Giants Rookie Marcus Mbow Set to Make a Splash in Week 1 Against the Commanders
The New York Giants enter their Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders with a lot to prove. After spending the whole offseason upgrading the roster, only to dominate the preseason, it's time to see if this team is just another preseason hero or a potential Cinderella story.
A lot will be talked about the quarterback position, as Russell Wilson is getting his first start in Giants blue with Jaxson Dart nipping at his heels, but the biggest storyline will be star offensive tackle Andrew Thomas and his status for kickoff. In the final injury report released Friday, the 26-year-old was officially listed as doubtful, casting a 6-foot-5, 315-pound shadow for Sunday.
Fortunately, general manager Joe Schoen had planned for this exact scenario via free agency and the draft. Schoen added veteran swing tackle James Hudson III and selected Purdue's Marcus Mbow in the fifth round. Hudson is expected to get the start if Thomas is a no-go, but don't be surprised if it's the 22-year-old former Boilermaker who captures the headlines when the final whistle blows.
Marcus Mbow could take advantage of Andrew Thomas' uncertain status
Mbow's special skill is his versatility. Coming out of college, he was widely considered a guard, but despite his size (6-foot-4, 304 pounds), he's been getting mostly all of his work at tackle. When New York's depth chart was released, his name was sitting right behind Jermaine Eluemunor on the right side.
He played all three preseason contests on the end, earning All-Preseason Team nods from CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt, albeit unofficial. While that won't necessarily matter come regular-season snaps, it's a strong indication that his development is much further ahead of where anyone would have expected from the 154th pick.
Mbow isn't going to replace Thomas. That's not his job. But he can help take the sting away if he were to miss time. There's no denying that when Thomas isn't playing, Big Blue's offensive line falls apart. Look no further than last season. Once their star lineman went down, everything collapsed. In the immediate six games after his season ended, the team went 0-6, scoring a measly 15.3 points per game during that stretch.
That's exactly why Hudson is such an important piece. He brings four years of veteran experience, with 17 starts and a lot of attitude. But just because he brings expertise doesn't necessarily mean Mbow will be rendered useless. The 26-year-old journeyman struggled during the preseason, while the rookie looked great. Don't be surprised if Mbow is pushing for snaps and making a name for himself in Week 1.
There usually aren’t any silver linings for the Giants when Andrew Thomas is out. But if his missing time leads to Mbow being able to show he belongs, things could be worse. It's unlikely with Hudson and Eluemunor likely starting, but crazier things have happened. Only time will tell if he can take advantage.
Brock Bowers Delivers Reassuring Injury Update – “I’m Back and Ready to Lead the Raiders!”
In a heart-stopping moment that left Las Vegas Raiders fans holding their breath, star tight end Brock Bowers has delivered a reassuring update after a concerning knee scare. The young playmaker, who has quickly established himself as a key weapon in the Raiders’ offense, was feared to have suffered a significant injury, but Bowers has confirmed that he is ready to return and continue his dominant play.
“I’m back, and I’m ready to dominate,” Bowers said with confidence in his post-practice interview. “The knee scare was just that—a scare. I’m feeling good and ready to contribute to this team in a big way. I’ve got no doubts I’ll be at full strength when we need it most.”
The injury, which initially raised alarm bells across Raiders Nation, appears to have been less serious than originally feared, but the scare nonetheless served as a wake-up call for Bowers and the team. The 49ers’ top tight end has quickly become an essential part of the offense, and the thought of losing him for an extended period would have been a huge blow for Las Vegas.
“This is huge for us,” said head coach Josh McDaniels. “Brock is one of the pillars of our offense. He’s a special player, and it’s a relief to hear that he’s ready to go. We’ll be depending on him in the coming games, and we know he’ll deliver.”
Bowers’ leadership and versatility have made him an integral piece of the Raiders’ plans for 2025. With a dangerous combination of size, speed, and route-running ability, he’s been the safety net quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo needs. Now that he’s cleared to play, the Raiders are more dangerous than ever, with Bowers ready to help push them toward a playoff run.
“Like I said, I’m ready to lead this team,” Bowers reiterated. “We’ve got big goals, and I’m here to help us reach them. This injury scare is behind me, and I’m focused on what’s ahead.”
As Bowers rejoins the Raiders for their next game, fans are breathing a collective sigh of relief. With the season heating up, the Raiders now have their star tight end back in action, and Bowers is ready to make sure the team remains a serious contender in the AFC.
Buccaneers LB Lavonte David Calls Out SirVocea Dennis After Win Over Falcons
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers grinded out a narrow 23-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons to open the 2025 campaign on Sunday, and while winning is always nice, there are some issues that the team has to clean up moving forward. Right after the game, star linebacker Lavonte David made that extremely with some pointed comments towards his partner in crime, SirVocea Dennis.
The Buccaneers paired David up alongside Dennis as their two starting inside linebackers this season, but Dennis struggled throughout this clash against the Falcons and even got benched at one point. While Dennis bounced back and returned to the field, David did not hold back when discussing his Week 1 performance.
Lavonte David Doesn’t Hold Back on SirVocea Dennis
David has been in the NFL since he was selected by the Bucs in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and he’s seen pretty much everything you can imagine as he enters the 14th season of his career. David earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and three All-Pro honors throughout his career, while also helping Tampa Bay take down the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
Dennis, on the other hand, is an inexperienced 2023 fifth-round pick who made only his first start of his career against the Falcons. He got outclassed by Atlanta’s star running back Bijan Robinson on a few occasions, and at one point in the game, he got replaced by Deion Jones due to his struggles.
Later in the game, Dennis returned to the field and performed better, but the Buccaneers are going to need more from him if he’s going to hold onto a starting job alongside David. After the game, David called out Dennis for his struggles, while also praising his resilience and his ability to bounce back later in the game.
“He gotta get his a** going,” David bluntly said after the game. “He ain’t got no time to wait. You gotta come out there ready to go. He had some tough times, it’s one game. But I know for a fact he’s gonna be better, and he came back the very next play in the second half, stuffed the fullback and made the play. I expect nothing less out of Voc, he’s just gotta get his feet under him a little bit.”
Buccaneers Turn Attention to Week 2 Matchup vs. Texans
It wasn’t a perfect game by any means, but Dennis managed to recover and rack up 10 tackles, one of which went for a loss, and one pass deflection. There is certainly stuff he can build off of from this performance, and that’s what David is going to be working on ensuring happens after this big win to open the season.
The Buccaneers will hit the practice field this week and begin preparing for their Week 2 matchup, which will be against a tough Houston Texans team. While they only racked up three field goals in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, the Texans have several explosive playmakers at their disposal. It will be up to David, Dennis, and the rest of the defense to slow them when they meet up on Monday Night Football in Week 2.
