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...
Saints Offense Has A WR3 Problem They Can't Ignore
New Orleans has spent much of this season trying to piece together an offense that keeps getting tripped up by the same problems: the run game never quite getting going, the offensive line searching for steadiness and the playcalling trying to work around both. In that larger mess, the wide receiver room has become another spot where the Saints cannot afford guesswork, because the third receiver role has started to matter more than it should in an attack already short on easy answers.
Bryce Lance has been the name filling that WR3 spot, but the position still feels unsettled enough that the Saints are waiting on a cleaner solution. Jordyn Tysons return is the obvious place to look for help, yet his health remains part of the conversation, and the recent roster churn around Kevin Austin Jr. only adds to the sense that this is a spot the team is still trying to solve rather than trust. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Shough Faces A Huge Saints Test With Season Pressure Rising
Tyler Shoughs first rough outing as the Saints quarterback room centerpiece came at an awkward time, with the offense sputtering through Minnesota and little margin left for error. He finished 16 of 25 for 96 yards and two interceptions in a game where New Orleans never found much rhythm, and the coaching staff has spent the days since looking for ways to make life easier on the rookie as the pressure around the season keeps climbing.
Week 6 now brings a different kind of test against the Giants, who are also adjusting at quarterback after Jaxson Dart was lost for the season. Kellen Moores staff is expected to lean into more balance on offense, a shift that could help Shough settle in and give the Saints a better chance to protect themselves from another long afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Offense Faces A Road Test That Could Expose Everything
The Saints are heading into a matchup that looks like a real measuring stick for an offense still searching for steady footing. New Orleans has shown it can move the chains on third down and finish drives in the red zone, but the larger picture has been more uneven, with inconsistency and turnovers continuing to shadow the attack.
New York presents a tricky kind of test because the Giants have been difficult to throw on and stingy enough on defense to make every possession matter. The one opening New Orleans may be able to lean on is the ground game, and how well it takes advantage of that edge could go a long way toward deciding whether the Saints leave with answers or more questions. [Read more 🡒]