Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson left the Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots after taking an accidental knee to the lower left side of his back late in the second quarter, and his status is now “TBD” for Baltimore’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jackson was injured with 1:56 left before halftime on a designed run in the red zone. He stayed in for one more snap, then the Ravens used a timeout to get him out of the game as he headed to the locker room for evaluation.

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Backup Tyler Huntley finished the night in relief. He completed 9 of 10 passes for 65 yards, but Baltimore couldn’t close out the game as New England rallied for a 28–24 win.

After the game, Jackson said, “he did everything he could to try to return, including receiving a Toradol shot, but the pain wouldn’t ease enough to function normally.”

He described testing his range of motion in the locker room, even trying to throw to a trainer, only to feel his back tighten and hurt. He added that his legs felt fine and that he didn’t believe he aggravated any previous injury.

The read from the team pointed to a back contusion.

Rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant is still recovering after being carted off the field following a hard breakup on a pass in the final seconds of a late-game collision that overshadowed the Denver Broncos’ 34–20 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 21.

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

The play happened near the end of regulation at Empower Field at Mile High. Bryant went up for a catch along the sideline when Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown arrived at full speed and made forceful contact as the ball arrived, which sent Bryant down hard. The initial reaction inside the stadium turned tense immediately as trainers sprinted onto the field, and Bryant remained motionless for several moments.

Officials initially threw a flag on the hit, but after a brief discussion, they picked it up and ruled the contact legal. Bryant was placed on a stretcher and transported off the field to the hospital for further evaluation. Broncos coach Sean Payton said after the game that, “Bryant had movement in his extremities, an encouraging sign given the seriousness of the scene.”

There has been a positive update: Bryant had been discharged from the hospital, with the expectation that the evaluation was primarily related to a concussion.

Before leaving the game, Bryant had been one of Denver’s more productive receivers; he finished with five catches for 42 yards. For the season, he has 27 receptions for 347 yards and one touchdown in a crowded Broncos receiving group.

Jacksonville’s win extended its surge and kept the Jaguars in the AFC South race.

Bryant didn’t play in Jacksonville’s 31-28 victory over the Chiefs last week. He now faces significant recovery time before heading back on the field.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback situation went from bad to worse on Sunday, Dec. 21, when Gardner Minshew went down with a left knee injury just three plays into a 26–9 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Patrick Mahomes is already out after tearing major ligaments in the same knee a week earlier. The Chiefs were suddenly staring at the possibility of losing two quarterbacks in back-to-back games.

Minshew’s injury looked ominous right away. On a scramble early in the first quarter, he fell awkwardly on what appeared to be a noncontact play. He later immediately reached for his knee and limped off. He attempted to keep going, but Kansas City’s offense visibly stalled as he struggled to set his feet. He finished 3 of 8 for 15 yards before the team turned to third-stringer Chris Oladokun.

Initial concern was a torn ACL, but Monday brought a more straightforward and slightly less catastrophic answer: Minshew avoided an ACL tear. Instead, sources said imaging revealed a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture, which will still end his season. This led the Chiefs to place him on the injured reserve and sign Shane Buechele for depth.

Oladokun stabilized the offense enough to produce all nine of Kansas City’s points. He threw for 111 yards while he also absorbed four sacks. He’s now expected to start the final two games, beginning with a quick turnaround to host Denver on Thursday night.

A blowout win over Orlando came with a loud side story Monday night: Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Draymond Green got into a heated sideline argument that ended with Green leaving the bench and never returning to the game.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

The flare-up happened early in the third quarter at Chase Center with Golden State down 71–66. After Green committed a turnover, and continued to chat with an official. Kerr called a timeout and tried to pull his team into the huddle, later saying he felt the group had lost its focus. Instead, the timeout turned tense. Teammates and staff, which included Moses Moody and assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse, stepped in as Kerr and Green exchanged words. Later, Green walked off toward the locker room.

Both sides framed it as a moment that needed a pressure release, not a bigger fracture. Green said, “tempers spilled over, and he chose to remove himself because he didn’t think the situation would improve in the moment.”

Kerr confirmed Green wouldn’t have re-entered even after he returned to the bench in warmups before the fourth quarter.

The Warriors responded on the court. Stephen Curry ignited a third-quarter swing with a perfect shooting stretch, and Golden State turned the five-point deficit into a comfortable lead before cruising to a 120–97 victory. Curry finished with 26 points, and Jimmy Butler added 21 as the Warriors climbed back to .5 at 15–15.

The incident also added to a recent pattern: Green had been ejected in the previous game and, for a second straight night, wasn’t part of the closing minutes. After the final buzzer, the message from the locker room was essentially We’ve been here before.

Jake Paul’s leap into heavyweight boxing ended in a painful reality check Friday night, as former world champion Anthony Joshua stopped him in the sixth round and left him needing surgery for a jaw fractured in two places.

Paul confirmed the injury himself the next day, posting an X-ray on social media and writing that he suffered a “double broken jaw.” Then he jokingly called for a fight with Canelo Álvarez in 10 days. In another message from what appeared to be a hospital room, Paul told fans he was OK and thanked them for the support.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

The bout, streamed on Netflix and promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, turned sharply in Joshua’s favor as the rounds wore on. Joshua repeatedly found openings with power shots and scored multiple knockdowns before ending it with a clean punch that snapped Paul’s head back and dropped him for the final time.

By Saturday, Paul said the operation “went smoothly, but the recovery won’t be quick.” He reported significant pain and stiffness. Doctors installed titanium plates and added that he had to stick to a liquids-only diet for at least a week

Joshua’s win was decisive, but the aftermath quickly shifted attention from the spectacle to the damage. Paul has built his boxing brand on bold callouts and fast turnarounds. This was a painful reminder to Paul that he is mortal. A broken jaw doesn’t care about timelines and whatever comes next. His return will start with healing, not hype.

A sideline clash between Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf and a front-row fan at Ford Field moved from a viral moment to a matter of league discipline, putting player-fan boundaries back in focus.

The incident happened in the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 29–24 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Broadcast footage showed Metcalf, who approached the first row near the Steelers’ bench and talked with a spectator who leaned over the railing and wore a blue wig.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

A separate video that circulated online appears to show Metcalf, who grabbed the fan’s shirt near the collar, pulling him closer and then shoving him back as the fan raised his hands.

The fan was identified as Ryan Kennedy from Pinckney, Michigan. Kennedy said, “The exchange started after he called Metcalf by his full name, Dekaylin Zecharius Metcalf,” and described being shocked by how quickly it escalated. Lions officials said the fan was removed from the game.

On Monday, the NFL suspended Metcalf for two games without pay after he violated a policy that prohibits players from confronting or making physical contact with fans on game day.

Metcalf returned to the field after the exchange, drew a response from the crowd after a penalty on the next series, and finished with four catches for 42 yards as Pittsburgh held on. With the postseason stakes rising, the Steelers now face a stretch without one of their targets at a critical time.

The Indianapolis Colts are reaching deep into NFL history in a bid to salvage their season, turning to 44-year-old Philip Rivers as injuries decimate their quarterback room.

Indianapolis signed Rivers to the practice squad Tuesday, bringing the future Hall of Famer out of a five-year retirement after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in Sunday’s 36–19 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones had been in the middle of a career revival, playing through a fractured fibula before his latest injury ended his 2025 campaign. `

Rookie Riley Leonard, who finished the game in Jacksonville, is dealing with a right knee injury but is still the favorite to start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson remains on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone, leaving practice-squad veteran Brett Rypien as the only fully healthy quarterback before Rivers’ arrival.

Rivers hasn’t thrown an NFL pass since 2020, when he led the Colts to an 11–5 record and a narrow wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills, throwing for more than 4,000 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Since retiring, the grandfather has been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama, guiding the Cardinals to back-to-back Class 4A semifinal appearances and a 42–16 record over five seasons.

At 8–5 after three straight losses, the Colts sit just outside the AFC playoff picture and face a brutal closing stretch that includes the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars and Texans. The signing of Rivers is both a depth move and a swing at stability.

Daniel Jones’ resurgent 2025 season with the Indianapolis Colts ended in the harshest way possible: a torn right Achilles in Sunday’s 36–19 loss to the Jaguars. The 28-year-old, who’d signed a one-year, $14 million deal. He threw for just over 3,100 yards with 19 touchdowns against 8 interceptions while even playing through a fractured fibula.

Now everything gets messy. Standard recovery timelines for an Achilles rupture run roughly 6–12 months, and even with modern procedures, players often need a full year before they truly look like themselves again.

For the Colts, it’s brutal déjà vu. Since Andrew Luck retired, they’ve cycled through a parade of short-term answers at quarterback, hoping Jones might finally stabilize the position. Instead, they’re back in the same cycle and they don’t even have an obvious long-term fix, with Anthony Richardson battling his own durability questions and rookie Riley Leonard pushed into action sooner than planned.

Jones’ market is just as uncertain. Kirk Cousins landed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed from Atlanta only months after his own Achilles tear. But that contract is already being framed as a cautionary tale, tying up cap space for a team still unsure what will happen post-injury.

So instead of negotiating security and term, Jones and the Colts are staring at risk management: short deals, heavy protections, and contingency plans. What once looked like a clean solution at the game’s most important position has turned into yet another offseason question mark in Indianapolis.

Patrick Mahomes didn’t point fingers after yet another tight loss. Instead, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback put the spotlight squarely on himself as Kansas City’s season drifted closer to the brink.

The Chiefs fell 22–19 to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Denver, dropping to 5–5 and continuing a baffling trend: they are now 0–5 in one-score games this year after going unbeaten in such contests a season ago.

Mahomes finished with 276 passing yards, one touchdown to Travis Kelce and one costly interception, as Denver’s defense, led by breakout corner Ja’Quan McMillian, repeatedly disrupted the rhythm that once made Kansas City’s offense feel inevitable. McMillian logged a red-zone pick and multiple sacks, flipping key possessions and helping set up points for Denver.

Afterward, Mahomes sounded more like a coach than a reigning superstar, stressing that Kansas City’s biggest issue isn’t talent but reliability from series to series. He said the Chiefs “haven’t been consistent enough to win games” and insisted that fixing that “starts with me,” citing missed throws and protection checks that stalled drives.

On the other side, quarterback Bo Nix continued Denver’s surge, steering an eight-game winning streak and a 9–2 record. He calmly marched the Broncos into range for Wil Lutz’s fifth field goal of the afternoon, a 35-yarder as time expired that gave Denver firm control of the AFC West.

For Kansas City, the loss is about more than one bad throw. The Chiefs now sit outside the AFC playoff field and are in real danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2014, an unthinkable scenario when the year began with talk of more Super Bowl runs.

Mahomes, however, isn’t sounding any alarms. He framed the frustration as fuel; he said, “all they can do is treat every week as a new chance to prove themselves,” and finally closed out the tight games that used to define their dominance.

Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday after serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Beckham, 33, is now eligible to practice and play immediately and is free to sign with any team. He accepted the suspension in October after a failed test tied to elevated testosterone levels, saying he did not knowingly take a banned substance. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year last played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024. He finished with nine catches for 55 yards in nine games before being released in December.

Once one of the NFL’s most electric playmakers, Beckham opened his career with the New York Giants by topping 1,300 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. Over 10 seasons with the Giants, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Dolphins, he has 575 receptions for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns, plus a Super Bowl ring from the Rams’ title run in the 2021 season.

Despite injuries and declining production, Beckham has been adamant he is “not done yet.” He shot down a viral fake retirement report this summer and reiterated his desire to chase another Super Bowl.

As the playoff race tightens, several contenders have been rumored to have talked with the veteran. The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos both could use another reliable target. The Pittsburgh Steelers, thin at wide receiver, would give Beckham a third stop in the AFC North. Out West, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, the team he helped to a championship, loom as logical fits if they seek experienced depth for a stretch run.

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was among the headline guests at a black-tie White House dinner Tuesday night hosted by President Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscoring the deepening ties between the U.S.

Trump introduced the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward by telling guests that his son Barron is “a big fan” of Ronaldo and joked that the meeting made his teenager “respect his father a little bit more.”

The event also served as a showcase of Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports footprint. Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in late 2022 on a contract reported at more than $200 million a year helped open the door for other stars, including Neymar Jr. and Karim Benzema, to join the Saudi Pro League. The kingdom has also bankrolled the breakaway LIV Golf tour, hosted Formula One races and stadium boxing cards, and will stage the 2034 World Cup after running unopposed for hosting rights.

A selfie from inside the East Room, apparently snapped by Ronaldo and shared by tech investor David Sacks, quickly went viral online, showing Ronaldo seated alongside Elon Musk, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and OpenAI president Greg Brockman, among others.

Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick turned the end of a tight defensive game into a benches-clearing scuffle Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

After Detroit’s 2-1 win, Red Wings forward Mason Appleton fired the puck into the Rangers’ empty net well after the final horn. The extra shot drew an immediate reaction from Quick, who had made 40 saves on 42 shots and was visibly frustrated leaving the ice.

Quick skated toward Appleton in the Rangers’ zone, and players from both teams quickly converged. What began as a brief confrontation escalated into a full-ice gathering, with pushing, shoving and plenty of words exchanged before officials and coaches separated the crowd and directed players to their benches and locker rooms.

The incident capped a night in which the Rangers felt they had done enough to earn at least a point. Quick was sharp throughout, keeping New York in the game despite Detroit holding long stretches of possession.

Lucas Raymond scored the deciding goal for the Red Wings with 3:47 remaining in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie. Mika Zibanejad had pulled the Rangers even with a power-play goal midway through the second, giving New York life after an uneven start.

Postgame, Quick’s reaction was viewed through the lens of hockey’s unwritten rules. Shooting the puck into an opponent’s empty net after the whistle is often seen as disrespectful, and it usually draws some form of response from the other side.

Neither team reported any injuries from the altercation, and the confrontation ended without any major injuries or punches being thrown. For the Rangers, the lasting sting was less about the postgame scuffle and more about a one-goal loss on home ice, despite a vintage night from their veteran goaltender.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent time on the sideline after he suffered a fracture in his left, non-throwing wrist during Sunday’s 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Team officials believe Rodgers has a slight wrist injury and sent him for additional tests on Monday to determine how long he will be out.

Rodgers was injured late in the second quarter when he was tackled while he threw the ball away on a red zone play. He landed hard on his left hand and wrist. He remained in for one more snap before Chris Boswell kicked a 25-yard field goal, then did not return after halftime.

The Steelers initially listed the 41-year-old with a hand injury and ruled him questionable to return, but head coach Mike Tomlin later clarified that the issue was with Rodgers’ wrist. Tomlin said he spoke with Rodgers after the game, but that their conversation focused on the importance of the victory rather than the injury.

Before exiting, Rodgers completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown to running back Kenneth Gainwell, which helped Pittsburgh build a comfortable lead.

Backup Mason Rudolph took over to start the second half after Rodgers pointed to him in the locker room and told him he was going in. Rudolph responded with an efficient performance, going 12 of 16 for 127 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to Gainwell as the Steelers closed out the win.

The victory lifted Pittsburgh to 6-4 and kept the Steelers on top of the AFC North, but their playoff push may now hinge on how quickly their veteran quarterback can safely play through the injury.

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders‘ first NFL snaps came in the middle of a rivalry game and a collapsing lead, and turned into a harsh introduction to the league

Sanders replaced fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel to open the second half of the Cleveland Browns’ 23–16 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, after Gabriel was ruled out with a concussion. Sanders, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado and son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, went 4-of-16 for 47 yards with an interception, which added 16 rushing yards and took two sacks as the Browns were shut out after halftime.

Cleveland led 16–10 at the break, but Baltimore clawed back and took the game on a trick play the Ravens call Hurricane, a fourth-and-inches look that turned into tight end Mark Andrews sprinting 35 yards for the go-ahead score with 2:31 remaining.

Sanders nearly authored a late answer that guided the Browns to the Ravens’ 25-yard line in the final minutes before three straight incompletions, which included a contested throw to Gage Larvadain in the end zone, ended the drive and effectively the game.

Afterward, Sanders was blunt about his performance, saying he didn’t play well and emphasized the lack of timing with receivers such as Jerry Jeudy, something coaches acknowledged by noting he had not taken first-team reps during the week while the staff focused on preparing Gabriel.

The rough debut capped an already rocky start to Sanders’ pro career, which included an unexpected slide to the fifth round in April after he’d once been projected as an early pick.

Just a week ago, the Detroit Lions announced that they signed edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson to a four-year, $180 million contract extension.

The deal included a $141 million guaranteed, the largest guarantee ever awarded to a non-quarterback in NFL history. Hutchinson’s average annual salary of $45 million ranks second only to Micah Parsons among non-quarterbacks.

At 25 years old, Hutchinson has already established himself as a cornerstone of Detroit’s defense. As a former No. 2 overall draft pick in 2022, he overcame a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 6 of 2024 to return to high-level play this season. Through seven games in 2025, he has registered six sacks and four fumbles, while ranking among the league in quarterback pressures.

Coach Dan Campbell praised Hutchinson’s all-around impact, noting his ability to set the edge in the run game, disrupt the quarterback, and even drop into coverage when asked. “Complete! Fired up to have him long term!” Campbell wrote in a text shared by the media.

The contract extension aligns with Detroit’s broader strategy to draft and retain home-grown talent under general manager Brad Holmes. In recent seasons, players such as quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and offensive tackle Penei Sewell also secured long-term deals.

In Week 9, Hutchinson was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a “leg whip” in an attempt to bring down the Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy, which usually carries a $17,000 fine. After reviewing the incident, the league decided not to fine Hutchinson.

Tensions continue to rise in New York as Jets quarterback Justin Fields faced harsh words from team owner Woody Johnson and mounted pressure to keep his starting job. Following Johnson’s public criticism, which blamed Fields for the team’s terrible start, the 26-year-old quarterback responded calmly, saying he has no plans to confront the owner about his comments.

Fields told reporters after practice that, “I don’t think me talking to him is going to do anything, it’s not going to make me play better.” Fields emphasized that he’s focused on improving his game, not defending himself from outside opinions.

Johnson’s remarks came at the NFL’s fall meeting, where he expressed frustration with the team’s offense, saying, “It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he’s got.” The comments added fuel to the fire, an already unstable quarterback situation.

Many expect veteran Tyrod Taylor to take over if the struggles continue.

Fields admitted he only learned of Johnson’s comments through reporters and seemed unfazed. He explained that criticism “comes with the job.” Despite the tension, he refused to speculate about a potential trade or future roster moves and stressed that his focus remains on the next game.

While the quarterback’s confidence hasn’t cracked publicly, the pressure is undeniable. With the Jets’ season slipping away, Fields’ performance could determine whether he remains under center or becomes the latest symbol of New York’s ongoing quarterback carousel.

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back a familiar face to reinforce their defensive front. Veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel is set to rejoin the team after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week.

The move comes as the Chiefs attempt to capitalize on the momentum from a 28-7 victory over the Washington Commanders. This improved their record to 5-3 for the season. Kansas City’s defense, led by Chris Jones, held Washington to just 260 total yards and forced two turnovers. With rookie Omarr-Norman-Lott ruled out for the year, depth along the defensive line has become a growing concern.

However, the next week, they suffered a painful loss to the Bills.

Pennel, 33 years old, is no stranger to Kansas City. He played two seasons with the Chiefs from 2019 to 2020, and helped the franchise win its first Super Bowl title in 50 years. He later returned in 2023 and earned another championship ring. Besides potentially being the Chiefs’ good luck charm, he is also known for his strength against the run and locker-room presence. Pennel quickly became a favorite among teammates and coaches.

After a brief period with the Bengals this season, Pennel struggled to make an impact, recording just 15 tackles through seven games. Cincinnati’s defense ranks near the bottom of the league in rushing yards allowed and failed to register a sack in its 39-38 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. The Bengals released Pennel on Tuesday as part of a midseason roster shakeup.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones expressed excitement about Pennel’s potential return. He said, “He’s a heck of a locker-room guy. We’ve got to get my brother back.”

If finalized, Pennel’s signing would reunite him with a defense currently ranked among the NFL’s top five.

During a tight 24-23 loss to the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris publicly accused the Patriots of illegally simulating Atlanta’s snap count by clapping, which induced the early snap. According to Morris.

The Atlanta Falcons found themselves caught up in the late-game controversy. With just 2:0 remaining on the clock and Atlanta trailing by one point at the Patriots’ 48-yard line, Falcons center Ryan Neuzil snapped the ball early on second-and-10.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was not prepared, under immediate pressure, and was flagged for intentional grounding. This turned the situation into a third and 20 and effectively ended the chance to tie or take the lead.

If Morris’s claims are true, the act would fall under the NFL rule forbidding disconcerting signals. The Patriots refute the claim. Defensive tackle Milton Williams said he did not hear any clapping and noted the play may have been a result of a communication breakdown on Atlanta’s line.

Coach Mike Vrabel dismissed it as a “waste of time” and said his team did not teach or engage in clapping to confuse a snap.

By the following day, Morris offered a softer position: after reviewing the tape, he acknowledged that the snap was their fault and that he didn’t want to fuel the fire. “It was on us,” he said.

On Sunday night in Las Vegas, rookie kicker Cam Little of the Jacksonville Jaguars shattered the NFL record for the longest field goal. He drilled a 68-yard kick just as the first half expired against the Las Vegas Raiders. The previous record was 66 yards, which was set in 2021 by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens.

The drive that led to Little’s record-setting attempt was brief but effective. With 28 seconds on the clock in the half, the Jaguars took over at their own 31-yard line. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed a pass to get them into position, then spiked the ball at midfield with four seconds left. Little trotted out and calmly delivered the historic kick.

Little’s day did not end there. He also nailed a 48-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. He finished a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals (and extra points) in the Jaguars’ dramatic 30-29 edge over the Raiders.

The win also lifted the Jags back into playoff contention.

This moment could mark a turning point in Little’s career. His season has been shaky before. As a rookie in 2024, he connected on 27 of 29 FG attempts. But this year, he entered the game with missed kicks in the past. Head coach Liam Coen said, “The record kick ignited us; that was really a special moment for our team.”

A clutch moment in a tight game, a formally etched record, and possibly a signal that the distance frontier in field goals is expanding, Little may have turned a headline moment into a career-defining one.

Last week, the New Orleans Saints handed the reins of their offense to rookie Tyler Shough, as head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the 26-year-old quarterback will start moving forward after a 1-7 start to the season.

Shough, the second-round pick (No. 40 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Louisville, replaces Spencer Rattler, who compiled 1,586 passing yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions in eight starts this season.

Moore said, “I’m really excited about this opportunity for him. He has been preparing every week just as he would be if he were the starter; he is ready to go.”

Shough made his first significant appearance when he relieved Rattler in the third quarter of a 23-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and an interception. He acknowledged the new role, saying, “It was a good feeling, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Offensive struggles prompted the switch: New Orleans has averaged just 16 points per game and has scored 14 or fewer this season. Moore emphasized that while the change is credited to Shough, the offense as a whole must raise its level.

Rattler will shift to a backup role and support Shough in his development. The Saints are betting that a fresh face at quarterback will spark an offense in need of consistency.

In Shough’s starting debut, head coach Kellen Moore said he saw “some positives” despite the team’s loss to the Rams, 30-10. “Certainly there were some positives in there,” Moore said. “Thought he handled himself well, and so we didn’t get enough opportunities to compete.”