Kyler Murray was back to his productive self throwing for a league and career-high 380 yards in a 30-10 win over the hapless New York Jets in Week 5 on Sunday. Gangreen’s ineptitude was just what Arizona needed coming off a stunning Week 4 loss against the surging Carolina Panthers led by Teddy Bridgewater who in Week had the 8th 300-yard passing game of his remarkable career, leading Carolina to a 23-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Teddy Bridgewater had the eighth 300-yard passing game of his career, @Panthers are 3-2 and after a long road back he’s on top again.
Carolina Fans: “Teddy B you are better than we ever imagined”
Bridgewater: pic.twitter.com/yBnPHZDrvg
— The Shadow League (@ShadowLeague) October 11, 2020
Patrick Mahomes had a typical 340-yard passing game with atypical results, as he threw a crucial pick late in the game that gave Derek Carr the signature win of his Raiders career.
Russell Wilson continues his MVP campaign by leading Seattle on a 94-yard game-winning drive against the Minnesota Vikings.
@DangeRussWilson is still the leader in the 2020 @nfl #MVP race, taking @Seahawks the length of the field to pull out a late win against @Vikings on Sunday night.
Seattle’s 5-0 record is the best start in the franchise’s 46-year history. pic.twitter.com/cPj4e9KZ37
— The Shadow League (@ShadowLeague) October 12, 2020
Deshaun Watson got the Texans back in the win column after four straight losses to start the season. The squad is rid of Bill O’Brien who got rid of Hall of Fame wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, so the Texans have exorcised some demons and Watson put together a performance befitting of being called the “Michael Jordan” of football as his former college coach Dabo Swinney called him. Watson threw for 359 yards and 3 TDs in a Week 5 win over Jacksonville (30-14).
On a much more solemn note:
Dak Prescott left the field on a cart Sunday, choking back tears as he raised a fist to the fans in attendance at the AT&T Stadium after suffering a horrific injury against NFC East opponents the New York Giants. Prescott has undergone surgery to repair a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle.
The surgery aimed to “wash out the wound and fix the fracture,” according to a statement from the team.
Dallas loses the QB with the third-most wins in the NFL since 2016 (42) trailing just Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, two legends with multiple Super Bowl appearances.
The injury occurred in the third quarter on a scramble in which Prescott was tackled by NY Giants free safety Logan Ryan and his ankle rolled underneath. Medical personnel rushed onto the field and splinted his leg as players and coaches on both teams looked on with great concern.
“Dak Prescott’s surgery was successfully completed last night and he is expected to be released from the hospital today,” the Cowboys told CNN in a statement on Monday.
Dak was playing under a one-year franchise tag of $31.4 million. Many people suggested that he refuse to report to camp until Dallas paid him what he was worth. Dak had the option of holding out, but he didn’t. He was breaking passing records over his first four games of the season and on his way to one of the greatest passing seasons by a QB in history.
“We are all heartbroken for Dak and his very disappointing injury. I know this young man very well. I know the personal hardships and strife that he has faced, dealt with and overcome in his life,” said Dallas owner Jerry Jones, who’s been hesitant to committ to a long-term deal of Dak’s liking.
“And I know of one who is more prepared, from the perspective of mental and emotional toughness and determination, than Dak Prescott to respond and recover from this challenge that has been put in front of him.”
Jones spoke glowingly of Dak, but still hasn’t paid Prescott the long-term deal he desires, despite the fact that the former Texas A&M star was already battling depression stemming from the recent suicide of his younger brother and was present and playing his heart out. Dealing in good faith.
Now, his stock drops considerably and the public is still unclear as to how much time Prescott will miss. NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports that doctors say Dak will need 4 to 6 months of recovery time. We know the rest of the season is a wrap. Until he returns, Andy Dalton will assume the signal calling for Dallas, while Dak’s future is as unclear as ever.
With all of the fantasy points, passes, runs and moments that Black QBs are producing this season, the Dak Prescott injury jolts us with the reality of the situation for NFL warriors. You aren’t guaranteed the next down and when ownership says you should wait on something you feel you deserve now, then you have to think long and hard about whether or not the franchise is invested. Dak basically risked it all — during a COVID pandemic at that — and so far his loyalty to the team has backfired on him
