Tonight’s rookie QB showdown, plus news from Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York

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Yesterday we looked at the success rate of in-season wide receiver trades. This morning, The Athletic’s Mike Sando took his review a step further.

As for today’s newsletter, let’s start in New Orleans:

Sean Payton returns as Rattler, Nix take center stage

The Broncos visit the Saints tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

While Drew Brees is inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame, Sean Payton will also return to the Caesars Superdome. He’s expecting not “a lot of warm fuzzies.” As the best coach in Saints history, he deserves a standing ovation. Payton’s experience in New Orleans has also shaped his approach in Denver.

Once the game begins, all eyes shift to the first rookie quarterback matchup of the 2024 season — especially with Pat Surtain II, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed all inactive tonight. The biggest questions:

Can Spencer Rattler improve after his shaky debut? Despite playing behind a patchwork line and losing his best receiver, Rattler made plenty of encouraging throws, especially this third-down pass. But after halftime, the Buccaneers focused on containing Rattler in the pocket while bringing pressure. The rookie imploded, passing for just 103 yards and two interceptions while taking five sacks. If Denver mimics that approach, it could be a long night for the fifth-round pick.

Will Bo Nix begin hitting his targets? Nick Kosmider’s report explains that Nix’s downfield accuracy is his biggest concern. On passes five or more yards downfield, his overall completion percentage (41.1) is 13.7 percent below expected, worst among all qualified passers, per TruMedia. We shouldn’t be surprised; Nix rarely threw downfield in college, with his average pass travelling 6.3 air yards, ranking 119th of 125 FBS quarterbacks in 2023 per ESPN Stats & Info.

With the Saints allowing 594 yards and 51 points last week, Nix has less excuses than Rattler. Tonight should be telling. Full preview here.

Changes in Detroit, Pittsburgh

Week 7 has more important questions. Thankfully, The Athletic’s beat reporters have answers for us:

How do the Lions fill their Aidan Hutchinson-sized void? A fractured tibia and fibula will cost their star pass rusher 4-6 months, which puts his best-case return a week after the Super Bowl. He’s gone. Colton Pouncy shared their options. Externally:

“Maxx Crosby is from Michigan and on record saying he’d want to play for the Lions if he ever left the Raiders. But he’s not realistic. One player who makes a ton of sense is Cleveland’s Za’Darius Smith, who’s on a one-year deal. In New Orleans, Chase Young is intriguing, as is Harold Landry in Tennessee.”

If the Steelers stick with Russell Wilson, what happens to Justin Fields? After HC Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Wilson will be “in contention” to potentially start Sunday night against the Jets, we collectively began to write off Fields. But as Mike DeFabo writes, this is far from the end for Fields:

“Maybe the competition is just beginning. For the first time since OTAs, Wilson will get extended playing time with the first team. Wilson does not have Fields’ mobility, and an injured and inexperienced offensive line increase the risk of sacks setting the Steelers back. Even if Wilson’s arm keeps him as starter, Pittsburgh could actually find ways to feature Fields as a runner even more. By consistently utilizing the Fields package, the Steelers would make it more challenging to game plan against them.”

What Dianna’s Hearing: What will the Jets do with Mike Williams?

Davante Adams is in for the Jets. Now, Mike Williams could be on his way out. The Jets are shopping the veteran wide receiver.

Williams was the subject of Aaron Rodgers’ criticism after Monday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills — Rodgers said Williams was in the wrong spot on a late-game interception. Regardless, with Adams now on the roster, Williams is likely fourth in the Jets’ receiver pecking order, behind Adams, Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.

The Chargers, Steelers and Saints are among a number of teams reaching out to the Jets about WR Mike Williams, per sources.

🎧 The latest from the “Scoop City Podcast” on YouTube: Mike Silver joins to discuss the behind-the-scenes of the Adams trade (at the three-minute mark).

Back to you, Jacob.

Behind-the-scenes: Manning, Manning and … Belichick

While watching Monday’s “ManningCast,” I couldn’t help but laugh as notorious grudge-holder Bill Belichick responded to Peyton Manning’s comment about it feeling too early for the Jets to fire Robert Saleh:

“That’s kind of what it’s been there at the Jets — barely won over 30 percent in the last 10 years. The owner being the owner, just ready, fire, aim,” said Belichick, who later added “You know what Peyton, I’m not a big Jets fan.”

History: Remember, Belichick joined the Bill Parcells-led Jets in 1997 as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. When Parcells stepped down in 1999, Belichick was expected to replace him. Instead, he made NFL history when — during his welcoming press conference — he resigned as the Jets head coach, citing “various uncertainties … [from] the team’s new ownership” (Yes, that means current Jets owner Woody Johnson).

Today: The media-savvy Belichick is an invaluable part of the perfect viewing experience. It’s Year 4 of the “ManningCast,” where Eli broadcasts from his basement in New Jersey while Peyton shoots from a friends garage in Denver.

For a behind-the-scenes look, The Athletic’s Zak Keefer and Dan Duggan spent a week with the “ManningCast” when Belichick was joining from Philadelphia (“The site of unbrotherly love,” he said. “I mentioned I was with the ‘ManningCast’ and got booed”). The full story is worth your time, but we’re limited for space here. Two notes:

• In 2020, Peyton founded Omaha Productions with Jamie Horowitz. After years of turning down analyst jobs, Horowitz asked if Peyton was interested in calling games from his own home, without any travel, perhaps even with his brother. Peyton was in, and easily sold Eli: “It’s like we’re watching a game on our couch.”
• The morning after each broadcast, the Omaha team has a meeting to review their performance. Like their playing days, both quarterbacks are graded: “You never wanna stop being coached, right?” says Peyton.

The coaching works: ESPN recently signed Omaha to a nine-year extension that will run through 2034. The backstory is incredible.

Around the NFL

Before Saquon Barkley returns to New York as an Eagle, Giants fans shared their thoughts: “I won’t forgive the Giants brass for giving [Daniel] Jones a big contract before Barkley.”

49ers first-round pick WR Ricky Pearsall recently returned to practice after being shot just six-and-a-half weeks ago. Despite being unable to fully lift his right arm earlier this week, Pearsall should return soon. “He’s built different, man,” said George Kittle. Mike Silver has more.

Bears OC Shane Waldron has helped spark the Bears offense. During an interview with The Athletic, Waldron shared how: “The biggest lesson … is just not skipping any steps, whether it’s a rookie quarterback or a veteran quarterback, it still comes back to great fundamentals.”

The Packers signed K Brandon McManus, who had sexual assault charges filed against him this summer. McManus called the lawsuit “resolved.”

Yesterday’s most-clicked: The Athletic’s QB Stock Report, which saw Drake Maye debut at No. 23, already ahead of Bo Nix, Daniel Jones and Andy Dalton.

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(Photo: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)