Because of that, Jones will find his way into the lineup Sunday regardless. Beachum remains sidelined, as does both Murray and starting left guard Justin Pugh, each of whom hurt their back on Sunday. Kugler said right now, he doesn't know what the line will look like in Los Angeles.
If all three are down again, Jones will remain at right tackle, with Sean Harlow at left guard and Max Garcia at right guard – a group that played well Sunday. That was because of veteran center Rodney Hudson, a man the Cards will count on with Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald waiting.
"A lot of the credit for last week, having two new guys come in the game, that goes to Rodney Hudson," Kugler said. "There was no panic on the sidelines, there was no panic in the game. He took those guys and communicated with them and it looked like they stepped in and had been starting."
Handling Donald will be a monumental task, with Kugler noting the Rams move him to all positions on the line – which he plays all at a Pro Bowl level – to find a weak link.
"I think he's the best player in the NFL," Kugler said.
Jones said he looks forward to the challenge, although who he might match up against will depend on whether he's at guard or tackle. His confidence is obvious as he speaks, a player far from his rookie season when he barely played.
There were high hopes when he arrived as the undervalued draft pick, but sitting and watching echoed the same path current left tackle D.J. Humphries took as a rookie. Jones talked to Humphries about it, and looking back, said mostly sitting in 2020 "was really good for me."
Like his long-ago move away from basketball, "it worked out," Jones said.
EXTRA POINTS
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (ribs) returned to practice Thursday for the first time since before the Vikings game, although the three offensive linemen – Pugh, Murray, Beachum -- remained out. Running back Eno Benjamin (hamstring) appeared on the injury report as limited. For the Rams, wide receiver TuTu Atwell (illness) and linebacker Terrell Lewis (rest) didn't practice, while cornerback Robert Rochell (illness) and running back Darrell Henderson (ribs) were limited. ...
According to the NFL's transactions list, the Cardinals waived cornerback Luq Barcoo on Thursday. ...
The Cardinals signed offensive lineman Zack Johnson to the practice squad. Johnson, undrafted out of North Dakota State in 2020, has spent time with the Packers.
There aren’t as many monster favorites in Week 4, but we do have some intriguing matchups to hopefully find value for pick’em and survivor pools.
With the help of TeamRankings' customizable tools and data, I’ll go over the best value picks for Week 4, along with the top suggestions for survivor pools. With this info, you should be able to make smart decisions in order to get back on track or keep you going if you’ve had a strong start to the season thus far.
Editor’s Note: TeamRankings subscribers win football pools three times as often as expected, thanks to customized picks designed for your pool's size and rules. No one else does it.
My picks went 4-1 last week, with the Panthers, Broncos, Titans and Raiders all beating their respective opponents. Only the Patriots let me down after a pretty gross loss to the Jekyll-and-Hyde Saints.
This brings my season total to 9-6. Let’s move forward to Week 4, where hopefully we find success in both pick'em and survivor formats.
Pick'em Pool Breakdown
Before I get into the picks, note that I’m not suggesting you should make all of the picks listed below. The best Week 4 picks for your NFL pool depend on strategy factors such as your pool’s size, rules and prize structure, plus situational factors like your current place in the standings and the number of weeks remaining.
However, these picks do provide some of the best opportunities to differentiate your Week 4 picks from your pool opponents, by taking on only a modest amount of risk, or no additional risk at all.
Favorite Favorites
Buffalo Bills vs. Texans
The game has the Bills projected to win by 16 points (that’s not a typo) at home against a struggling Houston team. TeamRankings has their odds of winning at 89%, with Vegas coming in with 91% in favor of Buffalo.
This will be the first road game for rookie Davis Mills, and a tall order against the Bills defense. The public agrees that this should be a blowout, and are backing Buffalo 99% of the time, which means you’ll win or lose with the bulk of your pool.
Tennessee Titans @ Jets
Sadly, what we thought was going to be a revamped and exciting Jets team has turned out to be another version of a bad thing. Rookie QB Zach Wilson may get them going at some point this season, but I don’t think it’s this week against the Titans. Tennessee has had its own share of issues so far in 2021, but they should get it done in New York this week on the back of King Derrick Henry.
The Titans are road favorites by a touchdown with 75% win odds by both Vegas and TeamRankings.
New Orleans Saints vs. Giants
This contest has the second-highest spread of the week (7.5) along with three other matchups, but the Saints boast the largest win odds of the group at 78%. New Orleans is finally playing in their home stadium after three straight road games due to issues from Hurricane Ida.
The public agrees at 97% that this game should be all Saints, so like the Bills above, you’ll win or lose with your fellow pickers.
Sensibly-Priced Favorite
Los Angeles Rams vs. Cardinals
This tilt features two undefeated teams, with the Rams favored at home by 4.5 points. The Rams offense is playing lights out, and while Kyler Murray also has the Arizona offense humming, it will be more difficult for him to move the ball this week in Los Angeles
Only 87% of bettors are currently taking the Rams here, so there is some value in this pick.
Value Favorite
Dallas Cowboys vs. Panthers
Yes, the Panthers are undefeated but they haven’t been truly tested yet and will be without star RB Christian McCaffrey for this contest. The Dallas defense did a solid job of shutting down Philly last Monday. They should force Sam Darnold into some turnover situations.
Dallas is favored at home by five points, with TeamRankings win odds of 68% and 65% via Vegas. The public is only picking the Cowboys 79% of the time, which presents value compared to similar spread ranges like the Packers (95%) and the Rams (87%).
Survivor Picks for Week 4
Win Odds: Top 5 Week 4 Picks
Stating the obvious here, but higher is better when it comes to win odds. Everything else being equal, you want to pick the team with the best likelihood of making it through.
Here are the five safest teams this week, according to the TeamRankings Data Grid model (chances to win in parentheses):
Pick Popularity
Diversifying your survivor picks from the crowd is an advantageous strategy, as the pool winnings can increase significantly if your pick hits and another popular pick loses.
Here are the five most popular survivor picks for Week 4 (referencing Data Grid mentioned earlier):
Future Value
The last piece of the survivor pool puzzle is future value. If you fire off a powerful team in Week 4, you won’t be able to use them later.
According to TeamRankings, here are the top five teams in future value entering this week for a 100-entry standard rules pool:
Note: The numbers in parentheses are a proprietary rating of future value found in the TeamRankings Data Grid, which is also impacted by factors such as pool size.
Derek Stingley Jr. stood a few yards ahead of his opposing receiver, crouched in his pre-snap position.
It’s Nov. 18, 2017, and on this particular Friday night, Division III playoff high school football captures the attention of many Baton Rouge, Louisiana, inhabitants. Stingley, a cornerback for The Dunham School, squared off against rival Riverside Academy in the second round of the playoffs.
Riverside Academy, known as the Rebels, drove with ease into the red zone. On the offense’s mind, scoring a touchdown. On Stingley’s, securing an interception.
As the Riverside offense prepared to snap the ball, Stingley’s gaze on the receiver he covered never wavered. Separation existed between the corner and receiver. Stingley massaged both of his hands before he hung them in front of his knees. The calm before the ball is snapped provided seconds for Stingley to lock into coverage.
This close to the end zone, the play could unfold in a few ways. With that much separation between the receiver and Stingley, he could run in a straight line for a curl route. A crossing route, with the receiver running straight and then to the right, is a possibility. Or a quick slant, with the space to allow the receiver to catch the ball in the end zone.
The offense elects the slant option. Once the receiver stutter-steps, Stingley knows he’s slanting right. The cornerback pounces with his quick feet, snatching the ball out of the air for the interception.
As teammates and personnel cheered on the sideline, Stingley pointed to someone in the crowd. That person was his father, Derek, who was a draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies before transitioning to a career in professional football, both as a player and coach. According to Stingley’s teammate and close friend Kobe Semien, who now plays sprint football at West Point, the father and son discussed handling that particular slant route in the red zone.
“They worked on that play in practice,” Semien said. “It was a slant and he broke on the ball and intercepted it. They worked on that slant all practice before the game. That’s why he pointed to his dad. It shows their relationship and the tight close bond.”
Fast-forward four years and the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Stingley is in his junior year at LSU, playing cornerback for the Tigers. He won a national championship his freshman year and is likely a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL draft. The accolades, the headlines, the accomplishments don’t linger too long with Stingley. A reserved person by nature, the 20-year-old obsesses over football, focusing on the next practice, the next play, the next game, rather than worrying about the future.
The connection between Stingley and his dad during that playoff game symbolizes a deep bond among family members, born from a love and passion for the sport.
‘When he came into the world, he was always around it’
Stingley Sr. doesn’t recall a time when his son didn’t have a football in his hands. When he was an infant, football became a part of his life.
“When he came into the world, he was always around it,” Stingley Sr. said.
Growing up in Baton Rouge, the Stingley family had a corner house on their street. On the lawn and backyard, the spacious grounds provided Stingley Sr. the opportunity to teach his son football. His experiences playing cornerback in the Arena Football League with the Albany Firebirds, Chicago Rush, Arizona Rattlers, Carolina Cobras and Dallas Desperados, as well as the New York Jets practice squad, all shaped his instruction.
“We’d do it all: catching punts, catching kickoffs, running routes, how to tackle,” Stingley Sr. said. “Every week, we’d do something new but do it for the whole week. And then circle back to it. It became second nature to the point where it was as simple as walking or speaking words.”
Being a cornerback isn’t natural. Most players prefer the motion of running forward. Running backward while jumping to deflect and catch balls is a challenge. The Stingley father and son duo spent countless days and hours practicing routes, learning the intricacies of being a cornerback. In those practice sessions as a child, Stingley began showcasing his natural speed.
“I saw him do the things that a corner should do,” his dad said. “Remember, he’s 3 or 4 years old, so he didn’t have perfect movements. But I knew other 3- or 4-year-olds weren’t doing what he’s doing. He always had a leg up over everybody.”
Growing up in Louisiana, football is entrenched in daily life. For the Stingleys, a daily occurrence. Stingley’s grandfather Darryl (Stingley Sr.’s father) played wide receiver for the New England Patriots. Stingley watched old videotapes of his grandfather playing, which turned into watching games with his dad. Whenever the two studied football games, they’d dissect it with Stingley Sr. asking his son questions about a particular play.
“When I’m watching with him, I’ll pause the tape and say, ‘What do you think they’re going to do in this very next moment?’ ” Stingley Sr. said. “He said he would ‘cut this way’ or ‘look for this guy.’ He came up with his own answers, allowing him to have a football IQ and to understand the game.”
The backyard drills and watching games transitioned to Stingley accompanying his father from 2005 to 2013 as he coached in the Arena Football League. The youngster watched games, lingered in the locker room and participated in noncontact and footwork drills during practice. As Stingley Sr. remembers, Stingley was even better than some of his players at the drills.
Beyond the physical aspect, Stingley developed intangible qualities during his time shadowing his dad. Preparation, watching film, being accountable for his teammates, doing what’s expected, ultimately laid the groundwork for Stingley to be the player he is today.
A leader on and off the field
As Stingley grew into a teenager, he needed to find a school where he could continue his football and education. The Baton Rouge area has a plethora of football schools that prepare kids for top NCAA institutions. But many of the city schools didn’t have spots for Stingley.
One of Stingley Sr.’s coaching friends in the Arena Football League became the defensive coordinator at The Dunham School. He knew of Stingley’s talent and recommended Dunham. A private school in Baton Rouge, it wasn’t well known for its athletics compared with others in the area. When Stingley Sr. and Stingley met with Neil Weiner, the head coach of the football program, they liked what they heard. Stingley Sr. and his wife Natasha appreciated how the school cared about education and family. Stingley passed the entrance exam, allowing him to enroll at Dunham.
The school had a football team for seventh and eighth graders. Stingley started there, but it became clear his abilities surpassed those in middle school football.
“Derek was 13 years old when he enrolled,” Weiner said. “The first time I saw Derek was running drills and doing summer conditioning. He was working out with the high school kids. He was a little guy but he was just a different type of 13-year-old.”
Weiner said he put Stingley on the high school team as an eighth grader so he could get “real competition.” Despite his height and young age, Stingley displayed an attack-first mentality on the field, covering receivers and making catches. He developed a competitive nature that made him a likable teammate. And he didn’t like to lose.
When Dunham School faced Northeast High School, it was one of the first games Stingley played in, filling in as a slot receiver. The ball was thrown in Stingley’s direction. He had a play on the ball but dropped it. As Stingley Sr. recounts, it was a difficult catch to make. Even hours after the game, Stingley remained upset.
“He was devastated,” Weiner said. “It didn’t matter that he was 13 years old, that he was going against guys four to five years older than him. In his mind, he should’ve made that catch. Seeing that made me notice that he’s built different. Most guys would’ve been like, ‘Hey, it’s cool. I got to play a high school game.’ And Derek’s crushed because he didn’t make the catch at the end which was nearly impossible.”
As Stingley progressed in his high school career, his work ethic grew stronger. Weiner remembers how Stingley practiced with the team before going to do another session with his dad. He and Stingley Sr. traveled to college campuses, where he practiced with their programs. Stingley never faltered. He demonstrated his athleticism while maintaining his even-keeled temperament.
It’s Stingley’s humility that his teammates such as Semien and Jordan Dupré admired. While he didn’t talk much, the times when Stingley spoke to the team and the younger players, it resonated.
“He’s a quiet guy, so whenever he did talk, everybody listened,” Dupré said. “Whenever people talked about his accolades, he didn’t let any of that get to his head. He’s a great mentor and friend.”
One of Stingley’s most memorable moments at Dunham came when Christian Briggs, a former practice squad player with the Indianapolis Colts, came to prepare with the team before its quarterfinal game. Given his position as a receiver, that meant Stingley had the assignment of covering him. At first, the teenager failed. Disappointed at himself for not fulfilling the coverage, Stingley and his father spent that night creating a plan to stymie the receiver.
The next day, Stingley not only succeeded in coverage but also picked off a pass intended for the NFL receiver.
For Stingley Sr., it speaks to Stingley’s continued willingness to improve. Those moments shared between father and son, talking the language of football, provide the link to their unbreakable bond.
An All-AMERICAN AS A FRESHMAN
As Semien notes, it felt like in every high school game Stingley played in, he made an impactful play.
The young cornerback posted 27 interceptions, and as a senior, he was a five-star recruit and the top player in his class, according to Rivals. He became the most popular student at Dunham, with students always wanting to chat and interact with the star football player.
“It was literally a famous person at school,” Semien said of Stingley. “Students in lower grades would five him and when parents picked up their kids from school, they would try and snap a photo with Derek and their child.”
As one of the nationally recognized recruits, Stingley elected to stay close to home and play for the LSU Tigers.
He arrived on campus at the right time, as the program embarked on one of the greatest seasons in its history. Quarterback Joe Burrow, now with the Cincinnati Bengals, put up historic offensive numbers, but it was Stingley who anchored the defense.
As a freshman.
Semien remembers the SEC championship when LSU played Georgia. Stingley had two interceptions in that game, en route to LSU’s 37-10 win.
“It’s fun to watch as an LSU fan and to see your friend do well,” Semien said.
Stingley’s freshman season consisted of six interceptions, 38 tackles (31 solo) and 15 passes defended. This led the SEC and earned Stingley consensus All-American honors and first-team nods from several outlets, including the Associated Press and ESPN.
LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (right) celebrates an interception with his teammates during the second half of the SEC championship game against Georgia on Dec. 7, 2019, in Atlanta.
John Bazemore/AP Photo
“What he did in his first year, it’s pretty hard for a freshman to do,” Stingley Sr. said.
When LSU defeated Clemson 42-25 in the national title game, Stingley embraced the moment. However, he quickly turned his focus to the next season, in line with his inclination to not get too high on the successes or too low with the failures.
Take Stingley’s sophomore season. Played amid the coronavirus pandemic, LSU couldn’t replicate its championship season. Stingley missed three games. While his stats didn’t match his numbers as a freshman, Stingley still received first-team All-SEC honors.
In his junior year, with the spotlight of being a top NFL draft prospect, Stingley isn’t caught up in the hype. As he sports the No. 7, worn by several LSU football alumni such as Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson, Stingley remains a force in the secondary. No opposing team wants to throw the ball in his direction and risk a potential interception. His speed and vertical jump make him the standout cornerback of this draft class.
As his father proclaims, not until he retires will Stingley ever take off, a byproduct of his family’s football legacy.
“It’s cool to hear that stuff,” Stingley said during SEC media day when hearing about the possibility of being a top draft pick. “But I like to focus on the team and what we can do as a group.”
Despite the heightened attention, Stingley remains the same kid from Baton Rouge. He keeps in touch with Semien. They talk almost every day, and there are always tickets waiting for his friend to attend LSU games. Recently, Stingley went back to Dunham, where the school retired his jersey. He had a conversation with Dupré, now a senior, where the former cornerback expressed his best wishes.
The fame, the attention, the awareness don’t concern Stingley. At his core, he’s the player who will make amazing catches, run down receivers and point to his dad in the crowd with euphoria.
Lukas Weese is a multiplatform sports journalist based in Toronto, Canada. Passionate about sports and storytelling, Lukas has bylines in USA Today, Toronto Star, Complex, Yahoo Sports, Sportsnet, The Hockey News, GOLF Magazine and Raptors Republic.
Covered University of Florida for 13 seasons for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union
Graduate of Jacksonville University
Multiple APSE award winner
Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence each had a unique journey on the way to becoming a No. 1 overall draft pick and franchise quarterback.
In the span of about four months in 2019, Burrow went from a midtier quarterback prospect to the slam dunk choice for the Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the 2020 NFL draft.
Lawrence, on the other hand, was a phenomenon long before he went to Clemson, where he lived up to the billing of being one of the country's top prospects, which was codified when the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him first overall last April.
But the two quarterbacks, who will be featured as the Bengals host the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football (8:20 ET, NFL Network), also have a relationship with Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. Meyer recruited Burrow out of southeast Ohio to Ohio State and coached him for three years. In 2021, when Meyer came out of a two-year retirement to coach the Jaguars, he did so knowing he could draft Lawrence with the top pick.
Burrow and Lawrence face each other for the first time in the NFL, each trying to lift a losing franchise to success. Lawrence is learning what Burrow found out about Meyer during their time together at Ohio State.
Playing for Meyer, even if you're a No. 1 overall pick, requires the ability to earn trust -- and that does not come easily.
Meyer saw a 'competitive maniac' in Burrow
Meyer was in the midst of his seven-year run at Ohio State that yielded a .902 winning percentage and one national title when he started recruiting Burrow.
When Burrow committed to Ohio State's 2015 signing class, he was a recruit with a smattering of good offers but none as significant as the Buckeyes. It turned out Meyer's evaluation was a good one. In Burrow's senior season of high school, he led Athens to a state championship appearance and was named Ohio's Mr. Football.
While Meyer knew Burrow was a multisport athlete who needed to develop as a football player, he liked his tenacity.
"He got his nose bloodied in basketball," Meyer said in an NFL Network interview in 2019. "I'm a big fan of that. He was a little bit behind, but a competitive maniac."
Almost as soon as Burrow arrived in Columbus, those traits were apparent. Even though he was behind J.T. Barrett on the depth chart, those around the program could see his leadership skills and desire to test himself.
"You could see how fired up and emotional and excited he got during those competitive environments," said Mickey Marotti, Ohio State's head strength coach. "You knew right away. Some guys aren't like that when they come out of [high school]."
But Meyer also wanted to test Burrow's mentality. Burrow later told reporters that early in his Ohio State career, Meyer would prod him, saying he looked like a Division II quarterback or he couldn't throw, one of the many slights Meyer delivered regarding Burrow's arm strength. At the time, Burrow didn't understand Meyer's approach. Eventually, he figured it out. Meyer was trying to see if he could trust Burrow.
"When he gets a new player, he tries to put them in a very intense situation to see how they respond, to see if he can trust that player," said Burrow, who declined to go into more specifics.
The quarterback earned that through the competitiveness that defined him as soon as he enrolled at Ohio State. Meyer said Burrow's mindset is one of the best he's ever seen in an athlete.
"Even when he struggled early in his career, the one thing you can count on is that guy is [a] tough-as-nails competitor," Meyer said. "Refused to lose at anything in the offseason."
Burrow was behind Barrett in 2016 and 2017. He appeared in 10 games for the Buckeyes, throwing 39 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns.
But Burrow hit his ceiling at Ohio State. A broken hand suffered right before the start of the 2017 season put him at a disadvantage to be the team's top backup. The injury gave teammate and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins, a 2019 first-round pick, a leg up on the long-term battle with Burrow, one Haskins eventually won when he was given the starting job after Ohio State's 2018 spring camp.
"It was close, and obviously Dwayne beat him out and Dwayne threw for 50 touchdowns," Meyer said.
Burrow transferred to LSU, set a slew of records and had a 2019 campaign with the Tigers that almost couldn't be scripted: a Heisman Trophy, a national championship and the No. 1 overall pick.
Since joining Cincinnati, Burrow is learning the NFL can be difficult. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in his rookie season and had a rough outing this season against the Chicago Bears, when he threw three interceptions on three consecutive attempts in a 20-17 loss.
Burrow, who rebounded with three touchdowns in a Week 3 win over Pittsburgh, said that game was an example of how the lessons he learned in college from Meyer were useful.
"It made me a much better player and a better person and able to handle weeks like this, when I throw three interceptions and we lose the game," Burrow said Sept. 15. "I think we're going to bounce back in a big way, and [Meyer is] really one who pushed me to grow in that way."
Meyer stepped down from his Ohio State job in 2018 after a tumultuous season that included questions about his knowledge of domestic violence accusations against one of his assistant coaches. Meyer worked as a TV analyst for two seasons before coming to the Jaguars.
Meyer said the fact the Jaguars' No. 1 pick was a huge factor in his decision to make the jump to the NFL.
That's because the No. 1 pick was going to be quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Lawrence is 'one of the most elite' players Meyer has coached
Generational prospect or not, Meyer took the same approach with Lawrence in Jacksonville that he did at Florida and Ohio State: He immediately put him under pressure to see how he'd respond. He had a good idea of what he'd get, but he wanted to be sure.
Meyer made Lawrence alternate days with the first-team offense with quarterback Gardner Minshew to make Lawrence to earn the starting job. Lawrence was clearly the best quarterback in camp and outplayed Minshew in the first two preseason games, but he embraced the competition and said no player should be handed a job.
Meyer eventually named Lawrence the starter on Aug. 25. Three days later, the Jaguars traded Minshew to Philadelphia.
"Leadership, intangibles, the work ethic, the character, the desire to be great, his support from his teammates, his support of other teammates [is great]," Meyer said of Lawrence. "I've been very fortunate to coach some elite, elite players, and he's one of the most elite, just the way he handles himself."
Meyer knows having success in the NFL -- for Meyer, success means championships -- hinges on having a great quarterback, and the ability to get Lawrence was one of the most attractive things about the Jaguars job. But he didn't know a thing about what it was like to try to win with a rookie QB, even one as good as Lawrence.
Meyer has turned to a couple of quarterbacks he trusts in order to find out what he needed to know about dealing with a rookie in the NFL: Burrow and Alex Smith, both of whom played for Meyer (Smith at Utah) and were No. 1 overall picks.
Burrow, who led the NFL in dropbacks in 2020 before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11, advised Meyer about the risks of having a rookie throw it too much.
"Have balance and not put a guy in harm's way constantly," Meyer said of Burrow's advice.
It seems the Jaguars are working out that balance. Lawrence was sacked twice in the first two weeks, but Arizona sacked him three times Sunday. The offense was pass-heavy in the first two weeks, but the running game with James Robinson finally got going against the Cardinals.
Meyer has a track record of developing quarterbacks in college -- he helped turn Smith, Tim Tebow and Dwayne Haskins into first-round draft picks -- but he was able to bring in big-time recruits year after year, so there were options if the starter faltered.
That's obviously not the case in Jacksonville. Lawrence is it, and Meyer's success is wedded to Lawrence's development. It hasn't gotten off to an ideal start.
Lawrence has completed 54.2% of his passes for 669 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions in his first three games. He's now the fourth quarterback since the 1970 merger to throw multiple interceptions in each of his first three starts, joining Peyton Manning (1998), Troy Aikman (1989) and Jim Zorn (1976).
Lawrence has a big arm, and he's not shy about taking deep shots or trying to fit balls into some tight windows. He's gotten away with it a few times, but he's gotten burned, too, and Meyer wants him to be more patient.
Lawrence is also dealing with the things all rookie QBs battle: holding onto the ball too long at times, staring down receivers and indecision.
Still, Lawrence's poised in the pocket and his arm strength allows him to make some throws that other QBs can't. And don't forget: Lawrence is the youngest starting quarterback in the league (his 22nd birthday is Oct. 6).
This has created some interesting moments with his rookie NFL head coach as they each try to help each other develop in their first season together in the pros.
"There's definitely been times, like, he's pulled me off to the side and he's like, 'Can you believe this? This is so weird. This is so weird. This is how they do it here,' stuff like that," Lawrence said. "I'm like, 'Yeah, I don't know. It's my first time too.' That's always funny, but I think we're all just growing [and] we're learning."
Considering all that, Meyer says Lawrence is about where he expected after three games.
"I love Trevor Lawrence. I love everything about that guy," Meyer said. "Is he having some growth pains? Like I've always said from day one, this goes back 20 years, the quarterback gets a lot of the glory when you win and gets a lot of the fingers pointed at him when he loses. It's an offense. The one common characteristic of every great quarterback is he has a great team around him. Every great quarterback has that, and we will do that. We're growing that right now.
"That kid, he's unbelievable to coach. Everything about the guy is an A-plus."
Connection between Meyer, Lawrence and Burrow is ongoing
Lawrence may not know it, but Burrow is, indirectly anyway, helping him navigate his rookie season, thanks to Meyer's multiple conversations with Burrow about his rookie season in 2020.
Burrow ran into his former Ohio State coach a couple of times this offseason at various charity events. Meyer decided to pick Burrow's brain.
"I just wanted to talk to a guy that was in that position," Meyer said.
On Thursday, Burrow will be going up against Meyer and Lawrence, the latest quarterback the coach hopes can lead to his definition of success.
It won't be the first time Burrow and Lawrence face each other. The two famously met in the national championship game at the end of the 2019 season, when Burrow and LSU beat Lawrence and Clemson 42-25.
Now, Burrow is hoping to lead the Bengals to their first playoff berth since 2015 and Lawrence is looking to establish himself in the NFL.
The quarterback Lawrence faces this week can relate. Despite Meyer not picking Burrow to be his starter, which led to his departure from Ohio State, Burrow never soured on Meyer or Ohio State and vice versa. According to Marotti, the Buckeyes' chief strength coach, Burrow's thumbprint still allows him inside the team facilities.
And as for Meyer, the early trials that yielded trust in Burrow resulted in a bond that will be rekindled when they see each other at Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium, as his latest quarterback pupil takes on his former one.
"We've got a great relationship," Burrow said of Meyer. "So whenever you see a friend pregame, it's always good to talk to people you haven't seen in a while.
"But it's also pro football and you've got to go get a win, so I'm excited to do both of those things."
Tom Brady faces Bill Belichick, the Rams and the Cardinals fight to stay undefeated, and the Browns’ pass rush travels to Minnesota to try to end Kirk Cousins’ interception-less streak.
Guess what? Tom Brady heads to Foxborough, Mass., to play the Patriots this week. You probably already knew that, though.
Brady’s return to New England pits him against Coach Bill Belichick, with whom he won six Super Bowls over two decades. Brady is back in town with a freshly acquired Super Bowl ring, needing only 68 yards to break Drew Brees’s N.F.L. record for career passing yards. But there are other grudge matches around the N.F.L. in Week 4, including an N.F.C. West showdown between the unbeaten Rams and Cardinals and a scary Browns pass rush traveling to Minnesota to try to end Kirk Cousins’ interception-less streak.
Here’s a look at N.F.L. Week 4, with all picks made against the spread.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals,8:20 p.m., NFL Network
Line: Bengals -7.5 | Total: 45.5
The Jaguars’ streak of allowing an average of 302.3 passing yards per game should continue this week against the Bengals (2-1) as Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase seem to have rediscovered their college chemistry in the pros.
Burrow and Chase have connected for touchdown passes in each of their three games, including two last week in the 24-10 dismantling of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Trevor Lawrence’s acclimation to the league has been rough; the rookie has thrown seven interceptions compared to only five touchdowns. Expect Burrow and the Bengals to score at will while the Jaguars (0-3) struggle to respond. Pick: Bengals -7.5
Sunday’s Best Games
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots,8:20 p.m., NBC
Line: Buccaneers -6.5 | Total: 49
After the pomp and circumstance around Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium as a visitor dies down, the game itself should be competitive. The Buccaneers (2-1) hope Antonio Brown can return from the reserve/Covid list, but the team will be without slot receiver Scotty Miller, who has a toe injury, and potentially pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, who sat out against the Los Angeles Rams with hand and shoulder injuries. Veteran free agent cornerback Richard Sherman will join the team as its secondary battles injuries, though Coach Bruce Arians said he doubted Sherman will play Sunday.
Teams have not run effectively against Tampa Bay’s front seven and have instead exploited its defensive backs. The Bucs’ secondary has allowed opponents to throw for over 300 yards twice, including in a loss to the Rams last week, when Matthew Stafford tossed for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Brady will be motivated to win, and the Bucs likely will, but the secondary’s struggles give Mac Jones and the Patriots a chance to cover the spread. Pick:Patriots +6.5
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams,4:05 p.m., Fox
Line: Rams -6 | Total: 54.5
Matthew Stafford’s connection with Cooper Kupp has made the receiver a fantasy-football must-have. Kupp currently leads the league in receiving yards (367), touchdown receptions (5) and is tied at first for catches (25).
Their chemistry will test the Cardinals’ defense, which has yet to face an offense as dynamic as the Rams’ (3-0). Though both teams are undefeated, the Cardinals (3-0) were saved from a loss to the Vikings in Week 2 by a shanked field goal and played down to the lowly Jaguars last week. Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey are unlikely to allow Kyler Murray to again put up video-game-like numbers — he’s averaging 335 yards per game — and Rams Coach Sean McVay has never lost to the Cardinals. He’ll most likely keep that streak alive. Pick: Rams -6
Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett, who had 4.5 sacks last week against the Bears, will hound Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins on Sunday.Kirk Irwin/Associated Press
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings,1 p.m., CBS
Line: Browns -2 | Total: 53
Kirk Cousins has yet to throw an interception so far this season, but the Browns (2-1) are the most complete defense the Vikings (1-2) will have seen.
Cousins has thrown for more than 300 yards twice, including last week while running back Dalvin Cook was out with an ankle injury. Cook’s replacement, Alexander Mattison, rushed for 112 yards in his absence. It’s still unclear whether Cook will play on Sunday, but regardless if Cook returns or Mattison starts, the Browns’ defense will be up for the challenge. The unit ranks fifth in the league against the rush (201 yards allowed) and second in sacks (14). Meanwhile, Cleveland’s offense last week welcomed back receiver Odell Beckham from his knee injury. Those factors make betting with the Vikings tough, and the spread may honestly be too low. Pick:Browns -2
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers,4:05 p.m., Fox
Line: San Francisco -2.5 | Total: 52
Hello, defense? Is anyone home? Pete Carroll must be asking his team that question after the Seahawks (1-2) allowed opponents to amass over 450 yards of offense in each of the last two games. No amount of Russell Wilson magic can save a game with those defensive performances.
The 49ers (2-1) will be eager to play again after narrowly losing to the Packers on a last-second field goal. But they continue to battle injuries on both sides of the ball, with important players like tight end George Kittle (calf) and Josh Norman (lungs) listed as day-to-day. If Seattle can muster some sort of respectable defensive outing for pride’s sake, then the Seahawks could manage to be competitive and cover the spread. Pick: Seattle +2.5
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos,4:25 p.m., CBS
Line: Broncos -1 | Total: 44
Their undefeated record has come against winless opponents, so the Broncos (3-0) will try to get a statement win over the Ravens (2-1), who last week struggled before closing out the Lions. Denver quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be without receiver K.J. Hamler, the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver, who tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in another big loss to the receiving corps after Jerry Jeudy was placed on injury reserve earlier in the season.
After an overtime loss to open the season, the Ravens have closed out two thrilling victories at home and on the road. They should be able to ride that momentum to give Denver its first loss. Pick:Ravens +1
Sunday’s other games
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys,1 p.m., Fox
Line: Cowboys -4 | Total: 50
Losing running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) and cornerback Jaycee Horn (foot) should devastate the Panthers (3-0) and their chances of remaining undefeated. With McCaffrey out for “a few weeks,” according to Coach Matt Rhule, receiver D.J. Moore is the Panthers’ best offensive weapon. He’ll likely be shadowed by the Cowboys’ top cornerback, Trevon Diggs, who has had an interception in every game this season.
The Cowboys will keep up an aggressive offensive attack as offensive coordinator Kellen Moore tries to exploit a secondary that hastily added C.J. Henderson via trade this week. Until proven otherwise, expect the Panthers’ offense to backslide and struggle without McCaffrey as its workhorse. Pick:Cowboys -4
Washington’s defense has underperformed so far this season. Led by defensive end Chase Young, it could bounce back against the Falcons.Andrew Harnik/Associated Press
Washington Footballers at Atlanta Falcons,1 p.m., Fox
Line: Footballers -1.5 | Total: 48
Oddsmakers are essentially predicting a tossup between these two teams, largely because Washington has not played to its potential. The Footballers’ defense, in theory, should overpower the Falcons (1-2), as Atlanta has rushed for 100 yards only once and is still heavily relying on Matt Ryan’s arm at the ripe age of 36. But the Footballers (1-2) failed to sack Bills quarterback Josh Allen last week, and he dissected them for four touchdowns. Against a weaker offensive line, Washington should find more success. Pick:Footballers -1.5.
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills,1 p.m., CBS
Line: Bills -17 | Total: 48
The line on this game is absurdly lopsided and rightfully so. The Bills’ defense generated three turnovers in each of the last two games. They likely will feast on rookie Texans (1-2) quarterback Davis Mills, who threw for only 168 yards and was sacked four times in his first N.F.L. start last week against Carolina. Mills will likely do more to limit the production of Texans receiver Brandin Cooks than the Bills (2-1) will. Expect the score to get ugly quick. Pick:Bills -17
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears,1 p.m., CBS
Line: Bears -3 | Total: 42.5
This could finally be the one.
The Lions (0-3) have played competitively in first halves against playoff-caliber teams, and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker had to convert a record-breaking 66-yard field goal attempt to rob Detroit of a win last week. That evasive W may come against the Bears (1-2), who posted 1 net passing yard (yes, you read that correctly) and allowed the rookie Justin Fields to take nine sacks against the Browns. Coach Matt Nagy said Fields, Andy Dalton and Nick Foles are all under consideration to start. The Lions could capitalize on that dysfunction. Pick: Lions +3
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins,1 p.m., CBS
Line: Dolphins -1.5 | Total: 43.5
Injuries continue to plague the Colts (0-3), most recently with All-Pro offensive guard Quenton Nelson spraining his ankle and needing to be carted off the field last week. Coach Frank Reich did not rule Nelson out, but said his chances of playing are “not looking good.” Nelson’s availability would help against the Dolphins (1-2), who feature an aggressive and opportunistic defense. Miami backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed over 65 percent of his passes in an overtime loss to the Raiders in Week 3, showing he can manage the offense efficiently while Tua Tagovailoa’s ribs heal. If that responsible play continues and the defense generates pressure and turnovers, the Carson Wentz experiment in Indianapolis could remain winless. Pick:Dolphins -1.5
Giants at New Orleans Saints,1 p.m., Fox
Line: Saints -7.5 | Total: 43.5
Giants receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton both injured their hamstrings in Week 3, potentially removing two of Daniel Jones’s favorite targets. He’ll need every asset the Giants (0-3) can give offer to combat the inevitable deafening noise in the Superdome for the Saints’ first true home game of the season. The Saints (2-1), whose defense collected three interceptions last week against the Patriots, could produce a similar outing as Jones throws to pass catchers on the bottom of the depth chart. Pick:Saints -7.5
Tennessee Titans at Jets,1 p.m., CBS
Line: Titans -7.5 | Total: 46
Receiver A.J. Brown’s hamstring injury should not stop the Titans (2-1) from winning this game easily, given the team’s other formidable stars, running back Derrick Henry and receiver Julio Jones. The Jets, however, lack such options. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson has thrown seven interceptions to two touchdowns and the Jets (0-3) have rushed for more than 100 yards only once. Even a developing defense like Tennessee’s should be able to contain the Jets’ attack. Pick:Titans -7.5
Kansas City at Philadelphia Eagles,1 p.m., CBS
Line: Kansas City -6 | Total: 54.5
Kansas City (1-2) has suffered back-to-back losses only three times since 2018, making this uncommon territory for a perennial Super Bowl contender. They most likely will bounce back this week against the Eagles (1-2), who took a thorough beating from Dallas on Monday and face a short week to prepare.
Kansas City Coach Andy Reid reportedly returned to work Tuesday after being treated for dehydration after Sunday’s game. He most likely will preach ball security to his team, which committed six total turnovers in losses to the Ravens and the Chargers. If the Chiefs can fix those issues, their firepower should be too much for the Eagles’ young offense to respond. Pick:Kansas City -6
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers,4:25 p.m., CBS
Line: Steelers -6.5 | Total: 45.5
The Steelers’ pedestrian offense has been a problem and now faces a Packers (2-1) team that is beginning to click. Pittsburgh’s quarterback weakness has been well documented, but Ben Roethlisberger ranks third in the N.F.L. in passing attempts in large part because the team has yet to rush for more than 75 yards in a game this season and its defense has given up first-quarter leads.
The Steelers (1-2) are hopeful outside linebacker T.J. Watt (groin) will be available after missing last week’s loss to the Bengals, but Aaron Rodgers’s output should still far exceed that of the Steelers’ offense. Pick:Packers -6.5
Monday’s Matchup
The Chargers’ offensive line has allowed only five sacks of Justin Herbert this season, but Los Angeles’s offense leads the league in penalty yards (243) which could put them in a bind against defensive end Maxx Crosby and the Raiders.Kyusung Gong/Associated Press
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers,8:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Chargers -3.5 | Total: 52.5
With Kansas City figuring out how to end their rut and the Broncos facing their first winning opponent, the Chargers or Raiders will gain valuable ground in the A.F.C. West. The outcome will come down to whether the Chargers’ new-look offensive line can hold its own against the Raiders’ improved pass rush. The Chargers (2-1) have allowed only five sacks, but Los Angeles’s offense leads the league in penalty yards (243), including notable flags for illegal shifts in a loss to the Cowboys and a narrow win over the Chiefs.
This one will have exceptional player matchups to watch — between Chargers rookie tackle Rashawn Slater and Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, and Chargers safety Derwin James against Raiders tight end Darren Waller — but the Raiders (3-0) may have the edge if running back Josh Jacobs returns after missing two games with an ankle injury. Pick: Raiders +3.5
How Betting Lines Work
A quick primer for those who are not familiar with betting lines: Favorites are listed next to a negative number that represents how many points they must win by to cover the spread. Steelers -4.5, for example, means that Pittsburgh must beat Cincinnati by at least 5 points for its backers to win their bet. Gamblers can also bet on the total score, or whether the teams’ combined score in the game is over or under a preselected number of points.
Eyebrows have been raised and notice has been taken as it relates to the stellar play put forth by Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr over the first three weeks of the season.
Now, accolades have been won.
For the first time in his career, Carr was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month, as revealed Thursday by the league.
Carr has quarterbacked the Raiders to a 3-0 start, the franchise's first since 2002. After three games, he's averaging better than 400 yards per outing, having thrown for 1,203 yards and six touchdowns against just two interceptions. Carr has completed 88 of 136 passes (64.7%) and tallied a 101.4 rating.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp hauled in NFC Offensive Player of the Month following a terrific start of the season that showcased a quick chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Kupp is averaging an eye-popping 122.3 yards per game as he's totaled 367 yards receiving on 25 receptions so far and has five touchdown catches. Kupp's catches, yards, yards per game and touchdowns are league-highs.
Amid an impressive comeback year, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month. Through the Broncos' perfect 3-0 start, Miller has racked up eight tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks.
Jacksonville Jaguars special teams standout Jamal Agnew had two 100-plus-yard touchdowns in September and brought home AFC Special Teams Player of the Month. Agnew had a 102-yard kick return for a score in Week 2 and followed that up with a 109-yard return for a touchdown off a missed field goal in Week 3.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs has an interception in every game thus far and an NFC Defensive Player of the Month honor to boot. Diggs' three interceptions include a pick-six in Week 3 to go with nine tackles and six passes defensed.
NFC Special Teams Player of the Month went to San Francisco 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky. On 11 punts so far, Wishnowsky is averaging 46.8 yards per punt with an impressive eight punts inside the 20.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase hauled in four touchdowns over the first three games of his career and is the Offensive Rookie of the Month. Chase has 11 receptions for 220 yards so far.
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. has become an integral part of the Bolts' defense and won Defensive Rookie of the Month. Samuel's stats include 11 tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions.
(CNN)Milwaukee Brewers star relief pitcher Devin Williams will likely miss the postseason because of a fractured hand after the player says he struck a wall in frustration.
Williams told reporters on Wednesday that he had too much to drink and got "frustrated and upset" over something on his way home after celebrating the Brewers' National League Central title on Sunday. He said he punched a wall with his pitching hand.
"I'm pretty upset with myself," Williams said. "There's no one to blame but me. I feel like I've let my team down, our coaching staff, our fans, everyone. I know how important of a role I play on this team and a lot of people count on me."
Team president of baseball operations David Stearns said Williams needs surgery and that the injury is "likely" to keep him out for the playoffs but said there is an "outside chance" he could return if the team makes it to the World Series, which starts October 26.
Williams, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2020, posted a 2.50 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 54 innings this season. His record is 8-2.
Williams was placed on the 10-day disabled list and pitcher Colin Rea was selected from the team's Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.
HOUSTON -- — After locking down the top seed in the American League playoffs and the best record in franchise history, the Tampa Bay Rays were still looking for more.
“I don’t think we’re satisfied," starter Drew Rasmussen said. “We still have a chance to win 100 games."
Rasmussen and three relievers combined for a three-hitter, Brandon Lowe and Ji-Man Choi both homered and the Rays coasted past the Houston Astros 7-0 Wednesday night.
The Astros lost for the fifth time in six games on a night they could have clinched their fourth AL West title in five seasons with a win. Their magic number to win the division is still one over Seattle, which beat Oakland 4-2.
“The key is you’re still on the cusp," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “There’s a whole bunch of people who ain’t on the cusp. You’ve got to play the game. Nobody is going to give it to you."
Tampa Bay improved to 98-60, outdoing the 2008 team for most wins in franchise history. With the best record in the AL, the two-time AL East champions secured home-field advantage through the AL Championship Series.
“You want to get in, you want to win the East and if you have a chance you want to do what these guys did tonight," manager Kevin Cash said.
Cash said he's known this team was special for a while but setting the win mark is a nice way to show it.
“It solidifies it that much more," he said. “There’s been a lot of good teams over the years... to be able to be at the top of the list with that many wins says a lot about the guys in the clubhouse."
It’s the third time the Rays will enter the playoffs as the top seed and they’re the first AL team to do it in consecutive seasons since the New York Yankees in 2011-12.
Rays rookie Wander Franco doubled and singled twice, and safely reached base for the 43rd straight game, tying him with Frank Robinson in 1956 for the longest streak by a player 20 or younger.
Rasmussen (4-1) allowed one hit over five innings. Luis Patiño allowed one hit in two innings and Ryan Sherriff gave up one hit in 1 2/3 innings, but was lifted after walking a batter and hitting another one with two outs in the ninth. Louis Head took over and got the final out.
Lowe’s 31st two-run homer put the Rays up 3-0 in the second. Choi’s three-run shot in the fifth pushed Tampa Bay's lead to 6-0 before the Astros got a runner on base.
The Astros didn’t get a hit until the fifth inning Wednesday, a night after being held hitless until the sixth before rallying for a 4-3 victory.
“During this period it’s been tough, but these guys are tough," Baker said. “I’m not worried about them."
Rookie Luis Garcia (11-8) permitted seven hits and six runs, but only three were earned after a costly error by rookie center fielder Jose Siri in the second.
There were two outs and no one on when Brett Phillips hit a fly that fell out of Siri's glove. The ball then bounced off the wall and Siri bobbled it again, letting it fall to the ground while Phillips reached third.
Francisco Mejía’s RBI single to right field put the Rays up 1-0 and Lowe followed with his shot to right field.
“There’s always a danger of giving extra outs," Baker said. “That came back to bite us today."
Rays left fielder Manuel Margot robbed Jose Altuve of a hit when he sprinted to make a diving catch for the first out of the fourth inning.
Lowe doubled with one out in the fifth and Nelson Cruz drew a two-out walk. Choi sent Garcia’s next pitch to the bullpen in right center to pad the lead.
The Astros finally got a hit when Yuli Gurriel singled with one out in the fifth. But Carlos Correa grounded into a force out before Rasmussen retired Kyle Tucker to end the inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: INF Yandy Díaz was out of the lineup a day after leaving the game following the sixth inning with rib discomfort. But the Rays don’t believe the problem is serious and he expects to return Friday
Astros: OF Michael Brantley was activated from the injured list Wednesday after sitting out since Sept. 11 with a sore right knee. ... C Martín Maldonado left the game before the sixth inning with left shoulder soreness. ... RHP Zack Greinke (neck soreness) is scheduled to make a rehabilitation start for Triple-A Sugar Land Thursday night. ... RHP Josh James was optioned to Sugar Land Wednesday to make room for Brantley on the roster.
DELAYED
Play was stopped for a few minutes with two outs in the ninth when two fans — one with a oversized foam cowboy hat — ran onto the field and zig-zagged around the outfield while being chased by nine security guards. Both men were finally wrestled to the ground and led off the field and play resumed.
UP NEXT
Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. (12-5, 3.17 ERA) will start the series finale Thursday night. The Rays will go with an opener or Ryan Yarbrough (9-6, 5.09)
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller pleaded guilty to a felony charge stemming from his participation in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The 39-year-old swimmer agreed to obstructing an official proceeding -- one of seven criminal charges he incurred in February, but prosecutors dropped the other six -- and can resultantly face up to 27 months in prison.
Prosecutors claimed Keller wore a Team USA jacket during the riot, stayed in the Capitol for an hour and yelled expletives about Democratic party congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Those actions amounted to obstructing an official proceeding charge, one that has a recommended sentence of 21 to 27 months in prison. U.S. district judge of the District of Columbia Richard Leon, who presided over Keller's case and will later sentence him, is not limited to that range.
Over 600 people, including Keller, have been charged for their actions in the January attack on the Capital. The rioters injured 140 police officers, according to the Capitol Police Officers' union.
Keller, a Phoenix native and former USC star, appeared in three Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008) and won five medals. He's best known for anchoring the men's 800m free relay team in 2004, when the Americans gave the Australians their first loss at the international level in seven years. The Reno-Gazette Journal named him the most decorated Nevada-born Olympian ever in 2015.
