Photo Credit: USA Today
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Week two of the 2026 NFL season delivered several standout individual performances. Some players took major steps forward after quiet Week 1 showings. Others struggled badly when their teams needed them most. Injuries also changed the outlook for several important players. Here are some of the biggest player winners and losers from Week 2.
Winners
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba produced one of the weekend’s best performances. The Seattle receiver dominated Arizona during the Seahawks‘ 31-7 victory. Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns. His 82-yard touchdown became the longest reception of his career. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year now has 277 receiving yards. He also has four touchdowns through two games. Even more impressive, Smith-Njigba made those plays with Drew Lock at quarterback. Seattle started Lock because Sam Darnold missed the game.
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Brock Purdy also delivered a tremendous Week 2 performance. San Francisco dominated Miami 35-13. Purdy completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards. He threw two touchdown passes without an interception. Purdy also added a rushing touchdown against the Dolphins. PFF gave him a 96.6 grade for the performance. That performance erased concerns about San Francisco’s trip back from Australia. Purdy looked comfortable throughout the afternoon.
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb helped Dallas bounce back in a major way. The Cowboys defeated Washington 37-20. Lamb caught eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. His biggest touchdown also helped Dak Prescott set a franchise record. Prescott finished with four touchdown passes. Lamb accounted for two of those scores. The Cowboys needed a performance like this from their star receiver. Lamb delivered when Dallas needed him most.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Prescott deserves recognition alongside Lamb. The Dallas quarterback completed 26 of 31 passes. He finished with 279 yards and four touchdown passes. His final touchdown gave him the Cowboys’ career record. Prescott surpassed Tony Romo’s previous franchise mark of 248 touchdown passes. He also helped Dallas score on seven of eight possessions during one stretch. That represented a major response after Dallas struggled offensively in Week 1.
Devin Lloyd, Panthers
Devin Lloyd produced one of the weekend’s best defensive performances. The Carolina linebacker recorded nine tackles against Atlanta. He also had a sack, three passes defensed and two tackles for loss. Lloyd added two interceptions during Carolina’s 34-3 victory. Carolina’s defense needed a response after allowing 59 points in Week 1. Lloyd led that turnaround from the middle of the defense.
Kirk Cousins, Raiders
Kirk Cousins continued his strong start with another three-touchdown performance. Cousins completed 19 of 29 passes for 253 yards. He also threw one interception during Las Vegas’ 26-14 win over the Chargers. Cousins became only the second Raiders quarterback with three touchdowns in each of his first two games. Ken Stabler previously accomplished that feat in 1976. Cousins also completed eight of 12 deep or intermediate throws. Those passes produced 181 yards and three touchdowns.
Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase responded after a quiet Week 1. Cincinnati defeated Houston 20-6. Chase caught seven passes for 75 yards. More importantly, he caught two touchdown passes from Joe Burrow. The Bengals also improved to 2-0 with their defensive turnaround. Chase now has two touchdowns after failing to score during the opener.
Losers
Justin Herbert, Chargers
Justin Herbert endured a difficult afternoon against Las Vegas. Herbert completed 15 of 27 passes for 192 yards. He threw one touchdown and two interceptions. The Chargers also lost 26-14 and dropped to 0-2. Herbert struggled to overcome the Raiders’ pressure and his own turnovers. Los Angeles also lost tight end David Njoku to a knee injury.
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers
Aaron Rodgers had a rough night against New England. The Patriots defeated Pittsburgh 20-3. Rodgers finished with 187 passing yards and no touchdowns. He also threw an interception and took four sacks. The Steelers managed only three points all night. Rodgers has now thrown one touchdown or fewer in five straight starts. That streak represents one of the longest such stretches of his career.
Drake Maye, Patriots
Drake Maye helped New England win, but his individual performance remained uneven. Maye completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards. He threw no touchdowns and one interception. The Patriots’ defense carried much of the workload against Pittsburgh. Maye still made several impressive throws, but turnovers remain an issue.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence entered Week 2 after throwing four touchdown passes in Jacksonville’s opener. Denver made life much harder for him. Lawrence completed 17 of 29 passes for 189 yards. He also threw an interception during Jacksonville’s 20-13 loss. Denver increased its pressure in the second half. The Jaguars struggled to adjust against the Broncos’ defensive attack.
Jayden Daniels, Commanders
Jayden Daniels’ Week 2 ended with another injury concern. Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow on the final play of the first half against Dallas. He had already produced 69 rushing yards and a touchdown pass. Daniels previously missed time with an elbow injury last season. Washington must now wait for additional medical evaluations. His injury overshadowed an otherwise productive first half.
Caleb Williams, Bears
Caleb Williams also left his Week 2 game with an injury. Williams suffered a hamstring injury during Chicago’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota. He left late in the fourth quarter. The Bears scored 59 points in Week 1. They managed only three points against Minnesota. That 56-point drop marked the second-largest Week 1-to-Week 2 decline in NFL history.
Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett struggled against Seattle’s defense. Brissett completed 12 passes for only 95 yards. He threw one touchdown during Arizona’s 31-7 loss. Seattle’s defense limited Arizona to 151 total yards. The Cardinals also struggled to sustain drives throughout the game.
Week 2 Created New Storylines
Week 2 gave several players an opportunity to change their early narratives. Smith-Njigba continued his remarkable rise with another huge performance. Purdy also strengthened his case as one of the NFC’s top quarterbacks. Meanwhile, Cousins has quickly settled into his new role with Las Vegas. Prescott and Lamb also reminded everyone what Dallas’ offense can produce. However, Herbert, Rodgers and Lawrence endured difficult afternoons. Daniels and Williams now face injury concerns that could affect their teams moving forward. The NFL season remains extremely young. Still, Week 2 showed how quickly individual performances can change the conversation.
Let’s hope we see the same names but also see new players as the weeks continue.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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