PHILADELPHIA — When August rolls around, Tanner McKee comes to life.

McKee, the Eagles’ 2023 sixth-rounder out of Stanford, continued to prove why he earned the backup quarterback role on Thursday night with yet another strong preseason performance. In the Eagles’ 34-27 preseason-opening win against the Cincinnati Bengals, McKee went 20 ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson jogged onto the field at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night in full uniform for warmups ahead of Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. It was the closest he came to playing, of course.

In all, just five expected Ravens starters — left guard Andrew Vorhees, right guard ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Half a year can feel like an eternity or go by in a blink.

Six months to the day from Bo Nix standing at a podium here following a joint practice in the August heat, the stakes will be much different for somebody. An AFC team will be right down the road, a week into a hotel stay and preparing for the last night — ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rashawn Slater, the Chargers’ star left tackle who became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history last month, sustained a torn patellar tendon in practice and will undergo season-ending surgery, the team announced Thursday.

Slater went down in team drills after going up against edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu. As Slater ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — When is AI not artificial intelligence? When it refers to ammonia inhalants, aka smelling salts.

When are these AIs in the news? When it was reported that the NFL banned their use, San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle protested, and the NFL walked back the ban a day later. The league's players association clarified that ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — One year after he signed a three-year contract, Steelers defensive end and team captain Cam Heyward wants a new deal and appears to be "holding in" to get one, sources have told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Heyward has been in uniform at training camp at Saint Vincent College, but he has been a limited participant, sometimes ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been sidelined because of a back issue, will work out for the first time Saturday before the Rams play the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium, coach Sean McVay said Thursday.

Stafford, 37, is dealing with an aggravated disc, and recently received an epidural for the condition, McVay said, ...Read more

NEW YORK — Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is eager to make his NFL preseason debut Saturday at the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.

“There’s no light that’s too bright to play in,” Dart, 22, said after Thursday’s final practice before his first game. “I’m not scared. When I go out there, I’m gonna play the game I ...Read more

NEW YORK — In an era when starters haven’t regularly played in preseason games, Jets coach Aaron Glenn is taking a different approach.

The Jets will play their preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday at Lambeau Field, and Glenn said the team’s starters will be on the field.

“We’re playing, we’re playing, Glenn ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — "They're the best defense I've ever seen." — DK Metcalf

"I feel like I'm one of the better cover linebackers in the world, to be honest." — Payton Wilson

"I think we can be a top-five defense in this league — maybe number one." — DeShon Elliott

"We can match up and play man to man versus anyone." — Mike Tomlin.

"I ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Don’t you want to be in Dallas?

Well, no. You probably don’t. And you probably don’t want to be in Oxnard, Calif., either, where the Cowboys hold training camp. You’re probably an Eagles fan, and you probably don’t want anything to do with Dallas or the Cowboys, other than chuckling at them and not hiding the laughter...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy broke into a grin and let out a chuckle before saying yes, he is excited to go against a defense that is not the Vikings’ own this weekend.

“It’s gonna be a lot of fun,” McCarthy said Wednesday after practice. “It’s gonna be a good test for us.”

It’s been a bumpy road at times ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — With every corner Teddy Bridgewater turns at One Buc Place, a piece of his past collides with the present.

If it’s not his former Louisville head coach, Charlie Strong, doing bed checks at the Buccaneers team hotel Tuesday night, then he’s bumping into Randy Shannon, who once got him to commit to the University of Miami. Or ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Ben Skowronek doesn't even knock anymore. And really, that's the way Aaron Rodgers wants it.

Every night after practice, he has an open-door policy to his suite at Saint Vincent College. Any player or coach can walk in and make suggestions, get clarifications on plays or how routes should be run or just shoot the breeze.

"I ...Read more

DENVER — Like the Grinch at Christmas, Sean Payton’s heart grew three sizes Monday.

“I would tell you, knowing him as long as I’ve known him, he really believes it more than he’s saying it,” Curtis Johnson told me Monday by phone after the Broncos wrapped up a shorts/shells practice at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit.

“...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Sorry Kyle, but this is for the best.

You’re a sharp guy, so you probably understand that. When a Super Bowl is visible in distant headlights, no team wants to pull out of the driveway without first purchasing a proven insurance policy at quarterback.

That’s all Teddy Bridgewater is. He’s not a savior. He’s not a long-...Read more

DENVER — The road to a Super Bowl has to start at 17th and Stadium Circle.

“You want that home game in January, where people have to come to Mile High,” Former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey told me by phone Tuesday. “It gives you an advantage. That’s what they need to focus on.”

Bailey’s done the map in his head a million times...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — At about 9:20 a.m. Monday, Mucha Nama drove his Eagles-themed minivan into the parking lot adjacent to the NovaCare Complex. His little brother, Siino, was in the front seat.

They got some curious looks, which Siino and Mucha are used to at this point. Mucha has been driving for Uber and Lyft since 2016, but his car doesn’t ...Read more