EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A couple of New York Giants rookie playmakers reached milestones on a first-quarter drive against the Indianapolis Colts that concluded with a 31-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown by one of them, wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Nabers took a screen pass on third-and-14 from quarterback Drew Lock and slipped through tackles from Colts cornerback Nick Cross and safety Julian Blackmon on the right side. He then raced for the score to give the Giants a 7-3 lead.

Malik gets in the end zone ?

?: FOX pic.twitter.com/WdJj8Mnw6u

— New York Giants (@Giants) December 29, 2024

Nabers came into Sunday’s contest with 97 receptions for 969 yards. His first target of the game put him at exactly 1,000 yards for the season. It was his fifth receiving touchdown in 14 games.

The Giants were in scoring range because of a 40-yard rush from fellow rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. earlier in the drive. That rush put Tracy over 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season.

Nabers and Tracy are just the third rookie duo to reach 1,000 scrimmage yards each in a season. The last to do it was running back Reggie Bush and wide receiver Marques Colston of the 2006 New Orleans Saints.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Not much was going right for the New England Patriots in the first half of their game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but Drake Maye’s 36-yard touchdown pass to receiver DeMario Douglas late in the second quarter gave them a much-needed spark.

One key to the play was Maye’s cadence, which drew the Chargers offside, allowing for a free play.

The rookie then took advantage, even in the face of pressure. Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa had sliced through untouched and was in Maye’s face when the quarterback uncorked a high-arcing throw down the middle of the field. Douglas was running a deep route up the right side and adjusted to catch the ball at the goal line before rolling into the end zone.

WHAT A PLAY POP ?@DrakeMaye2 | @popshotta3

?: NFLN pic.twitter.com/fLkx8YTgfV

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 28, 2024

The ensuing extra point helped cut the Chargers’ lead to 17-7.

With at least one passing touchdown pass in his eighth straight game, Maye established a Patriots record for a rookie.

Maye also has three touchdown passes this season of at least 35 air yards, the most such touchdown passes by a Patriots quarterback in a season since Tom Brady (3) in 2009.

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni signaled that Kenny Pickett will get the start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys as Jalen Hurts continues to recover from a concussion.

“[Hurts] is still in the protocol. It’s going to be tough for him to make it this week,” Sirianni said Friday.

Hurts exited last week’s game against the Washington Commanders midway through the first quarter after his head collided with the turf as he was hit by linebacker Frankie Luvu while going to the ground following a 13-yard run.

Editor’s Picks

Michigan’s Kenneth Grant Jr., the massive defensive lineman who helped the Wolverines to a national title in 2023 and wins over Ohio State, is headed to the NFL draft.

Grant will forgo his final year of eligibility, he announced Thursday in a social media post. ESPN’s Mel Kiper lists the 6-3, 339-pound Grant as the No. 19 overall prospect for the 2025 draft, and the No. 4 draft-eligible defensive tackle prospect.

Go Blue 4L? pic.twitter.com/Z46HuY2wHN

— Kenneth Grant (KG) ?? (@KennyGrant78) December 26, 2024

A native of Gary, Indiana, Grant formed the nation’s best interior defensive line tandem with Mason Graham, who declared for the draft earlier this month and ranks No. 4 on Kiper’s Big Board. Grant led Michigan with two fumble recoveries and ranked second on the team with five pass breakups, while adding 3.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 quarterback hurries. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and third-team AP All-America honors.

Grant had four tackles and an assisted tackle for loss in Michigan’s 13-10 upset win over archrival Ohio State on Nov. 30.

He first flashed his incredible athleticism in 2023 at Penn State, when he tracked running back Kaytron Allen on a breakaway. Grant started five games for Michigan’s national championship-winning team, finishing with 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, 5 pass breakups, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery. He also earned second-team All-Big Ten honors that year.

Grant joins Graham, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland in declaring for the draft ahead of Michigan’s ReliaQuest Bowl appearance against No. 11 Alabama on Tuesday in Tampa.