KSR NFL Cover Zero – Week 5 Preview: Injuries Mount, QB Dramas, and the NFL Landscape

Hosts: Drew Franklin (filling in for Matt Jones) & Billy Rutledge
Release Date: October 2, 2025

Episode Overview

Drew Franklin and Billy Rutledge steer the ship for KSR’s "NFL Cover Zero" with Matt Jones on his final leg home from South Africa, sans phone and full of travel woes. This lively episode covers a jam-packed news week: major injuries to superstars like Tyreek Hill and Malik Nabers, critical quarterback changes, the international NFL slate, and an unexpected Super Bowl halftime choice. The duo dives into Week 5's biggest matchups, shares personal fandom stories, and wraps up with their beloved (and notorious) anytime touchdown parlay picks.

Main Themes & Structure

• Matt’s absence & travel anecdotes
• Biggest NFL news: injuries, QB changes, halftime show
• Fandom confessions and NFL rooting rules
• Week 5: Top games breakdown & quick hits
• Billy & Drew’s famous touchdown parlay
• Natural banter, football stats, story-driven analysis

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "He's a guy that'll read a magazine at a Reds game, so I'm sure he'll be fine for the most part." – Billy on Matt’s phone-free travails [02:38]
• "I need a team that can at least tie. None of my teams can win. I haven't found a winner yet." – Drew on shifting his fandom fashion [07:25]
• “I'm not somebody that hates soccer, but it does feel un-American to end a game in a tie.” – Billy on NFL ties [06:48]
• "I talk way too much. I am disappointed in his miming." – Drew on Shedeur Sanders’ press conference mime act [35:18]

Key Discussion Points

1. Matt’s International Adventures & No-Phone Woes

00:04–05:45

• Matt Jones is en route back from South Africa, phone-less after losing it on a ferry.
• Drew and Billy riff on the horror of tackling international air travel sans phone, lauding Matt’s survival skills.
• “Do you talk to the people around you, Drew, or is that like you’re at the gym?” [04:58]

2. Looking Back: Wild Week 4 Recap

06:10–09:00

• Brief debrief: Cowboys-Packers 40-40 tie, high-scoring and "un-American."
• Micah Parsons' late-game heroics, George Pickens' big night (and not knowing NFL tie rules).
• Drew and Billy fess up to dual-team fandom and the odd circumstances that led them there.

3. NFL Fandom: How Do You Pick Your Team?

09:00–12:18

• Drew: Grew up a Cowboys fan, switched allegiance to new local team Titans as a teen ("I can't undo my childhood").
• Billy: Lifelong Buccaneers fan via family, stuck through culture shock moves and plenty of post-Super Bowl suffering.

4. Major Injury Headlines

12:18–15:32

• Tyreek Hill (Dolphins): Season-ending knee injury. Drew and Billy criticize fans making light of the injury; “hate to see that from a guy that's so explosive.” [13:06]
• Malik Nabers (Giants): Star WR, torn ACL, Yanks energy from recent Giants QB change.
• Eerie parallels with OBJ’s injury: “Both were playing against the Chargers when they tore their ACL in MetLife on turf.” [15:24]
• The ongoing “turf debate” and Odell’s push for change.

5. More Injury & QB Drama

16:21–19:59

• Lamar Jackson: Hamstring, week-to-week; Ravens sink to 1–3.
• Browns QB Change: Flacco benched for rookie Dylan Gabriel; discussion of Browns’ revolving QBs (“41 quarterbacks since 1999, and Dylan Gabriel will be 41.” [19:31])
• Shedeur Sanders’ Mime Act: Sanders responds to demotion with silent miming during presser; Drew and Billy dissect implications for maturity and the rookie-QB drama in Cleveland.

6. Super Bowl Halftime: A Bad Bunny Surprise

20:36–23:46

• Taylor Swift rumors dashed: “Are you a Bad Bunny fan? ...I’m 40, little past my Bad Bunny era.” – Drew [21:03]
• Hosts accept they’re “not the demographic” for the halftime act but predict fun cameos and international flair.

7. Special Teams Oddity: Blocked Kicks & The NFL’s Weird Excuse

24:16–26:33

• CBS Sports exposes special teams coaches blaming the new kickoff rules for ignoring field goal/punt blocking in practice.
• “You're telling me with all that technology, all those resources... you can't possibly figure out how to get a couple things into a practice?” – Drew [25:33]

Week 5 Key Game Breakdowns

1. 49ers at Rams (Thursday Night Football)

28:45–32:26

• Both teams 3-1, but 49ers decimated by injuries (“This 49ers team is beat up... Purdy comes back and could be out again.” – Billy [28:45])
• Rams seen as favorites; Puka Nacua emerging as a top WR.
• Side plot: Ongoing "legal sign stealing" drama between coaches; Shanahan v. Saleh v. Cohen.

2. Vikings vs Browns (London Game)

32:50–37:14

• Vikings settle into international routine; Browns give rookie QB Gabriel his first start.
• Shedeur Sanders’ sideline mime “bit” dissected as childish and misplaced (full segment [33:34–35:46]).

3. Broncos at Eagles

38:00–41:26

• Eagles undefeated, but offense sputtering; Jalen Hurts struggling in the air.
• Denver’s defense (15 sacks in four games) gives them a shot in an otherwise tough matchup.
• A.J. Brown cryptic tweet drama (“If you're not welcome and not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene.” – Brown [40:01])

4. Buccaneers at Seahawks

42:09–45:18

• Throwback uniform matchup; both teams 3-1, battle for NFC playoff grounds.
• Drew to Billy: “I think at this point I like Baker more than I ever did Tom Brady, which is saying a lot.” [45:47]

5. Commanders at Chargers

46:27–48:52

• Commanders get Jaden Daniels back; Drew lauds backup Mariota (“highest rated PFF QB” in relief [48:15]), predicts Chargers rebound from fluky Giants loss.

Quick Hitters: Other Games & Storylines

• Raiders at Colts: Michael Myers stance “stat oddity” for RB Ashton Jeanty: “with the stance: 23 touches, 155 yds, 3 TDs; without: 17/49/0.3.” [51:16]
• Cowboys vs Jets: Dak Prescott MVP-caliber numbers, abysmal Cowboys D; Drew recommends taking the over [52:55]
• Dolphins vs Panthers: All eyes on Waller’s comeback as Dolphins cope with Tyreek Hill’s absence.
• Giants at Saints: Scatterbo emerging as a cult favorite running back; extended riff on how he’s always “dirty, even on turf.” [57:28]
• Ravens vs Texans: Cooper Rush gets Ravens' QB start, team plummets in rankings [61:33].
• Lions at Bengals: Lions thriving; Bengals “don’t look like they practice.” [62:44]
• Cardinals at Titans: Drew, deadpan: “No rant, I’m dead inside. I love you, Titans…” [63:01]. Billy: “Good luck finding another [position]. Jeffrey Simmons ain't gonna be on that team for much longer, I don't think.” [64:10]
• Bills at Patriots (SNF): Double revenge game for Diggs and Bills; Drew: “Drake May… may be him.” [68:10]
• Jaguars at Chiefs (MNF): Chiefs’ offense revived by Xavier Worthy’s return.

Touchdown Parlay & Fantasy Fun

Pick Four Parlay:

• Amarion Hampton (Chargers)
• A.J. Brown (Eagles) – “He’s getting the ball a lot, they’re going to try to make him happy.” [75:24]
• Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers)
• Cam Skattebo (Giants) – “He just keeps getting dirtier and dirtier...” [77:32]

Their betting adventures and heartbreak stories feature heavily, with Tucker Kraft singled out as Drew’s “touchdown parlay nemesis.” [72:06]

Episode Tone

Casual, banter-filled football immersion, balanced by thorough stats and storytelling. Drew and Billy’s chemistry mixes diehard fan humor, genuine analysis, and a sprinkle of classic sports movie nostalgia.

Standout Segments & Timestamps

• [06:10] Cowboys, Packers, Ties & NFL Fandom rules
• [13:06] Tyreek Hill’s injury & fallout
• [15:24] Malik Nabers' OBJ injury parallels & turf debate
• [24:16] Blocked kick oddity
• [35:18] Shedeur Sanders silent-mime press conference
• [40:01] A.J. Brown’s cryptic tweet
• [51:16] Michael Myers RB stance stat
• [63:01] Drew’s Titans funeral
• [77:32] Skattebo “dirtiest” NFL player on turf

For New Listeners

Even without Matt Jones, the KSR NFL Cover Zero is a rollicking ride through all things NFL—surprising stats, pop culture, and the agony (and comedy) of fandom. You'll gain real insight into this week's league-wide storylines, enjoy colorful recaps of oddities and controversies, and might just find your next favorite touchdown parlay.