National Football League

The Latest: Brady has 2 TD passes in first half of '16 debut

Published Oct. 9, 2016 3:43 p.m. ET

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The Latest on the fifth week of the NFL season (all times Eastern):

2:40 p.m.

In his return from a four-game suspension, Tom Brady has thrown two touchdown passes to Martellus Bennett as the New England Patriots have a 23-7 halftime lead over the Cleveland Browns.

Brady is making his 2016 debut Sunday after serving a suspension for his role in the use of underinflated footballs during a playoff game. The Patriots went 3-1 without him.

In other games at halftime, Matthew Stafford has thrown three touchdown passes to give the Detroit Lions a 21-10 lead over the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles. Marcus Mariota has two touchdown passes and one touchdown run as the Tennessee Titans lead 21-14 at Miami.

The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the New York Jets 14-13, the Indianapolis Colts lead the Chicago Bears 16-13, the Minnesota Vikings lead the Houston Texans 24-6 and the Baltimore Ravens have a 10-6 edge over the Washington Redskins.

The first half of the early games has featured three touchdowns on punt returns - an 85-yarder by Washington's Jamison Crowder, a 79-yarder by Minnesota's Marcus Sherels and a 74-yarder by Miami's Jakeem Grant.

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2:35 p.m.

Miami Dolphins rookie Jakeem Grant scored his first NFL touchdown on a 74-yard punt return, and then came out of the game against Tennessee with an ankle injury.

Grant was questionable to return. His score tied the game and provided a much-needed lift for the Dolphins, who were outgained 195 yards to 26 in the early going.

- Steven Wine reporting in Miami.

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2:30 p.m.

The Philadelphia Eagles have already given up their highest scoring total of the season.

In fact, the Detroit Lions have scored a touchdown every time they've had the ball so far Sunday.

The Lions lead the Eagles 21-10 at halftime after Philadelphia hadn't allowed more than 14 points in any of its first three games. Theo Riddick has a pair of TDs for Detroit.

The Lions went 75 yards in 11 plays for their first touchdown, 53 yards in nine plays for another, and then drove 71 yards in 12 plays for the third TD. That third drive lasted 7:13.

- Noah Trister reporting from Detroit

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2:10 p.m.

One of the main attractions of the Redskins-Ravens game was the matchup between Washington standout cornerback Josh Norman and Ravens receiver Steve Smith.

Well, Smith twisted his ankle making a catch and headed immediately to the sideline. A few plays later Norman lay prone on the field for several minutes before walking off slowly.

Both players were ultimately taken to the locker room for treatment, though Norman has since returned to the game.

- David Ginsburg reporting in Baltimore.

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1:55 p.m.

The Cleveland Browns may have lost another quarterback.

Rookie Cody Kessler left Sunday's game against New England with chest and rib injuries. He was driven to the ground by Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower while attempting a pass late in the first quarter. Kessler's throw to Duke Johnson was behind the running back and went out of bounds in the end zone, giving New England a safety.

Kessler had to be helped up and after being checked by doctors he was taken to Cleveland's locker room for tests. The team said his return is questionable.

Kessler has been thrust into Cleveland's lineup because of injuries to starters Robert Griffin III (shoulder) and Josh McCown (collarbone). Kessler threw a 16-yard TD pass before getting hurt.

Terrelle Pryor quarterbacked the first two plays of Cleveland's nest series before Charlie Whitehurst took over.

- Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland.

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1:40 p.m.

Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore passed former NFL career rushing leader Jim Brown on the league's rushing list on Sunday.

Gore needed 20 yards to move into No. 9 on the career list. He made it with a 16-yard run with 1:17 left in the first quarter.

Gore now has 12,323 yards. Brown is the fifth Hall of Famer that Gore has passed this season.

- Mike Marot reporting from Indianapolis.

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1:20 p.m.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs Malcolm Jenkins and Ron Brooks stood on the sideline with their right fists in the air while the national anthem played in Detroit. They hugged each other afterward.

At the Dolphins-Titans game, wide receiver Kenny Stills, defensive back Michael Thomas as well as running back Arian Foster knelt during the anthem on the Miami Dolphins sideline.

Four of the Tennessee Titans, including linebacker Wesley Woodyard and defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, raised their fists in unison at the end of the anthem.

- Larry Lage reporting from Detroit and Steven Wine reporting from Miami.

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1:10 p.m.

Michael Phelps was the first man out of the tunnel when it came time to introduce the Baltimore Ravens before their game against the Washington Redskins.

Wearing a purple jersey with the No. 16, Phelps waved to the crowd as he jogged onto the field.

The Olympic hero was cheered loudly by the crowd.

Phelps, who grew up in Baltimore, has never made secret his love for his home team.

After running through a gauntlet of cheerleaders, Phelps locked himself in a hug with former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

- David Ginsburg reporting from Baltimore.

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12:50 p.m.

The Dolphins were without both starters on the left side of their offensive line against the Titans, with rookie guard Laremy Tunsil sidelined after he hurt an ankle during the pregame. Tackle Branden Albert sat out because of a virus.

Dallas Thomas replaced Tunsil at guard, and Billy Turner started at tackle. Mike Pouncey returned at center after missing the first four games with a hip injury.

The Dolphins offensive line has struggled all season to protect Ryan Tannehill and create running room.

- Steven Wine reporting from Miami.

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12:20 p.m.

If you're scrambling for a fantasy football running back, pick up Zach Zenner.

The Detroit Lions had just two running backs - Theo Riddick and Zenner - entering Sunday's game at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lions rookie Dwayne Washington was inactive with an ankle injury. Riddick's stock as a fantasy player went up and Washington was added to many rosters when Ameer Abdullah was hurt in Week 2.

Riddick has become a starter, but is more of a pass-receiving option than a player who gets the ball near the goal line or in short-yardage situations.

Zenner earned a spot on Detroit's roster last year as an undrafted rookie after starring at South Dakota State. He played in six games before his season ended with cracked ribs and a collapsed lung.

The 5-foot-11, 221-pound Zenner made the team again this year. He had three carries for 12 yards and one reception for 22 yards in last week's loss at Chicago.

Without Washington, he may at least approach his career high of 10 carries against the Eagles.

- Larry Lage reporting from Detroit.

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12:10 p.m.

Tom Brady's season debut is but the highlight of several spotlight NFL games in Week 5, with 12 matchups Sunday.

The New England quarterback returns from a four-game ''Deflategate'' suspension to play against the reeling Browns in Cleveland. He's hoping to bounce back the Patriots after a shutout loss to Buffalo last week.

Also Sunday, the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles return from a bye to play in Detroit, while the Falcons try to follow up a dazzling offensive performance last week against the Broncos and their tough defense.

The early games Sunday besides Patriots-Browns and Eagles-Lions are: Bears at Colts, Titans at Dolphins, Redskins at Ravens, Texans at Vikings and Jets at Steelers.

The late afternoon games besides Falcons-Broncos are: Bengals at Cowboys, Chargers at Raiders and Bills at Rams. The Giants visit the Packers on Sunday night.

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12:05 p.m.

Dozens of fans, many in No. 12 Patriots jerseys, eagerly awaited Brady's entrance from the tunnel leading from the locker rooms in Cleveland. Far more fans rooted for New England's early arrivals than for Cleveland's.

When their returning hero trotted onto the field with backup Jimmy Garoppolo, a huge cheer and chants of ''Brady, Brady,'' broke out. Brady looked up at a group of fans behind the end zone and pumped his right arm once before beginning to warm up.

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10:45 a.m.

His eyes staring straight ahead, Tom Brady strode down the corridors of Cleveland's FirstEnergy Stadium and into the visiting locker room three hours before he'll finally take the field in a 2016 NFL game.

Brady was wearing headphones around his neck and a glare on his face Sunday morning. He already had his game face on.

The New England quarterback came off the suspended list on Monday after serving a four-game suspension for his role in the use of deflated footballs in the 2014 AFC championship game. The Patriots went 3-1 without him.

''Deflategate'' is behind Brady. In front of him are the 0-4 Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m.

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