Just to be clear, this is not the spot to come for lessons on what’s cool or hip in the NFL.
Full disclosure: I’m a frazzled mom of two toddler boys. My SUV is basically a mobile Goldfish graveyard with two filthy car seats strapped in, and any trace of cool I once had vanished the day I ordered coffee mugs with my kids’ faces on them. My husband recently turned 40 and has decided CrossFit is his new identity.
Midlife crisis? It could be worse, I guess.
So no, this isn’t the place you come for trend intel.
But even I’ve picked up on one “cool” word you’re going to hear a lot this fall: aura.
It’s the vibe. The energy. There’s calm aura (Jayden Daniels), confident aura (Joe Burrow) and intimidating aura (Maxx Crosby). J.J. McCarthy has written about teammate Andrew Van Ginkel’s aura. Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid says his QB, Josh Allen, “developed more of an aura” after marrying Hailee Steinfeld. It’s the NFL’s word of the moment.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur even used it after beating the Detroit Lions, telling my colleague Mike Silver in his Lambeau Field office that new addition Micah Parsons has aura.
But Week 2 is when we start separating what’s real aura and what was just a one-week flash of bright light (and then there’s the Giants, who, at this point, would probably settle for a beige aura).
Could the next vibe check come from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart? I’m told it’s not off the table. He’s ready.
The Giants need to win. No one’s denying that. But there’s also a long-term lens here. This is about developing Dart the right way. And before they fully hand him the keys, they want to make sure the pieces around him are set — starting with left tackle Andrew Thomas. He’s not expected to play against the Cowboys but he’s close to returning. Getting him back in the lineup is critical, and while they don’t want to see starting QB Russell Wilson struggle without good protection, they believe in his experience to get them out of trouble.
So this weekend in Dallas? Maybe we see the beginning of something. Maybe not. But inside that building, the belief in Jaxson Dart is very real, even if no one’s yet used the “a” word mentioned above.
This week, I’ll also tell you what I’m hearing on:
San Francisco’s latest injury woes
Miami’s Week 1 player meeting
One reason the Chiefs were so flat in Brazil
Some unlikely support for Justin Fields
The new Indiana Jones
A developing roster trend
J.J. McCarthy’s award prospects
The Geek Squad
The 49ers’ injury bug
Two of San Francisco’s newly highly paid stars won’t be on the field this Sunday. George Kittle is headed to IR with a hamstring injury and will miss at least four weeks. Brock Purdy is out against the Saints — and possibly beyond — with a form of turf toe. Most of his recovery will come down to pain management.
Until then, it’s Mac Jones’ turn.
Shanahan and Jones together? What is this, 2021?
It almost was.
There’s a reason Jones signed this offseason with San Francisco on a two-year deal, even after turning down bigger offers elsewhere. He and Shanahan always had a natural connection, dating back to the 2021 draft cycle. When the 49ers traded up to No. 3 that spring, sources say, it was for Jones. Shanahan has since admitted the two quarterbacks they focused on during that strange Covid year were Trey Lance and Jones.
Ultimately, they chose Lance at No. 3, while Jones slid to New England at No. 15. Rumors swirled afterward that Niners GM John Lynch pushed for Lance while Shanahan wanted Jones. But here’s what’s clear: Shanahan is one of the league’s best coaches. He’s proven he knows how to get the best out of any quarterback. He’s not signing off on a quarterback unless he thinks he can make it work.
Still, that trade-up will go down as the biggest wart on both Shanahan’s and Lynch’s résumé.
That’s all in the past. Now, Jones gets his shot. The Saints’ defense views him much like Sam Darnold, a former first-rounder with talent, just miscast in his first stop.
As one New Orleans defender told me: “Now, with the 49ers, he’s in a way better situation. Just look at the offense — more weapons, better scheme, more support. It’s night and day from Foxboro. Our game plan’s pretty simple: Collapse the pocket, get pressure up the middle. Interior D-line getting their hands up is key. … Force him off his spot, make him uncomfortable, and you’ll see the cracks.”
One last note on the 49ers: While watching Green Bay on Thursday night, a front-office executive from a different team sent me a line that stuck: “This is how you build a young team … they’re the anti-San Francisco.”
He’s not wrong. The 49ers’ roster is older now, with fewer young contributors ready to step in when injuries hit. For all the praise Lynch and his staff have earned, some recent roster decisions are catching up to them. Between the 2022 and 2023 drafts, the 49ers made 18 selections. Only seven of those players are currently on the active roster — one of them being Purdy. They spent a third-rounder on a kicker — who was cut this week.
The misses are piling up.
Make no mistake that when their high-priced stars — Nick Bosa, Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner — are healthy, the 49ers can keep up with anyone. But with injuries popping up every season and the margin for error shrinking, it’s harder to picture this version of the Niners sustaining dominance the way they once did.
Miami … Are you ok?
When has a players-only meeting ever worked? Dolphins players admitted this past week that they called one to regroup from their Week 1 stomping in Indianapolis ahead of their matchup with the Patriots.
Talk about a vibe shift. Two years ago, Miami punctuated the first month of the season by hanging 70 on Sean Payton’s Broncos. Now, they’re holding meetings to keep things from slipping before Week 2 even kicks off.
There’s clearly been some cultural issues dating back to last season. One example: After the Dolphins’ final game of the 2024 season, a frustrated Tyreek Hill didn’t hold back. “I’m out, bruh. It was great playing here but at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for my career,” he told reporters.
Not exactly the kind of exit interview Miami was hoping for.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, quickly went into cleanup mode, saying Hill was still committed to the team. And about a month later, Hill himself apologized for the outburst. But the words stuck. When 2025 rolled around, for the first time since joining the Dolphins, Hill wasn’t voted a captain.
As for what’s next? I was told the Dolphins don’t have any plans right now to trade Hill. This team needs to win, and Tua Tagovailoa needs Hill to make the offense explosive again. The receiver is also currently being investigated by the NFL over allegations of domestic abuse. But if the losses pile up, expect the phones to ring in Miami.
And if you’re wondering whether Brett Veach, the always-savvy GM in Kansas City, might be tempted to pick up the phone and arrange a reunion with his former star receiver, I’m told the focus for now is on getting Xavier Worthy healthy as the Chiefs await the return of Rashee Rice from a six-game suspension.
While we’re talking about big-time receivers teams could sniff around before the trade deadline in early November, Philly’s A.J. Brown, who had a quiet Week 1, drew some interest months ago.
But teams poking around during the offseason were told by Eagles GM Howie Roseman flat-out: No dice.
We’ll see if anything changes in the coming weeks as we again monitor Brown’s connection with Jalen Hurts.
Fresh legs, fresh outlook in K.C.
The Chiefs’ season opener in São Paulo came with a twist before the game even started: travel delays. Kansas City didn’t touch down until 12:30 a.m. Thursday, just a day and a half before kickoff. Not an excuse, but definitely a factor, from what I was told, in what turned into a sluggish showing on both sides of the ball.
Andy Reid, who always thinks long term, hit the reset button by giving his players an extended weekend off. The timing couldn’t be better, because their home opener is no ordinary Week 2 matchup; it’s against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
‘Told ya so’
Last year, when the Steelers had both Wilson and Justin Fields, coach Mike Tomlin made the switch from Fields to Wilson six games in, despite some internal pushback and with the Steelers 4-2. Fields had plenty of supporters in the locker room and even on the staff. The team rolled with Wilson, who gave them a spark early but ultimately flamed out.
So when the Steelers lined up against the Jets last week and saw Fields on the other sideline — playing refreshed, decisive and free — let’s just say there were more than a few people saying “told ya so” inside the organization.
One thing they all agree on now? They’re more than happy with future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.
Indiana Jones, Part II?
Remember when we thought there was a real quarterback competition in Indianapolis? Daniel Jones versus Anthony Richardson. The Colts sold it like it was neck and neck. While the organization wanted to give Richardson an opportunity, I was repeatedly told by sources in Indy, “Daniel Jones is the better quarterback.”
Not only did Jones win the starting job, he exploded in his Indy debut. He did something no NFL quarterback has done since 1977: He led scoring drives on every single possession. That probably caught Giants fans off guard, but inside the Colts’ building? Not a shock. Linebacker and team captain Zaire Franklin said it best on the Scoop City podcast.
“Danny Dimes still lives, so he’ll throw a ball two or three times a day and you’re like, yeah, that’s why they call you Dimes,” Franklin said. “We’ve definitely seen it throughout the offseason, throughout training camp, competing against him.”
Jones owns that his time in New York didn’t work out. He didn’t win enough, and by 2024, the Giants cut ties. A short stop in Minnesota followed, where he teamed up with “QB whisperer” Kevin O’Connell. Jones liked it there, and the organization liked him. But the Vikings were invested in the development of McCarthy. During free agency, O’Connell couldn’t promise Jones he’d be the starter, so Jones, who believed he could beat out Richardson, signed in Indy.
And now the rest of the league’s paying attention. As one NFC coach texted: “Don’t forget what Shane Steichen did for Jalen Hurts when they were together in Philly. This could be a match.”
Of course, not everyone’s a believer just yet. Back in July, I asked Denver star corner Pat Surtain II to list the top quarterbacks in the league. Let’s just say, Jones didn’t make the cut.
The 28-year-old will get a chance to prove Surtain wrong this Sunday, and create the latest Indiana Jones sequel worth watching. (“Temple of Doom” was actually my favorite.)
(Editor’s note: DIANNA! Nooooooo!)
Draft, develop, extend
If it feels like there’s been an explosion of contract extensions in 2025, you’re not imagining things. There have been more extensions signed through mid-September than at this point in any year over the last decade.
One NFC GM explained it like this: “It has never been more important to draft well. Teams are doubling down on developing and locking up their own talent, and the quick fix on the free-agent market? It’s disappearing fast.”
Sorry J.J.
There’s no question McCarthy won over his team and the Minnesota fanbase with those fourth-quarter heroics against the Bears. The performance was so electric, it even had some folks — and shout-out to my friends at “Pardon My Take” — asking: Wait, is McCarthy eligible for Rookie of the Year?
Bad news: Nope. A second-year QB who didn’t play as a rookie can’t win it. The award is strictly for first-year players. The moment you spend a season on an active roster, practice squad or even injured reserve, that counts as your rookie season — snaps or no snaps. Sorry, Vikings fans.
Geek Squad
Not too long ago, the analytics department was the domain of the dorky nerds of the NFL. The old-school coaches would mock it, focusing more on their “feel of the game” (and probably wanting to punt the hipsters right out of the building.)
But in 2025, every team’s got a game-management department or person, with someone in the booth crunching win-probability models in real time.
The geeks are officially in the headset.
But here’s the thing: When that voice says “go for it” on fourth-and-1, the head coach still has to factor in the moment.
Take Seattle’s Mike Macdonald in Week 1. Fourth-and-1 at the 49ers’ 19-yard line, game tied. The math said “go.” He said, “ I’m kicking.” Was this about ignoring the analytics or not trusting his offense to get a yard and betting on his defense instead? ( It didn’t work.)
Mike Macdonald opted not to listen to the voice inside his headset in Week 1. (Amanda Loman / Getty Images)
The Bears’ Ben Johnson, known for his analytical obsession, admitted he ignored the voice in the headset during a challenge. “I’ve got to do a better job listening to the guys up top,” he said. “I got influenced a little bit for the first time with the people around me and I’ve just got to stay true to the process.”
It was his first game; let’s cut him some slack.
When I spoke to one team’s game strategist about the two above Week 1 examples, he didn’t take offense or sound the alarms. “I think Week 1 you don’t know your team yet,” he said. “Analytics and numbers are based on previous seasons. So no one truly knows.”
One AFC head coach who relies heavily on analytics said, “You want a blend. That’s the sweet spot. It’s just going to take a little time to find it. The easy thing is to say, ‘I went with the numbers.’ You want to do what’s best for your team given all the factors of analytics versus execution.”
So no, the nerds aren’t going anywhere. They’re alive, well, and in the headset.
They just don’t always get the final word. As for their aura? Let me get back to you.
(Top photos: Kara Durrette, Steph Chambers / Getty Images)