PMS 2.0 1655 - Watt Wednesday with JJ Watt, Ian Rapoport, Jahmyr Gibbs, Shams Charania, Sean Casey, In the Trenches with AQ Shipley, Everything DB with Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Summary of PMS 2.0 1655 - Watt Wednesday with JJ Watt, Ian Rapoport, Jahmyr Gibbs, Shams Charania, Sean Casey, In the Trenches with AQ Shipley, Everything DB with Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

by Pat McAfee, ESPN

3h 24m•October 28, 2026
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Overview of PMS 2.0 1655 - Watt Wednesday with JJ Watt, Ian Rapoport, Jahmyr Gibbs, Shams Charania, Sean Casey, In the Trenches with AQ Shipley, Everything DB with Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

This episode was a fast-moving, sports-heavy Wednesday show centered on major NFL trade fallout, playoff baseball drama, NBA injury chaos, and a standout interview with Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The biggest through-line was “change is happening everywhere” — especially with the Colts’ ongoing fire sale — while the crew also spent a lot of time celebrating elite football trench play, defense, and the unpredictability of postseason sports.

Colts Fire Sale: DeForest Buckner, Quentin Nelson, and the Rebuild

Pat opened with a long reaction to the Colts trading away cornerstone players, framing it as the start of a full organizational reset.

Key points

  • DeForest Buckner was traded back to the 49ers for a fourth-round pick.
  • Quentin Nelson had already been moved in a separate deal, reportedly for a third- and fifth-round pick.
  • Pat and the crew discussed the move as a clear sign the Colts are committing to a rebuild.
  • Jonathan Taylor’s future became a big question, with Pat wondering if he could now be the last major valuable piece left.
  • There was also discussion about:
    • the timing of the trades,
    • whether the Colts should have waited until the deadline,
    • and how the front office hierarchy looks after Chris Ballard’s exit.

Ian Rapoport’s explanation

Rapoport said:

  • The Colts were open for business and other teams knew it.
  • The 49ers wanted Buckner immediately, and the urgency helped drive the deal.
  • Similar logic applied to Quentin Nelson, with teams pushing to get him now rather than later.
  • Josh Downs’ trade request was also discussed; Rapoport said the market for him exists and a deal still could happen.

MLB Playoff Talk: Brewers vs. Rays and the Mizorowski Debate

The baseball portion centered on a wild extra-inning Rays win and a potential World Series clincher for Milwaukee with Jacob Mizorowski on the mound.

Main discussion points

  • The Rays won Game 4 in the 12th inning, keeping the series alive.
  • The Brewers had appeared poised to close it out after Cooper Pratt’s late home run, but Tampa Bay answered.
  • The crew debated whether Milwaukee should have used Jacob Mizorowski in relief the night before.
  • JJ Watt and Sean Casey both strongly supported the idea that Murphy made the right call by saving Mizorowski for Game 5.
  • Sean Casey emphasized:
    • the importance of bullpen management,
    • the Rays needing to work counts early against Mizorowski,
    • and the way this postseason has shown that old-school baseball still works.
  • There was also talk about the ABS system and how it’s changed the postseason experience.

Notable takeaway

The consensus was that the Brewers are in a good spot, but the Rays’ comeback made the series feel alive again.

Jahmyr Gibbs Interview: Workload, Ball Security, and Detroit’s Identity

One of the strongest segments was the interview with Jahmyr Gibbs, who talked through his huge season and Detroit’s offensive identity.

What Gibbs discussed

  • He’s on pace for a massive touch total, with Pat joking about him approaching historic usage levels.
  • Gibbs said he’s not feeling pressure and just focuses on being consistent.
  • He credited:
    • cold tubs
    • contrast therapy
    • and the Lions’ training staff for keeping him fresh.
  • He talked about ball security, explaining how defenders are constantly hunting for strips.
  • He explained the Lions’ aggressive fourth-down mindset and said he likes playing that way.
  • Gibbs also described his relationship with Jared Goff, calling him a big brother and noting how sarcastic he is.
  • He revealed that Penei Sewell ran a route in a recent trick-play package and said the team had been repping it during the week.
  • On the sideline celebration after drawing the Packers offside, Gibbs said the dance started as a team ritual and has become a staple.
  • He also shared that his Halloween costume this year was Michael Jackson and that the Lions’ team party is a big deal.

Big picture

Gibbs came across as relaxed, selfless, and fully bought into Dan Campbell’s culture. The crew kept circling back to how much fun Detroit is to watch right now.

JJ Watt on Football, the Brewers, and Defensive Philosophy

JJ Watt joined for a wide-ranging football conversation that moved from baseball back into trenches talk and quarterback play.

Topics covered

  • JJ said he would have trusted the Brewers’ manager not to overuse Mizorowski.
  • He discussed how modern football has become more run-heavy again because defenses are protecting against explosive passing.
  • He and AQ Shipley broke down how two-high shells often force offenses into the run game.
  • They talked about how coordinators and quarterbacks like Tom Brady would exploit whatever the defense gave them.
  • JJ also weighed in on:
    • roughing the passer, saying replay assist has helped but the league still needs more feel and consistency;
    • and the growing tendency to call too many controversial penalties on third down.

On the Colts

JJ also reflected on DeForest Buckner’s importance and said he was genuinely happy for him to get a chance to go to a contender.

Shams Charania on NBA Injuries, Pacers, and Big Contracts

Shams joined to discuss the early-season injury wave across the NBA.

Main points

  • Tyrese Haliburton has a left hamstring strain and will miss time for the Pacers.
  • Shams said the injury issue across the league is unusually severe this early.
  • He listed several major names sidelined:
    • Paolo Banchero
    • Kawhi Leonard
    • Jaren Jackson Jr.
    • Jalen Duren
    • Jalen Williams
    • Anthony Edwards
  • He noted that Edwards’ injury could have major salary-cap implications, including affecting his eligibility for an All-NBA-based supermax path.
  • On Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg in Dallas:
    • Shams said Kyrie looks healthy and fluid again.
    • He thinks Dallas will monitor the trade market, especially if the team isn’t contending.
  • On the Heat, he said they may need more offensive creativity and better spacing if they want the roster fit to work.
  • On the Knicks, he said there’s some championship hangover, plus contract tension with the front office.

Good D: Defenses That Changed Games

Darius Butler’s “Good D” segment highlighted the best defensive moments of the week.

Featured defenses

  • Atlanta Falcons
    • Jesse Bates had a huge play with an interception/forced turnover.
    • Butler praised the Falcons’ ability to create turnovers and make quarterbacks pay.
  • Detroit Lions
    • Brian Branch made a standout play in coverage.
    • Kirby Joseph’s return to practice was big news for Detroit’s secondary.
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • The Bucs dominated Carolina defensively, forcing turnovers and controlling the game.
  • Minnesota Vikings
    • Butler and AJ Hawk broke down Harrison Smith’s veteran instincts and a critical interception.
    • They also discussed how the Vikings’ coverage structure confuses quarterbacks.

Top Five Offensive Lines and Trenches Talk

AQ Shipley’s offensive line segment was one of the most detailed football breakdowns of the day.

Top five O-lines discussed

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers
  2. Los Angeles Rams
  3. New York Giants
  4. Cleveland Browns
  5. Dallas Cowboys

Key takeaways

  • The Steelers were praised for their duo runs and strong interior play.
  • The Rams were highlighted for their success with 13 personnel and tight-end-heavy run packages.
  • The Giants got love for their run game with Patrick Ricard and Scataboo.
  • The Browns were praised for an overhauled line and a more efficient offense.
  • The Cowboys were singled out for dominating the Eagles up front on Monday night.

Broader trench philosophy

AQ and AJ also talked about:

  • leverage,
  • split-flow concepts,
  • duo blocks,
  • and why offensive line play is becoming more important again in the current NFL.

The Donk Game and the End-of-Show Chaos

The episode closed with the show’s goofy in-studio game involving a rubber donkey figure.

What happened

  • AQ was tasked with tossing the “donk” onto a mat to win money for viewers.
  • He missed on the first try and then nailed the second throw, landing it successfully enough to trigger the giveaway.
  • The crew celebrated the win and joked that “donk” had chosen AQ.

Final Takeaways

  • The Colts’ rebuild is the biggest NFL story of the episode.
  • Brewers vs. Rays is the baseball focus, with real debate over bullpen strategy and whether Milwaukee should finish the job tonight.
  • Jahmyr Gibbs is becoming one of the most electric and selfless players in football.
  • The NBA is entering a weird, injury-riddled early season, with major salary implications already in play.
  • The show leaned hard into its classic strengths: football tape, smart trench analysis, and chaotic comedy.