2022-23 NFL

 2021-08-29 06:19:15 GMT+00:00 - Buffalo starting quarterback Josh Allen passed for 194 and two touchdowns in his preseason debut to lead the Bills to a 19-0 victory over the visiting Green Bay Packers. The Bills finished the preseason 3-0. Allen finished 20-for-26 passing in three series before giving way to Jake Fromm and Davis Webb in the second half. Gabriel Davis, off the reserve/COVID-19 list, caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Cole Beasley, also just off the COVID list, caught four passes for 52 yards. Packers quarterback Jordan Love returned from a shoulder injury to finish 12 of 18 for 149 yards and an interception. The Packers finished the preseason 0-3, resting most of their starters. Ravens 37, Washington Football Team 3 Tyler Huntley threw for four touchdowns to lead Baltimore to an NFL-record 20th straight preseason victory. However, the Ravens lost starting running back J.K. Dobbins to a knee injury in the first quarter. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson...

 The addition of Jadeveon Clowney in Cleveland this offseason came bundled with the expectation the former No. 1 overall pick would help take pressure off Browns DPOY candidate Myles Garrett. To get the most out of the pairing, the Browns won't always line them up on opposite ends, hoping whoever gets single-blocked will win off the edge. Instead, defensive coordinator Joe Woods wants to put them next to each other at times. Both Garrett and Clowney's ability to take snaps as a defensive tackle would provide issues for offensive lines. One would imagine most snaps in which the first-round picks play next to each other would include Clowney playing inside. Offensive lines would have to decide whether to allow Garrett to go one-on-one on the outside, keep a tight end in to help, or leave Clowney mono-e-mono with an interior blocker. Clowney is salivating at the idea of regularly facing guards. "We love that matchup," Clowney said, via the Akron Beacon Journal. "W...

 The final week of the NFL preseason is upon us, and just two days after Sunday's action, NFL clubs have a deadline to make deep cuts to their rosters. This won't be the minor trimming that the NFL's rules on roster reduction demanded after Week 1 and Week 2 of the preseason -- this will be a slashing, from a maximum of 80 to 53, and performances this week will go a long way in determining who makes the cut. Also, quarterback battles in San Francisco, New England and elsewhere will get their final exhibition stanza. NFL Network will air seven games this weekend, including three each on Saturday and Sunday. Here's one thing to watch for from all 32 teams in Week 3 of the NFL preseason.

 With the 2021 NFL season around the corner, teams are arranging their depth charts and planning how to best incorporate the talent they have on hand. While draft picks and high-profile free agents garnered plenty of attention over the offseason, I thought I'd take a closer look at a subcategory of players that sometimes goes a bit under the radar, but which contains real contributors every season: those that are signed to one-year deals. Below, you'll find 12 players signed to one-year deals that I believe will pay off, with players thriving and providing their employers outstanding bang for the buck. To qualify, a player only had to be signed to a one-year deal that was not a franchise tag. And, of course, a player's exclusion here does not mean I think they will have a bad season. It merely means I don't think they'll provide the same kind of return relative to the cost of their contract as the players listed below. Note: All contract values and rankings were sou...

 This will be an NFL roster cut-down period unlike any in memory. Teams are required to get down to the 53-man roster by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 31, a deadline that's four days on the league calendar before it was in previous years (when there were four preseason games). This change allows for more time to make trades before the roster-cut deadline -- and during the elongated buildup to Week 1. The Patriots and Rams got the fun started with Wednesday's Sony Michel deal; look for a bevy of positional logjams to get settled in low-stakes veteran trades for late-round conditional picks. A Sam Bradford-type headline trade before Week 1 is always possible, too. While we are all anxious by now for the season to start, here's a quick look at some notable players who could pop up on the transaction wire in the coming days:

 Aside from discussions regarding a new contract, offseason talk for Lamar Jackson has centered around lining up more under center and improving his deep ball to better balance the Baltimore Ravens offense. A transcendent talent whose fleet feet have carried him to accomplishments no quarterback has ever realized, Jackson has been able to confound defenses whether improvement in the passing game is needed or not. Now the conversation has turned to a recent report that some within the league believe 2021 will be the year in which defenses figure out how to stop Jackson. With a grin and ample confidence, Jackson politely disagreed with that narrative on Tuesday. "I'm gonna keep playing football and we're gonna see. But I doubt it, dude. I doubt it. I strongly doubt it. Gonna play ball," Jackson told reporters. Only one quarterback before Jackson had ever reached 1,000 yards rushing in a season. Jackson did it for a second season in a row last year and that was after the...

 Callaway shines early. With the Saints needing a stepped-up presence from their wide receiving corps as they await the expected October return of injured star Michael Thomas, Marquez Callaway is giving it to them. A year ago, he was an anonymous undrafted rookie. Now, he's looking like a key target for this offense. He rang up five catches for 104 yards in the first quarter, including a pair of deep TD catches from 43 and 29 yards. On the first, he even overcame pass interference to make a tough catch. After an impressive preseason opener, coach Sean Payton had apparently seen all he needed to see of Callaway after just a quarter of action. A long season awaits, and it remains to be seen what Callaway's role will be when Thomas returns, but there's little doubt he'll be counted on heavily in September. Hang onto Minshew. Speculation that the Jaguars might be willing to trade quarterback Gardner Minshew if he, as expected, loses the starting QB job to Trevor Lawrence,...

Tim Tebow wasn't the only former first-round quarterback to get waived after just one preseason game. The San Francisco 49ers cut former first-rounder Josh Rosen on Tuesday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Rosen, 24, played the majority of the second half during the 49ers' first preseason game. He finished the contest 10 of 15 for 93 yards. Rosen threw one interception and no touchdowns during the contest.  With Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance set as the team's top two options at the position, Rosen was hard pressed for reps during practice. That contributed to the team's decision to waive Rosen. The #49ers are waiving QB Josh Rosen, source says. Rosen mentioned recently he wasn’t getting enough reps in practice. A chance to latch on elsewhere for the rest of camp now. Should Rosen make it through waivers, he will become a free agent and be available to sign with any team. Josh Rosen looking for another opportunity  It's been quite the fall from grace for ...

 After a week away, Watson returned to the field in uniform Monday morning, taking a moment to speak with Texans general manager Nick Caserio before the session began, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop. When it came to determining Watson's level of participation without physically being there, it truly depended on who you asked. Watson wasn't doing much of anything during early portions of practice, per veteran reporter Aaron Wilson, but accounts that followed from other reporters in attendance detailed a scene in which Watson wasn't just participating, but thriving. Then, just as Watson appeared to be getting going, he exited. Watson walked off the field and entered the team's indoor facility, per ESPN's Barshop. If this reads like one big game of telephone, well, that's because it is. The NFL media community at large is forced to rely on these on-hand accounts as the best source of updated information regarding Watson, especially since Texans coach David Culley ref...

 In the past week, two players with ties to Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield have received big extensions. The first was his Browns teammate and fellow 2018 draft classmate Nick Chubb, who earned a three-year, $36.6 million extension that keeps him in Cleveland until at least 2024. The second, and definitely more significant, deal arrived two days ago to Josh Allen. The Buffalo Bills quarterback, who was selected No. 7 overall in the same draft in which Mayfield was taken first overall, inked a massive six-year, $258 million extension, just behind Patrick Mahomes in terms of per-year money for a quarterback. Draftmates on his own team and at his position who've had success are getting their money, and yet with one month until the start of the 2021 season, the final year of his original rookie deal, Baker is still without his bread. That Mayfield could enter the upcoming campaign without a long-term deal, though he appears to be the answer to a long-doomed question at qu...

 The Indianapolis Colts have locked down one of their young defense’s foundational pieces. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that it signed Darius Leonard to a 5-year, $99.25-million contract extension that will keep him in Indianapolis through the 2026 NFL season. The Colts announced the signing but not the terms of the extension. The contract, which includes $52 million in guarantees, also makes the 25-year-old Colts cornerstone the highest paid linebacker in the NFL. Leonard's new deal tops San Francisco's Fred Warner, who recently signed a five-year, $95 million contract extension with $40.5 million guarantees.  Heading into 2021, Leonard was entering the fourth and final year of his contract and became eligible for an extension at the conclusion of the 2020 campaign. He has yet to take part in training camp this year after undergoing a procedure on his ankle during the offseason, though the expectation is he won't miss much more time.  A second-rou...

 With every free-agent signing comes news of the teams that missed out on said talent. New Ravens edge rusher Justin Houston revealed Saturday that he turned down a few better offers to sign with the perennial AFC contender. One of those overlooked clubs just so happens to be Baltimore's biggest rival. "I was so close to signing with the Steelers," he told reporters. "That was crazy. They [were] one of the teams I was considering." Considering his status as one of the NFL's more respected pass rushers, Houston heading to B-More instead of the Steel City could be a move that notably impacts both squads down the road. Not to mention, any player's decision to spurn the Steelers for the Ravens, or vice versa, adds another smoldering albeit unneccesary coal to the blazing fire that is arguably the greatest rivalry in NFL history. It's unlikely Houston factored this long-standing beef into his choice but the veteran is now a part of the latest chapter in t...

  Ed Sheeran is an avowed football fan, but next month the Ipswitch Town FC shirt sponsor will be on the sidelines rooting for the men in pads and helmets as part of the kick-off to the upcoming NFL season. The league announced on Friday (Aug. 6) that Sheeran will be part of the 2021 Kickoff Experience ahead of the season opening game between the Dallas Cowboys and defending Super Bowl champs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9. Sheeran posted a video teaser to accompany the announcement, in which he takes a seat on a couch with Dallas QB Dak Prescott and Bucs QB Tom Brady's jerseys hanging on a rack behind him. "Someone sent me these jerseys and now this is happening..." reads the caption to the clip, in which keeps hearing the NFL theme song every time he cracks open the lid of his guitar case. The party will begin at noon ET at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and feature football-themed interactive games, photo opportunities and other activities throughout the day, acco...

 Julio Jones is making an impact on the Tennessee Titans off the field as much as on it.  Ticket sales have increased 130% since June 6, the day the Titans acquired the former Atlanta Falcon, compared to 2019, according to data that ticket marketplace TickPick shared with the Tennessean. Average ticket prices have also increased 61% in the same period.  It's not just Jones getting fans excited to buy tickets for the 2021-22 season, though. The Titans are ranked No. 5 on PFF's receiving corps rankings and No. 6 on The Athletic's offense rankings. Jones and Derrick Henry also lead the Titans roster on EA Sports' Madden 22.  Since the NFL schedule was released on May 12, TickPick spokesperson Madison Kane said average ticket prices for Titans games are up from $142 in 2019 to $252 in 2021 — a 77% increase. There was a 63% increase in Titans ticket sales in the same time period, according to TickPick. That put the Titans in the top 5 NFL teams with notable ticket sales i...

 Nick Bosa exploded out of his stance and onto the scene during a rookie season in which he was a crucial component in the San Francisco 49ers' run to a Super Bowl appearance. Bosa's second campaign never got to denotate due to an ACL tear and the watch continues as to when he'll be back to 100%. On Wednesday, the former first-round pick had a maintenance day and first-year defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans let it be known there was no rushing to get Bosa back out there. "Bosa's still just, you know, day to day taking a maintenance day and coming back, progressing," Ryans said. "When it's time for him to be back in he'll be back out there." Bosa's follow-up from an AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year-winning season in 2019 was a season that added up to only two games, his second seeing him tear is ACL against the Jets. Roughly a week ago, Bosa conveyed that he believes he’ll be back by Week 1, but for Ryans it's all about reps transl...

 NFL training camp season is finally upon us. We’re seeing daily clips of actual football being played and it feels wonderful for this offseason to finally be ending. A busy offseason filled with trade drama and major acquisitions has been fun but there’s nothing like actual football to keep us entertained. 2021 will prove to be a critical year for many franchises. This offseason featured an arm’s race as contenders did their best to stack assets and fill roster holes amidst a rare cap crunch. There are few certainties within the NFL right now and the margins are razor thin for contenders to keep their status. Of course injuries will change the playoff picture at some point in the season. We hope to see as few major injuries as possible but the NFL’s landscape is ever-evolving. One team rises as another sees their opportunities slip away. We’ve ranked the 10 biggest storylines entering the 2021 NFL season. Whether the attention is on the 2021 rookie class or the top competitors, we...

The Cowboys aren't pushing the throttle on Dak Prescott's return to action just yet. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Tuesday the team is taking a slower approach to bringing the franchise quarterback back from a shoulder strain. Prescott will not throw Tuesday or play in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Canton, Ohio, McCarthy said. "We're being a little more conservative with his rehab," McCarthy said, via The Athletic's Jon Machota. "We just want to make sure this doesn't turn into something bigger." McCarthy was careful to specify that Prescott hadn't suffered a setback, but that he simply isn't on the original timetable envisioned for his return. Prescott isn't exactly missing the Super Bowl this week, anyway, but has said he'd like to participate in the preseason at some point. With Dallas having an extra preseason game to work with (thanks to their selection for the Hall of Fame ...

 Jordan Hicks has been a starter virtually since his rookie year. Entering the 2021 season, the Cardinals linebacker faces the uncomfortable reality that he will no longer be holding down that No. 1 spot. Hicks revealed on Saturday that receiving this news from general manager Steve Keim shortly after the NFL Draft served as the impetus behind his desire to seek a trade back in May. It was a conversation Hicks said he understood but felt disappointed at the end of. "I respected the fact that he told me straight up," he told reporters, per ESPN. "I respected the fact that he told me he was going to work with me to try to honor a trade. And, so, there's a part of you that respects that, but then there's a part that just wishes you had had an opportunity to compete, which is all I asked for." Three months after news of his request became public, Hicks, who skipped OTAs and mandatory minicamp, remains a member of the organization. His decision to report to train...

 Carson Wentz is holding off on surgery for now. The Colts quarterback plans to rest and rehab his foot injury over the next few days rather than undergo an immediate procedure, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. This option leaves the door open for Wentz to be available for Week 1. Rapoport added that if Wentz's foot doesn't improve during rehab, surgery might be required but shouldn't keep him out of many games. Just a few days into training camp, Wentz was already out of practice. He suffered his latest injury Thursday and quickly arranged to see noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson to determine whether minor surgery was needed. Wentz is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason either way. A caveat to powering through the ailment is that medical personnel believe the sixth-year QB would be much less mobile, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported. That was a trademark of Wentz's game in Philadelphia, where he led the team to three consecutive pla...