As we enter Week 6 of the regular season, teams are starting to evaluate whether they are contenders or pretenders this season. With the action continuing on the field, let’s take a look at some of the major news stories from around the league over the last week.
Prescott Suffers Gruesome Injury
This one was not for the faint of heart. Dak Prescott suffered a gruesome-looking injury in last week’s game, one that was diagnosed as a right ankle compound fracture with dislocation.
As a result of the injury, Prescott had to be carted off of the field and underwent surgery on his ankle. As his replacement, Andy Dalton led the Cowboys to a 37-34 win over the New York Giants.
On the season, Prescott had thrown for 1,856 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions. He had also rushed 18 times for 93 yards and another three scores.
This is a big blow for the Dallas Cowboys, who enter this week 2-3, which is good enough for first in the NFC East. Dalton will now try to lead a talented offense, which includes the likes of Ezekial Elliot, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup.
Equally as concerning for Prescott could be his long-term outlook. After an offseason where the Cowboys and the star quarterback could not agree to terms on a new contract, Prescott was playing out the season on the franchise tag.
The injury now muddies the water even further for the free agent to be. It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys do right by the quarterback and still extend him or if he now hits free agency trying to prove that he can return to an elite level of play.
Bell Signs With Chiefs
Two-time All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell found himself on the unemployment line this week as the New York Jets announced his release. It didn’t last long, though.
According to Tom Pelissero and Jim Trotter of NFL.com, Bell has signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, making an already elite offense much deeper.
With the Jets, Bell played in two games, rushing 19 times for just 74 yards. He also had three receptions for 39 yards.
While he is certainly no longer the back of 2017, when he rushed 321 times for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns (to go along with 85 receptions for 655 yards and two scores), the Chiefs are hoping that he can compliment young running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
After years of being one of the best running backs in football with the Pittsburgh Steelers, his time with the Jets turned out to be disappointing. This season, he suffered a hamstring injury early on and just returned to play last week.
While his time with the Jets was frustrating, the Chiefs are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle and will hope that Bell can make an already dangerous offense that much scarier.
Falcons Fire Coach Quinn
Just five weeks into the season, and we already have our first coaching change. After a disappointing start to the season, the Atlanta Falcons announced that they have parted ways with head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
After going 7-9 last season, the Falcons got off to a frustrating 0-5 record this year. Even more frustrating was how they lost some of those games, given that they handed a couple of them away in the waning minutes of each game.
Regardless, after leading the team to the Super Bowl just a handful of seasons ago, Quinn now is on the outside looking in. As a replacement, the Falcons have named former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their interim head coach.
Morris has served as a head coach before with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has been with the Falcons since 2015.
