LANDOVER, Md. — Dustin Hopkins made a 43-yard field goal on an untimed down – after a penalty negated his miss seconds earlier – and Washington beat the New York Giants 30-29 on Thursday night.

Hopkins missed his first attempt to win the game, but he was given a reprieve when Dexter Lawrence was flagged for being offsides. His next attempt was good, giving Washington (1-1) a wild victory and providing another moment in the sun for Taylor Heinicke.

The 28-year-old Heinicke, who became a bit of a sensation in Washington when he came out of obscurity to play in a close loss to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay in last year’s playoffs, threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns. He cost Washington dearly with a late interception, but after Graham Gano’s fifth field goal of the game gave the Giants a 29-27 lead with 2:00 remaining, Heinicke guided Washington back into field-goal range.

Daniel Jones threw for 249 yards and a touchdown for the Giants (0-2). He also ran for 95 yards and a TD.

For most of the night, it was Washington’s highly touted defense that wasn’t pulling its weight. New York scored on its first four possessions of the second half, but after the Giants went up 26-20, Heinicke needed just 17 seconds to put Washington ahead.

J.D. McKissic slipped downfield for a 56-yard reception, and then Ricky Seals-Jones outjumped Adoree’ Jackson in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard TD that put Washington up 27-26.

The Giants had to punt after that, but as Washington was trying to run out the clock, James Bradberry picked off a pass by Heinicke, giving the Giants the ball at the Washington 20.

Washington’s defense forced a field goal, giving Heinicke another chance.

NOTES

CHIEFS: Tyrann Mathieu kept hoping, even as the days slowly went by and he returned one positive test after another, that he would be cleared of COVID-19 in time to join Kansas City for its season opener against Cleveland.

He was. Just barely. And then he sat out anyway.

Mathieu was cleared the day before the Chiefs beat the Browns 33-29 at Arrowhead Stadium, and Coach Andy Reid made the prudent decision to hold him out after missing nearly two weeks of practice. And while Mathieu would have loved to be on the field last weekend, he acknowledged Thursday that the coaching staff made the right decision.

“I think it would be tough on anybody to not practice for 10 days and try to go out there and play a game you have to win at home,” Mathieu said. “I thought coach Reid, the training staff, everybody really made the best decision for me as a player. It was much appreciated, much respected. But I’m very happy to be back.”

The Chiefs are very happy to have the three-time All-Pro safety back. They were shredded by Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense in the first half on Sunday, trudging off to the locker room in the depths of a 22-10 hole. It took some brilliant adjustments by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and game-wrecking pass rush from Chris Jones, to hold Cleveland mostly in check as the Chiefs mounted their second-half comeback.

• Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy brushed off rumors that he would be interested in the Southern California coaching job, which came open when Clay Helton was fired this week. Bieniemy grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of La Puente.

“You know me, guys, I’m where my feet are,” he said. “I’m focused on the task at hand, not worried about where my name is being mentioned. I’m making sure we’re preparing for this weekend’s opponent.”

WASHINGTON: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to miss around 6-8 weeks because of a hip injury but won’t have surgery, according to people familiar with the situation.

The 16-year veteran subluxed, or partially dislocated, his right hip in Washington’s season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday and was placed on injured reserve.

On Monday, Coach Ron Rivera told reporters that Fitzpatrick was expected to get a second doctor’s opinion and then decide his next steps. For such injuries, recovery is typically dependent on whether there is any damage to surrounding bone or soft tissue.

RAVENS: Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and cornerback Chris Westry all missed the open portion of practice Thursday, continuing the team’s injury woes ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Stanley (ankle), Brown (ankle) and Westry (knee) sat out Wednesday’s walk-through practice, along with defensive end Derek Wolfe (back/hip), who remains sidelined. Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who usually gets a day off at practice each week, was absent Thursday after practicing Wednesday.

DOLPHINS: Left tackle Austin Jackson believes people are entitled to make their own decisions about whether to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. That said, he’s thankful he got his shots.

Jackson was back at practice Wednesday – winded, sweaty and a bit tired when it was over, but otherwise declaring himself healthy and strong. He spent last week completing a series of protocols after testing positive for COVID-19, then was able to get enough negative tests back in time to return to the team for its opener at New England this past weekend.

“I think that the vaccine definitely helped,” Jackson said.

Jackson was listed as the Dolphins’ starting left tackle on the team’s depth chart before his stint on the COVID list, and Coach Brian Flores said he will be back in that spot this week when Miami plays at home against Buffalo.

“That’s good. It feels good,” Jackson said. “Throughout training camp and all the work we’ve put in and all the work I’ve put in, it’s good to hear.”

Jackson did not wish to divulge specifics about what the process of completing protocols was like.

“I’ve had family members be heavily affected by COVID,” Jackson said. “Everybody’s different. I think people have the right to hold their own opinions on the vaccine. If you don’t want to get it, that’s fine. But for me, I know it helped me.”

The NFL has said more than 93% of players are vaccinated against the coronavirus.

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