| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOCourtney Cronin of ESPN.com on the Bears running backs room: DJ Moore’s locker is two stalls away from that of Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift. Over the past 16 months, since Swift signed his three-year, $24 million free agent contract with Chicago, Moore has had a bird’s-eye view of how his teammate dealt with the ups and downs of a 2024 season that fell short of expectations. “As long as I’ve known Swift, he’s always been the same,” Moore said. “I think some of the talk is getting to him, and he wants to be the best that he can be this year and he’s going to go out there and prove it.” Swift’s 959 rushing yards ranked 18th while his five touchdowns were 24th among all running backs despite his salary being the 11th highest at his position. At the start of training camp, Swift downplayed last year’s frustrations serving as added motivation for his sixth NFL season, but the Bears are going to need a bounce-back year from their RB1, considering they didn’t make many changes to the unit. To go along with Swift, Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer, whose biggest contributions come on special teams, Chicago’s sole running back addition was via the seventh-round pick the Bears used to draft Kyle Monangai, who has earned early praise from coach Ben Johnson. “I know the perception out there is that maybe it’s not the most talented room in the world,” Johnson said. “They like to hear that noise.” The Bears ranked last in total offense (284.6) in 2024, due in large part to a rushing attack that failed to support a struggling passing game quarterbacked by then-rookie Caleb Williams. What was once a strength in Chicago devolved into a disappointment behind the Bears’ 102 rushing yards per game (25th). Swift crossed the 100-yard rushing threshold once in 17 games and had the lowest yards per attempt (3.8) of his career. Johnson matched Swift’s touchdown total (6) but only mustered 150 yards over 14 games. There was so much left undone from last season that the 26-year-old running back can’t nail down one area where he feels he needs to improve most. “Everything,” Swift said. “Especially when numbers ain’t where they should be statistically, even though scrimmage yards (79.1), that was the best of my career. But we won four or five games (5-12). Can’t sit up here and talk about anything positive. All of us have something to work on, something to get better at. “When team success is at a premium, everything else is going to fall in line.” With pads coming on for the first time on Monday, Bears coaches will soon have an opportunity to see how these running backs fit into Johnson’s scheme. While Johnson said he doesn’t know what type of run game the Bears will feature just yet, it’s certain to be an emphasis given how Detroit’s run game powered the Lions’ offenses during Johnson’s time as offensive coordinator, particularly the 2023 and 2024 seasons when the team boasted the fifth and sixth best rushing attacks, respectively. In 2024, the Lions’ rushing attack was predicated off outside zone runs (51.3% of the time). Inside zone runs accounted for 12.8% of all rushes while gap scheme runs were featured 16.7%. Power runs (7.1%) and counters, sweeps, dives and traps were each run less than 5% of the time. “Our wide zone has looked good the last few days and I know that we have a lot more install to put in with the run schemes,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. “It’s not like we’re introducing everything all at once. We want to be multiple and have the ability to do more. As we go, just being really critical about evaluating these schemes, is it something that fits us? If it’s not, then it’ll get removed.” Ben Johnson and Swift overlapped for the 2022 season when the running back was one-half of the Lions’ rushing duo with Jamaal Williams. Detroit sent Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 for a fourth-round pick, which it used to draft Jahmyr Gibbs as his replacement. With Gibbs and former Bear David Montgomery over the past two seasons, the Lions emerged as one of the league’s best rushing units. Part of that success can be attributed to the investment Detroit has regularly made in its offensive line. The Lions ranked ninth in run block win rate in 2023. While they dipped to 16th in 2024, Gibbs and Montgomery still accounted for 28 rushing touchdowns (second in the NFL). Swift knows the benefit of playing behind a strong offensive line. The starting five that the Eagles fielded during his career-best season in 2023 allowed him to set a career high in rushing attempts (229) and yards (1,049) and was widely regarded as one of the top units in the NFL. The success of Chicago’s run game hinges on improved play up front, which led the Bears to swap the entire interior of its offensive line for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman. The prospect of finding his running lanes behind a line that projects as a strength for the Bears allowed for the mild-mannered Swift to momentarily break character. “I can’t wait,” Swift said, flashing a smile that matched the tenor of his response. “I’m excited.” |
| DETROITFrank Schwab of YahooSports.com is closing in on his top team – he has the Lions at #3: It’s hard to imagine anyone rooting against the Detroit Lions. They have a likable team led by a relatable head coach, a passionate fan base and have been terrible for most of their existence. Their rise to the elite tier of the NFL has been fun. So there’s no joy in wondering if the Lions’ best chances for that elusive Super Bowl appearance have already passed. It’s possible Detroit fans will be sitting around 20, 30 years from now and still rueing how the 2023 and 2024 seasons ended. Ranking playoff losses by the level of heartbreak isn’t the most healthy exercise, so let’s just say the Lions’ past two playoff losses are tied for first. In the NFC championship game two seasons ago, the Lions led the San Francisco 49ers, 24-10, and their win probability reached 90.4%, according to Next Gen Stats. San Francisco stormed back to win. Last season hurt in a different way. The Lions had a historic season, going 15-2 with the fourth-highest scoring team ever at 564 points. As the No. 1 seed in the NFC, all they had to do was win two home games to make the Super Bowl. The Lions were 15-4 at home over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including postseason, heading into their playoff game against the Washington Commanders. That game against the Commanders felt like quicksand, with the Lions sinking further every time they tried to take a step. A defense that was decimated by injuries was chasing Washington and its rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels all game. Detroit’s offense suddenly couldn’t stop making mistakes and turning the ball over. The Lions lost, 45-31, and it was hard to put into words the devastation for a franchise that has never even been to a Super Bowl. There have been only nine teams in NFL history to win 15 regular-season games. Before last season, only one didn’t win a playoff game. Now it’s two. The 2011 Green Bay Packers were a great team but ultimately more forgettable than the 2010 team that went 10-6 but won a Super Bowl. Unfortunately for the Lions, they don’t yet have that Super Bowl win to ease the pain of that unexpected one-and-done. “It’s disappointing. It’s hard,” quarterback Jared Goff said. “We had everything we wanted. Home-field advantage, the fans were incredible and unfortunately, we just let it slip out of our hands.” When you become good, other teams pick at your roster and coaching staff. For decades, nobody wanted Lions coordinators. This past offseason, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were two of the top three candidates on the head-coaching market, with Mike Vrabel being the other. Johnson was hired by the Chicago Bears and Glenn went to the New York Jets. It won’t be easy to replace two of the best coordinators in football. The Lions have had a great offensive line the past few years but 40 percent of it needs to be replaced after guard Kevin Zeitler left in free agency and center Frank Ragnow retired. That’s another huge blow. The good news is Detroit is still very, very good. The Lions’ roster is still full of blue-chip players. Dan Campbell looks like one of the better head coaches in the league. And maybe the losses at coordinator won’t be that bad. John Morton, who was on the Lions’ staff in 2022 and spent the past two seasons with Sean Payton in Denver, takes Johnson’s place as offensive coordinator. Glenn is replaced as defensive coordinator by Kelvin Sheppard, who was coaching Detroit’s linebackers the past four seasons. They’re both capable of keeping the Lions heading in the right direction. But things change quickly in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles look hard to beat in the NFC. The NFC North is the toughest division in the league. Injuries can hit at the wrong times, which the Lions know all too well. Sometimes you catch the wrong matchup against a red-hot team in the playoffs, which Detroit also knows all about. Detroit will remain one of the best teams in the NFL. But you can be an elite team and never make a Super Bowl. After letting incredible opportunities slip by each of the past two seasons, then losing a lot of coaching and playing talent in the offseason, the Lions have to fear that possibility. Offseason gradeThe Lions have spent a lot of money on big contracts for their stars, but still found enough money to sign one of the best free agents on the market. D.J. Reed signed a three-year, $48 million deal. Reed was a sought-after free agent but his deal, in terms of average annual value, was only fourth among cornerbacks who changed teams in the offseason. The Lions got a slight discount for an upgrade over Carlton Davis III, who left for the New England Patriots. The offseason was rough on the offensive line, with guard Kevin Zeitler leaving in free agency and center Frank Ragnow retiring at age 29. Zeitler was ranked as the NFL’s third-best guard in Pro Football Focus’ grades last season and Ragnow was the No. 2 center. Detroit drafted defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round and offensive lineman Tate Ratledge in the second. Ratledge could play a big role right away with Zeitler and Ragnow gone. Grade: C Quarterback reportJared Goff didn’t look like a mainstay at quarterback for the Lions when they traded for him in 2021, but that’s what he became. He has a 100.2 passer rating in his four Lions seasons, and over the past three seasons he has averaged 4,547 yards and 32 touchdowns per season. Of course, those three seasons came with Ben Johnson running the offense. Johnson is off to Chicago, and now Goff has to prove he can have the same level of success with John Morton replacing Johnson as offensive coordinator. Goff said the two already have a good rapport, and part of that was Morton being in Detroit for the 2022 season as a senior offensive assistant. Morton has said he wants to maintain the status quo — “I mean, I’m not changing much,” he said, via the Detroit Free Press. “Why? It’s working, right?” — and Goff seems to already have a good vibe with him. “Johnny’s been great. He’s got such great ideas,” Goff told Fox 2 in Detroit. “He was here a few years ago and so helpful for Ben in that first year, just ideas and whatnot, and he’s continued with that. Seeing some of the ideas that he’s brought to us from the passing game standpoint is stuff I’ve never done before, but I’ve seen around the league. Him being able to teach it to us in a certain way and show us how to do things, and certainly it will still be a lot of the same stuff we’ve done, but there’s a lot of really cool new wrinkles that he’s been able to add that I’m really excited about.” BetMGM odds breakdownFrom Yahoo’s Ben Fawkes: “This is still one of the best rosters in the league, but it does feel like Detroit’s Super Bowl window is closing. Losing both coordinators (Aaron Glenn to Jets, Ben Johnson to Bears) to head coaching jobs will be tough to replace, along with the surprise retirement of center Frank Ragnow. But Aidan Hutchinson’s return from injury and the free-agent signing of edge rusher Marcus Davenport should help the pass rush. Detroit still has a win total of 10.5 at BetMGM, is a heavy favorite (-200) to make the postseason and has the second-best odds (+475) behind the Eagles to win the NFC. Can they break through in the playoffs this season?” Yahoo’s fantasy takeFrom Yahoo’s Scott Pianowski: “The market gets nervous when someone like Ben Johnson leaves Detroit, but Jared Goff is a tenured quarterback in Detroit — he’s essentially a coordinator for this offensive unit. Goff isn’t going to forget what’s worked with Amon-Ra St. Brown the last four years. The Sun God lost some volume last year but made up for it with a spike in his touchdown rate. But even if he regresses to the 2022 touchdown rate, we’re still talking about a player with a very high floor. I have no problem paying the sticker on St. Brown, which is somewhere in the 9-12 range in most Yahoo leagues.” Stat to rememberThis won’t surprise anyone who paid the slightest attention to the 2024 Lions, but they finished the season as the most injured defense in the NFL. The Lions had 86.5 adjusted games lost to injury on defense according to FTN Fantasy, most in the league. FTN’s Aaron Schatz said that was the sixth-most games lost on defense since he started tracking the stat in 2001. Despite that, the Lions defense finished fifth in DVOA. There’s a reason Aaron Glenn is off to coach the Jets. The biggest injury was to defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who looked like he might make a run for NFL Defensive Player of the Year before he suffered a grisly broken leg in Detroit’s fifth game. Through five games Hutchinson had 7.5 sacks. The reports on Hutchinson’s health have been positive, and getting him back will change Detroit’s defense. The Lions had to blitz more without him, which puts extra stress on the back seven. Other players will return from injury and assuming the bad injury luck doesn’t happen two straight seasons, Detroit’s defense should rebound. Not that it was bad last season, despite all those injuries. Burning question Can Jahmyr Gibbs handle more?Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are the best 1-2 running back punch in the NFL. But we all know Gibbs is the better talent. The Lions have split the work between the two backs and with great results. Gibbs has started just seven games in two seasons, a nod of respect to Montgomery and his role. But Gibbs showed last season how great he can be as the clear featured back. Gibbs started the final three games last season with Montgomery out, and he had 477 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns while logging three of his four largest carry totals of the season. Montgomery wasn’t 100% in the playoffs and Gibbs had 175 total yards and two touchdowns. It will be hard to resist seeing how much more Gibbs can handle in his third season. We’ve already seen what the results could look like. The Lions don’t really spread the ball around much. Almost all of the production will come from these players: Gibbs, Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta. That’s a pretty good nucleus to rely on. Gibbs had 1,929 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns last season despite sharing with those other stars, particularly Montgomery. We’ll see if new coordinator John Morton plans to use Gibbs a little more this season. Best-case scenarioFor once, maybe the loss of coordinators is being overstated? Probably not, because Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were fantastic. But John Morton promises to not change the offense much, and new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has learned from Glenn the past four seasons. Yet, there hasn’t been a Lions discussion all offseason without mentioning Johnson and Glenn, while ignoring that the roster is pretty much the same. The Lions’ offense was one of the highest scoring in NFL history with an array of star players and their defense was mostly very good despite a ridiculous run of injuries. In DVOA the Lions finished second in offense, fifth in defense (with all those injuries) and first in special teams. It’s really hard to finish first in all three phases, but that’s actually possible for the Lions. A top-three finish across the board is definitely not a stretch. The Lions would have done it last season if not for the defensive injuries. Detroit went 15-2 last season and that’s unlikely to repeat. But finishing with the best record in the NFL, taking advantage of a No. 1 seed to win the NFC and going on to win Super Bowl LX is obviously on the table for the Lions. Nightmare scenarioThe loss of two great coordinators is not the Lions’ only concern. The strength of Detroit the past few seasons has been the NFL’s best or second-best offensive line just behind Philadelphia. Losing one of the best centers and guards in the league without a great replacement plan turns the Lions’ strength into a potential issue. Detroit’s offensive line won’t fall too far — just like the offense and defense won’t collapse without Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn — but the Lions have a surprisingly small cushion. They play in the only division in the NFL in which all four teams should be viewed as playoff-level teams. Detroit won 15 games last season and didn’t clinch the division until the final game of the regular season, and a similar test from the Minnesota Vikings, Packers, Bears or maybe all three should be expected. A small step back could cost the Lions the NFC North, forcing Detroit on the road in the playoffs. And we all know anything less than a Super Bowl season would be a disappointment. The crystal ball saysIt’s weird to talk about the Lions in “Super Bowl or bust” terms, but here we are. Detroit has already advanced to an NFC championship game and it just posted the greatest regular season in franchise history. Only one step remains. The way the playoffs ended for Detroit the past two seasons adds to the urgency. The Lions know they’re close, but getting over the hump is hard. I think they have at least one more season as NFC North champs, but the rest of the division is coming on fast. And coming into this season, the Eagles look like the better team in the NFC. I won’t rule out Detroit clearly being the best team in football now that its defense is healthier, but I’m not as confident about that as I was a year ago. While the Lions winning a Super Bowl would still be one of the greatest stories in American sports, every year that passes lessens the possibility of it happening with this roster. The window won’t stay open much longer. He already has the Chiefs at #4. So all that is left are a pair of bird teams – Ravens or Eagles. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASG ROB JONES suffered a broken neck (bone). Todd Archer of ESPN.com: – Dallas Cowboys guard Rob Jones suffered a broken bone in his neck in Sunday’s practice that will keep him out two to three months, according to sources. Jones, who signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the Cowboys as a free agent in March, was hurt late in practice but he spent time post-practice working with first-round pick Tyler Booker on their craft. He underwent an exam and further testing, including an MRI, after practice that revealed the injury, which will not require surgery. Jones started 30 of 49 games in four years with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Cowboys with a deal that guaranteed him $3 million. Booker has taken most of the snaps with the starters at left guard, but Jones was with the starters on Saturday. “Rob Jones has been doing some really, really good things,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said before Sunday’s practice. “Tyler’s kind of hitting that mark where he’s a little bit like, ‘Whoa.’ Doing some good things, but doing some things that weren’t to the standard. So what do you do? You make a change. Is it permanent? I don’t know. I think Tyler’s going to be back out there with the ones. But you don’t stand up here and have the central theme of your program be, ‘Compete every day,’ and if a guy’s performing well and not reward him.” |
| NEW YORK GIANTSDan Graziano of ESPN.com on the Giants QB battle: New York GiantsCandidates: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Jaxson DartTommy DeVito is the only QB on the roster who has ever played a game for the Giants, and it’s likely that all three of the others would have to get hurt for him to start. The Giants signed Winston, then Wilson, ahead of the draft so that whichever rookie they selected wouldn’t have to feel pressure to play right away. That rookie ended up being Dart after they traded back into Round 1 to get him. Dart threw for 4,279 yards with 29 touchdown passes and six interceptions last season for a 10-3 Ole Miss team. Of the quarterbacks the Giants knew they would have a chance to get (meaning any of them but Cam Ward), he was the one who most impressed coach Brian Daboll and the New York staff in the pre-draft process. Daboll is now tasked with molding him into a quality NFL starter, no matter how long that takes. Daboll has said on the record that Wilson is the Giants’ starter. The 13-year veteran and former Super Bowl champion has bounced around from Seattle to Denver to Pittsburgh to New York over the past four years. He’ll turn 37 in November. Multiple league execs I spoke to for this story believe this could be a situation akin to the one the Giants pulled off in Eli Manning’s rookie season in 2004, when veteran Kurt Warner started the first half of the season then gave way to Manning. But that’s only going to happen if Dart shows he’s ready. New York would love to play well enough around Wilson to win games and let Dart develop. It would rather this be Patrick Mahomes’ 2017 rookie season than Manning’s 2004 one. Of course, the Giants are coming off a 3-14 season and haven’t won their division since 2011, when they went on to win their fourth Super Bowl. They’ve made the playoffs only twice in the past 13 years, their schedule looks formidable and Wilson hasn’t played well in at least three years. Could Winston factor in as the No. 2 QB on the depth chart early on if they really don’t think Dart is close to being ready? Sure. Could Winston be a trade possibility if Dart looks like he might be ready soon? Absolutely. This situation is really all about Dart, who has to get a shot to be the Giants’ franchise quarterback sooner or later. Both veterans know they’re just keeping seats warm for the rookie. Week 1 starter prediction: Wilson. Daboll has been clear all along that Wilson is there to be the starter and Dart is there to learn and develop. It’s certainly not out of the question that Dart dazzles and Wilson fizzles in preseason and Dart becomes the Week 1 starter. But at the present time, that is not the way the Giants are thinking about this situation or setting up the practice reps. I predict Dart plays at some point this season but that Wilson will get the start in the opener in Washington (and probably Week 2 against Dallas as well). |
| WASHINGTONWR TERRY McLAURIN is inching closer to a deal, perhaps. At least in physical proximity. Washington Commanders Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s holdout from training camp is now over. McLaurin opted to take a yoga class away from the team facility Wednesday instead of participating in practice while vying for a new contract, but on Sunday he did report to camp, even without a new deal. The 29-year-old, who turns 30 on Sept. 15, seized the Commanders’ single-season record for receiving touchdowns with 13 in 2024. That ranked as the second-most in the NFL behind triple crown winner Ja’Marr Chase’s 17. McLaurin is set to enter the final season of a three-year, $68.4 million extension, so he’s looking for security following Washington’s run to the NFC Championship in 2024. He spent the first five years of his career with a revolving door at quarterback, and now he’s aiming to be locked in with reigning Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels for the foreseeable future. “I’m really pumped that he’s here, man,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “He’s such an awesome competitor. We had a chance to spend some time together [Saturday]. It was great to see him. … On the business side, [GM Adam Peters] and the guys are still working hard with Terry and his reps. While on PUP, it’s just like we do with other guys: work with the trainers to get back as soon as he can.” “It feels good to be around my teammates and around the fans,” McLaurin said via ESPN. “I can’t beat that at all. They showed me a lot of love and support. You lose sight of some things when the business gets involved, but I never lost sight of the way they supported me. It’s business, but it has nothing to do with them.” |
| NFC SOUTH |
| NEW ORLEANSDan Graziano of ESPN.com on the Saints QB battle: New Orleans SaintsCandidates: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Jake HaenerShough is the rookie the Saints selected with the No. 40 pick in April’s draft. He played seven college football seasons, the first three with Oregon, the second three with Texas Tech and then last season with Louisville, where he threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. Injury issues are a big reason he didn’t get picked higher, but the Saints weren’t the only team that was high on him predraft; many around the league still believe he could turn out to be one of the best — if not the best — quarterbacks in the 2025 class. He turns 26 in September. When they drafted Shough, the Saints still had veteran Derek Carr under contract, though at the time there was some concern about his health and availability for the season. Carr surprised everyone by retiring in May, and when that happened the easy assumption was that Shough was the front-runner to start. Not so fast, say the Saints. They are holding a true three-way competition between Shough, Rattler and Haener — a group that has made a combined seven NFL starts and won zero. The coaching staff is dividing first-team reps evenly in the early part of camp and isn’t likely to move deep into the decision-making process until they see these guys play in preseason games. Rattler was the team’s fifth-round pick last season. He played in seven games (with six starts) last season and completed 57% of his passes while throwing four touchdown passes and five picks. Haener was the team’s fourth-rounder in 2023, didn’t play at all that season and made one start a year ago. He has one touchdown pass and one interception in the NFL, where he has completed 18 of his 39 attempts. On the surface, the numbers indicate Rattler and Haener should be pretty easy for the 40th pick to beat out. But multiple league executives insist there are people in the Saints’ building who are big fans of Rattler and believe he could develop into a good starter if given the chance and the right coaching. And Haener is a guy they liked enough to draft in Round 4 but hasn’t had a real chance to show what he can do yet. The important data points are all still to come, as this competition is just beginning. Week 1 starter prediction: Shough. I don’t know that it’s fair to call him new coach Kellen Moore’s pick, but obviously Moore is a fan and might enjoy a chance to build his program around the guy for whose draft he was already with the organization. What the Saints are doing is fair, and it could produce a surprise if Rattler (who is exactly one year younger than Shough) outperforms Haener and the rookie in the preseason. But this coaching staff has no prior connection to Rattler and Haener, so without any real data on which to base a prediction at this point, I’ll lean toward the guy they liked enough to pick in Round 2 four months ago. |
| TAMPA BAYAfter a torn ACL, it will be a red-shirt rookie year for EDGE DAVID WALKER. ESPN.com: Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie edge rusher David Walker has a torn ACL and will miss the season, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Walker, the Bucs’ fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, suffered the injury during Friday’s practice. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Walker was expected to serve a backup role at the start of the season behind Bucs starting outside linebackers Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby. Walker was a three-time All-American at Central Arkansas and led the FCS with 23 tackles for loss last season. He recorded 10.5 sacks last season and was named the Buck Buchanan Award winner, given to the best defensive player in the FCS. The Tampa Bay Times first reported the nature of Walker’s injury Monday. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSA preseason back problem may not auger well for QB MATTHEW STAFFORD going forward into 2025. And that makes QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO the man. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is currently week to week with a back problem. That makes Jimmy Garoppolo the man in L.A., until Stafford is ready. “I think Jimmy Garoppolo is a starting quarterback,” Rams coach Sean McVay recently told reporters. “Obviously, we feel so fortunate to have somebody like Matthew leading the way, but Jimmy’s done a great job. I think he’s shown good command the first couple days. I’ve always thought he was a high-caliber player.” Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who worked with Garoppolo from his arrival in San Francisco via trade in 2017 through 2020, offered similar praise for the former 49ers starter. “I mean, he’s a proven, very good quarterback in this league,” LaFleur told reporters. “Obviously I have a huge history with him. I’ve always loved Jimmy as a person. I’ve always loved his game and respected his game. Now going into year two [with the Rmas[, he knows this locker room and the guys don’t blink when he’s out there because he has command of that huddle. The coolest part, and I’ve been on record saying this, he’s got Matthew’s back at a level that is so awesome. He wants Matthew to be out here in the worst way, just like we all do. Until then, he’s just going to do what Jimmy does.” That could make the Week 5 Thursday night visit from the 49ers very interesting, in the unlikely event Stafford isn’t able to play. More broadly, it makes the division rivalry between a pair of potential Super Bowl contenders far more compelling. Dov Kleiman reminds us of the history between Garoppolo and Rams WR DAVANTE ADAMS. @NFL_DovKleimanWild: Davante Adams was being “killed” by Jimmy Garoppolo’s throws in Las Vegas, so he escaped only to have Jimmy G as his current QB1 in Los Angeles. History repeats itself 😭😭 Kleiman has a mic’d up tape where Adams, on the Raiders bench, says: “I got to get out of here before I lose my f’ng life. I’ve never been hit so many times in my f’ing life. Every game, I get f’d up. This was a tough year…” |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASThe departure of DT CHRISTIAN WILKINS from the Raiders was only partly about his being unprofessional in response to medical treatment. He also disrupted the locker room with what might be interpreted as a sexual assault on a teammate. Rory Parks of ProFootballRumors.com: The reporting on the Raiders’ surprising decision to release defensive tackle Christian Wilkins has centered around the disagreement between the two sides as to Wilkins’ approach to his recovery from the foot injury that prematurely ended his 2024 season. However, that may not be the only factor. Per Josina Anderson of The Exhibit, an unspecified incident with a teammate may have triggered the release. The team has not confirmed any such incident or complaint, though a league source confirmed to Anderson there was a situation in which Wilkins was “playing around.” The source presumably offered no further details, and without more, it is impossible to even speculate as to what the alleged incident could have been. It is also natural to think that the Raiders, who are staring down the barrel of a historic dead money charge stemming from Wilkins’ release, may be attempting to bolster their chances of circumventing those salary cap ramifications. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who suggests that is the case, also discusses in a separate piece the difficulties Las Vegas could face if its argument that it properly voided Wilkins’ remaining guarantees is limited to the injury issue. Citing Article 39, Section 6 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Florio says Wilkins has the absolute right to a second opinion in medical matters. So, if the Raiders’ medical team wanted Wilkins to undergo a second operation on his foot, and if Wilkins’ decision to eschew surgery in favor of continued rehab was supported by a different doctor, then Vegas may not have a leg to stand on. Indeed, a league source told Anderson that Wilkins never received a documented write-up for behavioral matters. Nonetheless, Anderson believes there may be some merit to the rumors regarding the incident with the teammate, because it otherwise does not make sense to cut a quality player at a seismic financial cost simply because of a disagreement over the best course of injury treatment (which is not necessarily an uncommon occurrence). It is also worth noting that, although Wilkins was placed on the active/PUP list on July 18, his release did not come with a failed physical designation (via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer). That is not to mention the comment head coach Pete Carroll made in May affirming Wilkins had been doing everything he needed to do in order to get back on the field, which Anderson posits is further support for the notion that there is something else at play other than Wilkins’ health. On the other hand, even at the time he made that statement, Carroll acknowledged Wilkins was in the midst of a “long, challenging process,” and as of late June, the 29-year-old was still in a walking boot (though a report from earlier this month indicated Wilkins was making progress). The upshot here is that a pending contentious battle over finances has become more muddled. But Wilkins, just one year removed from being one of the biggest free agent prizes in the sport, has already attracted the interest of several teams, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link). Rapoport does not identify the teams, and he says it is still uncertain when Wilkins will be medically cleared. Adam Schefter adds details, reported here by Billy Heyen of The Sporting News: The Las Vegas Raiders’ release of Christian Wilkins at the end of last week seemed to come out of nowhere. Now, the story has a surprising twist. There’s already been lots of reporting on Wilkins going against team medical advice after an injury, which is what seemingly caused the Raiders to void the rest of his guaranteed money. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has unrelated information, though: A kiss was also involved. Schefter appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to share that Wilkins had “playfully” kissed a teammate on the top of his head, and that teammate didn’t like it. “What’s everybody dancing around and tip-toeing around, when you speak to people there, they say that Christian playfully went to kiss a teammate on top of his head,” Schefter said. “Those same people said that player took offense to it. That’s what everybody has been dancing around, an incident in the locker room where he allegedly, playfully kissed a teammate on top of the head, and that’s what a lot of this talk has been about.” That doesn’t seem ideal. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSAn update of sorts on the condition of RB NAJEE HARRIS who we know hurt his eye on July 4. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Chargers running back Najee Harris remains on the non-football injury list with the eye injury he suffered in a pre-training camp fireworks accident and it remains unknown when he might be back in action. At the time Harris went on the list, word was that it would be a short stay but General Manager Joe Hortiz didn’t offer any timetable in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio. Hortiz noted that the Chargers got to camp before other teams because of this week’s Hall of Fame Game and that they’ll give Harris the time he needs to get fully cleared to return. “He’s doing better every day,” Hortiz said. “He’s dealing with it, he’s getting better. We’re going to be cautious and precautious with it and let him get healthy. There’s no rush, it’s early. We came into camp early, we got a long preseason to go so there’s no sense in rushing anyone out there.” First-round pick Omarion Hampton is alone at the top of the running back depth chart with Harris off the field and a strong first impression for the rookie could change the outlook for Harris’s role by the time the veteran is able to get back in action.– – -T RASHAWN SLATER has a big new deal. CBSSports.com: At every stop of Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career, he has prioritized physicality and running the football. That’s why it’s not surprising that Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers made two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater the highest-paid offensive lineman in football. Slater agreed to terms on a four-year, $114 million contract extension with $92 million guaranteed. His new $28.5 million average per year salary tops Tampa Bay Buccaneers four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs’ $28.1 million APY on his five-year, $140.6 million deal. Pro Football Focus graded the 26-year-old as its second-highest graded offensive tackle in 2024, and now Slater will be protecting Justin Herbert’s blindside at a high level for the foreseeable future. This deal will certainly be enough to end the left tackle’s absence at training camp. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDDan Graziano of ESPN.com sizes up the Browns QB battle: Cleveland BrownsCandidates: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur SandersFlacco and Pickett are both former first-round picks, though not by Cleveland. Gabriel and Sanders are rookies who were drafted in the third and fifth round in April, respectively. Let’s tackle them in order of seniority. Flacco, who was the Super Bowl XLVII MVP for the Ravens 13 seasons ago, is 40 years old and entering his 18th NFL season. He started five games for the Browns at the end of the 2023 regular season and won four, helping lift Cleveland into the playoffs in a season that saw them start five different quarterbacks. (The Browns lost to Houston in the wild-card round, with Flacco throwing two pick-sixes.) Last season he started six games for the Colts and posted a QBR of 53.4 — the first time he has put up a QBR over 50 since 2020 when he played four games for the Jets. In the past six seasons since leaving Baltimore, he has thrown 46 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions while making 29 starts and winning nine of them. Pickett was the first-round pick of the division rival Steelers just three years ago, but he washed out of Pittsburgh quickly and spent last season backing up Jalen Hurts for the Super Bowl champion Eagles. This offseason, the Browns traded quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick for Pickett, who has thrown 15 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in 30 games across three NFL seasons. Then came the draft, where the Browns passed on Sanders multiple times, drafted Gabriel on Day 2 and then finally moved up on Day 3 to get Sanders after all. Gabriel played for three different college programs over six years, but his best season was 2024 with Oregon, when he threw for 3,857 yards with 30 touchdowns to lead the Ducks to an undefeated regular season and Big Ten title before losing to eventual champion Ohio State in the playoff quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl. Sanders played for his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, for two years at Jackson State and two years at Colorado. He threw for 4,134 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 picks last season and was projected by many to be a first-round pick in the weeks leading up to the draft. (It’s also important to note that Deshaun Watson is still on the Browns’ roster making $46 million in fully guaranteed money this year and next. He is rehabbing an Achilles tendon injury and is not likely to play this season.) The Browns are struggling to find ways to get all four quarterbacks an appropriate number of practice reps to stage a real competition, and that could cost the rookies, who spent most of the spring working behind Flacco and Pickett on the depth chart. Cleveland is open to the idea of any one of the four winning the job for Week 1, and the way the coaching staff divides reps in the coming weeks could offer clues about who is in the lead. It’s also possible — even likely — they end up trading one of these guys before season starts to ease the logjam. Week 1 starter prediction: Pickett. I’m sure that’s not the most popular choice among the fan base, but as one league executive pointed out to me, he’s the one of these four the Browns tried the hardest to get. They acquired him in early March, knowing Watson was a long shot to play this season and before they knew whether they would bring back Flacco or select a single quarterback — let alone two — in the draft. There was a time this offseason when Pickett — who now has a hamstring injury — was the only healthy quarterback on the roster. If he performs well enough in camp and in the preseason, don’t be surprised if he gets first crack at this thing, though I’d expect at least one of the rookies to start this season so the Browns can figure out what they have in them before taking two first-round picks into the 2026 draft. |
| PITTSBURGHQB AARON RODGERS responds to negative remarks from Terry Bradshaw in a relatively benign way. Erik Edholm of NFL.com: Aaron Rodgers faced some criticism for how he handled his offseason, waiting until June to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers after months of speculation and reports that he would land with the storied franchise. One of his bigger critics just so happened to be a Steelers legend, Terry Bradshaw, who called it a “joke” that Pittsburgh was looking to sign Rodgers. Rodgers had a chance to address Bradshaw’s remarks on Saturday when speaking with NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt during Back Together Weekend from training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Rodgers first barked back with an amusing retort: “Well, I whisper to the gods every single day.” Then Rodgers explained that Bradshaw simply doesn’t know him well enough on a personal level. “I’ve known Terry for a long time, being a part of FOX,” Rodgers said. “Terry’s a legend. He’s an absolute legend. He won four Super Bowls. He’s had a legendary career in the media. “But Terry, like a lot of people, doesn’t know me. So he’s got an idea of what he thinks about me based on what I’ve done, the documentary, what I’ve said, darkness retreat, whatever the hell you want to talk about.” This spring, with speculation about Rodgers joining the Steelers swelling, Bradshaw pulled no punches when talking about the idea of Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh. “That’s a joke. That is, just to me, is a joke,” Bradshaw said in a radio interview with 103.7 The Buzz in Arkansas. “What are you going to do? Bring him in for one year, are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.” Rodgers told Brandt on Saturday that he embraced the idea of getting to know Bradshaw better and even extended an open invitation. “I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level,” Rodgers said, “and I feel like if he gave me a chance to get to know him then we’d have a good friendship because for me I have nothing but the utmost amount of respect and deference for what the greats have done because they laid the foundation for us to be able to play in this great game … “I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level if he’s open to it. Maybe we can go chew some bark or whatever the hell he’s talking about.” |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISDan Graziano of ESPN.com sizes up the Colts QB competition: Indianapolis ColtsCandidates: Anthony Richardson Sr., Daniel JonesJones was supposed to be the long-term quarterback answer for the Giants, who picked him No. 6 in the 2019 draft. But he got benched and then released last season, which he finished as a member of the Vikings. He then signed with the Colts in March to provide competition for Richardson, whom Indy picked No. 4 in 2023. Richardson has played just 15 games over his first two NFL seasons, mainly due to a variety of injuries. He had an issue with his throwing shoulder that kept him out of offseason work, but he arrived at training camp healthy and ready to compete. Richardson is still very young — he turned 23 in May — and his raw ability is off the charts. But he has had trouble staying on the field and hasn’t played well when he has been available. He has 11 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in his career, though he has added 10 rushing scores. Both Richardson and Jones offer something extra with their legs, but Richardson’s size and speed are the main reasons he was picked as high as he was. The Colts always saw him as a project. The problem is that he hasn’t been healthy enough for them to develop him the way they had hoped. Indianapolis hasn’t won the AFC South since 2014, when Andrew Luck was the quarterback and Chuck Pagano was the coach. That’s the longest division-title drought of any team in the division, and there’s pressure on general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen to end it soon. Which means that yes, they still need to see what Richardson can be, but they also need to win games. Week 1 starter prediction: Richardson. I know Jones appears to have taken over the No. 1 spot on the depth chart after Richardson’s spring injury, but training camp is where Richardson looks the best — if he’s healthy, he’s likely to outperform Jones on the practice field. The Colts also have a lot more invested in Richardson, and if it’s a close competition, most people I talk to believe that will tilt things in his favor — at least to start the season. Whether he can stay healthy enough or play well enough to hold the job is another matter entirely. |
| JACKSONVILLEAn update on TRAVIS HUNTER. Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com: – The Jaguars are going to play Travis Hunter on offense and defense in Friday night’s scrimmage at EverBank Stadium, the first time he’ll do that in training camp. Head coach Liam Coen said that will give them an opportunity to see if they need to alter Hunter’s detailed practice and meeting schedule for the following week and beyond. “He’ll go back to defense before our mock game scrimmage and be able to kind of use that mock as an evaluation to see, alright, what do we need to do now? What did it look like in the scrimmage? Do we need to maybe get him more on defense?” Coen said after Monday’s practice. “Or hey, these other guys are producing and developing, and we can keep with the schedule as is. “That’ll be kind of a, not a defining moment, but an evaluation time for us.” Hunter practiced on offense on Monday after spending the previous two practices on defense. He was on the field for 12 snaps (all in 11-on-11) and had two catches. He’s expected to remain on offense on Tuesday before going back to defense on Thursday. Hunter has almost equally split his time on offense and defense when he was on the field in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 in the Jaguars’ first five practices. He has been on offense for 48 snaps and on defense for 47. |
| TENNESSEEJacob Robinson of the Athletic on the hype-free ascension of QB CAM WARD: The leadup to the NFL Draft is always a months-long grind. For quarterbacks drafted No. 1, it’s typically followed by an unrelenting media spotlight. But has any quarterback drafted first overall seen such little media attention as Cam Ward? Not this century. Even the relatively minimally heralded Alex Smith, 2005’s No. 1 pick, graced covers of magazines and newspapers across the country. Instead of Ward, Travis Hunter (and two fish) landed Sports Illustrated’s NFL Draft preview cover. That lack of publicity is on par with non-quarterbacks like Jaguars DE Travon Walker, the No. 1 pick in 2022, who was similarly overshadowed by a more recognizable No. 2 pick (Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, who also graced SI’s cover). Ward’s quiet offseason is the result of a perfect storm. A team that often lacks national media attention in the Titans, drafts somebody who only plays one position, has no relation to Deion Sanders and had been considered a mid-round pick 12 months prior — and neutral fans are expected to care? Instead of Ward’s amazing underdog story, the QB spotlight is on a fifth-rounder who is fourth on Cleveland’s depth chart. Heck, I even struggled to find an excuse to write about Ward, before realizing that struggle itself was the story. Regardless of how far Shedeur Sanders’ shadow looms over Ward, history tells us there’s a 40 percent chance Ward will be the best professional quarterback of this class. So … what have we seen from him? Pre-draft, Ward’s Patrick Mahomes-like awareness stood out to our film guru Ted Nguyen, though a lack of arm talent voids any superstar comps (at least for now), meaning Jordan Love or Baker Mayfield are more common comparisons. Ward’s received the majority of first-team snaps in training camp, though he’s yet to be named the Titans’ Week 1 starter. He should win that role by default, as last year’s starter Will Levis had shoulder surgery that will keep him out for 2025. Ward’s best Tennessee showing came Saturday, per Titans beat writer Terry McCormick, when the rookie completed several deep passes to Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett.I watched every throw from that practice session and saw a quarterback comfortable with the deep ball. He was finding Ridley early and often, and placing throws well. See for yourself: Ward has the intangibles you want in a franchise passer. He arrives at the facility at 5:30 each morning, and that work ethic combined with his natural leadership to quickly win over the locker room. “You can’t help but to rally behind him,” said three-time team captain and Pro Bowl DT Jeffrey Simmons. Still, it’s hard to expect much from a rookie hoping for average offensive line play, one who’s also surrounded by the league’s worst skill-position group. The Titans, 3-14 last season with an expected win total of 5.5 in 2025, are far from anyone’s radar. I doubt Ward, once a zero-star recruit, minds being overlooked. In Tennessee, he has another opportunity to prove everyone wrong. You might even hear about it along the way. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| DEION SANDERSDeion Sanders with a full report on a severe health issue. Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com: Hall of Fame cornerback and Colorado coach Deion Sanders met with reporters on Monday to disclose his health issues. His doctors disclosed that Deion has bladder cancer, and that he underwent a full bladder removal. Deion’s doctors also said he has been cured of cancer. He found it as a result of regular vascular scans. “This was not an easy task,” Sanders said, adding that he’s had 14 total surgeries since 2021. He said he knew that the surgery was approaching during draft weekend, but that he told his sons that it was an issue with his foot. Deion seems to be the same old Deion he’s always been. And he urged everyone to get checked out, and to get the right care: “Get. Checked. Out.” Amen to that. And it’s good to know Deion is doing well. He also was very transparent about his current urinary struggles and incontinence, addressing that many others deal with the same issues. “Let’s stop being ashamed of it, and let’s deal with it,” Sanders said. “And let’s deal with it head on.” It gives him a powerful opportunity to encourage others who are struggling with cancer and urinary issues. He seems to be ready to embrace it. |
