NFL panic season has arrived early.

It’s only Week 5, barely October; the leaves on the trees in my northern New Jersey backyard are still green, and already we’ve got everyone acting like it’s January.

Ja’Marr Chase is yelling at his head coach, and if things continue to spiral in Cincinnati, you will get to see a lot more of these dustups, thanks to the Bengals’ brutal upcoming prime-time schedule. The Jets’ Aaron Glenn is screaming so loudly through the locker room walls that if he were staying at an Airbnb, he’d be blacklisted. Robert Saleh and Liam Coen are jawing on the field like two dads at a youth soccer match.

Who says, “I’ll f— your world up?”

I know who … stressed-out people do. (My sister-in-law Karen has four babies under 7, so I get it.)

Chicago’s Ben Johnson did his best Gregg Popovich impersonation, staring lasers through a sideline reporter during a halftime interview, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, Giants head coach Brian Daboll almost made out with Jaxson Dart, like a scene in “The Notebook,” not long after screaming, “That’s our guy!”

This was only in the past week.

The NFL is a mood, and the mood right now is panic.

So, when you see the yelling, the tweeting, the kissing, the playoff-meltdown energy, just remember: It’s only Week 5.

This week, I’ll tell you what I’m hearing on:

A jarring day for Mac Jones
Good to be boring
Philly birds want to be fed
Minnesota’s QB patience
The K.C. receiver “better than any trade”
Is MetLife turf really that bad?
Why it’s King Henry time in Baltimore
Denver says no to the “L Word”
Mac Jones faced more than the Rams

By the end of Thursday night, San Francisco’s backup quarterback Mac Jones had dragged the 49ers past the Rams and into first place in the NFC West. He did it while cramping in both his legs and arms, throwing up, downing three bananas and nursing a sore knee.

And that wasn’t even the wildest part of his day.

That morning at the team hotel in Marina del Rey, Jones told teammates he was on his balcony when he looked out at the water and saw a floating dead body. Someone called the police. As the 49ers loaded buses for the stadium, players watched investigators and even a coroner’s van pull into the marina. On Friday afternoon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the incident was still under investigation.

That’s how the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers started his day.

And yet, hours later, Jones was extraordinarily steady. Against a talented Rams defense, he threw for 342 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, exactly why the 49ers traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft with the intention of selecting him before eventually pivoting to Trey Lance.

Quarterback Mac Jones led the 49ers past the Rams on Thursday night. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

In a league fueled by drama and panic, Jones showed nothing but poise. He’s 3-0 as a starter under Kyle Shanahan, with six touchdowns, one pick and a 66.7 percent completion rate. He doesn’t just look like a competent fill-in — he looks like a quarterback worthy of a second chance somewhere else.

For now, though, he’s Brock Purdy’s stand-in. And clearly, he can handle just about anything.

Boring gets you … undefeated

Two teams remain unbeaten, the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles. And here’s what’s kind of funny: Players and coaches around the league keep describing them the same way, as “efficient” and “boring.”

Super Bowl-winning QB Drew Brees recently described the Eagles that way, too. Boring football is really just shorthand for staying disciplined and playing mistake-free. These two teams run the ball effectively, lean on two of the best offensive lines in the NFL, feature tight ends and let their quarterbacks stay in the pocket.

It might not be sexy, but it’s steady. And steady is why Buffalo and Philly are still perfect.

But come on … nothing is ever perrrrrfect.

Angry birds

A.J. Brown is frustrated … again.

He’s made that clear, while the other high-paid receiver in Philadelphia, DeVonta Smith, has stayed quiet despite his own frustrations, multiple sources tell me. The wideouts in Philadelphia clearly want more touchdowns. They each have one.

Through four games, Brown, a three-time All-Pro, has just 14 catches for 151 yards. That’s not the production he or anyone expects from one of the most talented receivers in football. And so, like we’ve seen before, the frustration spilled out.

This time it came in the form of scripture, posted to his X account: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

Cue the freak out.

Brown later clarified, insisting he’s good with the Eagles, that the post wasn’t aimed at anyone and that this was simply his way of venting. Maybe so. But in Philadelphia, everything is something.

The timing is what makes it sting. The Eagles are winning and currently perfect in the red zone this year, No. 1 in football at 100 percent.

Still, as one league source put it: “Right now, for the Eagles, it’s run, run, run, (Jalen) Hurts off-schedule pass, tush push. For their receivers, that means when they get to the red zone, they aren’t getting the ball — and they know it. Hence the frustrations.”

That may be true, but perspective matters. This is a franchise with a dominant front office led by executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman, an adaptable coach in Nick Sirianni (whose overall record is now 58-23), a team that has won 20 of its past 21 games, and oh, right, a Super Bowl title.

“Brown doesn’t realize how bad it could be,” another league source told me. “You think if Howie Roseman is going to eventually trade him, he’s going to send him to a team with some elite quarterback? Think about how much worse it could be. Respectfully, (Brown) could still be on the 0-4 Titans. Life is good in Philly.”

“Look at last season,” a third league source added. “Philly was 2-2 and then settled in. There has to be some patience for the offense to come together. Everyone.”

Brown and Hurts have a long history. High school and college friends turned NFL teammates, Hurts is the godfather to Brown’s daughter, Jersee. A former teammate once described them as “an old married couple,” but I’m told they’re not that close these days. Like any friendship, life happens. Family responsibilities, the grind of being pros, shifting priorities. They’re friendly, but as one Eagles player described it: “It’s functional, professional.”

And here’s the reality: A No. 1 receiver wanting the ball more isn’t breaking news. Just ask the other current undefeated team what it was like dealing with a frustrated wideout. The Bills tried sitting down Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs to talk it out. It worked until it didn’t, and eventually, Diggs was shipped to Houston.

Sirianni and Roseman have already had their own private conversations with Brown to hear him out and they are managing the situation. The Eagles have not shopped him, telling teams in the offseason there was “no chance.” But rival executives are watching.

“They are paying roughly $50 million to two wide receivers (Brown and Smith), and they aren’t even that involved,” one NFL GM told me. “They may move on simply because Philly is a run-heavy team.”

A rival head coach put it another way after studying the Eagles: “Don’t let A.J. Brown tell you he isn’t getting enough targets. It’s not about the quantity. It’s about the type of targets and the situations he’s in. That’s why he’s frustrated.”

That’s really the point. Brown is seeing the ball. He’s just not seeing it the way he wants. I’m told Hurts wants to feed him and wants to throw to him, it’s just about having patience in early October.

We’ll see if new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo adjusts, getting Brown and Smith involved earlier and scripting touches to calm the storm.

I can tell you this: The Broncos’ defense is expecting to see a very motivated pair of Eagles wideouts early on Sunday.

Tyreek Hill wasn’t coming back — and the Chiefs knew it

Tyreek Hill’s gruesome leg injury ended the Dolphins star’s season, and with it, any trade speculation. While fantasy managers and fans dreamed up reunion scenarios, I’m told Hill was never considered a real option in Kansas City, even as the Chiefs stumbled out of the gate.

Inside Arrowhead, there’s been no panic. The front office and coaching staff have stayed patient, waiting to see how quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ offense would look once his top receivers found their rhythm. On Sunday, Xavier Worthy led the team in rushing and receiving yards, showing exactly why Kansas City has been so high on him.

And more help is on the way. Rashee Rice, who is eligible to return in Week 7 after serving a suspension for his role in a March 2024 car crash, remains the Chiefs’ most reliable route runner and biggest receiving threat. Those in the building are adamant he’ll make an immediate difference.

“He’s better than any trade we could make,” one team source told me. “People don’t realize how good he is.”

So maybe it’s time we all agree to stop overreacting to the Chiefs’ slow Septembers, because they clearly aren’t.

Vikings staying patient with J.J. McCarthy

Quarterback Carson Wentz will start again for the Vikings on Sunday in London against the Cleveland Browns, with J.J. McCarthy still sidelined by a high ankle sprain. The medical staff projected a four-to-six week recovery, and coach Kevin O’Connell has been clear that McCarthy won’t play until he’s had a full week of practice. To this point, he hasn’t returned in any capacity, not even on a limited basis.

That reality has led to some raised eyebrows around the league. A few have wondered whether Minnesota might be hiding behind McCarthy’s injury to buy more time after the first-year starter struggled in Week 2 against the Falcons. But O’Connell’s track record suggests otherwise. Since arriving in Minnesota, he’s been transparent, steady and consistent when it comes to injury updates, never the type to play games for a competitive advantage.

Which is why questions about McCarthy’s status cut against the equity O’Connell has built. He’s taken the Vikings to the playoffs, developed quarterbacks and showed leadership that’s earned him credibility.

For now, his focus is on capping a two-week European trip with a win over the Browns. And O’Connell has earned the benefit of the doubt that when McCarthy is ready, when he’s had a full week of practice and when he’s healthy, he’ll be the starter. I’ve been told by multiple sources that McCarthy isn’t healthy, and while the target return has been Week 7 against the Eagles, it could still be longer.

I’m told, “nothing to see here.”

Grass vs. turf: The MetLife debate

The New York Giants and Jets have no plans to rip out the turf at MetLife Stadium and replace it with grass. The decision, ultimately, lies with the teams’ ownership and the third-party group that manages the stadium. And for now, their stance is clear: The turf stays.

This past week, not long after star receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending ACL injury during a home game, NFLPA interim executive director David White visited Giants headquarters as part of his annual fall tour. He met with players and sat down with co-owner John Mara to raise the issue of turf safety.

The Giants lost Malik Nabers to a knee injury during a win last week at MetLife Stadium. (Ishika Samant / Getty Images)

It’s not a new conversation. More than 90 percent of players, in back-to-back years of NFLPA surveys, have said they prefer grass. They believe it’s softer, safer and better for careers.

MetLife’s bad reputation goes back to 2020, when players openly ripped the old surface. That version was torn out and replaced in 2023. Yet the stigma stuck.

And while grass will roll into the New Jersey stadium for the 2026 World Cup, it’s only temporary.

So why not just go grass and silence the argument forever? According to the league’s injury data, MetLife doesn’t fit the villain label. In 2024, the field ranked ninth-best when it came to lower-extremity injuries, according to that data. And for visiting players, who are typically more vulnerable on unfamiliar surfaces, MetLife actually graded out first, safest in the NFL.

So here we are. The NFL’s numbers point one way, while the players point to their knees.

Without Lamar Jackson, here comes Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry has been here before. The running back has built a career on carrying an offense when everything else is falling apart, literally carrying it, 30-plus times if that’s what it takes. Even at 31 years old, the Ravens are going to try to lean on him to keep them afloat. Remember back in 2022 in Tennessee when QB Ryan Tannehill was out, and Titans’ offensive coordinator Todd Downing called 19 straight runs, with Henry shouldering the majority of the load.

Now it’s Baltimore’s turn to ride the King. With quarterback Lamar Jackson sidelined and backup Cooper Rush starting on Sunday, the Ravens’ best chance to survive is simple: Put the ball in Henry’s hands and let him do what he does best.

On paper, Houston looks solid against the run, ranking 12th in the league. That’s respectable, until you remember who’s coming. Henry has made a career out of punishing the Texans. His greatest masterpiece came on Jan. 3, 2021, with 34 carries for 250 yards — 7.4 yards a pop. The Ravens have some wrinkles, too. Third-stringer Tyler Huntley is prepped with a zone-read package to keep Houston honest. But make no mistake: In Baltimore, with an injured roster and a struggling defense, the centerpiece is the same as it was in Tennessee. Henry, over and over again, until the defense has nothing left. The Texans know exactly what’s coming — four of Henry’s six career 200-yard yard games have come against Houston.

Broncos’ “No L Word” rule

The Broncos are coming into Philadelphia on a short week after playing on “Monday Night Football.” Around the team facility, there’s been a mantra: “No L word.”

L isn’t for lose, love, or Lutz — it’s for London.

Denver flies overseas after Sunday’s game to prepare for its NFL International Series matchup. But coaches have been deliberate about shutting down any London talk until the Eagles game is over.

Why? History. Teams on the road the week before a European trip are a combined 10–17. That’s not a coincidence. Broncos brass believes the logistics, planning and family distractions that come with moving an entire operation across the Atlantic too often creep into the week before.

So this past week, it was simple: no distractions, no looking ahead, no London. Just Philly.

(Top photos of A.J. Brown, J.J. McCarthy and Kevin O’Connell: Mitchell Leff, Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)