December 12, 2025 • 41 mins
NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport get you set for Week 15 with the latest news from around the league, including an update on Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and when he could return. Then we debate whether 44-year-old Philip Rivers is fit enough to start against the Seattle Seahawks after five years of retirement. Brian Baldinger breaks down the Packers’ defense ahead of their matchup with the Denver Broncos this Sunday. Finally, Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee Alex Highsmith joins the show.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Steelers are coming off their biggest win of the
season and now they have a big loss. For Monday Night,
we will tell you the latest on TJ. Watt, when
he could return, and how his absence could effect a
primetime matchup against the Dolphins. Philip Rivers gotten through his
first week of practice in like five years, but will
(00:22):
the Jareditol Gunslinger be in the lineup? Sunday in Seattle,
we will break down the depleted Coles options as they
try to stop their recent skid. We'll all stock to
Steelers linebacker Alex high Smith, who isn't just producing on
the field. The Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee
joins us tonight to talk about what he's up to
off the field ahead of a key game on it.
(00:44):
Welcome Inside with the Insiders, presented by Progressive Insurance alongside
Ian Rappaport, I am Tom Pelisero. Week fifteen is underway.
It was wild, there were a lot of penalties. There
was a Falcons win. We'll get to the highlights from shortly,
but we start out with the big news today out
of Pittsburgh. Steelers star bass rusher TJ. Watt officially ruled
(01:07):
out by coach Mike Tomlin for Monday Night's game at
Miami after undergoing a procedure to repair a partially collapsed lung.
What was released from the hospital today, My understanding is
he may miss only one game ian but obviously not
ideal timing, an ideal situation for TJ Watt, in particular
ahead of what could be a critical game on Monday Night.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, obviously a concerning situation for the Steelers star. Here's
my understanding of how it went down, taking information from
sources and also from one of everyone's favorite tweeters, JJ Watt,
who made sure to first put the news out himself
earlier today. TJ Watt was undergoing treatment called dry needling
on Wednesday. After the treatment, felt what was described to
(01:51):
me as extreme pain in his lung, went to the
team doctor immediately, got sent to the hospital. Then for
the next twenty four hours or so, sounds like it
was a somewhat harrowing experience. Was in a lot of
pain as they tried to figure out what exactly was wrong.
Ended up undergoing surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung.
He is, as you mentioned out, for Monday night. We'll
(02:14):
see if he is able to get back the next week.
My understanding is he is expected to play again this season.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
We spoke, We've heard.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
From from Mike Tomlin, from other Steelers players who obviously
send their best wishes to TJ.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Watt. You hope he is back sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Dry needling is something a lot of players do with
very minimal side effects.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
This obviously different for the Steelers star edge.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
In other news, going into Week fifteen Sunday, the Colts
have not yet announced a starting quarterback, but at this
point it would be a surprise if we don't see
Philip Rivers on the field. That's right. Rivers, coming out
of retirement at age forty four, joined Indianapolis's practice squad
officially on Wednesday. My understanding is he split first team
reps this week with rookie Riley Leonard. Final decision likely
(03:04):
coming on Saturday. We do know Commanders quarterback Jane Daniels
is now officially out for Sunday's game against the Giants
after aggravating his left elbow injury on this ridiculous play
last week in Minnesota. Coach Dan quincaid Daniels is cleared
for contact, but it's all about how he's feeling no
reevaluate this next week. Marcus Mariota gets the ball on Sunday.
(03:25):
He have no issues for.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
The Jacksonville Jaguars and they're starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Trevor Lawrence really playing extremely well over the last couple
of weeks, two of his best games of this season.
Was limited this week with an ankle injury. Only limited
on Wednesday, though full on Thursday. Full Friday is going
to start for the Jaguars. On Sunday, he faces the
Jets team that is going to have Wait a minute,
let me check Brady Cook as their starting quarterback. I
(03:50):
looked it up on Wikipedia. He is an undrafted free
I didn't really I knew it anyway, but I went
to Missou and is a real person that a lot
of fans are going to be finding out about over
the next several days. Tyron Taylor has dealing with a
groin injury. He's ruled out Justin Fields with knee soreness
also ruled out. So Yes a UDFA starting quarterback for
(04:10):
the New York Jets and then for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Their starting quarterback, Gino Smith also not going to play
this week. Gino has been dealing with a shoulder injury.
It became pretty clear early in the week that he
was unlikely to go. Kenny Pickett, the former Eagles quarterback,
he is going to start in a revenge game against
(04:32):
his team. We'll see how long Gino into being out.
It's been a really trying season for Las Vegas offense,
for Gino Smith, for everything involved in the Raiders. We'll
see if Kenny Pickett Tom can help their offense.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
The Colts had to break glass in case of emergency
on Philip Rivers because they lost their quarterback Daniel Jones
to a season ending achilles tear. Last Sunday, Daniel Jones
writing on social media, this thank you to his teammates, coaches,
the Colts organization and all the fans. That I'll miss
lining up with my guys, but I'll be riding with
them every step of the way. That journey continues Sunday,
(05:07):
where we might see Rivers at age forty four. How
do you look in practice? Sheansteiken.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
What is your evaluation to this point through three practices?
Speaker 5 (05:17):
Pretty good? I mean he's got great command in the huddle.
He was throwing it well, so yeah, we're excited for it.
I mean he's fired up for the challenge, obviously getting
back into it, getting back into the fold, feeling the
pass rush, got some good work in that, just moving
around seeing defense.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
It was good. What if anything would prevent you from
putting them out there.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
We're gonna have those conversations, really, you know how he
feels and how we feel about it here in the
next couple hours.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
We'll go from there.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
If and when Philip Rivers gets onto the field, he
would be one of the oldest quarterbacks in NFL history.
George Blando is mostly a kicker of his final several years,
but he did we looked it up, throw three passes
completed one in nineteen seventy five at the age of
forty eight. Philip Rivers now set to join that very
short list of quarterbacks forty four and older. Ian This
(06:08):
now comes down to a situation where the Colts have
to decide not just can Philip Rivers play this week,
but how much can a forty four year old who
has not taken the pounding from throwing the football repead
ly from getting hit in five years actually go out
there and play on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You can certainly understand why they're going to be conversations
why the Colts have been in no rush to declare
a starting quarterback. Certainly seems like this is the direction
it is going. The Philip Rivers is going to be
the starting quarterback for the Colts against a really, really
good Seattle team. Again, no final determination, just based on
the practice reps and o'reiley Leonard also took some practice reps.
(06:45):
But coming from Alabama taking first team reps, the praise
that the team is heaped on it certainly seems like
this is the direction it is going.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
And if this.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Plays out this way, has the potential to be one
of the coolest stories we have seen in a very
long time. Yes, Tom Brady going out there at age
forty five does give Phil Rivers some hope. The fact
that the one of the first questions he was asked
by reporters this week, Tom was you know, how much
do you weigh? Maybe not like the greatest thing about
the kind of physical health and fitness that he is in,
(07:17):
but his arm is still good.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
He has been throwing regularly.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
This is going to.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Play out in front of our very eyes, and I
absolutely cannot wait for this to happen.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Shout out to the local camera person in Indianapolis to
give us that one shot where he starts on Philip
rivers belly and then pans up not cool. Rivers wouldn't
say exactly how much he weighs. Ye see, I would
not roll out the possibility we see both quarterbacks Riley
Leonard's got a lot of run ability. Maybe there's packages
in for him makes out even if Philip Rivers ends
up getting the start. Let's talk about some other injuries
(07:48):
around the NFL as we head into the bulk of
Week fifteen. T Higgins ruled out because of his second
concussion in a three week span. Marvin Harrison Junior out
once again as well. Roma Dunsay has got a shot
and that stress fracture in his foot. He is officially
questionable as his Deebo Samuel and Devonte Adams dk metcalf
full participant coming off of an abdominal scare. He appears
(08:11):
to be good to go. Hey, we kicked off Week
fifteen last night and it was a wild one for
a lot of different reasons. It's Baker Mayfield and the
bucks Kirk cousins get another start for the Falcons. Let's
fast forward to the second quarter here. Falcons down ten
to seven. Cousins to Kyle Pitts. I could just put
that on replay for the rest of this highlight. I'll
(08:31):
actually keep talking. Falcon take the lead right there, fourteen
to ten. Third quarter, Now Bucks down fourteen thirteen. Mayfield
moonshot for Mike Evans. These are the fifty to fifty
balls that Mike Evans has been making plays like that
on for over a decade. Now, big play mossing Kobe
Bryant right there. Evans finished with six catches one hundred
(08:51):
and thirty two yards in his return from a broken
collar bone. Fourth quarter, Now Bucks up twenty fourteen. Mayfield
to Chris Godwin for the three yard touchdown. They also
hit the two point conversion. That felt like this is
going to be the ball game. Bucks win, However, ensuing
Falcons drive b Jon Robinson, don't call him Brian into
the end zone. That's a six yard touchdown. Falcons cut
(09:14):
the twenty eight twenty but missing and suing two point conversion.
Bucks get the ball back Baker looking for Evans picked
off by d Alford, seventh pick of the season right
there for Mayfield. Ensuing Falcons drive Cousins for you guess,
did Kyle pitch Jes circle of Kirk. You know where
that ball's going herb Street, not Cousins. Ball will go.
Cousins the one to throw the ball. We'll take about
(09:35):
seventeen different looks of this pit's gaining control just before
his elbow hitts. It's his backside. You can see this
either way. Called a touchdown on the field. It stood.
Another two point conversion fails, so they're down two one
last gasp, Kirk Cousins going to David Sills, the fifth
who had an embarrassing moment earlier in the game where
he dropped the wide open pass. That's a catch. They
(09:57):
ruled it a catch along the sideline. Huge play by Sales.
Four plays later, after Mike Evan gets it all out
of his system, Zan Gonzalez onto the field. It is up.
It is good inside the left, upright. Falcons improbably on
a short week with seemingly nothing to play for, win
twenty nine to twenty eight, and Todd Bulls was pissed.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
It's inexcusable. You don't make excuses. You got to care
enough no where it hurts, You got care enough where
it hurts. It gotta paint something to you. It's more
than a job, it's her livelihood.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
How well do you know your job?
Speaker 6 (10:34):
How well can you do your job?
Speaker 7 (10:36):
Well?
Speaker 6 (10:36):
You can't sugarcoat that goes in the excusable and he
has no answer for it. That's for no excuse for it.
And that's what you're telling them a lot. I'm looking mirror.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
That's Todd Bulls record for saying buck the most times
in a thirty second span. Take a look at the
NFC playoff picture now where the Bucks will be on
the outside looking in. This would have been unfathomable about
a month ago. Right now, though, the Panthers in soap
ession of the NFC South lead for the first time
in like a decade or so. Buccaneers with a lot
of work to do. Let's bring in our Cameron Wolf
(11:09):
to the conversation. Covers the NFC South very closely for us,
among many other things. Here Cam this race that seemed
to not be one at all, suddenly his heated up.
The Panthers in first place, and the Buccaneers just not
able to find themselves right now, what's going on?
Speaker 7 (11:26):
Yeah, Tom? In the words of Anthony Alexander Hamilton, they're
throwing away their shot. The Bucks are and this is
their division. They've owned it for the last four years.
It could have been five. But right now this loss
puts the Carolina Panthers in the driving seat. And I
want to go to Todd Bowles presser because knowing Todd
Bowles for the last few years, he's typically a mild
manner guy.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
We don't see that version of him.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
I'm told the message he gave us in the press
conference was the same message he gave the team in
the locker room, with a lot more explicitness.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
He was angry.
Speaker 7 (11:56):
He's calling out players for not being accountable, for not caring.
That's trouble for this team. You don't typically get more
accountable and care more at the latter points of the season.
The Bucks now have a very tenuous road. They have
to beat the Panthers twice to win this division. Meanwhile,
the Carolina Panthers were sitting home cheering on their rival
(12:16):
Atlanta Falcons. The offensive coordinator of Brad Isaac said, we're
cheering them on all night, and now our job is
to lock in because the Panthers path is really clear.
They play those Saints on Sunday. If they beat the Saints.
They just have to win one of their two games
against the Bucks and they win a division for the
first time since twenty fifteen. This is a Panthers team
that built this thing up with Dan Morgan, with Dave Canalis,
(12:38):
with Brad Isaac, with Gero Everro, and they now are
in the driver's seat. And so you look at two
teams in the NFC South heading different directions, and you
can't help to wonder can the Panthers take advantage of
their shot going through the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Can I used the same phrase where we're interviewing Todd
Bowles and training camp about him being mild manner. Todd said,
Bruce Banner is a mild manner guy. In other words,
last night that was bulls hoping out after that game.
We'll see if that has the intended effect. Meanwhile, Ian,
we saw the Falcons coach Raheem Morris at the end
of that game scream into the camera. Clearly fired up
(13:14):
a lot on the line for everybody right now in Atlanta.
And as you reported last night, there's gonna be an
evaluation process that's based at least in part on how
these Falcons played on the stretch.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah, and the Falcons really have not much to play for,
right They're out of the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
They're trying to play spos.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
But the reality is there is a lot to play
for for everyone in the Organization's Arthur Blank takes a
look at this thing, the entire football operation, from Terry
fond Note to Raheem Morris and everything in between and
around them. He's going to be judging, my other things,
the kind of effort and performance that the team puts
on the field the last month in the season when
there is really nothing to play for, and so beating
(13:51):
your rival on national TV is a very, very big deal.
The penalties were bad, that's obviously something they will take
a look at.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
But the win is something that would.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Obviously vote very well for these guys who have been
running the five that it has been a tough season.
It got a little bit better last night. It got
a lot better for Kyle Pitts. This was the Kyle
Pitts game. This really is a fascinating one because he's
in the last year of his contract. He's in the
contract year. He has been a huge talent throughout his
entire career, has not always produced like this showing teams
(14:23):
that he can do this is a very big deal.
But what it also does is potentially bring in the
franchise tag, because if he's going to play this way,
the Falcons are going to want to be for him.
It's going to be about fifteen million dollars or so
to tag him. Next year's agent David Mullageta hates the
franchise tag. That's going to be a fun situation to
keep her eye on.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
But the best thing.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
For Kyle Pitts is he's very, very good and showed
it last night.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Nineteen penalties for the Falcons in that game, top ten
in a single game all time first team. I believe
to win a game commite at least fifteen penalties since
World War Two. But a win is a win, especially
when you haven't had many like the Falcons. Cam, thank
you very much. More from you in just a little
bit and clean the latest on Devon eighthan down there
in South Florida for Monday Night football. Next Thursday night,
(15:10):
it's Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams stampeding into Seattle
to take on Sam Darnold in the Seahawks in an
absolutely crucial, massive NFC West Rivalry Showdown. Thursday night football
coverage begins at seven Eastern only on Prime video Time
Out for Good Coverage presented by Progressive Insurance. A lot
(15:30):
easier for the Packers to play coverage when you got
that guy disrupting everything. Michael Parson's the first Packers player
with twelve and a half sacks or more to the
team's first thirteen games since Clay Matthews back in the
Super Bowl season of twenty ten. Parsons twelve and a
half sacks rank third in the NFL, tied with Broncos
linebacker Nick Benito, who will be on the opposite sideline
(15:51):
when the Packers traveled to Denver this Sunday for more
than Packers defense, Brian Baldinger breaks it down.
Speaker 8 (15:56):
The Packers have won four in a row and travel
to Denver this weekend that have one ten in a row.
It should be a classic matchup. And when you watch
the Green Bay defense, you have to pay special attention
to Michaeh. Parsons because the way the defensive coordinator Jeff
Papley is using him is very creative and it's to.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
His strengths, So give him credit.
Speaker 8 (16:14):
But look, if you put Mike on the edge against
any tackle, one on one, no help, he's got a
good chance of winning, and winning fast way he's done
over five years in his career. Now, last week against Chicago,
when he got an opportunity like here, he is on
the edge all right, when he sees the quarterback, Caleb
Williams get flushed. You watch him flat and Caleb wims.
(16:35):
Caleb runs away from most defenders and can turn the
corner on most defenders. But he sees Michaeh Parsons chasing him.
He thought twice, and he pulled up and he thought,
maybe it's.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Best just to throw that ball away.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
That's what Mike, it.
Speaker 8 (16:47):
Can force you to do. Now you watch this here.
Chicago had a plan for him last week. They're gonna
chip them with number eighty five cold, They're gonna chip
them with the DeAndre Swift the running back right here.
But he's still gonna find a way to get right
to Caleb Williams like he is difficult to control no
matter what you try to design. What Jeff Hefley is
(17:08):
doing now is giving him some freedom here. Like you
see David Montgomery, the running back, he's checking him. He's
going wherever Mikey goes and he chips him, but he
still beats Cigar and gets to Jared god And then
a couple weeks ago against the Minnesota Vikings, he's just
got a freelance ability within the structure of the defense
to come into attack and he runs right over the
center and he forces JJ McCarthy to step up and
(17:31):
eventually get sacked just outside of.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
The end zone.
Speaker 8 (17:34):
And then this is what you can do once you
pay all that attention to Michaeh Parsons. And here the center,
Drew Dolman is going to slide the line to Micah.
He's the most dangerous guy. But Jeff Heffley knew that
they would slide the line to him.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
So what does he do.
Speaker 8 (17:49):
He uses a decoy to drop him and then overload
the other side. And now they get the same effect
because now they're chasing Caleb Williams and forcing.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Him to throw that ball away.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
If you can design all the great defenses, all the
different things that you can do, and Sean Payton is
excellent out it. He's burning midnight oil right now trying
to figure out a plan to slow down Michaeh Parsons
from some of the game changing plays that he has made.
We'll see how that goes, because I'm sure that Michael
will be on his game and looking to get after
bo Nicks come Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Man, that baldy outfit is tough to process. Looking like
rob Loo over there.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
This Christmas unwrap All Day Football that about holiday games
featuring Cowboys, Verse Commanders, and Lions versus Vikings on Netflix.
Then a primetime showdown on Prime Video Broncos Verse Chiefs
three games, one epic Holiday. For full schedule, visit watch
dot NFL dot com got a big time matchup this
(18:49):
weekend as well.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
You might know it as GoF v. Stafford.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
You might know it as Lions the Rams omar Ruiz
Welcome Back with the Inside. It is also a matchup
of two excellent, excellent receivers. Take me through the pass
catchers that we're going to be featuring in this showdown
for Sunday.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
Yeah, what a fun matchup. Ian you mentioned GoF versus
Stafford Part four, But it is their weapons that has
caught my eye.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Of course.
Speaker 9 (19:17):
Pokin Acua, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Acrobatic catches. We know all the clutch catches. But it
is the physicality that he plays with that I asked
Matthew Stafford about and Stafford told me that that gives
the team so much energy, the passion, the toughness, the
tone setter. Look at Pooka Nakua right here, thirty yards
(19:38):
downfield looking to initiate contact. That is something that the
Rams certainly feed off of. So Pooka Nakula part of
this equation. In the Rams Lions wide receiver matchup, Devonte Adams,
of course, leading the league with fourteen touchdown catches, has
the hamstring injury listed as questionable, but Sean McVay saying
today they'd be very surprised if DeVante Adams was not
(20:01):
able to go. And then on the other side of
the docket with the Detroit Lions, aman Ross Saint Brown
top five in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, also a
tone setter. I talked to Piney Sewell earlier this week
and he said, when guys like Amanas Saint Brown and
Jamison Williams are making plays downfield in front of them,
(20:22):
certainly inspiring. You see the way Amanross Saint Brown fights
for every yard. Talking to Rams defenders, the keys to
slowing them down this week is to make the tackle
at the point of catch.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
They don't want to give up those yards after catch because.
Speaker 9 (20:37):
Obviously amanro and Jamison Williams can take any catch to
the house from any point on the field. So that'll
be the key for the Rams defense trying to slow
that passing attack down.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I was talking to someone with the Cardinals earlier today
kind of was like, how good is Stafford.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
I'm like, he's good.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
He is.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
He is really good man being the MVP. Got some
pretty good weapons to throw two as well. All Right,
another big game we got Chargers Chiefs And the last
time we saw Justin Herbert, he was dealing with a
fractured left hand, which is still fractured, and he was
gutting out that game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
What do we expect from Herbert this summer?
Speaker 9 (21:15):
Yeah, talking to players, I was at that game Ian
on Monday night and all his teammates just saying what
a dog Justin Herbert is. The toughness that he showed
play after play after play, fighting through the soreness, the
pain to.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Get that win over the Eagles.
Speaker 9 (21:31):
Justin Herbert saying this week that he wasn't as swollen
that hand as it was last week after surgery. In fact,
he said his grip strength is better this week, his
ability to use that left hand is better this week,
and the swelling not nearly as much, so he expects
to be even better this week in Kansas City. The
(21:52):
issue for the Chargers may be the fact that it's
going to be seventeen.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Degrees at kickoff.
Speaker 9 (21:58):
Ian and Jim Harbaugh saying this week that these guys
are young, they just got to keep moving.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
They are human hot tubs.
Speaker 9 (22:06):
Another issue that they talked about this week was the
ten am their body clock time, so Jim Harbaugh had
them practicing early.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
He said they talked to some.
Speaker 9 (22:15):
UCLA sleep study experts to get the latest in that realm,
and so they started practicing a little early to start
getting their bodies used to it.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
And obviously Kansas City at this.
Speaker 9 (22:25):
Point, Ian, they are desperate for a win, trying to
keep their season alive. Obviously have to know they pretty
much have to run the table at this point. So
it should be another fantastic showdown in Arrowhead between these
two division rivals.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Chiefs gotta have it, they gotta have I mean, I
love how many different things Harbaugh tries to get his
team to win. You really got to be impressed a
little bit. Omar great stuff. Enjoy those games? Can we
get Joe Burr to enjoy something? Give this man a hug,
Give him a hug. Let him express himself and give
him a hug. We're going to get into it with
(22:59):
Camwolf on the Wolf Football Street coming up next on
The Insiders.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The NFL family has committed to advancing social justice by
reducing barriers to opportunity. Our players inspire change every day,
and in that spirit, the Inspire Change Change Maker Award
honors community members who are driving this work forward. Learn
more at NFL dot com backslash Inspire Change New Today.
(23:25):
Steelers star pass resher TJ. Watt has been ruled out
for Monday Night's game at Miami after undergoing a procedure
to repair a partially collapsed lung. What reported discomfort when
he got to the team facility on Wednesday, subsequently ended
up in the hospital where he underwent a battery of tests.
Was released today. My understanding is he may only miss
(23:47):
one game, but Pittsburgh will have to try to get
a win without him on Monday Night. Let's bring in
our Wolf of Ball Street himself, Cameron Wolf. Now, who's
got the latest all around the league? To start out
right there in your backyard, Miami, Cameron. Devon ah Chan
also popping up on the injury report this week. What's
the latest on him and everything else you're hearing around
(24:09):
the league?
Speaker 7 (24:10):
Yeah, Wolf of ball Street in Miami, where Devon a
Chan told me he is good to go. He said,
no doubt I'll play Monday. And he also is the
face of this Dolphins offense as they've made a run.
Now they're six and seven and they start to think
about our playoff odds. A Chan has been practicing this
week despite that rib injury. He's been wearing a flat jacket.
He said he doesn't think it'll limit him. They're going
(24:31):
to run the ball a lot on Monday. That's been
their calling card. They've rushed with a Chan for over
one hundred and sixty scrimmage yards at last four weeks.
They lead the NFL on rushing the last five or
six weeks, and they're playing a Steelers team that's really
struggled to stop the run. So a Chan is embracing
this responsibility as a new face of the team and
they think they can ride him to a fun end
(24:52):
to the season. Now, let's go to Cincinnati, where Joe
Burrow certainly made a stir with his comments questioning how
much he really wants to do this with this love
of the game. Well, I talk to a couple of
people in the Bengals organization. No one is panicking yet.
I had one comment said that he's the ultra competitor
and he thinks that he is trying to press the
Bengals to not go down this path of missing the
(25:14):
playoffs again, a message maybe to other people in the organization.
I had another person say, this is not Andrew Luck
two point zero. They feel like that this was just
a Borough who is expressing his emotions since coming back
in injuries in a different way than he has before,
and he's still learning how to express that. And so
although it's eye popping, it's something that Bengals do not
(25:34):
think is something they have to be concerned about. They
do need to get that roster better for him for
twenty twenty six. And number three, let's go down to
Buffalo where they have a huge matchup against the New
England Patriots, trying to hold them off in the afcast.
Player to watch is Christian Benford, who has been maybe
their most important defender the last couple of weeks, two
defensive touchdowns. He is questionable, what I'm told is truly
(25:57):
in question, but they're hopeful, more hope than not that
he will go despite the toe injury that he suffered Thursday,
So there's.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Optimism somewhat that way.
Speaker 7 (26:06):
If he doesn't play, it'll be Tredavious White and Maxwell
Harrison outside. But he is super important because they've given
him the responsibility the shadow top receivers in coluding Jamar
Chase last week. He did an excellent job on him
and he was expected to see a lot of Stefan.
Speaker 10 (26:21):
Diggs this week in a huge matchup there.
Speaker 7 (26:23):
So they want him to play steph and hopefully limit
him in this potential revenge game he's got against his
former team.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Cam tremendous stuff. As always, we will see you next
week on Ball Street. Congratulations to Bill's quarterback Josh Allen
and his wife Haley Steinfeld officially announcing they're having a baby.
So one more thing you can add to Josh Allen's
list of accomplishments in the year twenty twenty five and
NFL MVP, a monster contract, a wedding, and now set
(26:54):
to become a father for the first time.
Speaker 10 (26:57):
What did you play?
Speaker 4 (26:58):
What do you play with brand now a second, I'm
not sure right?
Speaker 1 (27:06):
How about that? That's an honest answer. Time out to
go inside with NFL Fantasy Live and our guy Adam
Rank with me, Tom Tellicero, and Ian Rappaport talking about
fantasy impact here ranked number one, what is your current
playing weight? And number two? What if anything does there
a turn of Philip Rivers mean for all the different
(27:28):
permutations of exactly what your fantasy lineup might look like.
Speaker 11 (27:31):
You know, I'm currently locking in at one eighty nine,
feeling pretty good, feeling pretty sprising here in the holiday season.
Speaker 10 (27:37):
Listen, I'm I listen. I keep after it during the
during the playing season.
Speaker 11 (27:42):
I will say this, it could be but uh listen,
I uh, I'm you know, just trying to just trying
to get by here.
Speaker 10 (27:49):
I'm gaining some holiday weight.
Speaker 11 (27:50):
Apparently, in any event, Philip Rivers is gonna be.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
You know, this is an.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
Interesting situation because a couple of weeks ago, when Joe
Flakker was going to Cincinnati, Everybody's like there's no way
he could do what he's doing, and then he went
out and did it. And similarly, I think with Philip Rivers,
what can you do? Can you get the ball into
the hands of Tyler Warren?
Speaker 10 (28:09):
Can you get the ball to Michael Pittman and players
like that?
Speaker 11 (28:12):
I would truly believe that if Philip Rivers is the
quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, they're going to end up
going out there, They're going to run the football exclusively
with Jonathan Taylor, which all opened up some pop plays
for Philip Rivers. So I do think that the pass
catchers take a little bit of a downgrade, but not
as severe as a lot of people would believe.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
All right, what about this one?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
The Dallas Cowboys get Cede Lamb back officially cleared the
nfo's concussion protocol, which I think Tom reported earlier today
or maybe that was yesterday. I don't even know what
is the impact for Dallas having Lamb back in the
lineup against the Vikings on Sunday night.
Speaker 11 (28:47):
Well, the good news is you're obviously going to be
starting CD Lamb, which is what you want. I know
a lot of people went out there and picked up
Ryan Floroy in the waiver wire situation this week using
some fav using waiver priority, and now you're like, what
do I do? We'll leave him on the bench. You
want to start Ceedee Lamb. A healthy Ceedee Lamb is
the guy that you absolutely want to start. But I
think the biggest question is what happens with George Pickens.
(29:09):
A lot of people were disappointed last week when he
didn't have a monster game against the Lions, and it's understandable,
but he does have four games this season where he's
scored at least twenty nine Fantasy points. He's averaging over
ninety receiving yards per game this year. That's the third
most in the NFL, and the Minnesota Vikings have been
allowing a lot of production to wide receivers this season.
(29:30):
Despite the fact that Brian Flores is considered one of
the best defensive coordinators in the game, you can still
feel comfortable starting Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Last time we saw Kyle Pitch go off with Drake
London out of the lineup, flip it around with Zach
Ertz out. Do we see Terry mcclaurin do more this week?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Here?
Speaker 11 (29:48):
Rank well, I think Terry McLaurin has played excellent football
ever since he's returned from his injury, and regardless of
who the quarterback is, he's going to get targeted an
awful lot. He's had two receiving touchdowns in his last
three games, is for the fifth most targets to the
fifth most targets since you returned to the league in
a week thirteen.
Speaker 10 (30:06):
And now he's.
Speaker 11 (30:07):
Got a great matchup against the Giants, who allowed the
fourth most receiving yards to the position this season. I
anticipate this being a high scoring game, similar to what
we saw last night, where both teams were just kind
of going after it, throwing the ball all over the field.
We're going to see a lot of that this weekend
with Jackson Dark Marcus Mariota. So I would make sure
that Terry McLaurin is in your lineup this week. Earlier
(30:28):
this week, when I was shopping for a new ski outfit,
I reported that Gino Smith was likely going.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
To be out with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Pete Carroll confirming today Kenny Pickett is going to be
the starting quarterback. Okay, so what does that mean for
fantasy star Brock Bowers on Sunday.
Speaker 11 (30:45):
We're still starting them, and like you, I had to
go out and get some snowboarding gear this week and
went out to Chicago. But Brock Powers is still going
to be an excellent start. I think that anybody goes
out and I hopefully you're not looking at the other
side of Kyle pity it's scoring forty Fantasy points on
Thursday night.
Speaker 10 (31:03):
But there is an opportunity here for Brock Powers.
Speaker 11 (31:06):
He's averaging close to sixteen Fantasy points per game over
his last four He's really started to emerge over the
last couple of weeks, even though he was a little
bit of a disappointment earlier.
Speaker 10 (31:16):
But if you're a player like.
Speaker 11 (31:17):
Kenny Pickett, you're coming out here, you're getting your opportunity
to start for the Raiders. What is on the agenda,
I don't know. Throw the ball at number to eighty nine.
So I would start Brock Powers with confidence this week,
regardless of who the quarterback is.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Grant great stuff. As always. We will see you next week,
same time, same place.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
That is Alex Heismith, Steelers star edge rusher, but his
context right now is because he is the Walter Payton
Man of the Year club winner, a man who contributes
extensively in the community, certainly someone who has made a
name for himself off the field as well as on
the field. Alex, thank you very much for joining us
(31:59):
on the ends. Great to hang out with you. Of course,
everyone knows you are a friend of the show. We
always appreciate your appearances. I want to get to some
stuff on the field. There's plenty to talk about as well,
but first off the field. By now, you know that
you are the Steelers club winner for Walter Payton Man
of the Year. What was your reaction to that and
how meaningful is this for you?
Speaker 12 (32:21):
Yeah, I'm just super grateful, honored, humbled to be the
Steeers nominee for this year's Walter Payton Man of the
Year Award. And you know, for me, I true believe
that I've been given this platform by God to be
blessing to others and to bring glory to Him. And
so we started the Outside of the Family Foundation back
in twenty twenty one to my first year in the league,
(32:42):
and basically our mission is to empower the next generation,
empower the youth to build strong foundations in different areas
of life. So those areas include physical fitness, nutrition, education,
athletic preparation, family involvement, mentorship.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
So those are a few of the pillars that we
just that our mission lives around.
Speaker 12 (33:00):
And so, like I said, I've always had a passion
for kids and a passion to get back in that way,
and so I've been don my youth football camp since
since twenty twenty one. That's an angle thing as well,
and so we do different back to school drives here
in Pittsburgh and Wilmington. The three areas that we give
back to are Pittsburgh, Wimington, and Charlotte. And why those
three Pittsburgh obviously because I'm here, I'm playing, called this
(33:24):
place home for the past six years. And then Wilmington's
where I was born and raised. That's my hometown, and
then played ball at Charlotte. I me and my wife
met as Charlotte, so I have a lot of connections
back there as well. So it's all about really just
giving back and being a blessing and knowing that my
purpose goes way beyond the great Iron way, beyond the field,
and so ultimately I know that you know, what I
do off the field is what's really gonna last yeah, and.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
It's been more than just your camp and and your foundation,
which which obviously has been a lot. There was a
homeless shelter that burned essentially in a fire. You stepped
in to provide clothing, shelter, meals for those affected. You
could help contributed for hurricane relief recently. I mean there's
(34:07):
been there's been a lot of different ways that you've
been able to help. And I guess what I would
say to that is, how does this happen? You see
something bad happen in the world, and you make a
couple of calls and say how can we help them?
Speaker 3 (34:18):
It is as simple as that.
Speaker 12 (34:19):
Yeah, I feel like I've always just had a servant heart,
and that is something that my parents instilled in me
at a young age, and so I'm super grateful for
them and how they instilled let me at a young age.
And so, like I said, it just goes back to
having this platform and just using it for good, bringing
God glory in and being a blessing to others. And
you know, I have family up in the mountains of
(34:40):
North Carolina, so I'm when that hurricane hit last year,
you know, they weren't in the worst part of where
it hit, but they were definitely still affected. And so
you know, the mountains of North Carolina have a special
place in my heart, and so that's one of the
reasons I wanted to try to help and do some
disaster relief stuff there. Actually it'll be there in person,
(35:01):
but to help donate stuff. So yeah, I think it
just all just goes back to being survey hearted and
serving others, and that's just really I feel like that's
what my passion is to do.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
It is great to hear you will be on stage,
everyone waving at you for the for NFL honors Walter
Payton Man of the Year club winners.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
I'll be waving at you from the seats allow from there.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
So I want to get to some football topics as well,
and obviously you guys are deep deep in the preparation
for the game this week Monday Night against the Dolphins,
a fun one. Cannot wait for that. I want to
take a look back quickly to last week. There was
a lot going on in the Steelers world. There's a
lot of discussion about Mike tom Win of his job status,
which is you know, fairly bonkers, but that is the
(35:45):
world we live. In How necessary was it for you
guys to get that win, just to kind of clear
everything a little bit away.
Speaker 12 (35:52):
Yeah, this one was huge for us, you know, course
for of the most foremost because it was it was
to take first place in the AS North. And so
we know every time we play the Ravens is going
to be an intense matchup, It's going to be a
heating match up. And this this game meant a lot
for us to be able to take control the first place.
And so especially after losing the past two games, the
way we played against the Bills, you know, we kind
of wanted to just kind of silence, silence everyone what
(36:15):
they were saying.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
But ultimately there was a lot being.
Speaker 12 (36:17):
Said, I know, like outside noise, social media, whatnot, But
we didn't care.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
We we drowned all that noise out.
Speaker 12 (36:24):
We just was really focusing in the locker room and
just knowing that all right, you know, we're all we're
got that. Everybody's gotta trust everyone. And so I feel
like we definitely moved in the right direction last week
by getting that win. So for us, we just got
to be consistent. We got to stack wins. We haven't
stacked stacked the win stacked wins since the beginning of
the year, so this this game against Miami is huge
and so we just got to you know, keep progressing
(36:47):
and ultimately, you know, play our best ball this time
of year and be hot, you know, and when the
division going into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
As of this taping right now, TJ.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Watts status, I would say, up in the air, dealing
with a long issue. Have you've spoken to him, what
do you know? And if he is not able to play,
how much might that affect you?
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Guys?
Speaker 12 (37:05):
Yeah, I've spoken to him and he's doing better. It's
definitely a scary situation, you know, anytime one of your
teammates goes to the hospital for something like that. So
we've all been reaching out to him, you know, we've
been praying for him, and so he's already doing better
and so we'll see what his status is. But you know,
football side, I'm just glad. I'm just glad that he is.
(37:26):
I'm just glad that he is okay, and that's what
matters most. And so, like I said, we've been praying
for him and we know he's gonna be all right.
Speaker 4 (37:34):
So we'll see what his status is for the game.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Looking ahead, to the Monday Nighter mentions against the Dolphins.
You've been on quite a little run here. I believe
it's five sacks in three games, really really making that
difference that you've always been able to make as far
as effecting a quarterback. You got the Dolphins offense that's
been definitely better early in the season. Not as good
play at turnovers recently much better. What do you say
(38:00):
from this Dolphins offense? You guys are going to be
facing it and what kind of challenge is this in
front of the entire country.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
On Monday Night.
Speaker 12 (38:07):
Yeah, I think they've been successful recently because they've been
running the ball well. So we know that's it starts there.
We gotta we got to smash the run and if
we want to get to tow it, we know that,
you know, we got to take out their running game,
and so.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
We just got to be physical.
Speaker 12 (38:22):
We got to get off blocks and stop them from
coming down hill. And so I think for us that's
where that's where it starts. It kinds of stopping, stopping
the running game and then getting that the them in the past,
and so we just got to play physical, we got
to play fast, and we just got to be disciplined
and everything that we do because we know that when
we play our best football, you know, we're we're flying around,
we're playing fast, we're creating havoc, we're causing turnovers. So
(38:45):
we're going to be at home and we've got to
get the crowd into it, and we do that by
you know, making big plays, making splash plays. So, like
I said, this is a really important game for us,
and so we just feel like we know we knock
out the run early, that'll set of suff for success.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Backs against the wall.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
That's usually when you guys step forward as you did
last week.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Have fun on Monday night against the Dophin. That is
going to be a great one.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Good luck to rest of the week in practice, and
congratulations again on being the Walter Payton Man of the
Year club winner. Alex Heismith. Always happy to have you
on the Insiders.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Yes, sir, appreciate you all having me.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
Talk to Alex.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Of course yesterday before we knew the TGI was for
sure for sure out Monday night. Great stuff from the
Walter Payton Man of the Year club winner. Great stuff
coming from us? Is it too much?
Speaker 3 (39:28):
TMI?
Speaker 2 (39:29):
What am I talking about? Stay tuned and you're about
to find out. Coming up next on the Insiders.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
With NFL Plus, keep the NFL in reach. Stream live
local and primetime games on mobile during the regular and
postseason NFL Network, including one more exclusive live game this season,
plus live game audio and more with NFL Plus Premium.
Get more football with NFL Red Zone game replays an
NFL Pro. Sign up today at plus dot NFL dot
(39:57):
com Slash Network terms and conditions apply. You know what
else you can watch an NFL Plus Good Morning Football.
Speaker 13 (40:05):
I wonder who my mom thinks will win this weekend,
I asked her. She's up already. She's such a help
with our kids at all. I say, hey, Mom, morning,
you know for GMFB. I'm wondering if you could pick
a winner for this weekend. She said, well, I'm waiting
for the TMI guys to tell me if mister Rivers
is starting. Until then, she can't pick the Seahawks indie
game guys. My mom refers to the Insiders as the
TMI guys, Tom Mike.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
G and rap sheet Ian Rappaport.
Speaker 13 (40:28):
She's like, I can never keep them straight, so she
called them.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
The TMI guys.
Speaker 13 (40:32):
They actually have a name, The insiders, but she just goes.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
With the TMI guys. Thanks Mom. We are now in
year nine of us all working together Ian and it
never occurred to us that TMI is Tom Mike Ian.
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (40:47):
I don't like it. Here's why. It's not too much information.
I understand. It's all our initials.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
It's the information you need to know. It's not too much.
It's just the right amount.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
And if I could deliver more, I would deliver more
for the Hi Jamie's Mom.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Bye, everybody,
The Steelers are coming off their biggest win of the
season and now they have a big loss. For Monday Night,
we will tell you the latest on TJ. Watt, when
he could return, and how his absence could effect a
primetime matchup against the Dolphins. Philip Rivers gotten through his
first week of practice in like five years, but will
(00:22):
the Jareditol Gunslinger be in the lineup? Sunday in Seattle,
we will break down the depleted Coles options as they
try to stop their recent skid. We'll all stock to
Steelers linebacker Alex high Smith, who isn't just producing on
the field. The Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee
joins us tonight to talk about what he's up to
off the field ahead of a key game on it.
(00:44):
Welcome Inside with the Insiders, presented by Progressive Insurance alongside
Ian Rappaport, I am Tom Pelisero. Week fifteen is underway.
It was wild, there were a lot of penalties. There
was a Falcons win. We'll get to the highlights from shortly,
but we start out with the big news today out
of Pittsburgh. Steelers star bass rusher TJ. Watt officially ruled
(01:07):
out by coach Mike Tomlin for Monday Night's game at
Miami after undergoing a procedure to repair a partially collapsed lung.
What was released from the hospital today, My understanding is
he may miss only one game ian but obviously not
ideal timing, an ideal situation for TJ Watt, in particular
ahead of what could be a critical game on Monday Night.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, obviously a concerning situation for the Steelers star. Here's
my understanding of how it went down, taking information from
sources and also from one of everyone's favorite tweeters, JJ Watt,
who made sure to first put the news out himself
earlier today. TJ Watt was undergoing treatment called dry needling
on Wednesday. After the treatment, felt what was described to
(01:51):
me as extreme pain in his lung, went to the
team doctor immediately, got sent to the hospital. Then for
the next twenty four hours or so, sounds like it
was a somewhat harrowing experience. Was in a lot of
pain as they tried to figure out what exactly was wrong.
Ended up undergoing surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung.
He is, as you mentioned out, for Monday night. We'll
(02:14):
see if he is able to get back the next week.
My understanding is he is expected to play again this season.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
We spoke, We've heard.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
From from Mike Tomlin, from other Steelers players who obviously
send their best wishes to TJ.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Watt. You hope he is back sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Dry needling is something a lot of players do with
very minimal side effects.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
This obviously different for the Steelers star edge.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
In other news, going into Week fifteen Sunday, the Colts
have not yet announced a starting quarterback, but at this
point it would be a surprise if we don't see
Philip Rivers on the field. That's right. Rivers, coming out
of retirement at age forty four, joined Indianapolis's practice squad
officially on Wednesday. My understanding is he split first team
reps this week with rookie Riley Leonard. Final decision likely
(03:04):
coming on Saturday. We do know Commanders quarterback Jane Daniels
is now officially out for Sunday's game against the Giants
after aggravating his left elbow injury on this ridiculous play
last week in Minnesota. Coach Dan quincaid Daniels is cleared
for contact, but it's all about how he's feeling no
reevaluate this next week. Marcus Mariota gets the ball on Sunday.
(03:25):
He have no issues for.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
The Jacksonville Jaguars and they're starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Trevor Lawrence really playing extremely well over the last couple
of weeks, two of his best games of this season.
Was limited this week with an ankle injury. Only limited
on Wednesday, though full on Thursday. Full Friday is going
to start for the Jaguars. On Sunday, he faces the
Jets team that is going to have Wait a minute,
let me check Brady Cook as their starting quarterback. I
(03:50):
looked it up on Wikipedia. He is an undrafted free
I didn't really I knew it anyway, but I went
to Missou and is a real person that a lot
of fans are going to be finding out about over
the next several days. Tyron Taylor has dealing with a
groin injury. He's ruled out Justin Fields with knee soreness
also ruled out. So Yes a UDFA starting quarterback for
(04:10):
the New York Jets and then for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Their starting quarterback, Gino Smith also not going to play
this week. Gino has been dealing with a shoulder injury.
It became pretty clear early in the week that he
was unlikely to go. Kenny Pickett, the former Eagles quarterback,
he is going to start in a revenge game against
(04:32):
his team. We'll see how long Gino into being out.
It's been a really trying season for Las Vegas offense,
for Gino Smith, for everything involved in the Raiders. We'll
see if Kenny Pickett Tom can help their offense.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
The Colts had to break glass in case of emergency
on Philip Rivers because they lost their quarterback Daniel Jones
to a season ending achilles tear. Last Sunday, Daniel Jones
writing on social media, this thank you to his teammates, coaches,
the Colts organization and all the fans. That I'll miss
lining up with my guys, but I'll be riding with
them every step of the way. That journey continues Sunday,
(05:07):
where we might see Rivers at age forty four. How
do you look in practice? Sheansteiken.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
What is your evaluation to this point through three practices?
Speaker 5 (05:17):
Pretty good? I mean he's got great command in the huddle.
He was throwing it well, so yeah, we're excited for it.
I mean he's fired up for the challenge, obviously getting
back into it, getting back into the fold, feeling the
pass rush, got some good work in that, just moving
around seeing defense.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
It was good. What if anything would prevent you from
putting them out there.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
We're gonna have those conversations, really, you know how he
feels and how we feel about it here in the
next couple hours.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
We'll go from there.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
If and when Philip Rivers gets onto the field, he
would be one of the oldest quarterbacks in NFL history.
George Blando is mostly a kicker of his final several years,
but he did we looked it up, throw three passes
completed one in nineteen seventy five at the age of
forty eight. Philip Rivers now set to join that very
short list of quarterbacks forty four and older. Ian This
(06:08):
now comes down to a situation where the Colts have
to decide not just can Philip Rivers play this week,
but how much can a forty four year old who
has not taken the pounding from throwing the football repead
ly from getting hit in five years actually go out
there and play on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You can certainly understand why they're going to be conversations
why the Colts have been in no rush to declare
a starting quarterback. Certainly seems like this is the direction
it is going. The Philip Rivers is going to be
the starting quarterback for the Colts against a really, really
good Seattle team. Again, no final determination, just based on
the practice reps and o'reiley Leonard also took some practice reps.
(06:45):
But coming from Alabama taking first team reps, the praise
that the team is heaped on it certainly seems like
this is the direction it is going.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
And if this.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Plays out this way, has the potential to be one
of the coolest stories we have seen in a very
long time. Yes, Tom Brady going out there at age
forty five does give Phil Rivers some hope. The fact
that the one of the first questions he was asked
by reporters this week, Tom was you know, how much
do you weigh? Maybe not like the greatest thing about
the kind of physical health and fitness that he is in,
(07:17):
but his arm is still good.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
He has been throwing regularly.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
This is going to.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Play out in front of our very eyes, and I
absolutely cannot wait for this to happen.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Shout out to the local camera person in Indianapolis to
give us that one shot where he starts on Philip
rivers belly and then pans up not cool. Rivers wouldn't
say exactly how much he weighs. Ye see, I would
not roll out the possibility we see both quarterbacks Riley
Leonard's got a lot of run ability. Maybe there's packages
in for him makes out even if Philip Rivers ends
up getting the start. Let's talk about some other injuries
(07:48):
around the NFL as we head into the bulk of
Week fifteen. T Higgins ruled out because of his second
concussion in a three week span. Marvin Harrison Junior out
once again as well. Roma Dunsay has got a shot
and that stress fracture in his foot. He is officially
questionable as his Deebo Samuel and Devonte Adams dk metcalf
full participant coming off of an abdominal scare. He appears
(08:11):
to be good to go. Hey, we kicked off Week
fifteen last night and it was a wild one for
a lot of different reasons. It's Baker Mayfield and the
bucks Kirk cousins get another start for the Falcons. Let's
fast forward to the second quarter here. Falcons down ten
to seven. Cousins to Kyle Pitts. I could just put
that on replay for the rest of this highlight. I'll
(08:31):
actually keep talking. Falcon take the lead right there, fourteen
to ten. Third quarter, Now Bucks down fourteen thirteen. Mayfield
moonshot for Mike Evans. These are the fifty to fifty
balls that Mike Evans has been making plays like that
on for over a decade. Now, big play mossing Kobe
Bryant right there. Evans finished with six catches one hundred
(08:51):
and thirty two yards in his return from a broken
collar bone. Fourth quarter, Now Bucks up twenty fourteen. Mayfield
to Chris Godwin for the three yard touchdown. They also
hit the two point conversion. That felt like this is
going to be the ball game. Bucks win, However, ensuing
Falcons drive b Jon Robinson, don't call him Brian into
the end zone. That's a six yard touchdown. Falcons cut
(09:14):
the twenty eight twenty but missing and suing two point conversion.
Bucks get the ball back Baker looking for Evans picked
off by d Alford, seventh pick of the season right
there for Mayfield. Ensuing Falcons drive Cousins for you guess,
did Kyle pitch Jes circle of Kirk. You know where
that ball's going herb Street, not Cousins. Ball will go.
Cousins the one to throw the ball. We'll take about
(09:35):
seventeen different looks of this pit's gaining control just before
his elbow hitts. It's his backside. You can see this
either way. Called a touchdown on the field. It stood.
Another two point conversion fails, so they're down two one
last gasp, Kirk Cousins going to David Sills, the fifth
who had an embarrassing moment earlier in the game where
he dropped the wide open pass. That's a catch. They
(09:57):
ruled it a catch along the sideline. Huge play by Sales.
Four plays later, after Mike Evan gets it all out
of his system, Zan Gonzalez onto the field. It is up.
It is good inside the left, upright. Falcons improbably on
a short week with seemingly nothing to play for, win
twenty nine to twenty eight, and Todd Bulls was pissed.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
It's inexcusable. You don't make excuses. You got to care
enough no where it hurts, You got care enough where
it hurts. It gotta paint something to you. It's more
than a job, it's her livelihood.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
How well do you know your job?
Speaker 6 (10:34):
How well can you do your job?
Speaker 7 (10:36):
Well?
Speaker 6 (10:36):
You can't sugarcoat that goes in the excusable and he
has no answer for it. That's for no excuse for it.
And that's what you're telling them a lot. I'm looking mirror.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
That's Todd Bulls record for saying buck the most times
in a thirty second span. Take a look at the
NFC playoff picture now where the Bucks will be on
the outside looking in. This would have been unfathomable about
a month ago. Right now, though, the Panthers in soap
ession of the NFC South lead for the first time
in like a decade or so. Buccaneers with a lot
of work to do. Let's bring in our Cameron Wolf
(11:09):
to the conversation. Covers the NFC South very closely for us,
among many other things. Here Cam this race that seemed
to not be one at all, suddenly his heated up.
The Panthers in first place, and the Buccaneers just not
able to find themselves right now, what's going on?
Speaker 7 (11:26):
Yeah, Tom? In the words of Anthony Alexander Hamilton, they're
throwing away their shot. The Bucks are and this is
their division. They've owned it for the last four years.
It could have been five. But right now this loss
puts the Carolina Panthers in the driving seat. And I
want to go to Todd Bowles presser because knowing Todd
Bowles for the last few years, he's typically a mild
manner guy.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
We don't see that version of him.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
I'm told the message he gave us in the press
conference was the same message he gave the team in
the locker room, with a lot more explicitness.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
He was angry.
Speaker 7 (11:56):
He's calling out players for not being accountable, for not caring.
That's trouble for this team. You don't typically get more
accountable and care more at the latter points of the season.
The Bucks now have a very tenuous road. They have
to beat the Panthers twice to win this division. Meanwhile,
the Carolina Panthers were sitting home cheering on their rival
(12:16):
Atlanta Falcons. The offensive coordinator of Brad Isaac said, we're
cheering them on all night, and now our job is
to lock in because the Panthers path is really clear.
They play those Saints on Sunday. If they beat the Saints.
They just have to win one of their two games
against the Bucks and they win a division for the
first time since twenty fifteen. This is a Panthers team
that built this thing up with Dan Morgan, with Dave Canalis,
(12:38):
with Brad Isaac, with Gero Everro, and they now are
in the driver's seat. And so you look at two
teams in the NFC South heading different directions, and you
can't help to wonder can the Panthers take advantage of
their shot going through the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Can I used the same phrase where we're interviewing Todd
Bowles and training camp about him being mild manner. Todd said,
Bruce Banner is a mild manner guy. In other words,
last night that was bulls hoping out after that game.
We'll see if that has the intended effect. Meanwhile, Ian,
we saw the Falcons coach Raheem Morris at the end
of that game scream into the camera. Clearly fired up
(13:14):
a lot on the line for everybody right now in Atlanta.
And as you reported last night, there's gonna be an
evaluation process that's based at least in part on how
these Falcons played on the stretch.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah, and the Falcons really have not much to play for,
right They're out of the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
They're trying to play spos.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
But the reality is there is a lot to play
for for everyone in the Organization's Arthur Blank takes a
look at this thing, the entire football operation, from Terry
fond Note to Raheem Morris and everything in between and
around them. He's going to be judging, my other things,
the kind of effort and performance that the team puts
on the field the last month in the season when
there is really nothing to play for, and so beating
(13:51):
your rival on national TV is a very, very big deal.
The penalties were bad, that's obviously something they will take
a look at.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
But the win is something that would.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Obviously vote very well for these guys who have been
running the five that it has been a tough season.
It got a little bit better last night. It got
a lot better for Kyle Pitts. This was the Kyle
Pitts game. This really is a fascinating one because he's
in the last year of his contract. He's in the
contract year. He has been a huge talent throughout his
entire career, has not always produced like this showing teams
(14:23):
that he can do this is a very big deal.
But what it also does is potentially bring in the
franchise tag, because if he's going to play this way,
the Falcons are going to want to be for him.
It's going to be about fifteen million dollars or so
to tag him. Next year's agent David Mullageta hates the
franchise tag. That's going to be a fun situation to
keep her eye on.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
But the best thing.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
For Kyle Pitts is he's very, very good and showed
it last night.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Nineteen penalties for the Falcons in that game, top ten
in a single game all time first team. I believe
to win a game commite at least fifteen penalties since
World War Two. But a win is a win, especially
when you haven't had many like the Falcons. Cam, thank
you very much. More from you in just a little
bit and clean the latest on Devon eighthan down there
in South Florida for Monday Night football. Next Thursday night,
(15:10):
it's Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams stampeding into Seattle
to take on Sam Darnold in the Seahawks in an
absolutely crucial, massive NFC West Rivalry Showdown. Thursday night football
coverage begins at seven Eastern only on Prime video Time
Out for Good Coverage presented by Progressive Insurance. A lot
(15:30):
easier for the Packers to play coverage when you got
that guy disrupting everything. Michael Parson's the first Packers player
with twelve and a half sacks or more to the
team's first thirteen games since Clay Matthews back in the
Super Bowl season of twenty ten. Parsons twelve and a
half sacks rank third in the NFL, tied with Broncos
linebacker Nick Benito, who will be on the opposite sideline
(15:51):
when the Packers traveled to Denver this Sunday for more
than Packers defense, Brian Baldinger breaks it down.
Speaker 8 (15:56):
The Packers have won four in a row and travel
to Denver this weekend that have one ten in a row.
It should be a classic matchup. And when you watch
the Green Bay defense, you have to pay special attention
to Michaeh. Parsons because the way the defensive coordinator Jeff
Papley is using him is very creative and it's to.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
His strengths, So give him credit.
Speaker 8 (16:14):
But look, if you put Mike on the edge against
any tackle, one on one, no help, he's got a
good chance of winning, and winning fast way he's done
over five years in his career. Now, last week against Chicago,
when he got an opportunity like here, he is on
the edge all right, when he sees the quarterback, Caleb
Williams get flushed. You watch him flat and Caleb wims.
(16:35):
Caleb runs away from most defenders and can turn the
corner on most defenders. But he sees Michaeh Parsons chasing him.
He thought twice, and he pulled up and he thought,
maybe it's.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Best just to throw that ball away.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
That's what Mike, it.
Speaker 8 (16:47):
Can force you to do. Now you watch this here.
Chicago had a plan for him last week. They're gonna
chip them with number eighty five cold, They're gonna chip
them with the DeAndre Swift the running back right here.
But he's still gonna find a way to get right
to Caleb Williams like he is difficult to control no
matter what you try to design. What Jeff Hefley is
(17:08):
doing now is giving him some freedom here. Like you
see David Montgomery, the running back, he's checking him. He's
going wherever Mikey goes and he chips him, but he
still beats Cigar and gets to Jared god And then
a couple weeks ago against the Minnesota Vikings, he's just
got a freelance ability within the structure of the defense
to come into attack and he runs right over the
center and he forces JJ McCarthy to step up and
(17:31):
eventually get sacked just outside of.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
The end zone.
Speaker 8 (17:34):
And then this is what you can do once you
pay all that attention to Michaeh Parsons. And here the center,
Drew Dolman is going to slide the line to Micah.
He's the most dangerous guy. But Jeff Heffley knew that
they would slide the line to him.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
So what does he do.
Speaker 8 (17:49):
He uses a decoy to drop him and then overload
the other side. And now they get the same effect
because now they're chasing Caleb Williams and forcing.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Him to throw that ball away.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
If you can design all the great defenses, all the
different things that you can do, and Sean Payton is
excellent out it. He's burning midnight oil right now trying
to figure out a plan to slow down Michaeh Parsons
from some of the game changing plays that he has made.
We'll see how that goes, because I'm sure that Michael
will be on his game and looking to get after
bo Nicks come Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Man, that baldy outfit is tough to process. Looking like
rob Loo over there.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
This Christmas unwrap All Day Football that about holiday games
featuring Cowboys, Verse Commanders, and Lions versus Vikings on Netflix.
Then a primetime showdown on Prime Video Broncos Verse Chiefs
three games, one epic Holiday. For full schedule, visit watch
dot NFL dot com got a big time matchup this
(18:49):
weekend as well.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
You might know it as GoF v. Stafford.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
You might know it as Lions the Rams omar Ruiz
Welcome Back with the Inside. It is also a matchup
of two excellent, excellent receivers. Take me through the pass
catchers that we're going to be featuring in this showdown
for Sunday.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
Yeah, what a fun matchup. Ian you mentioned GoF versus
Stafford Part four, But it is their weapons that has
caught my eye.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Of course.
Speaker 9 (19:17):
Pokin Acua, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Acrobatic catches. We know all the clutch catches. But it
is the physicality that he plays with that I asked
Matthew Stafford about and Stafford told me that that gives
the team so much energy, the passion, the toughness, the
tone setter. Look at Pooka Nakua right here, thirty yards
(19:38):
downfield looking to initiate contact. That is something that the
Rams certainly feed off of. So Pooka Nakula part of
this equation. In the Rams Lions wide receiver matchup, Devonte Adams,
of course, leading the league with fourteen touchdown catches, has
the hamstring injury listed as questionable, but Sean McVay saying
today they'd be very surprised if DeVante Adams was not
(20:01):
able to go. And then on the other side of
the docket with the Detroit Lions, aman Ross Saint Brown
top five in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, also a
tone setter. I talked to Piney Sewell earlier this week
and he said, when guys like Amanas Saint Brown and
Jamison Williams are making plays downfield in front of them,
(20:22):
certainly inspiring. You see the way Amanross Saint Brown fights
for every yard. Talking to Rams defenders, the keys to
slowing them down this week is to make the tackle
at the point of catch.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
They don't want to give up those yards after catch because.
Speaker 9 (20:37):
Obviously amanro and Jamison Williams can take any catch to
the house from any point on the field. So that'll
be the key for the Rams defense trying to slow
that passing attack down.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I was talking to someone with the Cardinals earlier today
kind of was like, how good is Stafford.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
I'm like, he's good.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
He is.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
He is really good man being the MVP. Got some
pretty good weapons to throw two as well. All Right,
another big game we got Chargers Chiefs And the last
time we saw Justin Herbert, he was dealing with a
fractured left hand, which is still fractured, and he was
gutting out that game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
What do we expect from Herbert this summer?
Speaker 9 (21:15):
Yeah, talking to players, I was at that game Ian
on Monday night and all his teammates just saying what
a dog Justin Herbert is. The toughness that he showed
play after play after play, fighting through the soreness, the
pain to.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Get that win over the Eagles.
Speaker 9 (21:31):
Justin Herbert saying this week that he wasn't as swollen
that hand as it was last week after surgery. In fact,
he said his grip strength is better this week, his
ability to use that left hand is better this week,
and the swelling not nearly as much, so he expects
to be even better this week in Kansas City. The
(21:52):
issue for the Chargers may be the fact that it's
going to be seventeen.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Degrees at kickoff.
Speaker 9 (21:58):
Ian and Jim Harbaugh saying this week that these guys
are young, they just got to keep moving.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
They are human hot tubs.
Speaker 9 (22:06):
Another issue that they talked about this week was the
ten am their body clock time, so Jim Harbaugh had
them practicing early.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
He said they talked to some.
Speaker 9 (22:15):
UCLA sleep study experts to get the latest in that realm,
and so they started practicing a little early to start
getting their bodies used to it.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
And obviously Kansas City at this.
Speaker 9 (22:25):
Point, Ian, they are desperate for a win, trying to
keep their season alive. Obviously have to know they pretty
much have to run the table at this point. So
it should be another fantastic showdown in Arrowhead between these
two division rivals.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Chiefs gotta have it, they gotta have I mean, I
love how many different things Harbaugh tries to get his
team to win. You really got to be impressed a
little bit. Omar great stuff. Enjoy those games? Can we
get Joe Burr to enjoy something? Give this man a hug,
Give him a hug. Let him express himself and give
him a hug. We're going to get into it with
(22:59):
Camwolf on the Wolf Football Street coming up next on
The Insiders.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The NFL family has committed to advancing social justice by
reducing barriers to opportunity. Our players inspire change every day,
and in that spirit, the Inspire Change Change Maker Award
honors community members who are driving this work forward. Learn
more at NFL dot com backslash Inspire Change New Today.
(23:25):
Steelers star pass resher TJ. Watt has been ruled out
for Monday Night's game at Miami after undergoing a procedure
to repair a partially collapsed lung. What reported discomfort when
he got to the team facility on Wednesday, subsequently ended
up in the hospital where he underwent a battery of tests.
Was released today. My understanding is he may only miss
(23:47):
one game, but Pittsburgh will have to try to get
a win without him on Monday Night. Let's bring in
our Wolf of Ball Street himself, Cameron Wolf. Now, who's
got the latest all around the league? To start out
right there in your backyard, Miami, Cameron. Devon ah Chan
also popping up on the injury report this week. What's
the latest on him and everything else you're hearing around
(24:09):
the league?
Speaker 7 (24:10):
Yeah, Wolf of ball Street in Miami, where Devon a
Chan told me he is good to go. He said,
no doubt I'll play Monday. And he also is the
face of this Dolphins offense as they've made a run.
Now they're six and seven and they start to think
about our playoff odds. A Chan has been practicing this
week despite that rib injury. He's been wearing a flat jacket.
He said he doesn't think it'll limit him. They're going
(24:31):
to run the ball a lot on Monday. That's been
their calling card. They've rushed with a Chan for over
one hundred and sixty scrimmage yards at last four weeks.
They lead the NFL on rushing the last five or
six weeks, and they're playing a Steelers team that's really
struggled to stop the run. So a Chan is embracing
this responsibility as a new face of the team and
they think they can ride him to a fun end
(24:52):
to the season. Now, let's go to Cincinnati, where Joe
Burrow certainly made a stir with his comments questioning how
much he really wants to do this with this love
of the game. Well, I talk to a couple of
people in the Bengals organization. No one is panicking yet.
I had one comment said that he's the ultra competitor
and he thinks that he is trying to press the
Bengals to not go down this path of missing the
(25:14):
playoffs again, a message maybe to other people in the organization.
I had another person say, this is not Andrew Luck
two point zero. They feel like that this was just
a Borough who is expressing his emotions since coming back
in injuries in a different way than he has before,
and he's still learning how to express that. And so
although it's eye popping, it's something that Bengals do not
(25:34):
think is something they have to be concerned about. They
do need to get that roster better for him for
twenty twenty six. And number three, let's go down to
Buffalo where they have a huge matchup against the New
England Patriots, trying to hold them off in the afcast.
Player to watch is Christian Benford, who has been maybe
their most important defender the last couple of weeks, two
defensive touchdowns. He is questionable, what I'm told is truly
(25:57):
in question, but they're hopeful, more hope than not that
he will go despite the toe injury that he suffered Thursday,
So there's.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Optimism somewhat that way.
Speaker 7 (26:06):
If he doesn't play, it'll be Tredavious White and Maxwell
Harrison outside. But he is super important because they've given
him the responsibility the shadow top receivers in coluding Jamar
Chase last week. He did an excellent job on him
and he was expected to see a lot of Stefan.
Speaker 10 (26:21):
Diggs this week in a huge matchup there.
Speaker 7 (26:23):
So they want him to play steph and hopefully limit
him in this potential revenge game he's got against his
former team.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Cam tremendous stuff. As always, we will see you next
week on Ball Street. Congratulations to Bill's quarterback Josh Allen
and his wife Haley Steinfeld officially announcing they're having a baby.
So one more thing you can add to Josh Allen's
list of accomplishments in the year twenty twenty five and
NFL MVP, a monster contract, a wedding, and now set
(26:54):
to become a father for the first time.
Speaker 10 (26:57):
What did you play?
Speaker 4 (26:58):
What do you play with brand now a second, I'm
not sure right?
Speaker 1 (27:06):
How about that? That's an honest answer. Time out to
go inside with NFL Fantasy Live and our guy Adam
Rank with me, Tom Tellicero, and Ian Rappaport talking about
fantasy impact here ranked number one, what is your current
playing weight? And number two? What if anything does there
a turn of Philip Rivers mean for all the different
(27:28):
permutations of exactly what your fantasy lineup might look like.
Speaker 11 (27:31):
You know, I'm currently locking in at one eighty nine,
feeling pretty good, feeling pretty sprising here in the holiday season.
Speaker 10 (27:37):
Listen, I'm I listen. I keep after it during the
during the playing season.
Speaker 11 (27:42):
I will say this, it could be but uh listen,
I uh, I'm you know, just trying to just trying
to get by here.
Speaker 10 (27:49):
I'm gaining some holiday weight.
Speaker 11 (27:50):
Apparently, in any event, Philip Rivers is gonna be.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
You know, this is an.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
Interesting situation because a couple of weeks ago, when Joe
Flakker was going to Cincinnati, Everybody's like there's no way
he could do what he's doing, and then he went
out and did it. And similarly, I think with Philip Rivers,
what can you do? Can you get the ball into
the hands of Tyler Warren?
Speaker 10 (28:09):
Can you get the ball to Michael Pittman and players
like that?
Speaker 11 (28:12):
I would truly believe that if Philip Rivers is the
quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, they're going to end up
going out there, They're going to run the football exclusively
with Jonathan Taylor, which all opened up some pop plays
for Philip Rivers. So I do think that the pass
catchers take a little bit of a downgrade, but not
as severe as a lot of people would believe.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
All right, what about this one?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
The Dallas Cowboys get Cede Lamb back officially cleared the
nfo's concussion protocol, which I think Tom reported earlier today
or maybe that was yesterday. I don't even know what
is the impact for Dallas having Lamb back in the
lineup against the Vikings on Sunday night.
Speaker 11 (28:47):
Well, the good news is you're obviously going to be
starting CD Lamb, which is what you want. I know
a lot of people went out there and picked up
Ryan Floroy in the waiver wire situation this week using
some fav using waiver priority, and now you're like, what
do I do? We'll leave him on the bench. You
want to start Ceedee Lamb. A healthy Ceedee Lamb is
the guy that you absolutely want to start. But I
think the biggest question is what happens with George Pickens.
(29:09):
A lot of people were disappointed last week when he
didn't have a monster game against the Lions, and it's understandable,
but he does have four games this season where he's
scored at least twenty nine Fantasy points. He's averaging over
ninety receiving yards per game this year. That's the third
most in the NFL, and the Minnesota Vikings have been
allowing a lot of production to wide receivers this season.
(29:30):
Despite the fact that Brian Flores is considered one of
the best defensive coordinators in the game, you can still
feel comfortable starting Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Last time we saw Kyle Pitch go off with Drake
London out of the lineup, flip it around with Zach
Ertz out. Do we see Terry mcclaurin do more this week?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Here?
Speaker 11 (29:48):
Rank well, I think Terry McLaurin has played excellent football
ever since he's returned from his injury, and regardless of
who the quarterback is, he's going to get targeted an
awful lot. He's had two receiving touchdowns in his last
three games, is for the fifth most targets to the
fifth most targets since you returned to the league in
a week thirteen.
Speaker 10 (30:06):
And now he's.
Speaker 11 (30:07):
Got a great matchup against the Giants, who allowed the
fourth most receiving yards to the position this season. I
anticipate this being a high scoring game, similar to what
we saw last night, where both teams were just kind
of going after it, throwing the ball all over the field.
We're going to see a lot of that this weekend
with Jackson Dark Marcus Mariota. So I would make sure
that Terry McLaurin is in your lineup this week. Earlier
(30:28):
this week, when I was shopping for a new ski outfit,
I reported that Gino Smith was likely going.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
To be out with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Pete Carroll confirming today Kenny Pickett is going to be
the starting quarterback. Okay, so what does that mean for
fantasy star Brock Bowers on Sunday.
Speaker 11 (30:45):
We're still starting them, and like you, I had to
go out and get some snowboarding gear this week and
went out to Chicago. But Brock Powers is still going
to be an excellent start. I think that anybody goes
out and I hopefully you're not looking at the other
side of Kyle pity it's scoring forty Fantasy points on
Thursday night.
Speaker 10 (31:03):
But there is an opportunity here for Brock Powers.
Speaker 11 (31:06):
He's averaging close to sixteen Fantasy points per game over
his last four He's really started to emerge over the
last couple of weeks, even though he was a little
bit of a disappointment earlier.
Speaker 10 (31:16):
But if you're a player like.
Speaker 11 (31:17):
Kenny Pickett, you're coming out here, you're getting your opportunity
to start for the Raiders. What is on the agenda,
I don't know. Throw the ball at number to eighty nine.
So I would start Brock Powers with confidence this week,
regardless of who the quarterback is.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Grant great stuff. As always. We will see you next week,
same time, same place.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
That is Alex Heismith, Steelers star edge rusher, but his
context right now is because he is the Walter Payton
Man of the Year club winner, a man who contributes
extensively in the community, certainly someone who has made a
name for himself off the field as well as on
the field. Alex, thank you very much for joining us
(31:59):
on the ends. Great to hang out with you. Of course,
everyone knows you are a friend of the show. We
always appreciate your appearances. I want to get to some
stuff on the field. There's plenty to talk about as well,
but first off the field. By now, you know that
you are the Steelers club winner for Walter Payton Man
of the Year. What was your reaction to that and
how meaningful is this for you?
Speaker 12 (32:21):
Yeah, I'm just super grateful, honored, humbled to be the
Steeers nominee for this year's Walter Payton Man of the
Year Award. And you know, for me, I true believe
that I've been given this platform by God to be
blessing to others and to bring glory to Him. And
so we started the Outside of the Family Foundation back
in twenty twenty one to my first year in the league,
(32:42):
and basically our mission is to empower the next generation,
empower the youth to build strong foundations in different areas
of life. So those areas include physical fitness, nutrition, education,
athletic preparation, family involvement, mentorship.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
So those are a few of the pillars that we
just that our mission lives around.
Speaker 12 (33:00):
And so, like I said, I've always had a passion
for kids and a passion to get back in that way,
and so I've been don my youth football camp since
since twenty twenty one. That's an angle thing as well,
and so we do different back to school drives here
in Pittsburgh and Wilmington. The three areas that we give
back to are Pittsburgh, Wimington, and Charlotte. And why those
three Pittsburgh obviously because I'm here, I'm playing, called this
(33:24):
place home for the past six years. And then Wilmington's
where I was born and raised. That's my hometown, and
then played ball at Charlotte. I me and my wife
met as Charlotte, so I have a lot of connections
back there as well. So it's all about really just
giving back and being a blessing and knowing that my
purpose goes way beyond the great Iron way, beyond the field,
and so ultimately I know that you know, what I
do off the field is what's really gonna last yeah, and.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
It's been more than just your camp and and your foundation,
which which obviously has been a lot. There was a
homeless shelter that burned essentially in a fire. You stepped
in to provide clothing, shelter, meals for those affected. You
could help contributed for hurricane relief recently. I mean there's
(34:07):
been there's been a lot of different ways that you've
been able to help. And I guess what I would
say to that is, how does this happen? You see
something bad happen in the world, and you make a
couple of calls and say how can we help them?
Speaker 3 (34:18):
It is as simple as that.
Speaker 12 (34:19):
Yeah, I feel like I've always just had a servant heart,
and that is something that my parents instilled in me
at a young age, and so I'm super grateful for
them and how they instilled let me at a young age.
And so, like I said, it just goes back to
having this platform and just using it for good, bringing
God glory in and being a blessing to others. And
you know, I have family up in the mountains of
(34:40):
North Carolina, so I'm when that hurricane hit last year,
you know, they weren't in the worst part of where
it hit, but they were definitely still affected. And so
you know, the mountains of North Carolina have a special
place in my heart, and so that's one of the
reasons I wanted to try to help and do some
disaster relief stuff there. Actually it'll be there in person,
(35:01):
but to help donate stuff. So yeah, I think it
just all just goes back to being survey hearted and
serving others, and that's just really I feel like that's
what my passion is to do.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
It is great to hear you will be on stage,
everyone waving at you for the for NFL honors Walter
Payton Man of the Year club winners.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
I'll be waving at you from the seats allow from there.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
So I want to get to some football topics as well,
and obviously you guys are deep deep in the preparation
for the game this week Monday Night against the Dolphins,
a fun one. Cannot wait for that. I want to
take a look back quickly to last week. There was
a lot going on in the Steelers world. There's a
lot of discussion about Mike tom Win of his job status,
which is you know, fairly bonkers, but that is the
(35:45):
world we live. In How necessary was it for you
guys to get that win, just to kind of clear
everything a little bit away.
Speaker 12 (35:52):
Yeah, this one was huge for us, you know, course
for of the most foremost because it was it was
to take first place in the AS North. And so
we know every time we play the Ravens is going
to be an intense matchup, It's going to be a
heating match up. And this this game meant a lot
for us to be able to take control the first place.
And so especially after losing the past two games, the
way we played against the Bills, you know, we kind
of wanted to just kind of silence, silence everyone what
(36:15):
they were saying.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
But ultimately there was a lot being.
Speaker 12 (36:17):
Said, I know, like outside noise, social media, whatnot, But
we didn't care.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
We we drowned all that noise out.
Speaker 12 (36:24):
We just was really focusing in the locker room and
just knowing that all right, you know, we're all we're
got that. Everybody's gotta trust everyone. And so I feel
like we definitely moved in the right direction last week
by getting that win. So for us, we just got
to be consistent. We got to stack wins. We haven't
stacked stacked the win stacked wins since the beginning of
the year, so this this game against Miami is huge
and so we just got to you know, keep progressing
(36:47):
and ultimately, you know, play our best ball this time
of year and be hot, you know, and when the
division going into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
As of this taping right now, TJ.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Watts status, I would say, up in the air, dealing
with a long issue. Have you've spoken to him, what
do you know? And if he is not able to play,
how much might that affect you?
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Guys?
Speaker 12 (37:05):
Yeah, I've spoken to him and he's doing better. It's
definitely a scary situation, you know, anytime one of your
teammates goes to the hospital for something like that. So
we've all been reaching out to him, you know, we've
been praying for him, and so he's already doing better
and so we'll see what his status is. But you know,
football side, I'm just glad. I'm just glad that he is.
(37:26):
I'm just glad that he is okay, and that's what
matters most. And so, like I said, we've been praying
for him and we know he's gonna be all right.
Speaker 4 (37:34):
So we'll see what his status is for the game.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Looking ahead, to the Monday Nighter mentions against the Dolphins.
You've been on quite a little run here. I believe
it's five sacks in three games, really really making that
difference that you've always been able to make as far
as effecting a quarterback. You got the Dolphins offense that's
been definitely better early in the season. Not as good
play at turnovers recently much better. What do you say
(38:00):
from this Dolphins offense? You guys are going to be
facing it and what kind of challenge is this in
front of the entire country.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
On Monday Night.
Speaker 12 (38:07):
Yeah, I think they've been successful recently because they've been
running the ball well. So we know that's it starts there.
We gotta we got to smash the run and if
we want to get to tow it, we know that,
you know, we got to take out their running game,
and so.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
We just got to be physical.
Speaker 12 (38:22):
We got to get off blocks and stop them from
coming down hill. And so I think for us that's
where that's where it starts. It kinds of stopping, stopping
the running game and then getting that the them in the past,
and so we just got to play physical, we got
to play fast, and we just got to be disciplined
and everything that we do because we know that when
we play our best football, you know, we're we're flying around,
we're playing fast, we're creating havoc, we're causing turnovers. So
(38:45):
we're going to be at home and we've got to
get the crowd into it, and we do that by
you know, making big plays, making splash plays. So, like
I said, this is a really important game for us,
and so we just feel like we know we knock
out the run early, that'll set of suff for success.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Backs against the wall.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
That's usually when you guys step forward as you did
last week.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Have fun on Monday night against the Dophin. That is
going to be a great one.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Good luck to rest of the week in practice, and
congratulations again on being the Walter Payton Man of the
Year club winner. Alex Heismith. Always happy to have you
on the Insiders.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Yes, sir, appreciate you all having me.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
Talk to Alex.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Of course yesterday before we knew the TGI was for
sure for sure out Monday night. Great stuff from the
Walter Payton Man of the Year club winner. Great stuff
coming from us? Is it too much?
Speaker 3 (39:28):
TMI?
Speaker 2 (39:29):
What am I talking about? Stay tuned and you're about
to find out. Coming up next on the Insiders.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
With NFL Plus, keep the NFL in reach. Stream live
local and primetime games on mobile during the regular and
postseason NFL Network, including one more exclusive live game this season,
plus live game audio and more with NFL Plus Premium.
Get more football with NFL Red Zone game replays an
NFL Pro. Sign up today at plus dot NFL dot
(39:57):
com Slash Network terms and conditions apply. You know what
else you can watch an NFL Plus Good Morning Football.
Speaker 13 (40:05):
I wonder who my mom thinks will win this weekend,
I asked her. She's up already. She's such a help
with our kids at all. I say, hey, Mom, morning,
you know for GMFB. I'm wondering if you could pick
a winner for this weekend. She said, well, I'm waiting
for the TMI guys to tell me if mister Rivers
is starting. Until then, she can't pick the Seahawks indie
game guys. My mom refers to the Insiders as the
TMI guys, Tom Mike.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
G and rap sheet Ian Rappaport.
Speaker 13 (40:28):
She's like, I can never keep them straight, so she
called them.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
The TMI guys.
Speaker 13 (40:32):
They actually have a name, The insiders, but she just goes.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
With the TMI guys. Thanks Mom. We are now in
year nine of us all working together Ian and it
never occurred to us that TMI is Tom Mike Ian.
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (40:47):
I don't like it. Here's why. It's not too much information.
I understand. It's all our initials.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
It's the information you need to know. It's not too much.
It's just the right amount.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
And if I could deliver more, I would deliver more
for the Hi Jamie's Mom.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Bye, everybody,
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
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