By Around the NFL staff
NFL.com
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Week 3 of the NFL season is upon us, and that means it’s time for another round of bold predictions. As always, this week’s edition of fearless prognostications includes a macho helping of audaciousness and abandon as we head into Sunday and Monday’s contests. Warning: these predictions are not for the faint of heart.

Tajae Sharpe pulls a Corey Coleman — 150-plus yards, two touchdowns

A look at the Titans‘ preseason film made it simple to see: Tajae Sharpe will be a big part of Tennessee’s offense. The rookie wideout from UMass lived up to that expectation in Week 1, catching seven of his 11 targets for 76 yards and drawing praise from a surefire Hall of Famer in teammateAndre Johnson. Sharpe’s performance in Week 2 wasn’t as scintillating, but no matter when it comes to Week 3 when the Titans face the Oakland Raiders, who just allowed Matt Ryan to complete 26 of 34 passes for 396 yards and three touchdowns. — Nick Shook

To read the full Week 3 bold predictions from the Around the NFL writers, click here.

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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With Tom Brady exiled from Gillette Stadium for another two weeks and Jimmy Garoppolo recovering from a right shoulder injury, all eyes are on rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Oh, and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has yet to play a game in 2016 due to a hamstring injury. He, Garoppolo and linebacker Dont’a Hightower were limited participants in Patriots practice Tuesday in Foxboro.

It’s encouraging for Gronkowski, of course, but is even more significant for the Patriots‘ depth chart situation at quarterback. With the Patriots now down to their third and final signal-caller in Brissett, it was expected they’d have to add a veteran arm. But after Garoppolo’s appearance in practice on a limited basis, the door is open for him to possibly dress as a backup for Brissett and eliminate the need to bring in another quarterback, which would help the Pats avoid cutting a player elsewhere to open a roster spot. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Fresh off a Monday night loss in which they surrendered 29 points, the Chicago Bears received some unwelcome news on Tuesday.

Linebacker Danny Trevathan suffered a thumb injury that will require surgery, which will take place Wednesday, head coach John Fox said Tuesday. The injury and procedure will not end Trevathan’s season, Fox added.

Trevathan recorded 11 tackles (7 solo, 4 assisted) and a sack in a Week 1 loss to Houston and registered four tackles in limited action Monday in the loss to the Eagles, including this shot on rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. The linebacker signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Bears in the offseason.

Adding to the unfortunate occurrences for the Bears‘ defense this week is the news that outside linebacker Lamarr Houston‘s knee injury is significant, with Houston being lost for the season to a torn ACL and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (high ankle sprain) is out about four weeks, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The ugliest moment from the Rams‘ Monday night shutout loss to the 49ers came when Aaron Donald lost his cool and was ejected.

The NFL has responded in kind, fining Donald twice for his outburst in the 28-0 defeat in Santa Clara. Donald was fined $9,115 for unnecessary roughness and $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, according to a source with knowledge of the fines.

Donald is set to make $1.34 million in base salary this season, per spotrac.com. When divvied up into 16 game checks, Donald’s total fines of $21,269 account for close to a fourth of his gross income from his Week 1 check, and that’s well before Uncle Sam gets his cut.

Elsewhere in league fines:

1. Antonio Brown was fined $9,115 for unsportsmanlike conduct (touchdown celebration) and $6,076 for a uniform violation (powder-blue accents on cleats), Rapoport reported.

By Around the NFL staff
NFL.com
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Week 2 of the NFL season is upon us, and that means it’s time for another round of bold predictions. As always, this week’s edition of fearless prognostications includes a macho helping of audaciousness and abandon as we head into Sunday and Monday’s contests. Warning: these predictions are not for the faint of heart.

Dez Bryant bounces back with two scores — on Josh Norman

Much has been made about Dez Bryant‘s lone catch in the Cowboys’ season-opening loss to the Giants. Are Dak Prescott and Bryant on the same page? Will Josh Norman cover Dez Bryant? To that we can probably answer yes, especially after all of the fire Norman received in the media after largely not covering Antonio Brown in Week 1. But where the narrative turns, and where this prediction becomes bold, is in this matchup. Bryant bounces back from the one-catch game last week by ordering a full-course meal, tightening the napkin in his collar and feasting on Norman. Prescott finds Bryant close to 10 times, and two of them go for touchdowns. Bryant utilizes his big frame to go up over Norman to catch a jump ball inside the red zone for six, then breaks a big one later in the game as Dallas proves Week 1 was nothing to fret about. Terrance Williams doesn’t have to worry about getting out of bounds this week as Bryant gets back on track and the Cowboys roll to an emphatic Week 2 win over Washington. — Nick Shook

To read the full Week 2 bold predictions from the Around the NFL writers, click here.

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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After a week of speculation and worry about lingering health issues, Sammy Watkins is active.

The Bills receiver was not among the team’s inactives posted before Buffalo’s Thursday night game against the New York Jets. Watkins had been dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired footsince Buffalo’s Week 1 loss to Baltimore, but guaranteed earlier in the week that he would play.

Buffalo and New York kick off at 8:25 p.m.

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Antonio Brown is all about the show.

In a league filled with entertainers, Brown rises to the cream of the crop by design. He has flashy hair, a great fashion sense and loves to get down in the end zone. He added fancy, powder-blue cleats to that on Monday, for which he was later fined by the league, Brown told ESPN on Thursday.

Oh, and about that penchant for dancing …

In case you weren’t coherent for the Twerk Heard ‘Round the World, Brown scored, gyrated (a dance he called the “Boomin'”) and drew a flag for a 15-yard penalty. The dance solicited the second of Brown’s two fines from Monday’s game. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Questions surround all things Dallas Cowboys during Week 2.

Is there a problem with Dak Prescott‘s rapport with Dez Bryant? Is Bryant concerned about which Redskins corner will cover him Sunday?

Prescott played Mr. Relax, assuaging the fears concerning the connection with his best target. Bryant, meanwhile, welcomed the test. Continue reading →