WHAT WE LEARNED: NFL WEEK TWO

BY ADAM GREENE

Every week the NFL landscape changes. Sometimes it’s a slight shift and sometimes it’s a colossal quake. This past week was more the latter.

INJURIES IMPACT THE LEAGUE

I’m 46 years old, have been watching the NFL for most of that and getting paid to write about it for about half of it. I can not remember a week that saw so many starting players, if not outright stars, head to the locker room in a single weekend.

The San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos, in particular, were decimated Sunday. And both weren’t that healthy to begin with, as the 49ers’ Dee Ford has yet to take the field and the Broncos lost Von Miller for the year in training camp.

The 49ers, who I though were a danger for a Super Bowl hangover even healthy, lost Nick Bosa for the year and the severity of the injuries to Solomon Thomas, Jimmy Garoppolo and Raheem Mostert have their statuses and returns up in the air.

Denver lost its quarterback Drew Lock for at least a month and their best wide receiver, Courtland Sutton, for the year with a torn ACL. That was after what was already a disastrous offseason that cost them Von Miller.

While they probably won’t impact the NFC playoff picture, your fantasy leagues certainly took a hit as New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley tore an ACL and Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey went down with a high ankle sprain.

In spite of no playoff or fantasy football implications, a surprise Justin Herbert appearance Sunday likely changed the Los Angeles Chargers’ fortunes. Herbert played an outstanding game, with no starter prep, going toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, nearly pulling off the upset of the day.

Herbert finished 22 of 33 for 311 yards, a touchdown and a pick. He looked like an NFL quarterback the whole way. While you could question Taylor’s abilities as a starting QB, there was never a question about his heart. Which is why it’s a shame that some issue with it cost him his job Sunday and, regardless of what head coach Anthony Lynn says publicly, likely ended it for good.

The heart complication was apparently spurred by a pregame painkiller injection, which is downright scary.

Taylor was always going to get supplanted by Herbert. That was the plan when the Chargers drafted the rookie out of Oregon No. 6 overall. But to have it happen because of a non-football health issue is just a shame. Let’s hope Taylor makes a speedy recovery.

Even the 2-0 squads got nailed in the tsunami. Devante Adams of the Green Bay Packers injured his hamstring along with Corey Lindsey, who hurt his hand. Baltimore Ravens corner Tavon Young injured his knee, the severity of which we still don’t know. Defensive end Bruce Irvin sprained his knee in the Seattle Seahawks win over the New England Patriots. Guard Joe Noteboom hit the sidelines for the Los Angeles Rams with a calf and he was joined by running backs Cam Akers (ribs) and Malcolm Brown (finger). Johnathan Joseph of the Tennessee Titans injured his leg in their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Monday night, the Las Vegas Raiders lost Richie Incognito for the year with a torn Achilles and saw Johnathan Abram get taken out by a television camera. Cornerback Damon Arnette didn’t get hurt on the play with Abram, but he was lucky as his head actually got caught in a wire on that same camera set up. I’m thinking ESPN got a call from the league Tuesday morning on that.

In all, at least 28 stars, starters or key reserves went down this weekend.

DREW BREES STILL LOOKS OFF

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees can wave away talk of his decline all he wants, but regardless of the numbers he put up Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, he does not look right. Not even close.

While the future first ballot Hall of Famer threw for 312 yards against the Raiders, he tossed just one touchdown and an awful interception that helped Las Vegas tie the game before halftime.

Which makes Brees’ own response to the idea that maybe he’s lost something even more tone deaf.

“I think I’ve always evaluated myself on being a great decision-maker,” Brees told reporters after the game. “My job’s to help us win. My job’s to help put everyone around me in the best position to succeed.”

Averaging less than five air yards per completion probably isn’t going to do that. It’s the lowest in the league. If New Orleans is going to make any real run, they need significantly more from their star quarterback.

BRIAN SCHOTTENHIMER HAS FINALLY LEARNED TO CALL NFL GAMES

It only took his third stint and 12 years as an NFL offensive coordinator to do it, but Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has finally figured out how to design, call and executive NFL-level gameplans and playcalling this season.

And because of that, Russell Wilson, who by any estimation is no worse than the second best quarterback in the league (though if you were to rank him No. 1, I’m not going to argue with you), is on track to, if my calculator is correct, throw 72 touchdown passes this year to go with 5,752 yards.

Now, that first number is obviously ridiculous and won’t happen, but he is well on his way to his first Most Valuable Player award and if he stays at this level, and Schottenheimer doesn’t get spooked from his own playcalling success, he’ll get every vote.

All offseason Seattle fans tweeted, shouted and created t-shirts with the phrase, “Let Russ cook.” Schottenheimer is not only letting him cook, he’s acting as his Chairman Kaga.

Wilson is on an unbelievable tear and if he keeps it up, the odds of the Seahawks claiming another Vince Lombardi improve exponentially.

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