A week after frightening injury, Falcons rookie Daniels comes up big in win over 49ers

ATLANTA (AP) — A week ago, Atlanta Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels was carted off the field on a stretcher, his body strapped to a backboard, his head engulfed by an ominous-looking brace. No one was thinking about when he might return. The immediate concern was whether he sustained any career-threatening or even life-altering damage.

Which made his performance Sunday even more remarkable.

In a game the Falcons desperately needed to win, Daniels came through with a team-high 11 tackles, made a crucial interception in the fourth quarter and, for good measure, recovered a fumble that finished off a 29-20 win over the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers.

“I'm really proud of that kid,” said coach Kevin Stefanski, who rewarded the 23-year-old linebacker with a game ball.

Once he left the hospital and was cleared physically, Daniels faced the inevitable mental challenge of getting back on the field without any lingering doubts or fears holding him back. He knew that his facemask-on-knee collision with Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland could have turned out much worse.

“I've never not walked off the field after an injury,” Daniels said. “So mentally, I had to be prepared. Going back home, I had to make sure I was OK mentally, more than anything, and not playing timid.”

No one would accuse him of timidity against Brock Purdy and the Niners.

Daniels turned up everywhere, making the sort of big plays the Falcons (3-4) needed to pick up their first home win of the season. Especially in the final quarter, when the fourth-round draft pick looked like a budding star with Atlanta clinging to a 26-20 lead.

On third-and-9 from just shy of midfield, Purdy attempted a pass over the middle. Daniels read it all the way, leaping high to deflect the ball into his own hands. With the pick secured, he took off the other way for a 29-yard return that set up Nick Folk's field goal with 1:56 remaining.

“I had missed one earlier in the game,” Daniels said. “I just knew I needed to make a play for my team.”

Daniels wasn't done, either.

The 49ers tried to race down the field for a touchdown or field goal that would've at least given them a shot at an onside kick. But Jessie Bates jarred the ball loose from George Kittle after a long completion, and Daniels, hustling all the way, fell on the fumble at the Falcons 20 with 47 seconds to go.

Bring on the victory formation.

Teammate Maason Smith marveled at how far Daniels had come in the past week.

“I can remember on Monday, he could barely turn his neck to either side,” Smith said. “To see him go through all that, then come back on the following Sunday and have a hell of a game is great to see. I hope to see more of it.”

Daniels conceded that he was still thinking about the injury when he came out for the warmups at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a player alone with his thoughts after a harrowing ordeal.

“I wasn’t scared, but I definitely thought about it,” Daniels said. “I haven’t been in full pads all week. What if I’m not OK? But once I got my first tackle in pregame, I was good.”

He wouldn't get any argument from the 49ers, who lost for the first time this season largely because of four turnovers.

The Falcons can only hope their young linebacker's inspiring recovery signals a long-term turnaround for a long-suffering franchise.

Daniels is certainly looking forward. When fellow rookie linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. was slapping him on the back of his helmet in celebration as the final seconds ticked way, leaving the field the previous Sunday on a stretcher was long forgotten.

“That was the last thing I was worried about,” Daniels said with a grin.

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Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels (53) lies on the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game between the Falcons and the Chicago Bears in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels is taken off the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game between the Falcons and the Chicago Bears in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels (53) returns an interception as San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) and Trent Williams, right, give chase during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels celebrates a defensive stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels (53) returns an interception as San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams, right, makes the stop during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

DETROIT (AP) — Dan Campbell's latest gamble did not pan out and the Detroit Lions made plays in all three phases — with some yellow flags that went their way — to bail out the aggressive coach.

Jake Bates made a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give Detroit a 20-17 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Campbell, who is known for taking risks, seemed to make a reckless decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his 24 with just under 5 minutes to play and Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for no gain.

“I thought we would get it, No. 1," Campbell said. “No. 2, I knew we would get the ball back if it didn’t work out.”

One play after Jordan Love put a pass on Josh Jacobs’ hands for an incompletion that landed in in the end zone, rookie Trey Smack missed a 35-yard field goal after D.J. Wonnum got a finger on the football.

Smack was wide right from 26 in the first half and became the first kicker to miss two field goals from 35 yards or closer in same game since 2019, according to Sportradar.

“We had some premier field position and we just didn't take advantage,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “We missed two field goals, but we know Trey is capable of making those.”

With a chance to drive for a winning score, Goff connected with Sam LaPorta on an 18 -yard pass and Karl Brooks was called for a late hit on the quarterback gave Detroit the ball at the Green Bay 45.

Gibbs had a 15-yard run and Brooks was called for being offside on third-and-5, giving Detroit a first down at the Packers 15.

Gibbs could have run for a touchdown twice because Green Bay didn’t want to tackle him, hoping to get the ball back. The running back wisely went down each time, the latter allowing Bates’ winning kick to come on the final play.

“That was as good as it gets at clock management,” Goff said.

The Lions (4-2) have won two straight for the first time this season, putting them in third place in the NFC North behind Minnesota (6-0) and Chicago (5-2).

Detroit hosts the undefeated Vikings on Sunday.

“Any division game is important,” said safety Brian Branch, who had a fourth-quarter interception in his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon last December. “We need these. They're mini-playoff games.”

The Packers (4-3) had a three-game winning streak stopped and dropped to last place in the highly competitive NFC North. All four teams have winning records, matching the AFC North.

The Lions entered the game with only one turnover and lost two fumbles that took away chances for them to add to three-point leads late in the first half and early in the third quarter. The second turnover set up Love's 25-yard touchdown pass to Jacobs for a 14-10 Green Bay lead.

Detroit retook the lead on the ensuing drive on Goff's 10-yard scoring pass to Williams, who had two TD receptions for a second straight week.

The Lions missed another opportunity to add to a three-point lead when Campbell went for it on fourth-and-5 from the Green Bay 6 late in the third and Goff threw incomplete.

LaFleur passed on a field goal while trailing by three in the second quarter, and Love's pass to Matthew Golden was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-4 from the Detroit 7. But Smack had already missed from 26 by then.

Jacobs made his season debut less than a week after the three-time Pro Bowl running back was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list for pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a May altercation with his then-girlfriend. He had five receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown and 11 carries for 36 yards.

Penalties gave Detroit five first downs, the most for the Lions since 2020.

“I’m not a fan of the refs right now,” Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney said in an expletive-filled response to questions about the officials.

LaFleur was more diplomatic.

“I could tell you what I really think, but it wouldn't do us any good,” he said.

Packers: Starting C Sean Rhyan (ankle) and backup Jacob Monk (quad) were injured, putting second-year lineman John Williams in the game to snap for his first career appearance on offense. LaFleur said he would not expect Rhyan on Monk to play on Thursday night against Carolina.

Lions: C Cade Mays made his Detroit debut after signing as a free agent in the offseason. He injured a wrist in training camp. ... Oft-injured CB Ennis Rakestraw (ankle) was hurt during the game.

Packers: Host the Panthers on Thursday night.

Lions: Host the Vikings on Sunday.

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Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes, left, breaks up a pass intended for Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) celebrates after kicking a field goal on the final play of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) kicks a field goal on the final play of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) does a flip after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)