought a clear theme for former Hurricanes: a lot of these guys are starting to find their footing.
The biggest swing came from Cam Ward, who looked like a quarterback completely different from the one that had struggled through the opening stretch against the Eagles. For nearly six quarters, it would’ve been easy to write off the Tennessee Titans rookie after a rough start. He was 3 of 6 for eight yards through the first 28 minutes on Sunday, and the early returns were ugly.
Then Ward settled in.
He finished 13 of 20 for 183 yards and added multiple hard-earned runs, including both Titans touchdowns on the ground. More than the box score, the encouraging part was the way he started to look like the same player Miami fans remember - the zip, the anticipation, the accuracy.
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Ward delivered a third-and-13 strike to Elic Ayomanor for 28 yards after the catch. Later, with the Titans trailing late, he put together a go-ahead drive that gave Tennessee the lead with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Titans still fell on a last-second Jalen Hurts touchdown to Darius Cooper, but Ward showed real progress.
On Thursday night, Greg Rousseau turned in another monster outing for Buffalo. It was the kind of performance that keeps stacking and stacking: multiple sacks, another forced fumble, and constant pressure off the edge.
The Bills needed every bit of it against a Detroit offense that hung 31 points on the board. Buffalo also made a point of slowing Jahmyr Gibbs, and the result was 52 rushing yards on 3.2 yards per carry.
Rousseau spent the night wrecking the right side of Detroit’s line, using speed, power and strong hands to keep the tackle off balance. It was another reminder that he’s firmly in the conversation as one of the best active NFL players to come out of The U.
There were also positive signs from a few other Miami alums, even in losses. Keionte Scott kept carving out a role for Tampa Bay and got to play downhill in a way that fits his game.
He logged 33 snaps on Sunday, added five tackles, and picked up his first career sack on a blitz against Deshaun Watson. The Buccaneers lost after a multi-hour rain delay, but Scott flashed again.
Akheem Mesidor also got on the board for the first time in his NFL career. As Las Vegas quarterback Kirk Cousins climbed up in the pocket, Mesidor beat his blocker and finished the play for his first sack.
He ended with three tackles, a pressure and 22 pass-rush snaps. It was a step forward, even if the hope is to see more week-to-week impact from him.
Reuben Bain had a quieter afternoon. The 15th overall pick recorded a couple of pressures, showed a few solid rushes and held up fine against the run, but he didn’t have one of the splash plays that jump off the page. With David Walker and Josiah Trotter continuing to take snaps, Bain’s role was a little less prominent.
Monday night belonged to Francis Mauigoa, even in a lopsided 28-6 Rams win over the Giants that lost some of its juice when Jaxson Dart went down early. Mauigoa had a more uneven outing than his near-perfect Week 1, and one rough miss on Aaron Donald stood out.
Still, against a front that included Kobie Turner, Braden Fisk, Poona Ford and Donald, he mostly held his own. In his one-on-one matchups with Donald, Mauigoa was spotless in pass protection and didn’t allow a single pressure.
It wasn’t flawless, but it was still an encouraging night.
Elsewhere, Jaelen Phillips picked up another sack for Carolina, his second of the year, as the Panthers rolled Atlanta 34-3. The six-year veteran continues to be a major piece of that defense in the first year of his four-year, $120 million contract.
Tyrique Stevenson made his presence felt in Chicago’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota. With Caleb Williams injured and the Bears’ secondary banged up, Stevenson delivered a physical hit that helped set the tone in a low-scoring, bruising game. He’ll keep carrying a big load for that defense.
Jonathan Ford came through in a huge moment for Green Bay. On fourth-and-one with less than two minutes left, he made a game-saving tackle-for-loss on Jets running back Braelon Allen. That stop helped force overtime, and the Packers finished off a 20-17 comeback after trailing 17-7 to start the fourth quarter.
It’s early, but the trend line is moving the right way for a lot of these former Canes. Bain and Mesidor are still waiting for that full breakout, but across the board, Week 2 gave Miami fans plenty to like as the group heads into Week 3.
In Other News...
Mario Cristobal Is Sending Jordan Lyle A Clear Message
Jordan Lyle was in uniform in Week 3, but he never got on the field for Miami, and Mario Cristobal later made clear why. The Hurricanes coach disclosed that the running back was serving a suspension, while framing the matter as part of the programs broader standard: players have to earn trust, and only those who give the team the best chance to win are going to play.
Cristobal also said Lyle is still a trusted player working to regain full trust, which leaves the door open for a return while keeping the message firm. He added that this would be the last time he addresses the situation publicly, a sign that Miami wants the focus to shift back to football even as Lyles status remains a point of interest. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Crucial Receiver Battle To Replace Joshua Moore
Joshua Moores season-ending upper-body injury has left Miami with a real opening at receiver, and the timing makes it especially important. With the offense still settling in around quarterback Darian Mensah, the Hurricanes now have to sort out who can absorb Moores snaps and keep the passing game moving without losing rhythm or reliability.
Mensah pointed to Vandrevius Jacobs and Somourian Wingo as two of the names most likely to push into bigger roles, but Miamis answer may need to come from more than just one player. The injury situation has thinned the offensive depth chart enough that the coming weeks should reveal whether the Hurricanes have a clear next man up or a rotation built on necessity. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Has An Early Chance With A Legacy Recruit Fans Will Notice
A familiar South Florida name is getting early traction, and Miami is giving itself a chance to stay involved. Justice Jones, a 2027 receiver and defensive back out of Park Vista, has put together a strong senior season on both sides of the ball, and his rise has started to draw more attention beyond the programs already on his offer sheet, which includes Akron, Florida Atlantic and Lenoir Rhyne.
For the Hurricanes, the timing matters because Jones is set to take a gameday visit for the Central Michigan game, a useful chance to make an impression before the recruitment gets crowded. He has said he wants to find the right fit, and with Power Five interest beginning to build, Miami will be trying to show why it can be more than just another school watching from the outside. [Read more 🡒]