NFL players forced off the field as weather causes delay chaos across Week 1

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Sep 7, 2025 - 21:43

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NFL players forced off the field as weather causes delay chaos across Week 1

The weather was busy making the headlines on the opening weekend of the NFL season, with three games delayed across Week 1.

After Philadelphia and Dallas were delayed in the Season Opener, games in both Jacksonville and Denver suffered delays as lightning threatened both areas.

Action has been brought to a halt in Jacksonville, Florida due to bad weather

The delay in Denver was the shortest, with the players already in the locker rooms for haltime[/caption]

Firstly the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers was brought to a halt for more than hour on the opening Sunday of the NFL season.

With lightning on the horizon, the players were taken from the field and the contest at EverBank Stadium abruptly stopped with 8:32 left on the clock in the second quarter and the Jaguars leading the Panthers 10-3.

The official EverBank Stadium X account (formerly Twitter) posted an update:” SEVERE WEATHER ALERT All guests in open areas please shelter within the stadium facility until the all clear announcement.”

The players eventually returned to the field, just after 3pm EST, and play finally resumed with everyone’s safety restored.

The Jags had gotten off to a hot start with Trevor Lawrence completing 10 of his 14 pass attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown.

This touchdown also saw EverBank provide 100 kids from around Duval County with access to financial education, as part of their ‘Touchdowns for Tomorrow’ initiative which is a continuation from last season.

Every touchdown the Jaguars score this season will tally on another 100 kids being provided this access.

Rookie sensation Travis Hunter also got off the mark to his NFL career with a 10-yard reception – but even more significantly was sporting a dramatic new look.

Before the delay he had four receptions for 22 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per catch, he added two more catches for another 11 yards after the break as the Jags eventually recorded a 26-10 win.

Meanwhile, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young struggled early on, completing just three passes for 16 yards and an interception.

It left running back Chuba Hubbard shouldering most of Carolina’s offensive load, having rushed for 31 yards off of seven carries so far in the game.

We are only in week 1 of the 2025 season, but this isn’t the first time that weather has interrupted a game.

Bryce Young has struggled prior to the weather delay at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida

During the season opener between the reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, the game was suspended in the third quarter due to lightning rolling through the area.

The Birds were leading in an offensive shoot-out prior to the 65-minute delay and the score remained that way, with neither side able to get going on offense after the game resumed.

The Cowboys came the closest, but wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had several crucial drops, including a critical one on a fourth-down attempt which ultimately ended America’s Team’s hope of clawing back a stunning victory.

And later in the Sunday window, the Denver Broncos game against the Tennessee Titans was also suspended due to the threat of weather.

The players had already headed to the locker rooms for halftime, and while they were in the, a statement confirmed the third delay of the opening weekend of the season.

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