Broncos CB Could Face NFL Punishment After Brutal Hit Against Texans
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Denver Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine and Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Sometimes things happen so fast in the NFL that it’s hard to make decisions in the moment, like when Denver Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine blasted Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud with what might have been an illegal hit in Week 9 that knocked Stroud out of the game.
Even though Abrams-Draine wasn’t flagged for unnecessary roughness in the moment, it doesn’t mean he’s going to avoid punishment, necessarily, and especially if Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has his way.
The Broncos went on to win, 18-15, on a last-second field goal for their sixth consecutive win to improve to 7-2. It’s a win likely made more possible by the fact Stroud wasn’t playing.
“(Abrams-Draine) hit the quarterback when he sliding and giving himself up,” Ryans said after the game. “If I’m incorrect on the rules, I’ve seen that happen multiple times with our guys, and we get the penalty.”
A slowed down look at the play shows Stroud not committing to the slide until the last second and Abrams-Draine turning his body to make contact with Stroud with his shoulder and not his head. Stroud’s head smacked the turf after the hit.
For Ryans, there’s some irony in hearing him weigh in on a quarterback getting injured on a slide — considering his team’s own recent history.
Texans Hit in 2024 Caused Massive Controversy
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was the person behind one of the dirtiest plays in recent years when he hit Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on a slide in December 2024 and knocked him unconscious — a hit that ended Lawrence’s season.
NFL Vice President of Rules and Operations Jon Runyan came down hard on Al-Shaair, with the league ultimately handing out a 3-game suspension.
” … continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both (Al-Shaair) and (his) opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated,” Runyan wrote.
Al-Shaair was let somewhat stunned there wasn’t a flag on Abrams-Draine.
“I know (Abrams-Draine) wasn’t trying to hurt C.J., because I know I wasn’t trying to hurt (Lawrence) last year,” Al-Shaair told Sports Talk 790’s Adam Wexler. “But yeah, I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a flag, you know, with everything I went through.”
Abrams-Draine Part of NFL’s Flagship Defense
Abrams-Draine is in his second year with the Broncos after he was drafted in the fifth round (No. 145 overall) out of Missouri in the 2024 NFL draft. He only played 5 games as a rookie but has been a steady contributor in all 8 games this season.
The game against the Texans was also the first this season where the Broncos were without cornerback and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, who missed the first of what could be 3 games with a pec strain.
“(Abrams–Draine) hit his chest and Stroud’s head slammed hard off turf,” The Denver Post’s Troy Renck wrote on his official X account. “No penalty on the play. Crowd furious. Stroud walked off under his own power. That is good news. The reason no penalty is bc no contact to head. So flag picked up.”
Kyle Monangai Hits Bears With Raw Message After Earning Game Ball in 1st NFL Start
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Running back Kyle Monangai of the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears look like they have found a real one in rookie running back Kyle Monangai.
A seventh-round pick out of Rutgers (No. 233 overall), Monangai started his first-ever NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 2. All he did in the outing was rush for 176 yards on 26 carries (6.8 yards per attempt) and add three receptions for 22 yards in an electric and chaotic 47-42 victory for Chicago.
Head coach Ben Johnson awarded Monangai the first of two game balls in the locker room following the contest, after which the RB offered a raw and heartfelt speech to his teammates.
GOOD. BETTER. BEST.
“Hey, I appreciate everybody in this room, man,” Monangai said. “It was my first start. Nobody knew what I was gonna do, but I told ya’ll I was gonna step up to the plate. Whatever I gotta do to get the next one. Hey, five wins right there. We gonna go get a sixth one next week. Appreciate ya’ll.”
For the season, Monangai has now rushed for 362 yards and one score on an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He earned the start after a groin injury sustained by running back D’Andre Swift, which sidelined him in Cincinnati Sunday.
Swift, and the Bears running game as a whole, had come on in recent weeks. He tallied outings of 108 rushing yards against the Washington Commanders, followed by a season-high 124 yards on the ground against the New Orleans Saints in the next game. Swift took a step back last week, putting up just 45 rushing yards in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Bears’ First-Round Pick Colston Loveland Produced Best Game of NFL Career Against Bengals
GettyChicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland.
Chicago’s second game ball went to tight end Colston Loveland, who finished the afternoon with six catches for 118 receiving yards and two scores, including the game-winning touchdown of 58 yards on a pass from quarterback Caleb Williams in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.
“Hey, I appreciate you guys. I love you guys,” Loveland said to the locker room. “Bro, like this [expletive] is so fun. We got to keep winning. Keep going in, working every day. Let’s keep it rolling.”
Loveland, also a rookie, was the No. 10 pick in Johnson’s first draft as a head coach. He had by far the best game of his young career on Sunday and has now amassed 17 catches for 234 receiving yards and two scores on the season.
Ben Johnson Delivers Impassioned Speech to Bears Players After 5-3 Start to Season
GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
It was Johnson, who handed out the game balls to Monangai and Loveland, who was easily the most impassioned speaker following the game.
“Hell yeah! Five wins man!” Johnson exclaimed to his players. “Halfway point, 5-3, and I know it wasn’t [expletive] pretty. But don’t apologize for a win in this league guys. Don’t [expletive] apologize. We did what we had to do.”
“Enjoy this win. It took all 60 minutes for that one,” Johnson continued. “Here’s what I know about this group, here’s what I know. If it is close in the fourth quarter … if it is close in the fourth quarter, you better [expletive] watch out!”
