GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers expected an early-season challenge with Josh Jacobs unavailable on offense and Micah Parsons still sidelined on defense.

What they did not anticipate was such a disastrous home opener.

A patchwork offensive line struggled to protect Jordan Love and open lanes for Jacobs’ replacements as Green Bay suffered a stunning 35-14 loss to the previously winless Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

Packers fans at Lambeau Field booed the team throughout much of the second half. At 1-2, Green Bay now faces a possible crossroads before September is over.

The performance was far from what team president and CEO Ed Policy envisioned when he gave coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst contract extensions. Those deals came despite Green Bay finishing the 2025 season with five consecutive losses, including a wild-card defeat at Chicago in which the Packers squandered a 21-3 lead.

Green Bay had reached the playoffs in three straight seasons, but Thursday’s showing bore little resemblance to that of a postseason contender.

The absences of Parsons and Jacobs have clearly affected the Packers.

Parsons will miss at least one more game while recovering from the torn ACL that cut short his All-Pro 2025 season.

Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest two weeks ago to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property charges related to a May altercation with his then-girlfriend.

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Green Bay’s injury problems along the offensive line have compounded those setbacks.

The Packers were without two starting linemen Thursday. Left guard Aaron Banks injured his toe, while right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele suffered a torn patellar tendon during Sunday’s 20-17 overtime win over the New York Jets. Bako-Bewele, regarded as Green Bay’s top lineman when healthy, will miss the rest of the season.

Discipline has also become a significant concern.

The Packers entered Thursday having committed an NFL-high 26 penalties over their first two games. They held a 7-0 lead when Brenton Cox Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer after a third-down incompletion. The penalty kept Atlanta’s drive alive, and the Falcons responded with a tying touchdown before taking control of the game.

Green Bay’s run defense had been one of its few bright spots through the opening two weeks. The Packers were allowing just 2.9 yards per carry, the second-best mark in the NFL.

That strength vanished Thursday night.

Atlanta dominated on the ground, outgaining Green Bay 242-17 while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Bijan Robinson powered the Falcons with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

With Jacobs unavailable, Green Bay is counting on MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson to carry the rushing load. Neither found much success Thursday: Lloyd had 11 yards on four carries, while Johnson gained 6 yards on four attempts.

The Packers’ running game stalled for most of the night. LaFleur must find a way to create momentum for his young backs if Green Bay is going to rescue its season.

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to cast Iran as a target of terrorism carried out by the United States and Israel.

Just beyond the chamber, however, thousands of demonstrators demanded that Pezeshkian be detained, accusing him of terrorism.

“They are terrorists. They must go!” protesters shouted repeatedly as they waved green, white and red flags associated with the resistance movement.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told the crowd that the Iranian president repeatedly lies and accused him of murder and terrorism.

Giuliani said negotiations with Iran’s leaders were futile, comparing any attempt to reach an agreement with them to negotiating with Adolf Hitler.

A number of former senior government officials echoed those accusations, condemning what they described as a radical Islamic government that has brutally repressed the Iranian people for decades. Estimates indicate that more than 20,000 people may have been killed after taking part in freedom protests across Iran earlier this year, while reports of political prisoners being executed continue to emerge weekly.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who served in both Trump administrations, called for an end to clerical rule in Iran. He said the country had a pathway toward becoming a secular, non-nuclear republic and rejoining the free world as an ally.

Former U.S. Ambassador Marc Ginsberg called on Congress to approve the Maximum Support Act. The proposed legislation would target Iran’s financial resources, seize government assets and expand internet access and online freedom so Iranians could organize and make their voices heard.

Ginsberg appealed to President Trump to provide funding, political backing and the tools he said Iran’s people need. Such assistance, he argued, would fulfill a previous promise, help move the United States toward an end to the conflict and strengthen support for what he called Iran’s “arsenal of democracy.”

Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said in a video message that Iranians have rejected every type of dictatorship, whether based on religion or monarchy.

Rajavi said the demands of Iran’s oppressed population were reaching the international community. She also denounced the continued presence of the country’s clerical leadership in Iran’s seat at the United Nations.

The demonstration unfolded across two days, with speakers delivering a steady message to diplomats gathered at the United Nations.

Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRI’s Washington office, told Fox News that Iran’s government responds only to strong and decisive action. He described sanctions and sustained international pressure as the most effective external tools for confronting the regime.

Jafarzadeh argued that Iran’s ruling system is unable to reform itself, saying meaningful change would have happened long ago if the regime were capable of delivering it. He said the country’s future instead depends on its people, adding that negotiations, concessions and diplomatic talks would not alter the government’s conduct.

“The real Iran is represented by the people of Iran,” he said. “The real change has to come from within.”

Ed Sheeran’s scheduled Friday and Saturday performances at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, could be disrupted by severe weather, adding another complication after the controversy surrounding former opening act Macklemore and venue owner Robert Kraft.

Production sources told TMZ on Thursday that a storm moving through the Northeast had interrupted construction of Sheeran’s stage. The concerts had already drawn attention after Macklemore was removed from the lineup over his political views.

Although part of the stage had been assembled earlier Thursday, crew members were reportedly told to pause further construction, according to a source who spoke with the outlet.

Executives were said to be considering dismantling the structure before the shows. Forecast rain and strong winds could make the outdoor performances unsafe while also posing a risk to stage equipment.

A separate venue source said the stage was otherwise prepared for Friday’s concert, with lighting the only major element still being completed. Workers were testing the lights Thursday evening.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Sheeran for additional comment.

No official decision had been announced on whether the concerts would go ahead. It was also unclear whether the performances would be postponed or canceled if the poor weather continued, the outlet reported.

Macklemore has claimed that Sheeran dropped him from the tour after Kraft objected to his pro-Palestinian statements amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.

Several of Sheeran’s other opening acts and touring musicians subsequently withdrew from dates in support of Macklemore.

Those who stepped away included the group Beoga, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish.

Sheeran addressed the controversy during his concert last Saturday at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, saying his public comments were not usually intended to be political.

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‘I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,’ Sheeran said.

Macklemore announced Thursday that he would launch a series of Free Palestine tour dates next month, with proceeds set to support organizations providing aid connected to Palestinian causes.

‘If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,’ Macklemore said on Instagram. ‘There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now.’

He continued, ‘When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.’

Ticket buyers had already begun seeking refunds after Sheeran removed Macklemore from the opening lineup for his North and South American tour dates.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced in a news release on Thursday that Ticketmaster had said it will honor hundreds of refund requests for the Gillette Stadium shows amid the controversy.

‘After hearing from nearly 200 consumers who were struggling to obtain refunds from Ticketmaster for Ed Sheeran’s shows at Gillette Stadium this weekend,’ Campbell said, ‘my office jumped into action to demand that consumers be provided a clear path to get their money back if they no longer want to attend due to significant changes to the lineup.

‘I encourage anyone who wants a refund to act quickly and submit their request at least 24 hours before showtime.’

The Rams made an unexpected roster move Wednesday ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the Eagles, promoting safety Maximus Pulley from the practice squad to the active roster.

Head coach Sean McVay later explained why Los Angeles felt the move was necessary.

The immediate need centered on special teams. The Rams must replace veteran running back Ronnie Rivers, a reliable contributor in that phase of the game, after he suffered an injury.

“It was just a freak deal where he was jumping up, and I think he got it when he was just jumping up to loosen himself up. It’s a four- to six-week injury. I’m bummed out for Ronnie,” McVay said. “We’re just a little bit lighter on the back end, so we figured, let’s bring him [Pulley] in.”

McVay said Pulley’s college film also helped convince the Rams that he was worth bringing up from the practice squad.

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Pulley played at Wofford College last season, where he turned in an impressive campaign at safety. He finished with 80 tackles, five interceptions and a forced fumble.

“We’ll welcome him with open arms and go from there,” McVay said.

For now, Pulley’s role appears likely to focus on special teams, though his opportunities could grow. Starting safety Kamren Kinchens missed Thursday’s practice because of a hamstring injury.

Pulley is currently listed as Los Angeles’ third safety, behind Tanner Ingle and Jaylen McCollough.

Still, a strong showing Sunday night against the Broncos could give Pulley a chance to make a lasting impression on the Rams’ coaching staff and teammates.

Pulley already caught the attention of the Eagles during the preseason. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the league’s 12th-highest-graded safety after he recorded 16 tackles, including five defensive stops.

A doctor at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was fatally stabbed and his wife was critically wounded after a man allegedly broke into their Pennsylvania home and attacked them as they slept early Thursday, police said.

Dr. Idris Evans, 46, died in the attack at his home in Edgewood, according to the Allegheny County Police Department.

His wife was in critical but stable condition Thursday, police told News Media.

Allegheny County 9-1-1 received a report of a stabbing in the 100 block of Linden Avenue at 12:31 a.m. Responding officers and medical personnel found Evans and his wife with multiple stab wounds, police said.

Evans was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His wife was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway of Pittsburgh.

Based on witness interviews, detectives determined that Hemingway allegedly entered the home and attacked Evans and his wife while they were in bed, police said.

Evans’ wife told investigators that the couple awoke to a man attacking them with a kitchen knife, according to court documents obtained by KDKA reported. She said the attacker was wearing only underwear and made statements about “being God,” the outlet reported.

During the assault, Evans’ wife shouted for the couple’s children, ages 8 and 12, to leave the house and go to a neighbor’s home, according to KDKA.

She also told investigators that Evans called the attacker “Elijah,” suggesting that he may have known him, according to the outlet.

“We do not know if there was any pre-existing relationship,” Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph said, according to KDKA. “The woman did not know this male. We are trying to determine if the two males knew each other.”

A K-9 team from the Monroeville Police Department searching the neighborhood found Hemingway behind a nearby home with cuts on his hand, county police said. He remained hospitalized Thursday while awaiting transfer to the Allegheny County Jail, police told News Media.

Hemingway faces charges that include criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass, police said. No changes to the charges had been announced Thursday, police told News Media.

Investigators have not disclosed a motive. Police told News Media that they were still examining both a possible motive and whether Hemingway and Evans knew each other.

Evans served as medical director of the Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and was an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, according to his university profile.

“The UPMC and University of Pittsburgh community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. Idris Evans, a pediatric critical care physician at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh,” a UPMC spokesperson told News Media in a statement.

“Dr. Evans was a dedicated caregiver and valued member of our hospital and university communities. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and colleagues during this difficult time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”