Packers fans might get unwanted shot of nightmare fuel by trade deadline
The Green Bay Packers entered the 2025 NFL season with Super Bowl aspirations, and they traded for Micah Parsons as a way to put their money where their mouth is. After a tremendous start to the year, however, they suffered an embarrassing loss and an unsatisfying tie before the bye week.
Although the Packers are still right in the thick of the NFC playoff race, they gave up control of the NFC North in recent weeks. The Detroit Lions now sit atop the division at 4-1, with that lone loss being a lopsided beatdown at the hands of Green Bay on opening weekend.
With a relatively favorable schedule ahead, the Packers have a chance to make up some ground as the trade deadline approaches. Unfortunately, the Lions are being linked to a star edge rusher who would be nightmare fuel for Green Bay fans.
Packers fans would hate Lions trading for Trey Hendrickson
In this week's edition of NFL Spin Zone's trade block, Sayre Bedinger included Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson as a potential candidate. This makes sense, given his intense dispute with the Cincinnati front office this offseason and the Bengals' dwindling record without Joe Burrow.
"The next month of the season will determine what course the Bengals take with Trey Hendrickson," Bedinger wrote. "If the season is lost for the Bengals, nobody on their roster makes more sense to be traded than Hendrickson. The star pass rusher is past the age of 30 and is a free agent after this season. The Bengals could get better value from an in-season trade than via compensatory pick, and teams would be lined up to make an offer if he's made available."
Here's the kicker: the Lions were included as a possible landing spot for the star defender. Of course, teams would be lining up for the league's back-to-back leader in sacks, but his landing with an NFC team, especially the Lions, would be quite disastrous for Green Bay.
Hendrickson is enough to handle for an offensive line by himself, but when paired with another stud like Aidan Hutchinson, this could give the Packers nightmares. Green Bay has its own formidable duo of Parsons and Rashan Gary, but this trade would level the playing field for Detroit.
The Lions thrived last season even without Hutchinson, and with a skeleton crew on defense, so Dan Campbell and Co. getting another certified star would be worrisome. According to Spotrac, Detroit has the salary cap flexibility to make a move, and as projected contenders, they could be buyers at the trade deadline.
Although they've been on a bit of a rough patch the last few weeks, this Packers team is as good a team the fan base has seen in many years. That shouldn't be undone by an NFC North foe trading for another difference-maker, but hopefully, fans in Green Bay never have to find out.
Falcons Get Major Update on WR Darnell Mooney Ahead of ‘MNF’
The Atlanta Falcons will be back in action in Week 6 after enjoying their bye week in Week 5. However, they will draw a tough Monday Night Football matchup against the high-powered Buffalo Bills, meaning it’s going to be a tall task for the team to earn its third victory of the season.
During the bye week, the Falcons enjoyed some downtime, which also allowed several of their injured players to get healthy. Unfortunately, not everyone got healthy, though, as the team received a tough injury update regarding wide receiver Darnell Mooney ahead of this big primetime matchup against the Bills.
Falcons Rule Out Darnell Mooney for Week 6 Action
WR Darnell Mooney (hamstring) is out for Week 6. #Falcons
In 2024, the Falcons stumbled upon a top-tier wide receiver duo in Drake London and Mooney. While the expectation was always that London would become one of the best pass catchers in the league, Mooney experienced a resurgent campaign after a couple of down years with the Chicago Bears.
Mooney suited up for 16 games with Atlanta last season, catching 64 passes for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Through three games this year, though, Mooney hasn’t really managed to get off the ground, as he’s caught just seven balls for 79 yards. Of course, a hamstring injury he’s been dealing with hasn’t exactly made things easy for him.
The hope for the Falcons was that Mooney would be able to get himself back to full health during the team’s bye week after he missed their Week 4 victory over the Washington Commanders. However, no such thing happened for Mooney, as he was still battling the injury when the team returned to practice, and he ended up getting officially ruled out for the team’s matchup with the Bills on Saturday afternoon.
“WR Darnell Mooney (hamstring) is out for Week 6,” Marc Raimondi of ESPN shared in a post on X.
Falcons Offense Will be Shorthanded for Pivotal Bills Contest
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 22: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons participates in warmups prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Falcons have a plethora of weapons at their disposal, but it’s clear that being without Mooney hurts the offense. Penix hasn’t necessarily been great through four games, and with opposing teams sending a lot of attention London’s way, that has only made things more difficult on the offense. London, running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, and tight end Kyle Pitts will have to take on bigger roles with Mooney out once again.
Buffalo is an intimidating opponent, but they aren’t unbeatable, as the New England Patriots handed them a shocking defeat on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. The Falcons will be looking to follow the same blueprint that the Patriots executed so perfectly by handing the Bills their second straight surprising defeat. Doing so will be easier said than done, especially without Mooney, but all eyes will be on them when they take the field at 7:15 p.m. ET on Monday night.
The Atlanta Falcons will be back in action in Week 6 after enjoying their bye week in Week 5. However, they will draw a tough Monday Night Football matchup against the high-powered Buffalo Bills, meaning it’s going to be a tall task for the team to earn its third victory of the season.
During the bye week, the Falcons enjoyed some downtime, which also allowed several of their injured players to get healthy. Unfortunately, not everyone got healthy, though, as the team received a tough injury update regarding wide receiver Darnell Mooney ahead of this big primetime matchup against the Bills.
Falcons Rule Out Darnell Mooney for Week 6 Action
WR Darnell Mooney (hamstring) is out for Week 6. #Falcons
In 2024, the Falcons stumbled upon a top-tier wide receiver duo in Drake London and Mooney. While the expectation was always that London would become one of the best pass catchers in the league, Mooney experienced a resurgent campaign after a couple of down years with the Chicago Bears.
Mooney suited up for 16 games with Atlanta last season, catching 64 passes for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Through three games this year, though, Mooney hasn’t really managed to get off the ground, as he’s caught just seven balls for 79 yards. Of course, a hamstring injury he’s been dealing with hasn’t exactly made things easy for him.
The hope for the Falcons was that Mooney would be able to get himself back to full health during the team’s bye week after he missed their Week 4 victory over the Washington Commanders. However, no such thing happened for Mooney, as he was still battling the injury when the team returned to practice, and he ended up getting officially ruled out for the team’s matchup with the Bills on Saturday afternoon.
“WR Darnell Mooney (hamstring) is out for Week 6,” Marc Raimondi of ESPN shared in a post on X.
Falcons Offense Will be Shorthanded for Pivotal Bills Contest
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 22: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons participates in warmups prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Falcons have a plethora of weapons at their disposal, but it’s clear that being without Mooney hurts the offense. Penix hasn’t necessarily been great through four games, and with opposing teams sending a lot of attention London’s way, that has only made things more difficult on the offense. London, running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, and tight end Kyle Pitts will have to take on bigger roles with Mooney out once again.
Buffalo is an intimidating opponent, but they aren’t unbeatable, as the New England Patriots handed them a shocking defeat on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. The Falcons will be looking to follow the same blueprint that the Patriots executed so perfectly by handing the Bills their second straight surprising defeat. Doing so will be easier said than done, especially without Mooney, but all eyes will be on them when they take the field at 7:15 p.m. ET on Monday night.
