The Daily Slop – 25 October 2026
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Commanders links
Articles
Sports Illustrated
Washington has 13 days between games before Eagles rematch; they can’t waste them
With Philadelphia and the Rams still on the schedule before the November 10 trade deadline, next weekend is the first of two games that could help Adam Peters decide what to do with this roster. The quarterback the Commanders will face that day is Tanner
McKee, who went 26-of-45 for 215 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions in Philadelphia’s 25-14 loss to Carolina last week.
Washington will get another look at McKee when the Eagles play Dallas on Monday. They can watch for adjustments Philadelphia makes after his first start this season and how he responds to whatever the Cowboys throw at him. Washington also has the bye week to settle into the reality that Terry McLaurin will not be back this season. We’ll have to wait and see whether they use that time to develop a plan to get the other receiversmore involved or if one receiver will shoulder Terry’s entire load.
The time off should give Washington an edge, even though they entered the bye week at 1-4-1 and gained only 90 yards in the first half of their last game. If the offense comes out better prepared and the defense has an answer for the Eagles’ adjusted passing game, you’ll know the break was needed.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
Commanders’ Defense Has an NFL-Worst Problem Before Third Down Even Arrives
Against the Washington Commanders, opposing offenses have a 49.7% success rateon 169 plays run on first down, ranking the defense last in the NFL, according to HB Analytics. Looking for a fix to that should have been near the top of defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ to-do list during the bye.
That percentage doesn’t mean opponents picked up a new set of downs on nearly half of those plays. Success ratemeasures whether a play improved the offense’s expected scoring outlook. A five-yard gain on first-and-10 leaves a team with plenty of options for its next call. Hold the same run to a yard or force an incompletion, and the offense has more work to do.
Washington has time to settle on the calls it can execute consistently before it returns against Philadelphiaon November 1. I’d make getting everyone set and playing fast the starting point for that plan. Jones needs his defense to win on first down more often and create the second-and-long situations it has handled well. Then Washington has to finish the possession.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
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Heavy.com
Sonny Styles Shares Key Fred Warner Traits
He’s a rookie on a struggling defense, but a few observers have already seen enough to proclaim Washington Commanders’ linebacker Sonny Styles as the “heir” to arguably the “best” in the NFL at his position.
That’s the confident claim from Nate Tice of Yahoo! Sports, along with former NFL defensive back Domonique Foxworth. Speaking on “The Domonique Foxworth Show,” Tice told the host, Styles “might be the best linebacker once Fred Warner retires.”
Foxworth concurred when he admitted, “If you asked me to pick the heir to Fred Warner today, I’d say Sonny Styles.”
The former Baltimore Ravens cornerback explained, “My second post in several months is gonna be of Sonny Styles against play action. He rarely gets fooled and he’s a rookie, and that’s impossible.”
Styles’ ability to diagnose plays both pre- and post-snap is consistently putting him into the optimum positions to prevent danger. Foxworth compares Styles’ recognition to “one of the things that I say about Fred Warner, is it feels like he’s never wrong.”
The numbers are trending in the right direction for Styles to meet the hype. Numbers like 13 run stops, six pressures and a forced fumble, per Pro Football Focus.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Riggo’s Rag
Washington Commanders rookie stock report
Jaden Bradley – Commanders WR
Why is a rookie currently on the practice squad who hasn’t played a competitive snap yet on this list? Well, it’s because fans could finally see a little more of Jaden Bradley in the very near future.
The Commanders were rocked when two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin suffered a torn patellar tendon against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. This is a hammer blow, leaving a gaping hole both on and off the field. Washington could seek outside help, but it may also keep things in-house.
Van Jefferson Jr. is on the practice squad. So is Bradley, whose strong summer brought plenty of intrigue about what he could achieve in a live-fire setting.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course. But if the Commanders stand pat with their receiver options, don’t be surprised if Bradley gets his shot.
Verdict: Stock Slightly Up ⬆️
Antonio Williams – Commanders WR
Williams has been a rotational presence so far. He’s flashed the promise Washington expected when they took him at No. 71 overall, but they may need more now with McLaurin on the shelf.
The former Clemson star has played 55 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He’s accumulated 205 receiving yards and one touchdown, and 10 of his 18 receptions have gone for first downs. Williams is also earning the trust of quarterback Jayden Daniels, which is always the biggest hurdle for first-year players.
Now, Williams has a chance to silence his doubters as a potential focal point in David Blough’s scheme. The Commanders will be wary of putting too much on his plate, but he’s got the tools to make a real impact.
Verdict: Stock Up ⬆️
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Podcasts & videos
HC Dan Quinn On Commanders Bye Week | Washington Commanders | The Gameplan | NFL
NFC East links
ESPN
NFL Week 7 preview: Picks, predictions, schedule, betting odds, fantasy tips
Cowboys – Eagles
What we’re hearing on the Cowboys: The Cowboys face an Eagles offense that will be without QB Jalen Hurts (calf/lungs) and might not have a 100% Saquon Barkley, but a defense that has struggled through six games is focused on what it needs to do. “How can the Cowboys’ defense just play a clean football game?” LB DeMarvion Overshown said. “… You want to win, so we’re going to do whatever it takes to do that. And really don’t matter how we feel, whether we come in here smiling or whether we come in here punching the walls, the results [aren’t] going to change until we take it upon ourselves to do what we got to do to change them.” — Todd Archer
What we’re hearing on the Eagles: Barkley is expected to return to the lineup following a two-week absence due to a hamstring injury. The running game was subsequently held to 35 or fewer yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2005. With three-fifths of the original starting offensive line missing for most of the season, the issues go beyond whether Barkley is in the lineup. But he’ll provide a needed boost, especially with Hurts being ruled out for the season because of blood clots. Barkley has 761 career rushing yards on “Monday Night Football,” the most since 2018. — Tim McManus
Maldonado’s pick: Cowboys 27, Eagles 23
Moody’s pick: Cowboys 24, Eagles 20
Walder’s pick: Cowboys 26, Eagles 17
FPI prediction: DAL, 69.2% (by an average of 5.1 points)
Giants – Texans
What we’re hearing on the Giants: QB J.J. McCarthy makes his first start for the Giants in place of Jameis Winston. That will allow the Giants to open up the playbook, with the hope of jump-starting their running game against a tough Texans defense that is ranked third against the run. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said that McCarthy’s skill set “is very similar to Jaxson [Dart].” That brings back a decent percentage of the playbook that the Giants had to put on the back burner when Dart was injured. Expect more of the zone-read game, rollouts and options, plays where the QB’s legs and athleticism can be an asset. — Jordan Raanan
What we’re hearing on the Texans: The biggest storyline is that Tank Dell is finally back. It has been 22 months since his gruesome knee injury, but the Texans wideout is ready to return. Coach DeMeco Ryans doesn’t have any expectations besides seeing Dell have fun. — DJ Bien-Aime
Stat to know: The Giants’ defense has allowed 135.5 rushing yards per game (29th in the NFL) and 75% red zone TD percentage (tied 27th) this season. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Texans 24, Giants 17
Moody’s pick: Texans 27, Giants 14
Walder’s pick: Texans 26, Giants 9
FPI prediction: HOU, 84.5% (by an average of 10.5 points)
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Front Office Sports
Troy Aikman Says He’d Consider Role With the Cowboys
The former QB says he realizes his broadcasting career could be “taken away,” and he’d “have a hard time not taking a good look” at working for Jerry Jones
Troy Aikman says he realizes that his broadcasting career “could very well be taken away from me,” and he’d consider a role with the Cowboys if owner Jerry Jones were interested in that.
Aikman’s comments to Mike Fisher of Cowboys Roundtable came after recent reports by Front Office Sports that there is tension between Aikman and his Monday Night Football broadcasting partner, Joe Buck, and that Aikman has no formal and ongoing agreement to serve as a consultant with the Dolphins.
Aikman served as a consultant to the Dolphins last offseason, but his formal consulting agreement with Miami was limited to the team’s general manager and head coach searches, FOS reported.
Jones said Wednesday at the conclusion of the NFL owners meeting in New York, in response to a question by FOS, that he’s following Aikman’s situation with ESPN and that Aikman would be capable of serving in a front office role for an NFL franchise if he so desires.
Aikman’s contract with ESPN expires after the network’s Super Bowl broadcast.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Ravens rule out Lamar Jackson (ankle) vs. Bengals; Tyler ‘Snoop’ Huntley to start
On Saturday, the Ravens downgraded Jackson, who had been listed as questionable with a high left ankle injury after being limited all week in practice.
Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, who is 6-8 as a fill-in starter for the Ravens, will replace Jackson in an early critical AFC North game for Baltimore. After a disappointing loss at the Cleveland Browns last Sunday, the Ravens are looking to avoid falling to 0-2 in the division for the first time in 19 years.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
What’s wrong with Bo Nix? Exploring the Broncos QB’s struggles, long-term status
After discussions with more than a dozen sources around the league, there’s a wide range of theories about what’s going on with Nix. Some think he could be feeling the aftereffects of two offseason ankle surgeries. Others wonder if defensive coaches are improving at slowing Payton’s passing scheme. There are also concerns about Nix’s footwork. Or he might simply be feeling the pressure that comes with pursuing a life-altering, nine-digit contract.
The Broncos are 28-12 in regular-season games he has started, including 4-2 this year after facing the most rugged season-opening slate in the league. But the numbers tell a different story. In 2026, Nix is 30th among the league’s qualifying quarterbacks in completion percentage over expectation (minus-4.0%, per NFL Next Gen Stats), 31st in QBR (38.2) and 32nd in yards per attempt (5.6). Of 37 quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks, he ranks 36th in success rate (36.1%), just ahead of Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels.
Nix is also 32nd in air yards per attempt this season (5.4). That is tied for the second lowest for any quarterback since 2000, per ESPN Research.
Nix has 22 carries for 37 rushing yards (1.7 per carry) through six games with no carries of 10 yards or more. Through six games last season, he had 124 rushing yards on 33 carries (3.8 per carry), with five carries of 10 or more yards. And in his 2024 rookie year, he had 180 rushing yards on 37 carries (4.9 per carry) in the first six games, with seven carries of 10 or more yards.
Nix reaffirmed Wednesday that he is “not scared” and “not physically worried” about his ankle when he runs. But he conceded that “it takes a while for things to fully reengage” and the recovery process from the second surgery — which he said was six months ago — is still ongoing.
But so far, the sputtering Broncos offense is 26th in rushing, 27th in passing and 31st in third-down conversions. Ryan Fitzpatrick, an NFL quarterback for 17 seasons and now an analyst on Amazon’s Thursday night broadcasts, labelled Nix’s work against the Seattle Seahawks last Thursday as “garbage.”
Sources in and around the team say if his play doesn’t improve dramatically, the most likely scenario would be the Broncos exercising the contract’s fifth-year option next spring, then taking a wait-and-see approach into the 2027 season, much as the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers have done this year with C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young, respectively.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
Spiraling Rams must decide who they are — and not just on paper
[Bill-in-Bangkok: Commanders host the Eagles in Week 8 and Rams in Week 9]
When Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay rattled off the injuries his team had sustained in Week 6 during his Monday afternoon video news conference, there was a small, stunned silence before the group turned to questions.
Poona Ford … ruptured tricep … done for the season. Kobie Turner … groin strain … out a handful of weeks. Davante Adams ruptured his semitendinosus … out for 6-10 weeks. Just like that, three key starters out. Kicker Blake Grupe, who’d been with the team all of a few days following the release of Harrison Mevis, was also out for the season. Grupe tore his ACL on a woebegone effort to contain yet another chunk play allowed by the Rams’ bottom-of-the-NFL special teams unit.
But in truth, the injury issues compound with what was already there, or not there, for this Rams team. Symptoms of a hard-to-define problem seemed to already be stewing even before that consequential injury report; before last week’s rock-bottom loss to an Arizona Cardinals team that is among the worst in the NFL; before a draining loss to the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football” in Week 5.
Something just feels off; a feeling that runs counter to the heart-on-their-sleeves, urgent, connected, productively emotional teams we’ve seen McVay lead in recent years.
For McVay, who is perhaps one of the few coaches in football — or in sports — who has the organizational power to build his world to his specifications, it must feel totally overwhelming. He leads a team that named 11 captains in the summer but lacks identity and now is decimated by injuries. He leads a coaching staff full of his longtime friends, but who steps up to help problem-solve? Would a coach who has admitted he’s struggled to delegate in the past even let them? Does an organization that runs with McVay as its thermostat simply … wait to see if he figures it all out?
For better or for worse, they will all go as McVay goes. The team will reflect him. That is, simply and bluntly, how this ecosystem has been built.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Paris game
ESPN
NFL House in Paris closes ahead of street protests in French capital
The NFL closed its “NFL House” in Paris on Saturday as the city braced for street protests with a heavy police presence and storefronts boarded up.
The league announced the closure to fans Saturday morning through its “OnePass” app, and it came a day after closing its pop-up NFL shop. In both cases, it cited “potential accessibility issues.”
Security concerns have overshadowed the NFL’s debut in Paris. The New Orleans Saints will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Stade de France in the league’s first regular-season game in the country.
The U.S. State Department this week issued a security alert that cautioned “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings” because of protests.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that preparations were made in consultation with U.S. and French authorities. Street protests, he said, “are not unusual in France.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Front Office Sports
NFL’s Paris Game Set to Proceed Despite Saturday Protests
The Saints and Steelers play Sunday at Stade de France after Saturday’s mass march ended with reports of clashes between protesters and police
As of Saturday evening Eastern Time, the NFL remained on course with its plan to play Sunday’s Saints-Steelers game as scheduled at Stade de France.
According to the Associated Press, police made nearly 1,000 arrests as more than 400,000 people across France participated in the ongoing protests over school funding and the cost of living. A mass march began peacefully, according to the AP, but ended with protesters throwing fireworks and other objects at police, who reportedly responded with tear gas, sound grenades, and water cannons.
Earlier, NFL fans were shown in gatherings that were unaffected by the protests. The NFL’s Twitter/X account showed Steelers fans waving gold-colored Terrible Towels near the Eiffel Tower and Saints fans doing the team’s trademark “Who Dat?” chant on a Paris street.
The Saints announced that their Saints House had been postponed until Sunday. The NFL told fans that its NFL House would be closed Saturday. The Steelers previously had canceled a Steelers House fan event.
The Saints spent the entire week in Paris. The Steelers arrived Friday in France.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday at the conclusion of an owners meeting in New York that his comfort level was “very high” with the NFL’s plan to proceed with the game as scheduled, adding that the league had “made all the preparations. We’ve been in touch with the appropriate authorities. Protests are not unusual in France, as you know. And that’s something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made.”
Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s EVP of club business, major events, and international, said Tuesday in New York that the league would have a “heightened” security presence around the game and related events.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
