Nate Landman (Los Angeles Rams)
If Nate Landman’s Week 4 performance was his response to the critics, what he did Monday night against Buffalo was an exclamation point.
Under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, Landman delivered one of his most impressive performances of the season, recording a team-high 13 tackles, eight solo stops, a tackle for loss and two forced fumbles in Los Angeles’ thrilling 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills.
And apparently, you didn’t need to be keeping track of the stat sheet to notice.
My sister managed to score last-minute tickets to Monday night’s game, so naturally, I gave her an assignment: try to get a good picture of Landman in action.
By the fourth quarter, she texted me with an observation that probably summed up his performance better than any box score could. “Landman is everywhere.”
Seemingly involved in every defensive play, flying around the field and making himself impossible to ignore.
And with the game hanging in the balance, he nearly became the hero.
On Buffalo’s opening possession of overtime, a 57-yard completion to Khalil Shakir put the Bills deep in Rams territory and seemingly on the doorstep of victory. But on the very next play, Landman punched the football loose from James Cook, allowing Aaron Donald to recover the fumble and give Los Angeles new life.
It was Landman’s second forced fumble of the night, following another punchout in the third quarter that Buffalo ultimately recovered.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the opportunity slipped away. Los Angeles marched into field-goal range, only to have its potential game-winning kick blocked. Buffalo eventually capitalized on its second chance, escaping SoFi Stadium with a 37-34 victory.
For Landman, the performance continued an encouraging turnaround after questions surrounding his play during the opening weeks of the season.
Just two weeks ago, the linebacker was coming off a quiet three-tackle performance against Denver. He responded with 10 tackles in a Week 4 victory over Philadelphia, then followed it up with 13 against Buffalo.
That’s 23 tackles in two weeks, with two forced fumbles and a pair of performances that have looked much more like the Landman the Rams invested in.
The Rams now sit at 2-3, and Monday’s loss will certainly sting. But Landman’s recent resurgence is one of the more encouraging developments for a Los Angeles defense looking to find consistency.
Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Travis Hunter’s transition into a full-time defensive role continues to pay off for Jacksonville, and Sunday in London offered another glimpse of just how valuable he is as a true corner.
Hunter recorded six tackles and a pass breakup in the Jaguars’ dramatic 19-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, helping Jacksonville improve to 4-1 with its fourth consecutive win.
His biggest contribution came midway through the third quarter, when Philadelphia elected to go for it on fourth-and-3 near midfield. Jalen Hurts looked toward Makai Lemon, but Hunter was there to break up the pass and hand Jacksonville possession.
It was the kind of timely defensive play the Jaguars have increasingly come to expect from Hunter, whose confidence and physicality have become more noticeable with each passing week.
After spending all of Week 4 exclusively on defense, Hunter once again played every defensive snap against Philadelphia. This time, however, Jacksonville worked him back into the offensive rotation for six plays, giving him his first reception since the season opener.
The two-way experiment hasn’t disappeared. It’s just beginning to look different.
Jacksonville appears increasingly comfortable allowing Hunter to establish himself as a cornerstone of its secondary while selectively finding opportunities to use his offensive talent.
The question surrounding Hunter is no longer whether he can handle a significant defensive role. It’s how much more Jacksonville can ask of him as the season progresses.
Shedeur Sanders (Cleveland Browns)
Shedeur Sanders didn’t take a snap in Cleveland’s 17-12 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, but his most interesting development of Week 5 came away from the football field.
On Wednesday, Sanders hired his first NFL agent, signing with Adie von Gontard, CEO of Young Money APAA Sports. The move reunites Sanders and Travis Hunter under the same representation, adding another chapter to a partnership that began long before either reached the NFL.
Sanders went through the 2025 NFL Draft and the early stages of his professional career without an agent. Now, with Deshaun Watson firmly holding Cleveland’s starting job and the November 10 trade deadline approaching, the timing raises an interesting question: Is Sanders beginning to explore his options elsewhere?
There has been no confirmed trade request, and Cleveland has reportedly expressed interest in continuing his development. Still, professional representation gives Sanders an experienced voice in any conversations about his future, including the possibility of finding a new opportunity.
For a quarterback whose path to playing time remains uncertain, Wednesday’s announcement might prove more consequential than anything that happened on the field Sunday.
Whether it signals an eventual departure from Cleveland remains to be seen.
LaJohntay Wester (Baltimore Ravens)
LaJohntay Wester continued his role on special teams, providing Baltimore with valuable field position in Sunday’s 30-23 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Wester totaled 93 return yards, including 82 yards on three kickoff returns and another 11 yards on his lone punt return. His longest kickoff return went for 30 yards.
Offensive opportunities remain limited, but through five games, he has accumulated 239 combined kick and punt return yards.
Chidobe Awuzie (Baltimore Ravens)
After playing a season-high 56 defensive snaps in Week 4, Chidobe Awuzie saw his workload shrink considerably in Baltimore’s 30-23 overtime victory over Atlanta.
With Marlon Humphrey back in the lineup, Awuzie played just two defensive snaps and finished without a recorded tackle. His role remains dependent on opportunities within a crowded Ravens secondary.
Other Notable Active Players
Brady Russell continued to handle a heavy special-teams workload for Seattle, playing 28 special-teams snaps and six offensive snaps in the Seahawks’ 32-29 loss to San Francisco.
Will Sherman also remained in the mix for New Orleans as the Saints fell 23-13 to Minnesota.
On a bye: Kahlil Benson and the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs enjoyed a Week 5 break before returning to action against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Practice Squad / Injured Reserve
Practice Squad: Jimmy Horn Jr. (Cleveland Browns)
Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Will Sheppard (Miami Dolphins)
Isaiah Oliver (Tennessee Titans)
Josh Tupou (New York Giants)
Injured Reserve: B.J. Green II (Jacksonville Jaguars)
