Source: FOX Sports
Summary
Bryce Young and Jaxon Smith-Njigba each accounted for three touchdowns in Week 2 of the NFL season, leading their teams to victories. Young completed 23 of 36 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-3 win over the Falcons. Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 win over the Cardinals. Both players were named Employees of the Week on “Gronk & Jules.” Edelman and Gronkowski praised Young’s improvement and Smith-Njigba’s route-running ability.
Our Reading
This one felt recognizable early.
Young kept it simple, didn’t force it, and found his guys. Waller caught two of them.
Smith-Njigba made the defense guess, then beat them. Lock threw the ball, and it went in.
Edelman kept saying “smooth” like it was a mantra. Gronkowski kept talking about the benching like it was a movie.
It’s the same story every year: the underdog gets a shot, the old man gets a second chance, and the fans hope it sticks.
Author: Evan Null
Week 2 NFL Recap
Week 2 of the NFL season saw some standout performances from Bryce Young and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Both players led their teams to victories, with Young throwing for three touchdowns and Smith-Njigba catching three touchdowns in a single game. The Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks both improved to 2-0 on the season.
Young’s performance against the Atlanta Falcons was solid, with 287 yards and three touchdowns. His Week 1 game, a 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears, was a rough one, but he has been improving each week. The Panthers’ head coach, Dave Canales, benched Young in favor of Andy Dalton after a 0-2 start, but Young has since taken over and delivered.
Smith-Njigba had a career-high three touchdowns in a 31-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Drew Lock, starting in place of the injured Sam Darnold, threw all three touchdown passes to Smith-Njigba, including an 82-yard catch on the first pass of the game. The Seahawks extended their winning streak to 12 games, including the postseason.
On “Gronk & Jules,” both Edelman and Gronkowski praised Young and Smith-Njigba. Edelman called Young “unbelievable” and noted his improvement each week. Gronkowski highlighted the importance of Young’s benching and how it led to his current success. He also praised Smith-Njigba’s route-running and ability to beat defenders.
Both players are set to play again in Week 3. Young and the Panthers will face the Cleveland Browns, while Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks will take on the Washington Commanders.
Young’s Rise and the Bench
Bryce Young’s performance in Week 2 was a clear sign that he’s settling into his role as the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. After a rough Week 1, Young delivered a strong game, completing 23 of 36 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. His ability to avoid self-inflicted mistakes and take what the defense gave him was a key factor in the Panthers’ 34-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Young’s journey to this point wasn’t easy. After a 0-2 start to the 2024 season, head coach Dave Canales benched him in favor of Andy Dalton. The decision was controversial, but it ultimately helped Young find his footing. Since then, he’s been improving week by week, and his performance in Week 2 was a testament to that growth.
Gronkowski, who has been following Young’s career closely, called the benching “totally accurate” and said it was necessary. He joked that Young took the “fiery hair” and “heat” from Dalton, suggesting that the change in leadership helped Young find his confidence. Gronkowski also praised Young’s development, saying he’s “coming into his own” and “getting better every year.”
Edelman echoed these sentiments, calling Young “unbelievable” and noting that he’s been getting better every week. He also made a point of mentioning Young’s height, saying it’s “crazy” for a 5’10 quarterback to be performing at this level. Despite the challenges, Young has shown that he can be a reliable starter for the Panthers.
With the Panthers now 2-0, Young’s performance in Week 2 was a major step forward. He’s proving that he can be the quarterback the team needs, and his continued improvement will be key to the team’s success moving forward.
Smith-Njigba’s Three-Touchdown Game
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a historic performance in Week 2, catching three touchdowns in a single game for the first time in his career. His 155 yards on nine receptions helped the Seattle Seahawks secure a 31-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The performance was a significant milestone for Smith-Njigba, who has been a consistent threat on the field.
Smith-Njigba’s three touchdowns came against the Cardinals, with all of them coming off passes from Drew Lock. Lock, starting in place of the injured Sam Darnold, threw all three touchdown passes to Smith-Njigba, including an 82-yard catch on the first pass of the game. The play was a clear indication of Smith-Njigba’s ability to stretch the field and create big plays.
Gronkowski, who has been a vocal supporter of Smith-Njigba, called the performance “unquestionable” and said it proved why Smith-Njigba was named offensive player of the year. He also pointed to Smith-Njigba’s ability to get separation from defenders, saying he’s “one of the hardest players to defend in all of football.”
Edelman also praised Smith-Njigba, highlighting his smooth route-running and ability to outrun defenders. He said Smith-Njigba “doesn’t move his body when he cuts,” which makes it hard for defenders to anticipate his movements. This combination of speed, route-running, and playmaking ability has made Smith-Njigba a key part of the Seahawks’ offense.
With the Seahawks now 2-0, Smith-Njigba’s performance in Week 2 was a major factor in the team’s success. His ability to make big plays and consistently find the end zone has made him a valuable asset to the team.
Edelman and Gronkowski’s Take on the Week
On the latest episode of “Gronk & Jules,” Edelman and Gronkowski gave their take on the Week 2 NFL action, with a focus on Bryce Young and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Both players were named Employees of the Week, and the hosts praised their performances and contributions to their teams.
Edelman called Young “unbelievable” and noted that he had “no self-inflicting mistakes” in his Week 2 game. He also praised Young’s ability to take what the defense gave him and hit the big opportunities when they came. Edelman said Young had been “getting better every week” and that it was “crazy” for a 5’10 quarterback to be performing at this level.
Gronkowski took a different approach, focusing on the benching of Young and how it led to his current success. He called the decision “totally accurate” and said it was “necessary.” Gronkowski also joked that Young took the “fiery hair” and “heat” from Andy Dalton, suggesting that the change in leadership helped Young find his confidence. He said Young has been the quarterback the Panthers wanted him to be since the benching and that he’s “getting better every year.”
For Smith-Njigba, Gronkowski called him “one of the hardest players to defend in all of football.” He praised his route-running ability and said that defenders can’t tell when he’s going to break. Gronkowski also highlighted Smith-Njigba’s performance in the Week 1 game against New England, saying it could have changed the outcome of that game. He said the Seahawks wouldn’t be 2-0 without Smith-Njigba and that the voters were right to name him offensive player of the year.
Edelman and Gronkowski both made it clear that Young and Smith-Njigba were the standout performers of the week, and their praise was well-earned based on their performances. Both players have shown that they can be the difference-makers for their teams and that their continued success will be key to their teams’ fortunes moving forward.
Week 3 Preview
With the Week 2 games in the books, both Bryce Young and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be looking to build on their strong performances in Week 3. Young and the Carolina Panthers will face the Cleveland Browns, while Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks will take on the Washington Commanders.
The Panthers will need Young to continue his strong play as they look to extend their winning streak. The Browns have been a tough opponent, and Young will need to be at his best to lead the team to another victory. His ability to avoid mistakes and take what the defense gives him has been a key factor in the Panthers’ success so far, and that will be even more important against a strong defense like Cleveland’s.
For the Seahawks, Smith-Njigba will be looking to continue his dominance as they face the Commanders. The Commanders have been a solid team this season, and Smith-Njigba will need to be at his best to make big plays. His ability to get separation and make plays after the catch has been a major asset for the Seahawks, and that will be crucial in this matchup.
Both Young and Smith-Njigba have shown that they can be the difference-makers for their teams, and their performances in Week 3 will be a key factor in how their teams fare. With the season getting into full swing, these players will be under pressure to continue their strong play and help their teams stay on track for a playoff run.
As the NFL season continues, the performances of Young and Smith-Njigba will be closely watched. Their ability to perform under pressure and make big plays will be critical for their teams as they look to build on their early-season success. With the Week 3 games on the horizon, fans will be eager to see how these players continue to develop and impact their teams.
