What happened: Derrick Brown, who addressed reporters in July, is taking occasional breather snaps to pace himself through the 2026 NFL regular season. The workload adjustment surfaces Thursday as preparations continue for Sunday's game.

Why it matters: Per ESPN (as of Sept. 29, 2026), Brown recorded 73 tackles and five sacks during the 2025 campaign. Rationing his interior defensive reps midseason aims to keep his pass-rush and run-stopping presence intact for the back half of the schedule.

What to watch: Sunday's game will provide the next look at how the defensive line rotation divides Brown's snaps.