| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITThe Lions can’t block teammate DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON. Jordan Dajani of CBSSports.com: Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is back on the practice field after breaking his tibia and fibula in Week 6 last season, but it sounds like he’s back to 100%. In fact, Hutchinson sounds like he’s dominating. According to the Lions’ official website, Hutchinson has been so good in practice that coach Dan Campbell has implemented the “Hutch rule.” The “Hutch rule” is when Hutchinson beats his lineman and registers a hypothetical sack on the play, the coaches ignore it and let the play continue so the offense can get work in. If they blew plays dead because Hutchinson got in the backfield, the Lions wouldn’t get much accomplished. For example, during a situational drill this week that called for the Lions offense to score quickly, everyone ignored a third-down sack that Hutchinson had. “If you can’t block Hutch and he’s going to blow every practice up, then that’s not good either,” Campbell said. Hutchinson’s dominance in training camp is a great sign that he will return to field the way he left it last year, as one of the best players in the entire league. |
| GREEN BAYIt may prove to be nothing, but S XAVIER McKINNEY is now on regular season injury watch. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com: – Xavier McKinney didn’t miss a single game last season on his way to earning All-Pro first-team honors for the Green Bay Packers. He doesn’t plan on changing that now. However, the veteran safety indicated he could miss the rest of training camp — plus all three preseason games — because of a calf injury that flared up this week. After practicing Wednesday, McKinney did not participate on Thursday. “Obviously glad that we caught it when we caught it, so just kind of trying to take it slow and then the build-up, obviously,” McKinney said after Thursday’s practice. “But I’ll be ready when it’s time to go, for sure.” McKinney insisted he would be available for the regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 7. “It was just something like just lingering a little bit over time, and that’s really all it really was,” McKinney said. He’s the second member of the starting secondary to sustain an injury that could impact the rest of the preseason. Last week, cornerback Nate Hobbs underwent knee surgery but also believes he will be able to play Week 1. McKinney, who signed a four-year, $67 million contract as a free agent in 2024, ranked second in the NFL last season with eight interceptions and quickly became the leader of a much-improved Packers defense. Two other starters were new to the did not practice list Thursday: receiver Jayden Reed (foot) and center Elgton Jenkins (back). While the Packers are expected to play most of their starters in Saturday’s preseason opener against the New York Jets, it’s unlikely anyone who didn’t practice Thursday will play. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASShould the Cowboys trade EDGE MICAH PARSONS, Erik Edholm of NFL.com comes up with seven possible destinations: He’s arguably the most dominant defensive player in the league right now. But Parsons has made it clear in his statement, at loggerheads with the Cowboys over his contract demands, that he wants to play elsewhere. Frankly, I still will be surprised if Parsons plays for anyone but the Cowboys this season, but with a trade request officially submitted, it at least makes sense to take a look at the teams that might be in position to make a huge play for Parsons. Whether the Cowboys bite or not is another matter altogether. Buffalo BillsStrictly from a who-needs-him-most standpoint, there’s a strong case for the Bills to do everything in their power to at least make Dallas an offer. Sure, there are roadblocks everywhere. The Bills don’t have the cap space now to make a deal and sign Parsons long term. Making the kind of offer necessary to avoid an immediate impasse would gut the Bills’ draft till — and they’ve been picking at the ends of rounds for a five years now, lowering the value of the picks they do possess. But the Bills need to have tunnel vision on winning a Super Bowl now, having come achingly close multiple times over the past several years. Joey Bosa was a big-name addition this offseason, and Greg Rousseau is a top-tier rusher, but adding Parsons would take this defense to the next level. When the Bills have needed a crucial defensive stop in several key games the past few years, especially in the playoffs, they have come up short more often than not. Adding one more elite defender could be the difference between a title and another missed opportunity for one. Finding a way to get in on the Parsons bonanza won’t be easy, but if you’re GM Brandon Beane, don’t you have to at least try? Carolina PanthersThe Panthers allowed the most points in an NFL season (534) and could use all the defensive firepower possible. Even after drafting Day 2 pass rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen this April, Parsons would immediately upgrade Carolina’s defense. GM Dan Morgan tried to take some big swings this offseason, ultimately missing out on landing WR DK Metcalf via trade and failing to sign DT Milton Williams, so you could see how a big fish such as Parsons might prompt Morgan to place a call to Dallas. And if by some wild stroke a Parsons-to-Panthers deal happens, Carolina just so happens to host the Cowboys in Week 6. Chicago BearsThe previous Bears front office made a bold preseason trade for a then-27-year-old Khalil Mack (and a 2020 second-round pick) for two firsts, a third and a sixth-round pick. It ended up being a bargain for the Bears. The price tag for Parsons certainly would match — and very likely exceed — the Mack deal. GM Ryan Poles has settled into his role, and this offseason might have been his finest hour. Somehow landing Parsons would make it a grand slam. The Bears could scrounge together the draft picks if they wanted, crippling as it might be. Finding the money to pay Parsons — while planning for a possible Caleb Williams extension down the road — will be the tougher part. Parsons opposite Montez Sweat, with all the Bears’ other defensive line talent, would be a problem for offenses. Along with some quality back-seven players, it might be Chicago’s best defense since at least 2018. Even if it’s more of a pipe dream. Cleveland BrownsIt would make sense that any team trying to manifest a Parsons trade would have a lot of assets to dangle. Enter the Browns. Following the draft day trade involving Travis Hunter, the Browns own Jacksonville’s 2026 first-rounder and their own first. They have enough ammunition to make a major offer if they so choose. It also doesn’t hurt the Browns’ chances that they’re in the AFC and don’t play against the Cowboys often. The Browns’ salary cap situation isn’t ideal, still weighed down by Deshaun Watson’s contract and committed to paying Myles Garrett more than $123 million guaranteed over the next few years. That would be a lot to pay two defenders, with Parsons likely seeking a deal that will reset the market at his position. But for a team possibly turning to a young QB this year, or someone else next year, there’s justification for loading up on defense. A Parsons-Garrett pass-rush duo would also be borderline unfair, potentially one of the best pairings ever, and we know Garrett has been publicly supportive of Parsons’ pursuit for a new contract. It would be a fascinating, if unlikely, mode of rebuilding the Browns. Las Vegas RaidersFew teams are better equipped to handle the financial burden of a Parsons contract extension than the Raiders, both in the short and long terms. They’re sitting close to $40 million under the salary cap now and boast nearly $100 million in space for 2026, per Over the Cap. Paying Parsons wouldn’t be the issue, even after extending Maxx Crosby. And much like with a potential Parsons-Garrett pairing in Cleveland, the idea of Crosby and Parsons hunting AFC West quarterbacks for the next several years would be a frightening idea for the opposition. Pete Carroll led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title with a dominant defense, and he could tap into a similar formula with another stud on that side of the ball. New GM John Spytek hasn’t been afraid to make some bold moves so far, so it’s not hard to imagine the Raiders trying to land Parsons. But coming up with enough in an offer might be another matter entirely. It might take their next two first-round picks and then some, and the Raiders are not dealing from a notable draft-pick surplus the next few years. Tampa Bay BuccaneersIf all goes well, the Buccaneers offense could be a monster this season. It was pretty darned good a year ago. But defensively, there’s work to be done if Tampa fancies itself a Super Bowl contender. Adding Parsons is the kind of move that can put a team like the Bucs over the top. They added Haason Reddick this offseason, and Yaya Diaby is a young player with a bright future. But you could absolutely make room for Parsons on this defense, and he’d instantly add some real juice to a pass rush that went stale too often last season. Reddick might bounce back, but he had only one sack in 10 games, playing fewer than 60 percent of the defensive snaps last season for the Jets. The Bucs appear to have the salary cap flexibility to take on a massive contract, and they might be closer to title contention than some realize. The last time they were this close, the Bucs swung a trade for Rob Gronkowski to help his buddy Tom Brady. As long as the odds would be to land Parsons, the seismic effect might be even greater. Washington CommandersThe odds of the Cowboys trading a generational defensive talent to an ascending team within the division, with Parsons hypothetically rejoining former Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, feel even lower than the chances of Parsons getting traded at all. It’s almost certainly not happening. But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t make major sense for the Commanders, who were aggressive this offseason but did not add a true, game-changing defender. Parsons and Quinn have a terrific relationship, with the latter overseeing the former in Dallas for three highly productive seasons before Quinn took the head-coaching job in Washington. The Cowboys had a top-10 scoring defense all three seasons they were together, and Parsons became a star under Quinn’s watch. The mutual respect is tangible. “Dan’s my guy,” Parsons said in early 2024, just before Quinn left for the Commanders. “And if he do leave me, it’s always love. He might take me with him, you never know.” The Commanders have a disgruntled Terry McLaurin to offer as part of any theoretical deal, but the problem is that they lack second- and fourth-round picks next year, via the Laremy Tunsil deal. Consider this one the ultimate longshot. |
| NFC WEST |
| SEATTLEThis on the Thursday night debut of QB JALEN MILROE. Brady Henderson of ESPN.com: Seahawks: One play from Jalen Milroe ‘s NFL debut showed exactly how he can help the Seahawks’ offense this season even as their third QB. Milroe gained 27 yards on a zone-read keeper, flashing the impressive running ability that Seattle plans to take advantage of on occasion via specialty packages. He ran three times for 38 yards and also fared well with his arm, completing 6 of 10 attempts for 61 yards. He led one TD drive in five possessions and was sacked on Seattle’s final drive. |
| AFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERST RASHAWN SLATER was carted off the field on Thursday. He tore his patella and is done for 2025. Daniel Popper of the New York Times: Los Angeles Chargers star left tackle Rashawn Slater will miss the 2025 season after tearing a patellar tendon during practice, the team announced Thursday. Slater, who became the highest-paid offensive linemen in NFL history on July 27 when he signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension, was aligned at left tackle on the play. It was a modified team-drill period, with only three offensive linemen and two defensive linemen on the field. Andre James was at center. Zion Johnson was at left guard. Teair Tart was on the defensive interior, and Tuli Tuipulotu was at edge rusher across from Slater. Quarterback Justin Herbert took the snap. Slater dropped into a pass protection stance. Tuipulotu bull-rushed Slater. As Slater tried to absorb Tuipulotu’s initial strike, he planted his left foot. Slater’s left leg gave out and he fell backward onto the turf, immediately grabbing his left knee. Trainers rushed out to Slater. Moments later, he was helped onto a cart as several teammates crowded around, hugging their left tackle and consoling him with handshakes. “That’s just something you don’t want to see,” Tuipulotu said. As the cart reached the sideline and turned left toward the entrance to the facility, Slater threw his helmet onto the turf. The cart came to a stop. Slater smashed his hand onto the cart, the sound reverberating around the practice fields. The crowd was hushed as practice continued. Slater buried his head in his hands and a trainer draped a towel over his head. Then two trainers helped Slater off the cart and into the facility. He could not put any weight on his left leg. “I didn’t really see nothing,” Tuipulotu said of the play after practice. “I kind of just turned around, and then, boom. We’re praying for him. We hope he’s doing well, and, man, everybody’s behind his back, everybody’s got him. Wishing for the best.” For the remainder of practice, right tackle Joe Alt moved to left tackle with the starting offense, and Trey Pipkins III entered at right tackle. That will likely be how the Chargers configure their offensive line moving forward this season. Alt and Slater represented one of the true strengths of this Chargers roster. As offensive coordinator Greg Roman said earlier this training camp, “A lot of people would probably say we have the best tackle combo in the league.” It was hard to argue with that sentiment. Slater had already proven himself as one of the game’s best tackles, as evidenced by his contract. And Alt had an outstanding rookie season. “Watch what he does this year,” Roman said of Alt. “He’s on his way to being a special, special player.” Now the complexion of the offensive line — and the offense as a whole — changes dramatically. If there is good news, it’s that Alt has considerable experience at left tackle. Few, if any, teams have the luxury of replacing an All-Pro with a future All-Pro at this most pivotal position. Alt started 33 games at left tackle in college at Notre Dame, not to mention a game last season in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Slater felt some knee discomfort during warmups of that game. Alt found out he was switching to left tackle about 90 minutes before opening kickoff. He still had one of his best games of the season and did not allow a pressure in 41 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Alt continued to work at left tackle during this year’s training camp. Slater participated in the first two practices of camp but sat out eight consecutive practices from July 19-26 while in the middle of contract negotiations. He was also dealing with a blister on his foot that had first appeared during his offseason workouts in Dallas. Slater received treatment on that blister when he reported for camp with the Chargers on July 16. He initially tried to practice through it, but ultimately sat out to let the wound heal. When Slater was out, Alt worked at left tackle, and Pipkins worked at right tackle. Jason Reed of Bolt Beat says “I told you so” about LA letting the interior line rot in the offseason: Rashawn Slater was carted out of LA Chargers practice on Thursday with an apparent left leg injury just a week after signing a record-setting extension. While the exact details of the injury are still unknown, the early signs are not promising for the star left tackle. Assuming Slater will miss an extended period of time, the Chargers will likely shift Joe Alt to left tackle and start Trey Pipkins where he is more comfortable at right tackle. That is what the Chargers did last season in Week 18 when Slater did not play. Pipkins was the starting guard last season so when he shifted to right tackle the team started Jamaree Salyer. That won’t be needed in 2025 with Mekhi Becton as the new starting right guard, so that is a relief. However, there is another glaring hole on the offensive line that is made even worse by this Slater injury. With Slater presumably missing significant time, the Chargers’ decision to ignore the left guard and center position this offseason looks even worse. Chargers’ offseason gamble ages poorly after Rashawn Slater injuryLeft guard and center were going to be the weak points of the offensive line regardless. It just would have been a lot easier to stomach with two All-Pro-caliber tackles helping support the interior offensive line. With one of those tackles potentially out of the picture, the pressure at left guard and center was just turned up to 11. And unfortunately, Chargers fans know exactly what this interior offensive line looks like when the pressure is turned up to 11. Just for context, the Chargers will be starting three of the league’s worst starting linemen from last season (one not being their fault in Pipkins). Pipkins and Johnson ranked 44th among 50 guards with at least 500 pass-blocking snaps in Pro Football Focus’ Pass Blocking Efficiency. And to make matters worse, Becton had the exact same efficiency rating as both Pipkins and Johnson! So even though Becton appears to be an upgrade, the Chargers are starting three guards in 2025 who ranked in the bottom 12th percentile last season. Bozeman wasn’t much better. He allowed the fourth-most pressures of any center in the league last season. Were the Chargers going to build the best offensive line in the sport overnight? Not at all. And even the best offensive lines have weak points that other teams exploit. However, left guard and center were such obvious needs for the Bolts that were pretty much ignored throughout the offseason. Perhaps the Chargers did that because they got too comfortable in having the best tackle duo in the sport. But it still makes no sense that with a deep free-agent market and good draft class that the team didn’t commit more resources to what was the biggest issue with the offense last season. Now, with Slater potentially out for a long period of time, this baffling mistake is under the spotlight. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREA 6th-round rookie, CB BILHAL KONE, sees his season end in the first preseason game. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: It looked bad when it happened. It looked bad based on John Harbaugh’s reaction. It unfortunately apparently is bad. Ravens rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in Thursday’s preseason game against the Colts, Jordan Schultz reports. Kone will miss his entire rookie season. The sixth-round pick was injured on an incompletion with 12 seconds left in the first quarter. He immediately grabbed his left knee, and his teammates motioned for the training staff. The team’s medical staff placed Kone’s leg in a vacuum splint, and he was carted off the field. He had one tackle before leaving. |
| CINCINNATITwo drives, two TDs for QB JOE BURROW in the preseason opener. He’s not happy. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: The Bengals’ first-string offense played two series in Thursday night’s preseason opener, and both series ended with Joe Burrow touchdown passes. But Burrow wasn’t satisfied afterward. “It’s good to play football again,” Burrow said. “I could’ve been better, I missed the first throw. I threw all the other ones where I wanted to put them but I could have spun it a little better. . . . We got to be better. Too many procedural penalties, too many errors. Things like that are gonna happen, but I think it just wasn’t clean enough, across the board.” After an incomplete pass to Tee Higgins on his first throw of the night, Burrow went 9-for-9 for 123 yards the rest of the way. In addition to his two touchdown passes, Burrow had another touchdown pass negated by a chop block penalty. Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase picked up right where he left off last season, catching four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. Tanner Hudson caught a touchdown pass from Burrow and later caught another from backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. It’s hard to judge much when the Bengals played all their starters on offense and the Eagles did not play all their starters on defense, but Burrow and Chase looked sharp. If Burrow is right that the Bengals’ offense will get better, that’s a scary thought for the Bengals’ opponents. Burrow put his passes on target but “I could have spun them better.” Perfectionist. |
| PITTSBURGHDT CAMERON HEYWARD is a “hold in” at Steelers camp. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com: Pittsburgh Steelers four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who’s seeking a raise in a defensive market that has experienced a reset this offseason, hasn’t fully participated in practice yet this summer as he awaits a restructured contract that has not gotten done, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Heyward didn’t dress for Thursday’s practice and declined interview requests through a team representative. He has two years remaining on his contract — $14.75 million this season, with $13.45 million of that already having been earned as a roster bonus that will be paid out over the course of the season, and $14.5 million in 2026. Heyward, who had eight sacks and 71 tackles last season, currently is scheduled to be the NFL’s 36th-highest-paid defensive lineman this season, and its 18th-highest-paid defensive tackle. Heyward and the Steelers have addressed this privately, sources said, but they have not made any progress on a reworked deal. In the meantime, he has not been a full participant in training camp. The 36-year-old Heyward, a longtime Steelers captain who is entering his 15th season with the team, was voted All-Pro for the fourth time in 2024 — making him the first defensive lineman over the age of 35 to be voted All Pro since Bruce Smith in 1998. He has 88.5 career sacks. All-Pro kicker Chris Boswell, who made a career-high 41 field goals on 44 attempts and had a career-high 158 points last season, also has been privately seeking a new contract from the Steelers, a source told ESPN, after that market has been reset the past two years. Three years after signing a contract that tied him with Justin Tucker as the NFL’s highest-paid kicker, Boswell was the lowest-paid kicker in the AFC North last season. The Steelers have been on an uncharacteristic spending spree this offseason, beginning with the trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf, who then got a four-year, $132 million extension from Pittsburgh. Most recently, the Steelers extended All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history with a three-year, $123 million extension that came with $108 million guaranteed. In addition to signing Aaron Rodgers to a one-year, $13 million deal, the Steelers also traded for Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith. The team gave a $1.5 million raise to Ramsey to bring his 2025 compensation to $26.6 million, while Smith inked a one-year, $12 million extension with the Steelers. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONThe Texans apparently have dodged a serious knee injury to S C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON. Dianna Russini of The Athletic: Houston Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a knee injury in practice that will force him to miss time, but his ACL is not torn and it’s not expected to be a season-ending injury, a league source told The Athletic on Thursday. Gardner-Johnson was hurt attempting to make a tackle during Thursday’s practice at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, where the Texans trained this week. He was carted off the field after the play. Gardner-Johnson was acquired by the Texans via trade this offseason, with Houston sending guard Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick. Gardner-Johnson was a major contributor to the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX title run in 2024. In Houston, he is expected to be part of a formidable secondary featuring top cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and emerging players in Kamari Lassiter, Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock.– – -As a condition for his June arrest for strangling someone (allegedly), S JIMMIE WARD couldn’t drink alcohol while out on bail. He did and was arrested again. DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN.com: Texans safety Jimmie Ward was arrested Thursday evening for the second time in two months. According to the Montgomery County (Texas) Jail website, Ward was arrested on a warrant related to a felony offense. No bail was listed, but Ward will be released by court order Friday, according to the website. Ward’s lawyer, Steve Jackson, told KPRC 2, Houston’s NBC affiliate, that Ward was arrested because he tested positive for alcohol in violation of his previous release, and that as a result, he had to spend the night in jail. Jackson told the TV station that Ward was not facing any new allegations and that Ward was not aware he could not drink alcohol. The Texans declined to comment. Ward was first arrested June 12 at his home in Magnolia, Texas, on a felony charge of assaulting a family/house member, impeding breath circulation. A woman called authorities and said Ward assaulted, strangled and threatened her. An emergency protective order was filed at the woman’s request. Ward was released after posting $30,000 bail. Ward’s lawyer told KPRC 2 that the case would go to a grand jury Aug. 31 and that Ward would be “vindicated.” The NFL said in June that it was aware of Ward’s arrest and was in contact with the Texans. Houston general manager Nick Caserio, asked about Ward’s initial arrest on the first day of training camp, said the team would “kind of let the legal process take care of itself.” “We will work with the league. We will be compliant on our end, do the best we can,” Caserio said. “Whatever the outcome is, we’ll handle it accordingly.” Ward was put on the Texans’ physically unable to perform list because of a foot injury to start training camp and has not been activated. |
| INDIANAPOLISNot a good start for the Colts, as QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON is injured again. Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star breaks down the competition between Richardson and QB DANIEL JONES – and explains that Richardson knows he hurt his finger taking a sack after a missed read. This is what a perfect storm looks like in Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson’s third season. It’s a drop-back from the shotgun, with five-man protection, at risk of a blitz. But he’s locking his eyes on a primary target, hopeful to make a quick but safe decision and deliver an on-target pass. A Ravens defense that is always sniffing out timely blitzes smells blood in the water and sends David Ojabo off the edge, knowing the math is on its side with the number of blockers available. And in Ojabo screams like a freight train to hit Richardson on his throwing shoulder. The quarterback landed on his throwing hand, where his pinky finger jutted perpendicular rather than straight out. And off to the sideline he ran to get it popped back into place and wrapped up, and then his already restricted time in the preseason opener is over out of an abundance of caution. In comes Daniel Jones, about a quarter before he was supposed to see game action. And he’s playing safe, moving his feet, searching for easy completions and launching the rare deep pass. But amid the unexpected shift in passers and a rotating group of receivers, he has multiple passes dropped on a night where he finishes 10 of 21 for 144 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and his two long gains were on catch-and-run opportunities. “I thought he did some really good things,” coach Shane Steichen said of Jones. “Obviously, had a nice touchdown pass that got called back. He made some good scramble plays and got some good throws. He had some chunk plays.” It’s just the preseason opener, with and against backup players and mostly vanilla schemes, still a month away from the season opener, when one of Richardson or Jones will run out as the starting quarterback. Both men were left playing with just three of their projected starting teammates, leaving this as an incomplete evaluation at best. But by introducing a quarterback competition, the Colts have asked for that incomplete evaluation to be a step in their critical evaluation. Steichen has said he will rate the preseason games, joint practices and training camp days equally. And if Thursday night truly didn’t matter, neither quarterback would be out there. But by valuing the health of linemen such as Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith, they are greater risking the health of the two men battling to play the one position immensely more important than the rest. Despite moments of training camp where quarterbacks players seemed in smooth command of the first-team offense, including a solid joint practice against the Ravens on Tuesday, the reality that came to the surface again is that both men have a lot to prove. What they don’t have a lot of is time. Richardson doesn’t expect to miss much time with the dislocation, as he was trying to get back into the game by throwing soft passes along the sideline after his exit. Joe Burrow played through a dislocated pinky in 2021. Relative to the injuries that brought down Richardson’s first two seasons, this appears to be more of an annoyance than anything else. “I just felt like I was so relaxed. I felt like I was in the moment,” Richardson said. “That really felt good that I was out there with the guys, but unfortunately, I got sacked and dislocated a finger.” But he entered this training camp in this quarterback battle because he has three key areas he has to show clear improvement in: accuracy, durability and the command of the offense. When the third area leads to something like a missed protection read on a random play, it could be chalked up as something that just happens at times in the heat of the game. After all, two years ago, a veteran in Gardner Minshew took a slew of sacks on a similar blitz concept from Kyle Hamilton that the Colts failed to diagnose time and again. “That’s a tricky one because it’s five-man pro (protection) and I’m hot from the back side,” Richardson said. “I just have to get my eyes and be able to react to that. It’s five-man, so we’re playing hot, and I just have to be on my P’s and Q’s when it comes to that. “… It was going to be hard for me to see anyway because my eyes were looking a certain way, but I just have to be keyed in on when everybody’s bringing pressure.” But for Richardson, it became a double whammy on Thursday night. A missed pass protection read can lead to a shot on the throwing arm he’s had surgically repaired in his rookie season and has had to rest on two separate occasions since. And even if it does end up being as minor of a setback as he expects, what it presents is a lost opportunity in a preseason opener to mix growth in the other areas with the upside of his elite rushing and deep ball ability to gain separation on a job he knows he has to win this year. What it cost him was reps, which usually don’t matter all that much in the preseason but do in a quarterback competition and especially do to a player who has attempted 348 passes in two NFL seasons, or more than 300 fewer passes than Burrow threw last season alone. He’s entering a third NFL season with just 32 starts above the high school level. When he has to come off the field, either for injury or as part of the rotation to keep a quarterback competition alive, in comes Jones, where the offense changes drastically in its feel. He’s the inverse of Richardson right now, with 69 career starts and the pre-snap understanding that comes with it. But what he gains in a floor, he loses in a ceiling, as showcased by a fade ball that should have landed in Adonai Mitchell’s hands for a long gain down the right sideline but instead became a jump ball that a defender broke up. Like Richardson, Jones has been adamant that his weakness has seen growth and isn’t as pronounced as many say. “I don’t think I’ve ever tried to shy away from pushing the ball down the field,” Jones said. “I think we try to take advantage of the opportunities when they’re there, and when the play and coverage dictate it, then take the shot and try to throw an accurate ball. So, I think it’s something I’ve always tried to do.” The numbers say otherwise, though: Despite a 64.1% career completion percentage, Jones has never had a yards per attempt above 6.8 in his six pro seasons. And in those six years, 51% of his passes have featured between 0 and 9 air yards, per Football Insights. That means that on a drop-back that’s 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage, his average throw lands within 5 yards beyond it. And that rate leads the NFL since he arrived in it as a top-10 pick of the Giants back in 2019. The reality is, these players both have to prove what they haven’t yet — that Richardson can avoid hits to stay on the field to get to his deep ball and that Jones is willing and capable of having that deep ball, too. It’s the key to a team that has all the running game talent imaginable as well as deep threat receivers such as Mitchell and Alec Pierce and a coach in Steichen whose heart ultimately lies in going for the jugular on explosive plays. The Colts also lost their 3rd round draft pick, CB JUSTIN WALLEY, for the year. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Colts cornerback Justin Walley, a projected starter as a rookie third-round draft pick, is out for the season with a torn ACL. Walley suffered the injury on Tuesday in a joint practice with the Ravens, and on Thursday Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that the injury is season-ending. “Huge blow,” Steichen said. “I think he was having a hell of a camp. His man coverage skills were great, he was making a ton of plays in practice too before it happened.” Walley played four years of college football at Minnesota and the Colts took him with the 80th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The Colts listed Walley as a starter on their first depth chart of the preseason. With Walley out for the season, and Colts cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones both currently dealing with hamstring injuries, Indianapolis may need to bring in some help at cornerback before the regular season. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 2026 DRAFTFoxSports.com checks the odds on who will be the first overall pick in 2026 after Archie Manning says grandson Arch isn’t leaving Texas after this year: The favorite to be picked No. 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft? It’s no longer the name you thought it would be. Let’s check out the odds as of Aug. 7. 2026 NFL Draft No. 1 pick odds (DraftKings) Drew Allar: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)Garrett Nussmeier: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)LaNorris Sellers: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Cade Klubnik: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Arch Manning: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total) 2026 NFL Draft No. 1 pick odds (FanDuel) Garrett Nussmeier: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)Cade Klubnik: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)LaNorris Sellers: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)Drew Allar: +470 (bet $10 to win $57 total)Arch Manning: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total) Manning quarterbacks have a history of being selected at or near the top of the draft, and that still could be the case … in 2027. Because on Thursday, Archie Manning — the father of Peyton and Eli, and grandfather of Arch — had this to say about his grandson entering the NFL draft next year. “Arch isn’t going to do that,” Archie said. “He’ll be at Texas [in 2026].” And with that, Arch’s odds to go No. 1 dropped significantly at both DraftKings and FanDuel. Previously, he was the +225 favorite to go No. 1 at DK, and now sits fifth at +950. And at FD, he was fourth on the board at +450, and now sits fifth at +850. What is the best path for Arch Manning’s development?Going back to the Manning family history, Archie was the second pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, landing in New Orleans. Nearly three decades later, in 1998, Peyton was picked first by the Indianapolis Colts. Then, just six years after that, in 2004, Eli went No. 1 to the New York Giants. The youngest Manning quarterback will start for the Texas Longhorns this upcoming season, after touching the field sparingly as a freshman and somewhat often as a sophomore, serving as backup for Quinn Ewers. In 2023, he saw action in two games and completed two passes for 30 yards. Then, last season, he played in 10 games, completing 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com from wonders who might have that first overall pick in 2027: For some NFL teams, an upcoming regular season is merely an end to a means. While the prospects of winning more games than you lose may not be in the cards, the consolation prize comes in the form of a top draft pick the following spring. That highly coveted slot brings with it the promise of that player changing the fortunes of the franchise, especially if it’s a quarterback. But what if the player that clubs are hoping for isn’t sitting at the end of their unenviable journey? That’s what seems to be playing out currently in the NFL for the teams aiming to land Texas signal caller Arch Manning at the 2026 NFL Draft. He might not be on the board at all. Archie Manning — the patriarch of the Manning family, grandfather to the Texas QB, and member of the New Orleans Saints’ Ring of Honor — sent out a warning to prospective NFL teams that could be looking to tank in 2025 with the opportunity to select his grandson in mind. He told Texas Monthly that “Arch isn’t going to” declare for the NFL Draft early, meaning that it’s far more likely Manning — a former No. 1 overall recruit who indeed has the goods to be a first overall pick someday — will enter the 2027 NFL Draft rather than next year’s draft. With that in mind, let’s jump into the DeLorean, gun it to 88mph, leap into the future, and identify five NFL teams that could be in the “running” for Manning’s services come the spring of 2027. Of course, this will take quite a bit of projection, and we’ll leave out some obvious candidates like the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns for this exercise. After all, both of those clubs are expected to have poor records in 2025, which, in theory, puts them in play to select a quarterback in 2026, which would effectively take them out of the Manning sweepstakes. With that caveat out of the way, let’s dive in. Los Angeles RamsAnd why not kick it off with a doozy! Arch Manning being paired up with Sean McVay feels like someone sold their soul to the devil to make happen, but it’s not totally out of the question. Los Angeles enters the 2025 season with a 37-year-old Matthew Stafford under center. The veteran quarterback has already flirted with the idea of retirement in the past, and, for the sake of this scenario, let’s assume he decides to hang it up after this upcoming campaign. That would leave a massive hole under center for the Rams, and the club could look at the 2026 season as an opportunity to reset, identify the core they want to rebuild with, not be the most competitive team in the league, and suddenly be in a position to draft Manning. With Manning now in-house, it could fast-track their rebuild. Also, having McVay spearhead your NFL development while already coming from the Manning bloodline feels like the closest thing we can get to creating a quarterback in a lab, and it would be fascinating to see how Arch evolves with that type of tutelage. To further hammer this potential pairing home, it does seem like the Rams are already doing their due diligence on Manning, who they reportedly covet. Miami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins feel like an organization that’s teetering with its current regime. Mike McDaniel has one of the hottest seats in the NFL entering the 2025 season, and questions surrounding Tua Tagovailoa’s availability every week continue to fester (Not to mention his play later in the season in colder weather). All of this could come to a head as soon as this season, but what if the Dolphins brass decides to give this group one more season, especially if they tread water this year? If the dam instead breaks in 2026, Miami could get out of Tagovailoa’s contract rather easily after that season. Per Over the Cap, the veteran quarterback has no guaranteed money due to him in the final two years of his deal (2027 and 2028) and would create cap savings of $36.6 million (2027) and $57.4 million (2028) over that stretch. Essentially, they’d have a window to clear the deck on the QB depth chart, which would allow them to usher in Manning pretty seamlessly. If they decided to move off of McDaniel at that juncture as well, the lure of getting Manning as your quarterback to develop would make the Dolphins arguably the most desirable job that cycle. Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh is currently entertaining what is likely Aaron Rodgers’ “Last Dance” in the NFL. After inking a one-year deal with the franchise earlier this summer, Rodgers indicated that he may retire after 2025. So, while the Steelers hope to contend as long as they have Rodgers under center, this is not a relationship that is built for the long haul. Next offseason, Pittsburgh will be back at square one at quarterback and could enter 2026 with no clear future at the position. That could set up something that Mike Tomlin has never endured as head coach — an under .500 season. With an aging roster (particularly on defense), 2026 could prove to be a transition year for Pittsburgh, where they shed some of their older talent and set up building blocks for the future. That would likely result in a poor record, thus creating the avenue for the Steelers to land Manning. In this scenario, they can truly begin building around a young quarterback instead of the one-year veteran experiments they’ve conducted over the last few years. Las Vegas RaidersThe Raiders made one of the biggest moves of the offseason at the quarterback position when they traded for former Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Geno Smith. While this is certainly an upgrade over the combination of Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew from 2024, it’s not a move that has a long runway. Smith will turn 35 during the 2025 season and, despite inking a two-year extension after being acquired by Las Vegas, the Raiders can get out of this deal with minimal damage as soon as 2026. Most likely, the Raiders will ride with Smith for 2025 and 2026, but will have a decision to make after that. In that final year of his deal in 2027, he has zero guaranteed dollars left, and the team could free up $39.5 million in cap space if they were to cut him during that offseason. And that just so happens to be the exact time they could pivot to the likes of Manning. While Smith gives the Raiders a higher floor than their previous quarterbacks, there’s a world where things go off the rails. Already, Smith isn’t looked at as the caliber of quarterback that can lead a team to a Super Bowl, and did just come off a 2024 season where he threw 15 interceptions (the most since his rookie season). In 2026, the Raiders will also face the NFC West and AFC East on top of playing in the highly competitive AFC West, so they do have a tough road in store for them on paper. If Smith bottoms out that season, that positions the Raiders to opt for a younger quarterback like Manning to play alongside their young core of Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. There’s also something juicy about the idea of Manning being selected by the team where Tom Brady — his uncle Peyton Manning’s prime rival — is a minority owner. Indianapolis ColtsSpeaking of Peyton Manning, wouldn’t it be poetic if his nephew landed with the Colts? At the moment, Indy is watching a rather uninspiring quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. While Richardson was once the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he’s yet to live up to that billing and it’s hard to imagine a world where he rallies to become that franchise cornerstone for the Colts. No matter how this battle turns out, it doesn’t feel like Indianapolis’ quarterback of the future is currently on its roster. If the 2025 season continues to provide mediocre production, it could lead the Indy brass to blow the entire operation up. Not only could that result in Richardson and Jones being shown the door, but head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard as well. That would almost certainly lead to the Colts becoming one of the worst teams in the league in 2027 and set up the new regime to begin its rebuild with the same vibe as in 1998 when the club selected Peyton first overall. |
