Lions Place CB Ennis Rakestraw On IR
Ennis Rakestraw will not play in 2025. The second-year corner was already known to be a candidate to miss time, but the Lions placed him on injured reserve Thursday. Only players released via an injury settlement are eligible to play after being moved to IR at this point in the offseason.
49ers hope Mykel Williams just hyperextended his knee on Thursday
49ers first-round pick Mykel Williams had to leave practice early on Thursday, but the initial exam by the team’s medical staff led to optimism that he’ll be back on the field soon. Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s press conference opened with a question about a diagnosis for Williams and Shanahan shared
NFL Draft intel: How Penn State star RB stacks up to Saquon Barkley
Each week, Yardbarker is monitoring the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. From a Penn State running back to a Georgia linebacker, here are five players we’re tracking: Penn State RB Nick Singleton Like former Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, Singleton (6-foot, 224 pounds) has the combination of
Matthew Stafford to work out Saturday, will practice Monday if all goes well
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has not practiced yet this summer, but that could change soon. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed this week’s report that Stafford is dealing with an aggravated disc in his back and that he had an epidural injection in order to address the issue. After that report
Cardinals, G Will Hernandez Agree To Deal
Will Hernandez is set to continue his career in the desert. The veteran guard’s recent Cardinals visit has produced a one-year agreement, he announced on Instagram Thursday. The team has since confirmed the move. Late in July, Hernandez received full clearance upon completing the rehab process for his 2024 ACL tear.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs starters set to play about a quarter on Saturday
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is sticking with his usual process when it comes to preseason playing time. Via multiple reporters on the beat, Reid said in his Thursday press conference that Kansas City’s starters — including quarterback Patrick Mahomes — will play about a quarter in Saturday’s preseason opener
Ranking the five worst NFL QB situations
Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL — possibly the most important position in sports. Teams with inferior quarterback rooms don’t stand much of a chance to compete in 2025, so it could be a long year for these five organizations. (QB situations are ranked in inverse order.)
49ers release Eli Apple, sign Michael Dwumfour
Cornerback Eli Apple’s stay with the 49ers turned out to be a brief one. Apple signed with the team a little more than a week ago, but he’s back to looking for a team after being released on Thursday. The 49ers announced his departure along with the signing of defensive
Bills CB Tre’Davious White On Track For Starting Spot
The 2025 season will mark the beginning of Tre’Davious White‘s second stint with the Bills. The former All-Pro corner is on track to handle a first-team defensive role during his latest Buffalo spell. Christian Benford is entrenched as the team’s top cover man. Taron Johnson, meanwhile, is preparing for his eighth season with
Cam Heyward isn’t fully practicing, wants a revised contract
Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward hasn’t been a full participant in practice at training camp and it’s not because the team is dialing back the workload of a proven veteran. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Heyward is looking for a raise as he heads into his 15th season in
Travis Hunter to play both ways during preseason opener
A regular role on both sides of the ball has been planed in Travis Hunter‘s case throughout the offseason. Time on offense and defense will be in store for Hunter when the Jaguars open the preseason against the Steelers on Saturday. Jags head coach Liam Coen said Thursday that the
Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt among Steelers who won’t play first preseason game
As it turns out, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will not ask quarterback Aaron Rodgers to play in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener. Tomlin told reporters on Thursday that Rodgers is among a long list of major Steelers contributors who will not be on the field against the Jaguars on Saturday night.
Travis Hunter To Play Both Ways During Jaguars’ Preseason Opener
A regular role on both sides of the ball has been planed in Travis Hunter‘s case throughout the offseason. He will make his Jaguars preseason debut this week, and time on offense and defense will be in store. Jags head coach Liam Coen said this morning (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) the team’s
Steelers sign QB Logan Woodside, OL Andrus Peat
The Steelers announced on Thursday that the club has signed quarterback Logan Woodside and offensive lineman Andrus Peat. Woodside provides depth at a position that got thinner with rookie quarterback Will Howard’s recent hand injury. While head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Thursday that Howard may be able to
Bucs’ Mayfield responds to common criticism of Todd Bowles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht insisted in June that “the general public and the fans” are wrong in believing that Todd Bowles is too “stoic” of a head coach to guide the club successfully. During a recent appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams,” Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield suggested that Bowles
Josh Allen on James Cook: “We desperately want him out there with us”
Bills running back James Cook isn’t practicing as he awaits his second contract. Bills quarterback James Cook has his back. “James is one of the best running backs in the league and we desperately want him out there with us,” Allen told reporters on Thursday, via Alex Bratsky of Bills
WR George Pickens Open To Remaining With Cowboys Past 2025
Once his third Steelers campaign came to an end, it was decided George Pickens would not continue his career in Pittsburgh. A trade was ultimately worked out which allowed the Cowboys to add him to their receiving corps. Pickens has one year remaining on his rookie deal, so an extension would
CB Kristian Fulton returns to Chiefs practice
The Chiefs have gotten one of their players back on the field. Via multiple reporters on the scene, cornerback Kristian Fulton is participating in Thursday’s practice, which means he has been taken off the active/physically unable to perform list. Fulton, 26, signed with the Chiefs in the offseason as a
The ‘NFL head coach all-time wins leaders’ quiz
After a year away from coaching, Pete Carroll is returning to an NFL sideline in Seattle. This time, it’s as the visiting head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. When asked about returning to Seattle for his first game – even a preseason one – Carroll acknowledged his decade and
Matt LaFleur: We’ll “do our best” to get all four QBs meaningful reps this weekend
The Jets will be playing quarterback Justin Fields in Saturday’s game against the Packers and it looks like Jordan Love will also get some action in the preseason opener. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t lay out a detailed plan for how he will be using Love or any other
Jaguars DT Arik Armstead’s Week 1 Availability Unclear
The 2025 season will see Arik Armstead return to his familiar defensive tackle spot after his trial phase along the edge with the Jaguars last year. It remains to be seen, however, if he will be on the field for Week 1. Armstead has been dealing with a back injury throughout
Taulia Tagovailoa lands in the Indoor Football League
Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, is persistent. With no opportunity in the NFL and with the CFL releasing him in May 2025, Taulia found an opportunity in something called the Indoor Football League. And he took it. Taulia Tagovailoa signed with the Massachusetts Pirates of
Mike Tomlin furthers optimism surrounding Aaron Rodgers’ potential with Steelers
LATROBE, PA – After another day of work at training camp, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin offered his latest assessment of his new starting quarterback. And it’s clear Tomlin is comfortable with how Aaron Rodgers looked on the practice field and confident he will be successful once the backdrop changes
Bills had a blah Hard Knocks debut
To no surprise, Buffalo’s Hard Knocks debut was blah. Nothing significant or memorable or remotely viral happened during the first episode of the training camp edition of the show. It was so basic that it could have been created by AI — and for all anyone knows it was. It’s
Lions CB Ennis Rakestraw To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
Lions head coach Dan Campbell noted earlier this week that Ennis Rakestraw was likely facing a lengthy absence. The latest update regarding the second-year corner further indicates that will be the case. A post from Rakestraw’s Instagram account (h/t MLive’s Kory Woods) demonstrates he is set to undergo surgery. A shoulder injury suffered during
Archie Manning says Arch Manning won’t leave Texas after the 2025 season
It’s always a good bet that the first pick of the NFL Draft will be a quarterback, but putting any money on Arch Manning being that pick in 2026 isn’t looking like a wise move. Manning is set for his first full season as the starting quarterback at Texas, so
How Malik Nabers has grown while working with Russell Wilson
On Tuesday, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll shared that veteran Russell Wilson has “had a very positive impact on” second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers since the start of springtime workouts. On Wednesday, Nabers spoke with reporters about how he’s working on being more vocal as a leader following
Josh Allen will not play in Bills preseason opener
Quarterback Josh Allen will not be on the field when the Bills open their preseason slate against the Giants. Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters in his Thursday press conference that Allen will rest on Saturday, with Mitchell Trubisky getting the start at quarterback. But other healthy starters will play
Rodgers addresses connection with key teammate after alarming report
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may be silencing concerns related to a recent report that questioned his working relationships with his wide receivers. It was previously learned that Rodgers’ “connection” with 2024 third-round draft pick Roman Wilson “took a step in the right direction” during Tuesday’s practice. According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Rodgers then
A.J. Brown: Treylon Burks is a good kid, sad it went down like that
The 2022 trade that sent A.J. Brown to the Eagles in exchange for a first-round pick that the Titans used on Treylon Burks has been a clear win for Brown and the Eagles for some time and the gap won’t close anytime soon. Brown has caught 261 passes to help
Agent reveals if James Cook still wants to play for Bills amid contract saga
Running back James Cook seemingly surprised the Buffalo Bills when he changed course regarding his desire for a multi-year contract extension and stopped participating in training-camp practices as part of a hold-in. For an article published on Wednesday night, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic spoke with Zac Hiller, one of Cook’s agents, about the 25-year-old’s
Jordan Love wants to use his legs more in 2025
No one would confuse Jordan Love for Lamar Jackson when it comes to running the ball, but the Packers quarterback has his eyes on using his legs more often in 2025. Love ran 50 times for 247 yards and four touchdowns during the 2023 season, but he only carried the
Travis Kelce: I threw the Super Bowl loss in the trash and moved on
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said recently that the team’s loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl gives him “a little bit more motivation” heading into the 2025 season, but tight end Travis Kelce took a different approach to dealing with the loss. Kelce said in a press conference from
Trevor Lawrence on Travis Hunter: “Selfishly, I definitely want him on offense more”
The big question surrounding Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter is whether he’ll play more at wide receiver or more at cornerback. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has a strong preference. Lawrence said on NFL Network that he has quickly become a big fan of Hunter’s skill set and wants to be able to
ESPN-NFL Media deal may not close until late 2026
The non-binding agreement between the NFL and ESPN may not become binding for a while. According to Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, the deal possibly won’t close until the end of 2026, given the expected timetable for regulatory approval. Disney Head of Corporate Development Justin Warbrooke told Karp that
Browns standout WR might be Shedeur Sanders’ top target
Shedeur Sanders isn’t being given any chances to gain chemistry with the Cleveland Browns’ first-team offense, so his best bet is to target this veteran wide receiver who is turning heads at training camp. On Friday, Sanders is set to make his debut as the starter for the Browns in
Kevin O’Connell: Foundation is set, next step is Vikings becoming championship-worthy
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell says last year’s 14-3 season was a big step toward getting the franchise where it wants to go. Now it’s time to take the next step. “As I told our team when we came back to training camp, I think the foundation has been set,” O’Connell
Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers situation appears to be improving after alarming report
A recent report indicated that the working relationships between Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his wide receivers were sparking concerns among those who cover the team. For a piece published on Wednesday morning, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic noted that Rodgers’ “connection” with 2024 third-round draft pick Roman Wilson
CBS makes Lions-Packers, Bills-Jets, Bengals-Vikings its top games for Weeks 1-3
CBS has announced its broadcast lineups for the first three weeks of the regular season, which provides an early look at some of the top Sunday afternoon games for the start of 2025. In Week One, the top broadcasting crew of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson will call
‘Clearly separated himself’: Why one QB is winning Browns’ competition
Recent reports have indicated that veteran Joe Flacco holds a significant lead in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition over Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. For an article published on Wednesday, Lance Reisland of the Cleveland Plain Dealer explained why Flacco “has clearly
Drake Maye on Mike Vrabel breaking up fight: We’re trying to build that intensity
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel threw himself into a pile to break up a fight during Wednesday’s joint practice between the Patriots and Commanders and wound up with a bloody cheek before everything calmed down. It also earned a positive review from his quarterback. Drake Maye was asked at a
Chiefs star is feeling ‘soreness’ in training camp
Travis Kelce is back to going through the same NFL grind during Kansas City Chiefs training camp that had him thinking about retirement before the Super Bowl in February. Per Nate Taylor of ESPN, Kelce told reporters on Wednesday that he’s enjoying training camp but is feeling “soreness” from workouts
Lions haven’t had “any intense talks” with Aidan Hutchinson yet
The Lions want to sign star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a contract extension, but they have not had any “intense talks” yet. “Look, we’ll definitely get some dialogue going soon here, but those things take time, especially the larger the deal is,” General Manager Brad Holmes said Wednesday on
Why Baker Mayfield has been predicted to be in MVP conversation
A story produced by ESPN’s Jenna Laine that was published on Wednesday morning detailed how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers believe quarterback Baker Mayfield can guide the club to the Super Bowl even though he is working with his third offensive coordinator in three seasons. Later in the day, former NFL
Aaron Rodgers “fully on board” to play in first preseason game if asked
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has a history of playing starters in the preseason. At this stage of his career, Aaron Rodgers hasn’t often played in August. But the 41-year-old quarterback told reporters on Wednesday that he’s just fine with making an appearance in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener against Jacksonville if
Commanders offense suffers in joint practice with Patriots
The Washington Commanders gave their coaching staff a glimpse of what could be if the front office’s negotiations with star wide receiver Terry McLaurin result in a trade. It wasn’t good. Per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, McLaurin’s absence crushed the Commanders’ passing offense during their joint practice Wednesday with
Malik Nabers on limited practice reps: I’m fine, it’s part of the plan
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers was cleared for a full workload after sitting out spring practices with a toe injury, but he wasn’t full participant on Wednesday. Reporters at the practice noted that Nabers did not take part in most of the team drills in the second half of the
Browns play cruel joke on Shedeur Sanders before preseason opener
The Cleveland Browns aren’t setting fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders up for success before he makes his debut against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Amid hamstring injuries to Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel, the Browns are giving the start to Sanders, hoping to keep QB1 Joe Flacco healthy before the regular
T.J. Hockenson to return to practice Wednesday
Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson’s absence from practice turned out to be a brief one. Hockenson exited Saturday’s workout and sat out of Monday’s practice with what head coach Kevin O’Connell said was to his “hip, leg, back — whatever you want to classify it at.” O’Connell didn’t get any
Patriots stars react to Mike Vrabel getting bloodied at camp
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel likely won the respect of his team Wednesday. However, he may have needed a few stitches afterward. The Patriots hosted a joint practice with the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson took a Commanders