FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Falcons might lack a key weapon when they start the season.

Falcons receiver Darnell Mooney suffered a shoulder injury last week during practice that will cause him to miss a few weeks. The team is hopeful he’ll be ready to play Week 1, but coach Raheem Morris sounded unsure when addressing the topic Tuesday.

“...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Any lingering doubts about whether the Christian Wilkins situation had reached a point where the Raiders had no choice but to release him were erased in a two-minute clip from “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday when an NFL insider casually dropped a report of an unwanted “playful” kiss in the locker room.

And then things got ...Read more

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The longest, hottest and most demanding practice of Chiefs training camp was perhaps best embodied by the player who doesn’t often come to the interview area drenched in sweat.

But there was kicker Harrison Butker, dripping like a faucet.

“If I’m tired and sweaty,” he said, “you know the rest of the team is.”

...Read more

BALTIMORE — It’s not even August, but Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is already being honored for his play. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is one of seven NFL players to earn a 99 rating in Madden 26.

“This is crazy,” an excited Jackson said in a social media video. Wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman broke the news ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eclipsed and in certain ways rendered irrelevant by the clobbering the Chiefs absorbed in the Super Bowl, you may recall, was something that until then had defined last season.

En route to becoming the first team in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls and return for a chance at the trifecta, the Chiefs somehow ...Read more

MIAMI — No matter how talented a player might be, his employment in the NFL isn’t guaranteed because playing professional football is a privilege, not a right.

There’s usually a moment when the NFL will send a troubled player that exact message.

New Miami Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones received it this summer when the league closed its ...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — Money, cowbell, Bobo. All things people want more of.

Seahawks fans have made it abundantly clear about the third one.

Jake Bobo may not be the most athletic receiver in the NFL. His stat sheet never shines like some of the league’s elite pass-catchers. But there’s something about an undrafted, out-of-nowhere impact ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Vegas consensus is that the Vikings will win 8.5 games in 2025. I think they’ll get the .5 for beating 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers in a large pub in Dublin, but that’s just a guess.

Many Vegas sites that set the Vikings’ win total at 8.5 also predict they will fail to reach it.

The consensus of well-known NFL analysts ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — As Davante Adams began his first Rams training camp, star receiver Puka Nacua tried to be cool, calm and collected.

Nacua, a third-year pro, was eager to put aside his seniority with the Rams. The ascending star wanted to step back and allow Adams — a three-time All-Pro — to lead the way and go first in receiver drills.

But...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The stunning release of Christian Wilkins by the Raiders last week took another bizarre turn Monday when it was revealed that Wilkins was involved in an incident with a teammate in the days leading up to his release.

Wilkins attempted to kiss a teammate in a meeting room at the Raiders’ facility, according to people with ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — After drafting Kaleb Johnson and signing Kenneth Gainwell in free agency, the Steelers have released running back Cordarrelle Patterson, a former Pro Bowl kick returner.

Patterson announced his own release on social media platform X, noting it happened on his day off.

Patterson, 34, was signed last season in free agency — his ...Read more

DENVER — Sean Payton wasn’t kidding.

Just about an hour after he said the Broncos and top receiver Courtland Sutton were “real close” to a contact extension, the deal is done.

The sides agreed Monday to a four-year extension worth $92 million, multiple sources confirmed to The Denver Post.

The deal tacks four years onto the final year...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank made his annual preseason remarks to the media Saturday, and he sounded like this is really the year his franchise finally ends its postseason drought. At seven seasons, it’s tied with Carolina for the second-longest in the NFL.

“I like where we are,” Blank said following the team...Read more

Minkah Fitzpatrick was a stability test for the Miami Dolphins, and they passed it. That’s a new conclusion than recent years. They actually passed this test of temptation.

They emerged from a contractual dust-up with an important player looking smarter and more disciplined than just last year. They didn’t throw an open checkbook at ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — When you think about it, the job is among the most basic in the sport.

Do you see the guy over there? The one crouched behind 1,600 pounds of offensive line?

Go get him.

This is the edge rusher in today’s NFL. Sure, there’s some run-stopping duties, maybe even a little pass coverage if the coach wants to get creative. ...Read more

CHICAGO — Overshadowed by much of the hand-wringing done this offseason regarding the Chicago Bears’ depth — or lack of — when it comes to pass rushers was a discussion of how the new scheme will affect the players on the roster.

If the first four days of training camp are a hint of things to come, expect the unexpected when it comes to...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy returned to practice Sunday and was joined by Ricky Pearsall, while Renardo Green and Jauan Jennings were among the newly wounded.

It was a pretty routine day at camp until defense lineman Tarron Jackson sustained a neck injury that caused him to be strapped to spine board, taken away on a cart an escorted to...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rashawn Slater, a former first-round draft pick and one of the veteran leaders on the Chargers’ offensive line, is staying in L.A. for the long haul.

Slater signed a four-year, $114-million contract extension with the Chargers on Sunday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

A...Read more

MIAMI — The Dolphins revised Minkah Fitzpatrick’s contract on Sunday, giving their new safety a bit more money this season and clearing $11 million in cap space.

The Dolphins converted some of his salary into a $16.2 million signing bonus and moved up $2 million in salary to 2025, meaning he will make $17.5 million in 2025 and $15.6 million...Read more

PITTSBURGH — After a Rams-Packers game in 2021 at Lambeau Field, seventh-round rookie Ben Skowronek sought out Aaron Rodgers at midfield. Skowronek didn't play in the game, let alone interact with Rodgers, but he wanted to pay his respects to one of the NFL's best ever and have a story to tell for himself in case his career didn't last long.

...Read more