#pass-rush

#pass-rush

The 49ers are among the teams interested in trading for Hendrickson, though Cincinnati is reportedly not interested in moving him. Other expected suitors include the Colts, Eagles, and Cowboys, per Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline. Hendrickson is owed $9.8MM for the rest of the season if traded after Week 8 ($8.9MM if after Week 9, per OverTheCap), and the Bengals will likely want an acquiring team to pick up all of his remaining salary.

Bailey has been a force off the edge this season, and he leads the FBS with a 24.6% pressure rate to go along with 8.5 sacks, which are tied for first. He is a constant disruptor who can win with speed or power. And with Micah Parsons now in Green Bay, the Cowboys need a potent pass-rushing presence outside, which Bailey could provide. Dallas' 11 sacks are tied for 22nd in the NFL, and that defense is giving up 6.2 yards per play, which ranks 30th.

Coming into the regular season, expectations were high for second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku. After the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons away a little over a week before their first game, many believed Ezeiruaku would step into a more significant role in Dallas' defense. The Boston College product totaled 16.5 sacks during his senior year at BC, the most in college football, so the hope was that he could replicate some of that production in a Parsons-less Cowboys defense.

After the NFL Draft in April, Giants coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen often used one word to describe their picks: toughness. Daboll said it was something the Giants coveted in free agency, too. Fast-forward six months, and it's starting to manifest more since Jaxson Dart became the starting quarterback. Consider Thursday night's 34-17 win over the Eagles.

New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's game plan is not only fluid but open to suggestions. That's a good thing for Big Blue's defense, as multiple requests to ramp up the pressure from head coach Brian Daboll and defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence helped the Giants preserve an upset 34-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. We have to be aggressive, Daboll said. I told Shane to be aggressive. Don't hold anything in your holster. Go after them. It worked.

Initially, I was shocked,

On Saturday afternoon, news broke that starting pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson would not be on the field on Sunday night, as he is still dealing with a knee injury that kept him away from practice in the days leading up to the game. That inevitably puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the defensive line, with an emphasis on the other pass rushers that will need to ensure Chaisson's absence is not too apparent, especially when going against a quarterback like Josh Allen and a running back like James Cook.

What makes the 36-year-old Miller particularly intriguing this week is the matchup opposite Trey Pipkins III. The right tackle has improved over the past two seasons, but he's still a lineman who can struggle with speed-to-power, bend, and counters from savvy rushers. He hasn't exactly been stout thus far in 2025, allowing 16 pressures in 163 pass protection snaps. That's precisely the kind of profile Miller exploits.

The New England Patriots' defense overall had a solid game against Carolina. One player who's beginning to assert himself and is getting back into top form is defensive lineman Christian Barmore. While his stats are not earth-shattering, Barmore is starting to make a difference on the defensive line, along with his teammate, Milton Williams. The defensive line is generating solid pressure on opposing quarterbacks, led by edge rushers Harold Landry III, K'Lavon Chaisson, and defensive tackles Barmore and Milton Williams, the top free agent signee.

For the Cowboys, home offers both comfort and pressure. Their lone victory came at AT&T Stadium, but the offense remains shorthanded. CeeDee Lamb is out, and Dak Prescott will again lean on tight end Jake Ferguson and a rotating cast of receivers while navigating a line missing key backups Tyler Booker and Cooper Beebe.

Are edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter in for a huge day against the Titans? In short: Oh yes. The Texans rank third in pass rush win rate this season (49%), while the Titans are below average in pass block win rate (57%). Star rushers Anderson and Hunter both rank in the top 10 in pass rush win rate at edge and each have multiple sacks on the season, despite the fact that Houston is winless.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Auburn coach Hugh Freeze called Oklahoma "one of the better pass-rushing teams in the country" after the 11th-ranked Sooners swarmed former quarterback Jackson Arnold and rode a record-setting defensive line performance to a 24-17 win over the No. 22 Tigers on Saturday. Arnold, a former five-star recruit who started nine games at Oklahoma in 2024, was a central storyline in the Week 4 SEC opener. The Sooners commemorated his return by sacking Arnold 10 times, setting a school record in a statement performance that lifted Oklahoma to 4-0 and handed the Tigers their first loss of the season.

It won't be all about keeping Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby quiet. Not when the Raiders have a hidden gem up front who's been causing havoc in the pocket through two games. Defensive tackle Jonah Laulu is a beefy and disruptive force for sub-package defenses in passing situations. He has the size and skills to wreck the Commanders' offensive line, which has been far from impressive so far.

When Stanford lost its first two games, interim coach Frank Reich told the players to wash away the stench of the loss in the post-game shower and come into the next week with the mentality of starting 1-0. After the Cardinal won its home and ACC opener last Saturday against Boston College, Reich had the same message don't let the result impact the way you prepare for the next game.

This game has been a testament to the recent youth movement that general manager Terry Fontenot has initiated on defense, utilizing a significant amount of draft capital over the past two years. James Pearce, Jr. and Jalon Walker have both shown their pass-rushing chops, earning at least a half sack apiece. Brandon Dorlus and Ruke Orhorhoro show their versatility along the line, and even Arnold Ebiketie has shown how reliable he can be.

Much more was needed in pursuit of toppling the Super Bowl-chasing Green Bay Packers on the road. The Packers hold lofty ambitions after securing the services of All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons via trade from the Dallas Cowboys. Their opening weekend win over the Detroit Lions made a massive statement. This was a strong early measuring stick for Daniels, and the fact that it was given the Thursday Night Football spotlight only lent further weight to the overall occasion.

"Yeah, we got Micah Parsons," Nixon said after Thursday's 27-18 win over the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. Parsons certainly did his part. He had six pressures of Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels on 32 pass rushes. On those plays, Daniels completed just 1 of 3 passes for 9 yards with two scrambles for 9 yards and was sacked once -- a shared sack between Parsons and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.

Deatrich Wise Jr.'s physicality impresses against the Giants, but also nearly gifts them a TD During the Commanders' second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the only preseason contest in which Washington's starters saw significant playing time, Wise picked up two face mask penalties. It's a trend that has continued into Week 1, with the longtime New England Patriot being flagged on fourth down with the Giants at the goal line.

"We're ready to go. Had some pain yesterday. I'm good today," Garrett said Friday following a lifting session after practice.

You see the explosiveness obviously rushing the passer, Bowen said on Thursday ahead of the Giants' season opener on Sunday against the Commanders down in Landover. He's a really good athlete, too. He can bend, the flexibility, everything that comes with it, which we've all seen from Penn State. Drafted No. 3 overall, Carter was considered by many to be the best overall athlete available and one who can turn a game on its head in an instant.