| The NFL record for longest field goal remains 66 yards – but PK CAM LITTLE of the Jaguars nailed one from 70 on Saturday in a preseason game. John Breech ofCBSSports.com with an impressive recounting of where Little’s field goal ranks from all levels: Cam Little won’t be getting his name in the NFL record book after smashing a 70-yard field goal on Saturday night, but he will certainly have some bragging rights and that’s because his improbable kick appears to be the longest field goal in a game by any kicker in the history of football. The first American football game was played in 1869 and in the 156 years since then, no kicker had ever made a 70-yard field goal in a game until Little hit his kick just before halftime during Jacksonville’s 31-25 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. You’ve probably already seen a highlight of the kick, but it’s definitely worth watching again, so let’s check it out. Despite the long kick, Little’s name won’t be etched in the NFL record book, because preseason kicks don’t count. Due to that rule, Justin Tucker’s 66-yard field goal from 2021 still stands as the longest kick in league history. That being said, it does appear that Little’s kick is the longest field goal by anyone in a game ever. The previous mark was held Abilene Christian University kicker Ove Johansson, who hit a 69-yarder all the way back in 1976. And yes, there is footage of it. The second longest kick actually belongs to high schooler Dirk Borgognone, who hit a 68-yard field goal for Reno High in Nevada back in 1985. Once you get to 67 yards, things get kind of crowded. According to ESPN, there have been a total of four kickers who have hit a 67-yard field goal at the college level. Tom Odle, Fort Hays State (1988)Joe Williams, Wichita State (1978)Steve Little, Arkansas (1977)Russell Erxleben, Texas (1977)The high school level has also had four players hit from 67 yards out with the most recent one coming in 2012, according to MaxPreps. Austin Rehkow, Central Valley in Spokane Valley, Wash. (2012)Kip Smith, Legacy High School in Broomfield, Colo. (2009)Rusty Curry, Duluth High School in Georgia (1999)Rossell Cowsert, Dallas Christian School in Mesquite, Texas (1987) You might recognize Rehkow’s name and that’s because he currently has a sibling playing in the NFL in his brother Ryan, who’s heading into his second season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Once you get to 66 yards, that’s when you get to Tucker’s NFL record. If you’re wondering why college and high school players have been able to hit longer kicks, there’s actually a perfectly good explanation: Kicking blocks. College kickers were allowed to use a 1- to 2-inch kicking block until 1989 when they were banned. Before the ban, kickers were essentially kicking off a tee as long as the holder was able to get the ball in the right spot. The five longest field goals in college history all came when the kicking block was legal. The longest field goal at the college level since the ban of the kicking block came from Martin Gramatica, who hit a 65-yarder for Kansas State in 1998. Kicking blocks are still legal in high school, but players don’t have to use them. Former NFL kicker John Carney recently made a video about why high school kickers SHOULD use the block. The fact that every field goal ever from 67 yards or longer has come off a kicking block makes Little’s 70-yarder EVEN MORE impressive. And not only did he make the kick, but he drilled it: Little’s field goal had so much juice on it that it probably would have been good from 73 to 75 yards. At the rate things are going, it seems like it will only be a matter of time before an NFL kicker drills a 70-yarder in a regular-season game. Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was the last player to attempt a field goal of at least 70 yards in the regular season and that came last December in a game against the Carolina Panthers. Aubrey’s kick is one of just two attempts from 70 yards that the NFL has seen over the past 10 years, but no one should be surprised if that number doubles this year. The Cowboys kicker did drill a 65-yard field goal last season, which is the second-longest in NFL history. He also hit a 66-yard field goal during the preseason last year, which unofficially tied Tucker’s record. No NFL kicker had ever hit from 67 yards or longer in the preseason until Little happened. Little’s kick might not count in the record book, but he’s going to have bragging rights for life, because he did the impossible by pulling off something that no player in recorded football history had ever done: He drilled a 70-yard field goal. |
| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITGood news for S MORICE NORRIS. Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com: Lions safety Morice Norris returned to the team’s facility on Sunday, two days after he was taken off the field in an ambulance following a scary hit during a preseason game against the Falcons, according The Associated Press. Norris returned to the Lions’ facility after he was released from the hospital on Saturday. Norris, who was in stable condition late Friday night, offered a positive update on his status via social media on Saturday. “I’m all good man, don’t stress it. Appreciate all the check ins and love,” he wrote on Instagram. Norris sustained the injury after he hit Falcons running back Nathan Carter at the start of the fourth quarter. On the play, Norris’ head snapped back after he collided with Carter’s leg. Norris was then attended to by medical staff for several minutes before being loaded into an ambulance and taken to Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital. Due to the severity of the injury, both teams agreed to run out the clock and the game was suspended with 6:19 left in the fourth quarter with the Lions leading 17-10. The 24-year-old Norris signed with the Lions last offseason after going undrafted. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the Lions’ practice squad before being elevated to the active roster on December 28. |
| MINNESOTAAnother sad twist in the saga of WR RONDALE MOORE “who coulda been a contender.” Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore suffered a “pretty significant” injury to his left knee against the Houston Texans on Saturday, coach Kevin O’Connell said. The injury came on Moore’s first play after returning from a major injury last season to his right knee. O’Connell did not provide a specific diagnosis, pointing to an MRI test that will be conducted Sunday, but called the situation “heartbreaking.” Moore has struggled to stay healthy since the Arizona Cardinals made him a second-round draft pick in 2021. He missed nine games in 2022 because of a variety of ailments and then all of 2024 after suffering a dislocated right knee when he was in training camp with the Atlanta Falcons. He signed a one-year contract with the Vikings this offseason and was in line to be the team’s punt returner and potential No. 4 receiver. On his first return, Texans linebacker Jamal Hill tackled him as he ran out of bounds after a 2-yard gain. In the process, Hill pulled Moore awkwardly over his left leg. Athletic trainers quickly brought out a cart. Moore’s frustration was evident. He slammed his hands so hard on the back of the cart that the sound could be heard throughout the stadium. “It’s one of the most painful things for me as a head coach when I feel that emotion,” O’Connell said. “I make a life out of trying to leave others better than I found them. In that situation, there is nothing I can do, which is the worst feeling as a coach. So you just consult with him and make sure that he knows he’s not going to be alone.” O’Connell spoke with members of referee Brad Allen’s officiating crew to ask if Hill’s hit qualified as an illegal hip-drop tackle. “I have to watch the play back before I truly can give [an answer] on it,” O’Connell said. “But it was very, very unfortunate. It seemed like it had a lot of the characteristics of [the hip-drop tackle], but I know it is a three-part kind of process to actually call that on the field. We’ll see when we watch the tape. I don’t think there was any bad intent there.” |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASQB JOE MILTON has drawn plenty of attention in Cowboys camp, but he did not finish the first preseason game. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: Cowboys backup quarterback Joe Milton injured his right elbow late in Saturday’s preseason loss to the Rams. Milton was sandwiched by two Rams pass rushers on an incompletion with 5:50 left in the fourth quarter. He stayed in for two handoffs before leaving holding his arm. Milton, who the Cowboys acquired in a trade from the Patriots this offseason, had an up-and-down performance. He went 17-of-29 for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception and ran for 22 yards on five carries. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game that Milton bruised his elbow and initial tests show the second-year player will be “OK.” Will Grier replaced Milton and finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run.– – -Meanwhile WR CEEDEE LAMB was standing on the sidelines minding his own business – and the next thing you know he was knocked violently to the grown and assessed a penalty. Like most of the Dallas Cowboys’ notable names, CeeDee Lamb didn’t suit up for the team’s preseason opener. Nonetheless, Lamb took a big hit and drew a penalty flag in Dallas’ loss to the host Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Lamb, turning his back to the action, held up his left hand to celebrate a long pass from quarterback Joe Milton III to Jonathan Mingo. A sprinting sideline official collided with the Pro Bowl wide receiver in a dubious scene. “It’s a sideline interference,” referee Alex Moore said in the pool report to the L.A. Times’ Gary Klein. “CeeDee Lamb was standing in the restricted white border area, which is our area to officiate the game. The official on the play was focused solely on doing his job and he ran into CeeDee Lamb, who was standing in that restricted area. That’s what happened. And with that contact, it’s an automatic foul.” Adding proverbial insult to what hopefully wasn’t an injury for the Cowboys star wide receiver was a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for contacting the official. “It’s more of a rare situation,” Moore said. “Normally we don’t have anybody standing that deep into the restricted area, or that type of forceful contact. So, it is a rare occurrence, but it does happen from time to time.” The play would’ve resulted in a 51-yard gain off a pass interference call, but shaved off some yardage in between downs. Having put up four straight 1,000-yard seasons, Lamb isn’t accustomed to watching the Cowboys offense from the sidelines. It showed on Saturday. |
| NEW YORK GIANTSConnor Hughes of SNY.com liked what he saw in the debut of QB JAXSON DART: It doesn’t count. Not really. This is the preseason, an exhibition football game in the middle of August, when the game plans are vanilla and carried out by those weeks away from waking up from their NFL dreams. But that doesn’t matter because it doesn’t make this any less impressive, feel any less good. There was Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, standing tall in the face of pressure, delivering a perfect touch pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey before being knocked to the ground for a 28-yard score on third down. Dart popped up as quickly as he went down to celebrate. New York’s sideline erupted. That moment, those that followed, birthed hope. “Hopefully we can continue to stack wins,” Dart said after the Giants’ 34-25 road victory over the Bills. “Make a habit of it.” Effective. Efficient. Aggressive. That’s how head coach Brian Daboll described his rookie quarterback’s NFL debut. A succinct analysis, but accurate. The touchdown was the highlight, but not the only head-turning moment. On Dart’s first series, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka dialed up a read option. Dart kept the ball, but saw pressure right off the jump. There was no panic. He dodged Michael Hoecht and found Greg Dulcich for a short gain. That was a theme. Dart routinely moved within the pocket to evade the rush, but kept his eyes down the field to give his receivers time. That’s how he found Montrel Washington for 18 when the team needed 15. There was also a 19-yard scramble where he found a lane and scampered through. Dart finished Saturday 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) for 154 yards with a touchdown. He had a quarterback rating of 106. He led the Giants to points on three of his four possessions. “I felt like the only reason we stopped ourselves from scoring touchdowns was some of those third downs and not converting,” said Dart. “I felt like, personally, I’m really hard on myself, in those moments, I want to capitalize on that. Those possessions in crunch-time situations determine the outcome of games. “I feel like I can do a lot more, but I was happy with how the guys played around me.” Context matters. The Bills did not game plan for Dart and the Giants’ offense. The Bills’ defense the rookie saw on Saturday was elementary addition and subtraction compared to what he’d experience on September Sundays. Don’t make preseason games more than they are. Daniel Jones completed all five of his passes for 67 yards and a touchdown in his preseason debut. But it’s better to look good than bad. And Dart, against the Bills, looked good. He looked really, really good. He showed what Daboll fell in love with during the pre-draft process, why the quarterback guru wanted him so bad. “Some stuff we can work on, but he’s doing good,” said Daboll. “He has good moxie. He has toughness. He has leadership. “I’m glad he’s here… That was a good start for him.” The Giants have no plans to play Dart this season. New York signed Russell Wilson — who engineered a 16-play, 40-yard field goal drive in his only possession Saturday (six of seven passing, 28 yards) — so they could redshirt their green rookie. Dart played college football at Ole Miss. That means he spent three years in Lane Kiffin’s anything-but-pro-style offense. Giants general manager Joe Schoen and Daboll want Dart to sit, watch, and learn. The only way he sees the field is if they must break the glass in case of an emergency (or their own job security). Wilson has undeniably been the Giants’ best quarterback this summer. Dart has impressed, too. He’s not NFL-ready, but hasn’t looked like a detriment to those around him when on the field, either |
| PHILADELPHIANot good news for the defending champs: @AdamSchefterEagles three-time Pro-Bowl guard Landon Dickerson was carted off the practice field Sunday night with a leg injury, unable to put any weight on it. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINAName to know – WR TETAIROA McMILLAN. Michael Baca of NFL.com: One nice play in the preseason won’t promise anything, but sometimes that’s all it takes to excite in early August. That was the feeling in Carolina after rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan came down with a 30-yard catch down the sideline in the first quarter of Friday’s preseason opener. It was an exact glimpse of what the Panthers were looking for with their No. 8 overall pick. “That’s what we’re counting on. That’s why he’s here,” head coach Dave Canales said of the highlight, via team transcript. “Stretch the field, play big, and that was a sign of good things.” The over-the-shoulder grab wasn’t as easy as McMillan made it look. The 6-foot-5 wideout shook man coverage and ran past his defender just enough to separate before twisting his body and outstretching his arms in one motion to haul in his first NFL touch. “I just saw a perfectly-placed ball,” McMillan told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe after the 30-10 preseason loss. “You know, I just got to go out there and make plays when the plays come to me, so, at the end of the day, my job is to catch the ball. If it touches my hands, I got to come down with it.” Considering that perfect pass came from Bryce Young made the play all that more appealing for the Panthers. “I have a ton of trust and confidence in him,” Young said after the game. “He did a great job of pulling his line and giving me a spot to throw the ball. It was a great catch. It’s a lot harder than I’m sure it looked, so he did a great job on that. I have all the confidence in the world in him.” It’s “teh-ta-ROH-uh” according to Tetairoa. He is also known as “T-Mac” according to Wikipedia and sometimes “Nalo”. Born on Oahu, his family to move to California’s Orange County at age one and went to Servite HS in Anaheim. He graduated from Servite in 2022, as did DT MASON GRAHAM who was the 4th overall pick this year, four ahead of McMillan. Has any other high school class had two of the top eight picks in a draft? QB Alex Smith (#1 in 2005) and Reggie Bush (#2 in 2006) both went to Helix HS in San Diego – but they both graduated and were drafted a year apart despite playing for some time in the same high school backfield. Austin Knoblauch of the LA Times tells us it is a first in California history, but IMG Academy (which isn’t a conventional high school) did have two pick go in the top 10 in the same draft in 2024: Servite became the first school in California history to have two players selected in the top 10 of the same NFL draft, according to CalHi Sports and HSFA data. Defensive tackle Mason Graham was drafted at No. 5 by the Cleveland Browns and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was selected eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers. Servite edged Oceanside El Camino’s 1997 draft feat when Bryant Westbrook and Michael Booker went No. 5 and No. 11, respectively. Although the accomplishment is rare, there are a growing number of high schools with multiple former players taken in a single draft. Like Servite, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) also had two alumni selected in the first round last year with JC Latham (No. 7) and J.J. McCarthy (No. 10). IMG Academy and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) each had three players selected in the 2024 draft. The last Southern Section school to have former teammates selected in the first round? Long Beach Poly in 1990 and 1991, with Mark Carrier (No. 6 in 1990) and Leonard Russell (No. 14 in 1991). Long Beach Poly is the only school in California to achieve the feat twice with teammates but never in the same draft year, according to CalHi Sports. Latham and McCarthy were both in the IMG Class of 2021 – but McCarthy wasn’t in the top eight. McMillan wasn’t just a football player at Servite. He excelled in volleyball. |
| AFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSInjuries for the Chargers, have led to the cancellation of a scheduled joint practice with the Rams. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: The Chargers-Rams joint practice planned for Wednesday has been canceled as the Chargers focus on keeping their players healthy. Rams coach Sean McVay said Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh decided injury concerns were too great to justify a joint practice. “Unfortunately we’ll have to cancel that practice with the Chargers,” McVay said. “I think they’re a little banged up. Talked to Coach Harbaugh. Bummer that we weren’t able to get that done, but I totally understand, and we’ll figure out a way to get great work against ourselves.” The Chargers’ most notable injury was to left tackle Rashawn Slater, who is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon, but he’s not the only injured Charger. On Saturday multiple players limped off the practice field, including offensive lineman Branson Taylor and cornerback Donte Jackson. The Chargers were the first team to open training camp and are playing an extra preseason game because they were in the Hall of Fame Game, so Harbaugh may think his team needs some additional time off. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEA report on the first preseason game for two-way ATH TRAVIS HUNTER. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The first test of Travis Hunter’s ability to play both ways in an NFL game is in the books. Hunter played 10 snaps at wide receiver and eight snaps at cornerback in Saturday’s 31-25 loss to the Steelers. Hunter caught two passes on the team’s opening drive and had a third catch wiped out by a penalty before missing a tackle in his time on defense. “He made a couple good catches on some option routes and missed the one tackle defensively that I noticed,” head coach Liam Coen said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. “I’ll have to watch the tape on how he operated defensively a little bit more, but I thought offensively, he made the right decisions on those option routes. Made a good catch, almost broke out of that one where Trevor [Lawrence] put it behind him on that third down we talked about, but I’ll have to go watch the tape a little bit more to know more.” Hunter said he was nervous at the start of the game, but calmed down after the first play and said he knows “what I’ve got to do next time” now that he has his first NFL game action under his belt. |
| TENNESSEEAn injury to RB TAJAE SPEARS. Turron Davenport of ESPN.com: — Titans running back Tyjae Spears is expected to be out for a few weeks, coach Brian Callahan said Sunday. The team doesn’t expect Spears, who suffered a high ankle sprain during Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to return before the preseason is over. Spears was seen leaving the locker room on crutches with a walking boot on his right foot after the game. The injury happened just before halftime when Spears caught a pass out of the backfield for a 13-yard gain. He limped off the field and was quickly placed on a cart that took him into the locker room. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALORB JAMES COOK was on the Buffalo sideline Saturday night, but he did not play despite Sean McDermott’s desire that he do so. Tim Graham of The Athletic: James Cook emerged from the Highmark Stadium tunnel in full pads and uniform, putting a charge into the pregame summer air. The Buffalo Bills running back hadn’t worn any of his gear for a week. He wants a new contract and has applied his leverage by refusing to practice. To see Cook on the field Saturday — he even took a first-team rep in 11-on-11 warmup drills — was a jolt of hope. Cook never was going to play. In what was nothing more than a costume change, he milled about on the sidelines of the Bills’ 34-25 exhibition loss to the New York Giants. Cook stood next to running backs coach Kelly Skipper on the sideline for much of the game. For the second half, Cook wore sunglasses and running shoes, occasionally using a massage gun on his legs and sometimes watching from the bench. Upon exiting the locker room to head home, I asked Cook if he had a moment to chat. He didn’t say a word, waving his hand as a de facto “no comment.” Bills coach Sean McDermott revealed 20 minutes later the Bills wanted Cook to play Saturday, but last year’s NFL rushing touchdowns co-leader refused — just as Cook has done since the Aug. 1 intrasquad scrimmage, missing four straight training camp practices and maybe many more. “James and I had a good conversation yesterday,” McDermott said as part of the opening statement of his postgame news conference. “We talked about warming up. He agreed to warm up but not play due to his situation right now. That’s where we’re at. So no change, really, overall.” Was the discussion with Cook an attempt to reach a compromise? “No, we wanted him to play,” McDermott said. “I wanted him to play, but I don’t really want to go into it any further. “There’s really no change at this point and time from what it was going into this weekend and the game today. He warmed up, like I said, but at this point, due to his situation and the position he’s in, was not willing to play. So that’s where we’re at. Again, it was a good conversation, but really no change overall.” Asked whether the Bills expect Cook to participate Tuesday in the next full-go practice, McDermott made it clear he was done discussing the stand-around tailback. “We can talk about the guys who played,” McDermott said. “I think that’s the right thing to do and the fair thing to do now.” “James’ situation is James’ situation, and let’s talk about the team.” Nothing is bigger than the team. Despite the support and diplomacy shown by Cook’s teammates and coaches, Buffalo knows the ongoing saga is becoming a distraction. The team needs him in the huddle. “You’d be crazy to say we don’t want him out there,” quarterback Josh Allen said Thursday. “We desperately want him out there with us. Hopefully, something can get done.” The team is also aggravated that this problem exists at all. McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane are proud of the culture they’ve grown, cultivating a hale organization from the salted soil that produced 17 years of playoff famine. Propelled by their face-of-the-NFL quarterback, they’ve turned a small-market outpost into a perennial Super Bowl contender. Prior to Cook, Beane never had a contract situation cause any training camp boycott. Everybody is supposed to be happy here. The idea that a star player is upset about his contract goes against the Bills’ well-manicured identity. However, it must not be super-fun-wow for Cook to see several of his peers get contract extensions this offseason while he remains empty-handed. Three of his 2022 draft classmates — linebacker Terrel Bernard, receiver Khalil Shakir, cornerback Christian Benford — and edge rusher Gregory Rousseau now are on their second NFL deals. Benford suggested last week at St. John Fisher University that he wouldn’t handle his contract the way Cook has. “If I was in that position, it’d probably be the same as how I’m doing now — you know what I’m saying? — working my butt off,” Benford said. “I’m challenging myself to the wit’s end, whether I got the money or not, whether they gave me the extension or not. I’m still going to challenge myself and give my all to the wit’s end.” Then again, Benford was a sixth-round draft pick out of Division I-AA Villanova, while Cook was pedigreed, a second-round choice from FBS powerhouse Georgia. Cook is entering the final season of his four-year, $5.83 million rookie contract. He believes he has outperformed that deal. He rushed for 16 touchdowns last year, tying a club record, and scored twice more on receptions. Cook has been named to the past two Pro Bowl rosters. Cook contrarians note he signed the contract and should abide by it, that he ought to go out and prove his greatness with another great campaign before expecting a financial windfall. However, NFL contracts aren’t fully guaranteed like in other leagues. It’s funny how critics don’t rail against a team’s so-called contractual obligations when it cuts a player such as popular center Mitch Morse, whose salary is no longer palatable. The controversy is reinforced by the debate over whether running backs are worth big bucks in the first place. Cook is not a three-down back given his liability as a pass-blocker. Buffalo is hesitant to invest so much into an incomplete back. “James wants what he wants,” Bills running back Ty Johnson said Saturday, “and that’s all there is to it. “He’s a man about his business, about his money. That’s how I leave it. I’m just worried about myself and what I can do for this team.” Cook learned about football business from his big brother, Dalvin Cook. Perhaps the most important lesson is that a running back’s shelf life is preciously short. Dalvin Cook, about to turn 25 at the time, squabbled with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020. After he rushed for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first Pro Bowl season, Dalvin threatened to hold out if his rookie contract wasn’t extended before the season. Dalvin showed up to training camp, got a five-year, $63 million contract and made three more Pro Bowls before the Vikings cut him for money reasons. Dalvin soon became a whisper of a runner, scuffling through the past two seasons with three clubs, including time on the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys practice squads. “There’s the huge business piece to this game,” Allen said. “It’s the hardest part. A lot of people don’t understand it. “This is generational stuff. It’s wealth for you and your family. It’s not a small chunk of change.” Buffalo’s running backs all enjoyed their moments Saturday. Davis started and had the worst day as a runner, but probably the most entertaining. He rushed four times for only 7 yards and caught one pass for 7 yards, but he kicked an extra point with Tyler Bass sidelined by pelvic soreness. Johnson had three carries for 26 yards and didn’t see any targets. Frank Gore Jr. ran five times for 21 yards and caught a team-high five passes for 50 yards. Darrynton Evans ran twice for 4 yards but added two receptions for 14 yards, including a 7-yard TD from quarterback Mike White in the fourth quarter. Fullback Reggie Gilliam made a 19-yard catch. Everybody knows, however, that any of those backs will have difficulty replacing what Cook can do. “James is one of a kind,” Davis said. “There’s a very few amount of guys who’s breaking 75-yard runs in NFL, and he’s one of those guys. To see how special he is when he has the ball in his hands, he does a lot for this organization. He does a lot for this running back room. “So to have him continue to be out here definitely is a good thing for the Buffalo Bills.” That would be best for the team and its Super Bowl aspirations. The Bills better hope Cook’s decision to warm up is a metaphor for a thaw in negotiations. |
| NEW ENGLANDS KYLE DUGGAR has a big contract, but his performance so far does not seem to have impressed new coach Mike Vrabel. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com: – The biggest surprise of the Patriots’ 13th practice of training camp came when safety Kyle Dugger ran with the second-string defense. Dugger signed a four-year, $58 million contract with the team last offseason after having been assigned the transition tag — a reflection that he was viewed as a core player under the prior regime of coach Jerod Mayo and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. Dugger was also the top draft pick of coach Bill Belichick in 2020 after the team traded down in the first round and landed him near the top of the second round (No. 37). But how Dugger fits in the new regime led by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel remains uncertain, and Sunday shined a spotlight on his role as Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson were primarily the top three safeties in a practice that featured mostly red-zone work. The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Dugger started in Friday’s preseason opener and played 18 defensive snaps and three special teams snaps. He was credited with one tackle. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| SLEEPER WIDE RECEIVERSFor your Fantasy team from Justin Boone of YahooSportsc.om: Fantasy football managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who’s actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, we’re shifting our focus to late-round targets who could drastically outproduce their ADP in 2025. Today, we’re taking a look at wide receivers. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Keon Coleman, BillsThe Bills had a clear vision in mind when they drafted Coleman at the top of the second round last year… get Josh Allen a No. 1 receiver. When rookies first step on the field with their NFL clubs, you get a feel fairly quickly whether they have that immediate star quality, will need some time to develop or don’t belong in the league. Coleman made headlines for his fun personality and quirky interviews, but it was evident last summer that he was a work in progress who would have to learn how to win in the pros. Prior to his debut, I projected a Rashee Rice-like rookie campaign for Coleman, where his production would start slow but ramp up towards a breakout in the second half of the season. Coleman’s size and ball skills were enough to help him contribute right away, though, and he posted at least 50 yards or a touchdown in four of his first five outings. He appeared to be getting more comfortable in the process and in Weeks 7 and 8, put up back-to-back big performances with stat lines of 4-125-0 and 5-70-1 while earning seven targets in both games. Unfortunately, a wrist injury forced him out of Buffalo’s Week 9 contest and he missed the next five weeks, before returning with mediocre results in the final month. Now healthy, the 22-year-old has been generating a lot of buzz from beat writers at Bills practices. He still has work to do in order to become a star wideout, but the connection with Allen has been stronger and more frequent. Last year’s target leader Khalil Shakir is dealing with a high ankle sprain that’s supposed to keep him sidelined for 4-5 weeks, which puts his availability for the opener in doubt. It also makes you wonder if Shakir will be 100% early in the season. The door is wide open for Coleman to assert himself as the Alpha receiver on this depth chart and to take a big step forward in fantasy. There aren’t many receivers with double-digit touchdown upside who are on the board in the late rounds — don’t let Coleman slip past you. He’s a borderline breakout candidate that people continue to overlook. Rashid Shaheed, SaintsQuestions about the Saints’ quarterback situation are likely responsible for keeping Shaheed’s ADP in check. People might also be forgetting what he’s accomplished over the last couple years. Before suffering a season-ending injury, Shaheed was the WR21 in fppg through five weeks in 2024, eclipsing 70 yards in four of his five appearances and finding the end zone three times. He flashed similar potential in 2023, when he posted six top-20 WR fantasy finishes despite being outside the top-50 at his position most other weeks. Consistency is not Shaheed’s game. He’s a boom-or-bust WR3/flex with matchup-winning upside as long as you can stomach the down weeks. Jayden Higgins/Christian Kirk, TexansHiggins and Kirk can be drafted in the 10th round or later (in Kirk’s case, much later). However, Houston’s passing attack is due for a bounce back after C.J. Stroud’s disappointing sophomore season that saw them fall from fifth in passing yards to 15th. Offensive line struggles played a part, but it’s difficult to overcome injuries to your entire receiving corps. Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs missed a combined 17 games. When healthy, Diggs was on pace for a 1,000-yard campaign and Dell for over 800 yards. Collins still finished over 1,000 yards despite sitting out five weeks. Not wanting to repeat that fiasco, the Texans went out of their way to add Kirk in free agency and Higgins in the draft. The rookie is a quality route runner, can win in contested situations and is poised to start across from Collins in Week 1. Kirk is three years removed from being the WR19 in fppg and was a top-30 option over the first 12 weeks of 2023 before injuries derailed each of his past two seasons. With question marks around Joe Mixon’s health, the Texans may have to rely on the pass even more than usual in the opening month. Based on their actions this offseason, they seem prepared for that — making this a passing game worth investing in. Collins is the superstar in this WR room, but Higgins and Kirk should easily outproduce their ADPs and come with little to no risk. Depth WRs pushing for starting roles Jalen Royals, Chiefs — The Chiefs are another team that battled through receiver injuries a year ago. They’re hoping to avoid that outcome this year with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and now Royals filling out the depth chart. The fourth-rounder has impressed in training camp and could become a favorite target for Patrick Mahomes. Royals will be the obvious replacement if/when Rice is suspended. If that stint goes well, Royals could push Brown for work in three-receiver sets moving forward. Adonai Mitchell, Colts — I’ll admit, my belief in Mitchell’s talent is one of the few areas where my analytical approach gets thrown out the window. As a prospect, it appeared to me that his skills would translate into a starring role in the NFL. Unfortunately, inconsistency buried him on the depth chart and led to an underwhelming rookie season. The good news is that Mitchell is lighting up Colts camp, as well as joint practices with the Ravens. The 22-year-old has the ability to rise to the top of this depth chart if he continues to improve. I’ll remain on this hill until his career is over. Pat Bryant, Broncos — We’re getting into the deep cuts now. Bryant is a third-round pick who is making a strong case to at least be part of the receiver rotation in Denver this year. Courtland Sutton reaffirmed his No. 1 spot with a new contract recently, but behind him, it’s a full competition for playing time. Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin are far from established and Bryant has been earning consistent praise from beat writers. Even head coach Sean Payton compared Bryant to former Saints star WR Michael Thomas. Tory Horton, Seahawks — Behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks’ receiving corps is not as locked in as it has been in previous years. Cooper Kupp is 32 years old and starting fresh with a new team, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling is facing serious pressure from Horton. The fifth-round rookie had his draft stock plummet due to a knee injury that cost him a significant chunk of his final college season. Prior to that, he delivered consecutive seasons with over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. Now it appears he’s regaining his form as a member of the Seahawks. Keep Horton on your late-round target list because he’s going to be a factor into this offense in the near future. |
| ROOKIE COACH WIN TOTALSBucky Brooks at NFL.com projects the win totals for the new coaches. They are: Mike Vrabel, PatriotsBrian Schottenheimer, CowboysBen Johnson, BearsPete Carroll, RaidersLiam Coen, JaguarsAaron Glenn, JetsKellen Moore, Saints The above is about the order we would have them. Let’s see what Bucky thinks: With all of that in mind, here is my ranking of the new head coaches, 1-7, in terms of who will win the most games this season. 1 Brian SchottenheimerDallas CowboysI just spent some time at Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, California, and there is a vibe around this team that is a direct reflection of its energetic new leader, who has emphasized connectivity between players and coaches since Day 1. Though the newfound chemistry must be complemented with a disciplined approach that features more accountability and attention to detail, Dallas’ talented roster could finally maximize its immense potential under the direction of a first-time head coach utilizing a blueprint that helped his dad (Marty Schottenheimer) win 200 regular-season games. As an offensive-minded coach with a seasoned franchise quarterback (Dak Prescott), a beefy O-line and a collection of playmakers in the passing game (CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jake Ferguson), Schottenheimer has the firepower to go toe-to-toe with league heavyweights. If the Cowboys can mend their relationship with superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons, Dallas’ defense could produce enough splash plays (turnovers, sacks, tackles for loss) to tilt games in the Cowboys’ favor, ultimately spawning a return to the postseason for “America’s Team.” 2 Ben JohnsonChicago BearsThe offensive wizard steps into a perfect situation with a gifted quarterback (2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams) who needed a new playbook and an upgraded supporting cast of playmakers (Chicago drafted Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III in the first two rounds) and protectors (the Bears acquired veterans Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman before spending a second-round pick on Ozzy Trapilo) to maximize his immense potential. All of these new additions should jump-start an offense that has lagged behind the explosive attacks of Chicago’s division rivals in Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota. The biggest key? Williams embracing Johnson’s demanding, hard coaching style. Though the Dennis Allen-led defense will need to generate enough stops to give a new-and-improved offense a chance to wear down opponents, the Bears’ offensive potency could make them a 10-win squad in 2025. 3 Mike VrabelNew England PatriotsWhen Robert Kraft decided to bring Vrabel back to Foxborough to revive the Patriots, he was counting on the three-time Super Bowl champion to utilize some of the toughness and tactics that had helped the franchise dominate the league for the first two decades of this millennium. While a worst-to-first jump is unlikely in a division that runs through Buffalo — SEE: five straight AFC East titles — New England is bound to improve with an established WR1 (Stefon Diggs) helping Drake Maye take another step in his development as a franchise quarterback. The Patriots also assisted their second-year passer in the first three rounds of the draft, taking two offensive linemen (Will Campbell, Jared Wilson) and a pair of playmakers (TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle Williams). With notable free-agent additions to all three levels of the defense (DL Milton Williams, OLB Harold Landry III, LB Robert Spillane, CB Carlton Davis III), Vrabel has an experienced unit that’s poised to create problems for opponents. The Pats will be a tough out for teams ill-prepared to deal with 60 minutes of “Bully Ball” from a former AFC powerhouse. 4 Liam CoenJacksonville JaguarsAfter transforming Baker Mayfield into a touchdown machine in 2024, Coen could help another former No. 1 overall pick find his groove. While Trevor Lawrence’s performance also hinges on his connection with a promising group of young pass catchers (Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown, Parker Washington and Brenton Strange), his crafty new play-caller can create plenty of opportunities for the quarterback to post gaudy numbers utilizing various high-percentage concepts that feed speedy playmakers in space. Defensively, Jacksonville’s move to a vision-based scheme under new coordinator Anthony Campanile should enable Hunter to thrive as a two-way standout. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is expected to contribute defensively as a “get off the field” specialist who plays in critical moments (third down, red zone, two-minute drill, end of game). With Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker in place to wreak havoc off the edges, the turnovers could come in bunches for a team obsessed with picking off passes on tips and overthrows. Given the outsized impact of explosive plays and turnovers on the outcome of games, Coen could have the Jaguars climbing the ranks as a playoff contender by season’s end. 5 Pete CarrollLas Vegas RaidersArmed with an old-school blueprint that has helped him build championship teams on the professional and collegiate levels, Carroll will follow the script with the Silver and Black, a four-win team last season. Despite playing in a division with a trio of 2024 playoff participants, the Raiders should be much more competitive with Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback Geno Smith leaning on an unstoppable tight end (second-year pro Brock Bowers) and a supremely talented RB1 with takeover ability (No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty). Las Vegas has some holes on the other side of the ball, but Maxx Crosby is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and the unit added a number of experienced veterans in the offseason. As a team built around a run-centric approach with the intent of forcing opponents to play in tightly contested games, the Raiders’ ability to win one-score games could determine whether they can hover around .500 in Carroll’s debut season. 6 Aaron GlennNew York JetsGlenn might follow the blueprint created by his former head coach, Bill Parcells, to reverse the fortunes of a franchise that has not made the playoffs since the 2010 season. The Hall of Fame head coach employed a tough-love approach — along with a methodical, complementary football strategy — that helped the Jets reach the 1998 AFC Championship Game. With a talented defense in place for Glenn’s first season at the helm, he and the front office have focused their efforts on building an offense that can win with force or finesse, while playing a low-risk brand of football that doesn’t defeat itself. Justin Fields’ arrival gives the Jets a dual-threat quarterback with the big arm and rushing ability to create explosive plays. The passing attack could take a step forward with better chemistry on the perimeter, as Fields rekindles his connection with former Ohio State teammate and Jets WR1 Garrett Wilson. In the ground game, as Breece Hall and Braelon Allen settle into their roles as designated playmakers, the Jets can create chaos with various downhill runs and option concepts designed to bully and befuddle opposing defenses at every turn. In a league that rewards smashmouth teams these days, New York could surprise some folks with its old-school formula. 7 Kellen MooreNew Orleans SaintsThe well-respected quarterback guru has his work cut out for him in Year 1 with an unproven trio of passers (rookie Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener) vying for the QB1 spot. Moore has built quarterback-friendly systems for playmakers with varied skill sets in three stops as an offensive coordinator (Cowboys, Chargers and Eagles), but in his first season as a head coach, the former NFL backup QB must quickly adjust to the starting signal-caller’s abilities in order to produce an offense that fully maximizes the talent on the perimeter. While New Orleans’ veteran leadership on both sides of the ball could help keep the team afloat until a QB1 emerges, relying on a collection of graybeards (Alvin Kamara, Brandin Cooks, Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Justin Reid) to spark a rise around an inexperienced and/or ineffective quarterback is asking a lot in a QB-driven league. |
