NFL

Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough got a ringing endorsement from former All-Pro DB Tyrann Mathieu following his big upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday ... "kind words" Shough reacted to when he chatted with TMZ Sports!

We spoke with Shough -- who was with his Pro Bowl teammate Cam Jordan at a Raising Cane's event -- just a few days removed from Mathieu's declaration that ... "This city should absolutely get behind him & embrace him as QB for (the) next decade!!"

In other words, Tyrann's seen enough -- Tyler's the guy.

"Being around [Tyrann] and for a short amount of time, and everything that he's done, and especially in this state, what a great honor," Shough told us.

T.J. Watt's sudden lung issue freaked out a lot of people, including Steelers legend Brett "Da Beard" Keisel, who tells TMZ Sports he's hoping for a quick and full recovery so the defensive monster can return to the field ASAP!!

We spoke with the two-time Super Bowl champion this week ... shortly after Watt had surgery on his partially collapsed lung following a dry needling treatment at the Steelers' practice facility.

Watt -- former NFL Defensive Player of the Year -- will miss at least the December 15 "Monday Night Football" matchup ... and Keisel has his fingers crossed his recovery doesn't take too long, while still prioritizing his full health.

Hailee Steinfeld and her husband, NFL star Josh Allen, are expecting their first child together!

The actress announced the baby news Friday in her weekly newsletter, and in a subsequent Instagram post.

The social post features a video of the "Sinners" star showing off her baby bump in various adorable embraces with her man. In one clip, the reigning NFL MVP gets down on his knees to kiss his wife's exposed belly.

T.J. Watt underwent surgery on Thursday to repair and stabilize a partially collapsed lung after a dry needling treatment session at the Pittsburgh Steelers facility ... his brother, J.J., announced on Friday.

Watt shared the news on social media after the team announced he was admitted to the hospital with a health scare. While no recovery timeline is currently available, he is expected to be released from the hospital on Friday.

"He and his family are very appreciative of everyone's kind words and well wishes," J.J. said.

Bijan Robinson is expressing his regret over repeating the controversial name of a playground game during an interview ... saying even though he didn't mean any disrespect by uttering "smear the queer" on live TV, it shouldn't have come out of his mouth.

The Atlanta Falcons star was chopping it up with the Prime Video crew after his team's big win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" ... when Richard Sherman praised his ability to avoid being tackled throughout the contest.

Robinson had 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground ... and 82 yards through the air in the 29-28 win.

It's safe to say Todd Bowles wasn’t in a great mood after his Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost on a last-second field goal to the Atlanta Falcons ... going on an expletive-laced postgame press conference -- calling his team’s performance "in-f***ing-excusable."

Bowles met with the media after Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez lifted Atlanta to a 29-28 win to send the Bucs to a 7-7 record following "Thursday Night Football," and he wasn’t hiding his feelings.

“It's inexcusable," Bowles said. "We don't make excuses. You gotta f***ing care enough where the sh*t hurts. You gotta f***ing care enough where the sh*t hurts. Gotta f***ing mean something to you. It's more than a job, it's your f***ing livelihood. How well do you know your job? How well can you do your job? You can't sugarcoat that sh*t.”

Warren Moon once started a game at 44 years old -- something Philip Rivers may also do come Sunday -- and the Pro Football Hall of Famer is reacting to the shocking signing, and offering advice, 'cause playing quarterback is never easy, especially in your mid-40s!

"We've seen guys like Joe Flacco come back and do great coming out of retirement, but he wasn't in retirement very long," Moon told TMZ Sports this week. "In this situation, I'm a little more alarmed because he's been away from the game for so long."

T.J. Watt experienced a health scare at the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice facility on Wednesday ... and was hospitalized with a lung issue.

Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten shared the concerning news on Thursday, stating the linebacker is at a medical facility for further medical evaluation after experiencing "discomfort" during practice.

"He will not be at practice on Thursday," Lauten said, "and his status for Monday night's game vs. Miami is in question."

The NFL world is still processing the fact that 44-year-old Philip Rivers is back on the Indianapolis Colts ... and that includes Cam Newton, who admitted he felt like it was a "slap to my face" he didn't get a call.

Newton spoke about the signing on his "4th&1" podcast ... where he clearly seemed annoyed that the Colts didn't check in on his availability.

When his co-host asked if Cam's work in the media gives off the vibe he'd be interested in, Newton didn't agree with the narrative.

Taylor Swift's got some practice shaking off the haters ... and now, she's got a simple response for critics who want her to "go away."

Check out her Wednesday appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" -- she claps back at naysayers who plead with her to exit the spotlight, bluntly arguing ... "I don't want to!" Case closed.

Nearly in the same breath, the "Opalite" hitmaker shouts out her fiancé Travis Kelce as being one of her 3 favorite people to turn to for life and career advice, enthusiastically noting ... "I can talk to him about any of this."

Philip Rivers can't wait to get back on an NFL field ... but his wife, on the other hand, is a little concerned about him going out there at 44 years old -- the new Colt admitted on Wednesday she's nervous about his safety and well-being on the gridiron.

The NFL quarterback -- who signed with Indianapolis' practice squad after Daniel Jones' season-ending injury -- spoke with the media minutes ago ... his first time at the NFL podium since he retired in 2021.

When Rivers, 44, was asked about his family's reaction to his comeback ... he revealed his wife, Tiffany, is anxious.

More tragedy for Kevin Faulk and his family ... the LSU legend and Super Bowl champ unexpectedly lost his daughter, four years after the sudden death of one of his other children.

Faulk's 30-year-old daughter, Tanasha, died at the Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center on Saturday. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but no foul play is suspected.

"Tanasha will be remembered for her kindness, her unwavering love for her family, and the light she brought to all who knew her," her obituary said.

Cam Skattebo is a happy man Wednesday morning -- the New York Giants running back showed the world he is up and walking again after suffering a gruesome ankle injury two months ago.

The Giants rookie shared the update with his fans on Instagram ... publishing a clip of himself strolling into the team facility without the assistance of a scooter or a boot.

"God is good man," Skattebo said. "Just want to say thank you to everybody that supported, man. We getting back let's go."

The 20-year-old man accused of shooting Jets player Kris Boyd in NYC appeared before a judge on Tuesday ... with prosecutors claiming surveillance footage and cell phone records pin him to the scene of the crime.

Frederick Green was formally read his charges in connection with the Nov. 16 incident -- one count of attempted murder, one count of assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

The judge granted prosecutors' request for remand ... meaning he'll remain in custody.

Former San Diego Charger Quentin Jammer was more like Quentin Hammered during his career ... claiming he played in several games "completely s*** faced drunk."

The 46-year-old made the shocking confession Monday night ... going to X to say, "True story……. In 2011  I played completely s*** faced drunk in at least 8 games."

Jammer -- the No. 5 overall pick out of Texas in 2002 -- went on to say while the 2011 campaign was a bit fuzzy, he definitely remembers being lit for a contest against the Chicago Bears ... and some folks seemed convinced they could tell he wasn't himself when going back through footage.

An arrest has been made in connection with the shooting of New York Jets player Kris Boyd ... a person of interest was taken into custody in Buffalo on Monday, TMZ Sports confirmed.

Law enforcement sources say a 20-year-old man was arrested in Western New York just hours ago ... and is currently on his way back to the Big Apple to face charges in the case.

NYPD and U.S. Marshals were both part of the apprehension.