Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is looking to bounce back after playing through a knee injury throughout the majority of the 2021 season."I mean, I was hurt last year, but it's football, after Week 1 no one is going to be 100%," Elliott said. "That's part of the game."Elliott noted playing through the ailment for most of last year helped him learn about his own durability and pain tolerance."I think I knew I was tough. I think I knew I could play through injuries … it was definitely tough, but hey, it's my job," he said.Despite being diagnosed with a partially torn PCL, Elliott rushed for 1,002 yards, 10 touchdowns, and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. He also added 47 receptions for 287 yards and two scores.While being hampered with a knee injury proved to be a challenge, Elliott said it was the Cowboys' playoff loss in the wild-card round that truly left him frustrated entering the offseason. He recorded just 31 yards on 12 carries in Dallas' lone playoff appearance against the San Francisco 49ers.Dallas won the NFC East division, posting a 12-5 mark.The three-time Pro Bowl tailback said he's feeling healthy and ready to go entering his seventh pro campaign. With no guarantees remaining in his contract after the 2022 season, Elliott doesn't feel any additional pressure."I think every year we've got something to prove," he said.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Cooper Kupp among those hoping Odell Beckham Jr. finds his way back to the Los Angeles Rams."I would absolutely love nothing more than just to be able to have him come back and be a part of what we're building here," Kupp said Friday on "First Take."Beckham is among the notable free agents still on the market. The wideout played a pivotal role in the Rams' playoff push and appeared poised to receive significant interest in free agency before tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl."What he was able to do coming into this offense, learning it and then being able to go and execute the way he did was absolutely incredible," Kupp added.The Rams and Beckham reportedly have interest in reuniting, though he is apparently open to returning to the Cleveland Browns, who released him midseason last year.L.A. bolstered its wide receiver corps this offseason, signing Pro Bowler Allen Robinson in free agency. The club also traded longtime wideout Robert Woods to the Tennessee Titans.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions assistant head coach Duce Staley is issuing a challenge to tailback D'Andre Swift."We all know there's a difference between being injured and hurt," Staley said, according to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press. "As soon as you step in this building as a running back, Day 1 training camp, you're not going to feel the same."Swift missed four games last season after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 12. The former second-round pick has missed seven games since entering the league in 2020."Injuries happen, but one of the things Swift and I had a conversation about is you've got to be able to play through some of these injuries as a running back," Staley added.Swift led the Lions with 617 rushing yards and five touchdowns while averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He also proved to be an option in the passing game with 62 receptions for 452 yards and two scores.However, due to a combination of injuries and roster decisions, Swift has started just eight of his 26 appearances over the past two years. The Georgia product surpassed 15 carries just once during his 2021 campaign.Staley, a former NFL running back, understands there's an element of luck to playing the position, given the numerous collisions throughout a season.Including Swift, the Lions have a young offensive group that features Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark, and T.J. Hockenson.Alongside Jamaal Williams and behind what the club hopes is a healthy offensive line, Detroit aims to improve its 110.9 rushing yards per game from last season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Linebacker Micah Parsons is seeking to repeat as the Dallas Cowboys' leader in sacks this coming season, in what appears to be a friendly challenge with teammate DeMarcus Lawrence.Lawrence recently said he aims to "become the sack leader again," according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "I let a rookie show me up last year."Parsons described Lawrence's comments as healthy for the locker room and said they fueled his competitive nature. However, the 23-year-old has no intention of relinquishing the top spot."Sorry to tell him, he's never getting that back," Parsons said. "I want him to get all the enjoyment that he possibly can … so he can be a 10-sack guy, great. But if 10's the number, I'm going for 20. You've just got to go out there and compete. It's just going to be a race to the quarterback, like it or not."Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowler, tallied just three sacks in 2021 after being limited to seven games due to a foot injury. The former second-round pick led the team in sacks four times (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020).Parsons racked up a team-high 13 sacks during his rookie campaign. The Penn State product proved to be a versatile asset to the Cowboys' defense, lining up at multiple positions. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and was also named a first-team All-Pro.Dallas recorded 41 sacks last season, tied for 13th most in the NFL.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A.J. Brown believes the Philadelphia Eagles are set up for success after pairing him with fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith."In my opinion, Smitty is a wide receiver (No.) 1. ... I expect Smitty to dominate," Brown said during a press conference Friday.Brown believes the pairing will be mutually beneficial."Just taking pressure off each other. And even being on the same side, so you can't really (double-team). That's great having another great wideout beside you," he added.The expectations are high for both wideouts ahead of the 2022 season. Smith is entering his second NFL campaign after racking up 64 receptions for 916 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. The 2020 Heisman Trophy winner led the Eagles' receiving corps in most statistical categories while averaging 14.3 yards per catch.Philadelphia acquired Brown in a trade with the Tennessee Titans during the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Pro Bowler is expected to be a reliable passing option for quarterback Jalen Hurts.Brown, who'll be 25 next season, is aiming to bounce back after injuries limited him to 13 games in 2021. Despite that missed time, the Ole Miss product led the Titans with 63 catches, 869 yards, and five scores. He previously surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons.After trading for Julio Jones, Tennessee expected to get significant production from its pass-catching group last season, but injuries marred his lone campaign with the Titans. Jones was subsequently released in March.Now a member of the Eagles, Brown relishes the opportunity to headline a receiving group alongside Smith next season. Brown notes that he's provided advice to Smith on "little things" and praised his route-running ability. The newest Eagle feels that Year 2 could be a big step for Smith."I think the sky is the limit for Smitty," Brown said.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Nagy hopes his time with the Chicago Bears will prove useful in his new adventure with the Kansas City Chiefs.Nagy's four-year tenure as head coach of the Bears came to an end this offseason after he posted a 6-11 record in 2021. He returned to Kansas City to be its quarterbacks coach, a job he previously held from 2013-2015."I want to use my experiences in Chicago to help me be better here for our team here in Kansas City," Nagy said Thursday, according to Patrick Finley of The Chicago Sun-Times. "There's a little bit of humility you have to have to do this."The 44-year-old burst onto the scene as a first-year head coach with the Bears in 2018. He led the 12-4 club to a postseason appearance and was named Coach of the Year. However, the Bears were unable to finish better than .500 in each of his three final seasons.Nagy believes the lessons learned from those ups and downs have enabled him to put things "into perspective.""In life, for me, a lot of my failures that I've had, I've tried to use to (the) best of my ability to make me better," he added.Nagy is reunited with head coach Andy Reid, whom he worked under with the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. Nagy also served as Patrick Mahomes' offensive coordinator during the quarterback's rookie season in 2017, though Mahomes hadn't yet become the full-time starter.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jarvis Landry said Thursday he's already feeling rejuvenated by his return to Louisiana."It's been a breath of fresh air to be back home, to be around the culture that's already been set here in New Orleans, the leadership that's here already," he said, according to Katherine Terrell of The Athletic.Landry, a former LSU star, signed a one-year deal with the Saints in May after spending the last four seasons with the Cleveland Browns.The 29-year-old is looking to rebound from the least productive year of his NFL tenure with his new team.Landry had career lows in catches (52), yards (570), and touchdowns (two) while suiting up in 12 games in 2021. He racked up 236 catches for 2,990 yards and 13 scores across the three years prior, earning two Pro Bowl nods."I'm happy to be on the grass, be running routes, have an opportunity to learn and be part of the culture and the team and find my place here," he said.Landry will be part of a new-look wideout group for New Orleans.The NFC South club traded up in April's draft to select former Ohio State standout Chris Olave at No. 11 overall, while 2019 Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas is set to return after missing all of 2021 with an ankle injury.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers center Alex Mack is retiring after 13 seasons in the NFL, he announced Friday.

NBC is eyeing former Dallas Cowboys head coach and New York Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett as a potential replacement for Drew Brees as one of the network's analysts on "Football Night in America," the New York Post's Andrew Marchand reports.Garrett would also be the game analyst during Notre Dame football games, Marchand adds.The 56-year-old joined NBC this year as a USFL analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Jac Collinsworth.Besides being part of the "Football Night in America" crew in 2021, Brees called two NFL games and teamed up with Mike Tirico on Notre Dame gamedays. NBC promoted Tirico this year, tabbing him to replace Al Michaels as the voice of Sunday Night Football.Brees and NBC reportedly broke up in May after just one season. The New Orleans Saints legend has yet to confirm his exit from the TV network, though he recently acknowledged he's undecided about his future.Garrett coached the Cowboys in 152 regular-season games from 2010-19. He began last year with the Giants but was fired midway through the campaign after less than two seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is disappointed that he didn't land a head coaching job this offseason despite generating interest from multiple teams again."In reality, it's tough," Bieniemy said Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "But I don't let that keep me from doing what I do. I'm still alive, I'm breathing, and I have an opportunity to work for a championship team. That's the beauty of it."I don't want any pity. This is who I am. I'm going to keep pushing, keep knocking because when it's all said and done with, I know who I am, and I am comfortable with the person I'm striving to be."Bieniemy had head coaching interviews with the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos earlier this year but wasn't hired by either team. It's the fourth offseason in which Bieniemy's been considered a leading candidate for NFL head coaching vacancies.The 52-year-old has been with the Chiefs since 2013. He originally started as the running backs coach before taking over as offensive coordinator in 2018.Bieniemy and head coach Andy Reid helped turn Kansas City's offense into a juggernaut since the Chiefs drafted quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017. The AFC West club has yet to finish a campaign worse than sixth in scoring and yards under Reid and Bieniemy's watch.Bieniemy, who signed a one-year contract to return to Kansas City in February, won't give up trying to get a head coaching gig."I've just got to go get it," he said. "I'm not seeking any comfort. I haven't gotten it for whatever reason. It (doesn't) matter. I'm going to keep knocking on that door, and I'm going to keep working my ass off to make sure that it happens."Bieniemy's two predecessors in Kansas City - Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy - ended up as NFL head coaches. Pederson, currently the Jacksonville Jaguars' sideline boss, left the Chiefs to join the Philadelphia Eagles as head coach in 2016.Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears named Nagy as their head coach in 2018. The 2018 Coach of the Year returned to K.C. as a senior assistant and quarterbacks coach this year after Chicago fired him in January following four seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch reaffirmed his intentions to retain Deebo Samuel."We haven't traded him, and I'd be a fool to trade him, so yes, Deebo will be part of the 49ers this season," Lynch said Wednesday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Samuel requested a trade in April, but Lynch and the 49ers haven't shown an interest in moving him.The star wideout has been a no-show for voluntary OTAs, though head coach Kyle Shanahan expects him to rejoin the club for mandatory minicamp later this month.Samuel's trade demand reportedly stems from his usage in Shanahan's offense, and he hasn't engaged in contract talks despite the 49ers' efforts.The 26-year-old served as both a receiving and rushing threat last season. Samuel recorded a career-high 1,405 yards and six touchdowns in the air while adding 365 yards and eight scores on the ground. His 1,770 yards from scrimmage ranked third in the NFL.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fired back at critics of his arm strength following Thursday's practice."For me, it's just 'zone that out,'" Tagovailoa said, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. "We come out to practice. Everyone else, Twitter warriors, keyboard warriors, whatever you want to call them, they're not out here practicing with us, working hard."The third-year passer impressed during Thursday's session, demonstrating ample arm strength on deep throws to Tyreek Hill.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is retiring from the NFL, ending a career that spanned 17 seasons and nine teams, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Fred Jackson seemed to announce the quarterback's decision by posting a screenshot of an apparent text message from Fitzpatrick, his former Buffalo Bills teammate.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady opened up about his decision to unretire and his current commitment levels following his victory in The Match on Wednesday.Brady revealed that the timing of free agency played a pivotal role in him returning for his 23rd season."At this stage, it's like 55% yes and 45% no. It's not 100-0. That's just the reality," Brady said, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "It's not that I'm not 100% committed, it's just as soon as I make the commitment to do it, it's like, 'Ugh. All right, here we go.'"It's like running a marathon. You can't decide two weeks before the marathon, 'Hey, I'm going to start running.' We got right to free agency, and I felt some pressure to do it and talked to the team and organization, and it all worked out."Brady announced he would end his short-lived retirement on the eve of free agency. The Buccaneers were able to re-sign many key players following Brady's return, including Leonard Fournette, Carlton Davis, and Ryan Jensen, among others.The 44-year-old also noted that he was "partly" ready to walk away for good due to family responsibilities."So the responsibilities are many people taking care of me and things that I have off the field that are really important to me like my family, my kids, my wife's done an amazing job of that," Brady said, according to Laine. "That's a big commitment from her, so it's harder when you get older."Brady is set to join Fox Sports as an analyst once he decides to wrap up his illustrious playing career.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers might be just several months removed from signing an NFL record extension, but the Green Bay Packers quarterback continues to contemplate his football future."I think about (retirement) all the time," Rodgers said Wednesday at The Match after he and Tom Brady won the celebrity golf event, according to 247Sports' Nick Kosko. "And I resonate with what Tom said about the mindset of 55-45. You know, when you commit, you're 100%."But the older you get, the interests change and the grind, I think, wears on you a little bit more, and the football part, that's the easy part. That's the joy. It's the other stuff that wears on you and makes you think about life after football. Tommy obviously set the bar so high with playing so many years, but I can definitely see the end coming."In March, the Packers made Rodgers the league's highest-paid player with a three-year extension that averages $50.2 million, ending the speculation about his future with the team that began last offseason.Before he recommitted to Green Bay, the back-to-back reigning MVP suggested that he could retire.Rodgers completed 68.9% of his passes for 4,115 yards and 37 touchdowns against four interceptions to earn his fourth career MVP award and the NFC's No. 1 seed for Green Bay.However, the Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round to fall short of a third straight NFC Championship Game appearance. Rodgers failed to throw a touchdown and took five sacks in the 13-10 defeat.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie wide receiver Treylon Burks is gradually adjusting to life in the NFL after some early struggles since being drafted by the Tennessee Titans."Every player comes into situations differently," Burks said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. "I'm just attacking it every day that I can. I'm just taking it one day at a time, and everything else will take care of itself."Burks reportedly struggled in his first practice with the club during rookie minicamp last month and couldn't finish. He was spotted using an inhaler before briefly rejoining practice.The 22-year-old wideout declined to explain why he needed the inhaler. Head coach Mike Vrabel also refused to address the matter and instead praised the rookie pass-catcher Wednesday for his daily improvement."We're excited about Treylon," Vrabel said, per Ben Arthur of the Nashville Tennessean. "We feel good about every guy we draft. That's why we draft them. He's gotten better each day he's been here."Burks has reportedly been limited during open sessions of organized team activities this week.The Titans' young wideout said, "Everything isn't perfect," when asked by reporters about his inability to complete drills, Arthur adds.Tennessee expects Burks to immediately contribute after trading A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles and selecting the Arkansas product with the 18th overall pick in the 2022 draft.Burks, alongside veterans Robert Woods and Austin Hooper, are among new pass-catching weapons for a team that averaged 201.1 yards per contest last season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt announced his retirement Wednesday after eight years in the NFL."With respect to the Steelers organization, my teammates, and coaches, I would like to officially announce that I have come to the decision to retire from the NFL," Tuitt said in a statement. "I am thankful to have had the opportunity to represent the city of Pittsburgh for the past eight seasons and am blessed to leave this game with my health."Tuitt cited the death of his brother and the completion of his degree as factors for his decision."After the tragic loss of my brother Richard, and upon completing my degree from the University of Notre Dame, I know I am being called to move beyond the sport of football," he added."I want to thank everyone for the love and support they have shown both on and off the field, and again want to thank The Rooney Family, Coach Tomlin, and the entire Pittsburgh organization. It was an honor and a privilege to play for this historic team. Go Steelers."The 29-year-old spent the entire last season on injured reserve due to a knee injury.The Steelers selected Tuitt in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and he became an instrumental part of the team's front seven while teaming with defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.Tuitt started 79 games for the Steelers, recording 34.5 sacks and 48 tackles for a loss. He notched a career-high 11 sacks and 25 quarterback hits during the 2020 campaign, his last active season in the league.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that extension talks with star defensive tackle Aaron Donald "are trending in the right direction," according to NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.McVay added he expects Donald will participate in mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 7-9.The three-time Defensive Player of the Year said Monday he would be "at peace" retiring if he can't agree to a new deal with the Rams.While Donald is the NFL's highest-paid defensive lineman with a $22.5-million annual salary, T.J. Watt pushed the top of the defender market to just over $28 million with the extension he inked in September.Donald is signed through the 2024 campaign but has no guaranteed money left on his deal.The 31-year-old propelled L.A. to Super Bowl glory last season, adding the final piece to his Hall of Fame-worthy resume. He was also named a first-team All-Pro for the seventh straight year.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyler Murray is back in the building.The Arizona Cardinals star quarterback is with the team and expected to be on the practice field Wednesday as the club resumes voluntary OTAs, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.His appearance marks the first time he has taken the field during the team's offseason program, Schefter adds.The quarterback's desire to receive a new contract has been the team's biggest storyline of the offseason. Murray is eligible for an extension since he's completed three seasons in the NFL. The Cardinals have him under contract for 2022 and 2023 after exercising his fifth-year option this year.Murray's agent previously said he submitted an offer to the organization but reportedly withdrew it in April.Arizona has remained committed to the former first overall pick throughout the process. General manager Steve Keim previously ruled out the prospect of trading Murray and said last week he believes an extension will be completed "this summer."The 24-year-old has compiled a 22-23-1 record with 70 touchdowns to 34 interceptions across three seasons. He set a career high in yards per game (270.5) and passer rating (100.6) last year en route to his first playoff berth.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders star pass-rusher Chase Young is right on schedule with his rehab from last season's ACL tear."I’m running. I’ve squatted some substantial amount of weight," Young said Wednesday. "But everything is going as planned. I’m happy where I’m at, and I’m confident in everything I’m doing going forward."Young is in attendance for the team's OTAs but isn't participating in any 11-on-11 drills."It feels good to be back, getting around the guys, watching them run around, trying to give them all the energy I can give them," Young added.

The late John Madden is the cover star for Madden 23, EA Sports announced Wednesday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, the team announced Wednesday.Hicks joins the club on a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Hicks, a Pro Bowler in 2018, spent the last six seasons with the Bears, starting 77 games. The 32-year-old, who's been a solid run defender throughout his entire career, was one of football's most disruptive defensive linemen early in his stint in Chicago. He racked up 23 sacks and 38 tackles for loss from 2016-18.Injuries have bothered Hicks lately; he hasn't played a full season since 2018. The veteran defender appeared in only five games in 2019 before missing one and eight contests in 2020 and 2021, respectively. He amassed 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks across nine games last year.Hicks checks a lot of boxes for the Buccaneers, who've been looking for an experienced defensive lineman this offseason after they didn't re-sign Ndamukong Suh and Steve McLendon. Suh started all 49 regular-season games for the Bucs over the last three campaigns.Tampa Bay also bolstered its defensive front by drafting lineman Logan Hall in the second round this year. The team's defensive depth chart already features Pro Bowl tackle Vita Vea.The Bucs will be the fourth different team of Hicks' career. The 2012 third-round pick played for the New Orleans Saints (2012-15) and New England Patriots (2015) before joining the Bears in 2016.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had a rookie season for the ages, and he's intent on making an even bigger splash in Year 2."Last year, I was just out there running routes, having fun again," Chase told The Athletic's Jay Morrison on Tuesday. "Now I've got all the small details down, like learning how to set people up before the next route."And I feel more comfortable with the offense. Maybe I can move around a little more when we see different things on film. I feel like all of that’s going to make me a lot better this year."Chase's 1,455 receiving yards topped Justin Jefferson for the most by a first-year player in NFL history. He also set the Bengals' single-game receiving record (266) and single postseason mark (368).The 22-year-old became the first wideout to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014, earning 42 of 50 votes.While receivers have historically often struggled to replicate strong rookie production in their sophomore years, Chase has already set his goals for 2022 - but he's not ready to share them just yet."I've got two up there so far," Chase said. "I'm not going to say what they are, but I don't think they're hard. They're a little more than last year, like catches and yards. I've still got to find my touchdown minimum."I'll give y'all the list maybe before training camp."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

First-year head coach Kevin O'Connell's new offensive system is already turning heads inside the Minnesota Vikings' facility."It's wild. It's the most learning I've ever had to do," veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen said on "The Pat McAfee Show" Tuesday. "I'm swimming a little bit, but it's fun. Again, that's part of the rejuvenation. I'm excited to come to work because I'm excited to learn a new offense; I'm excited to learn what we're gonna install."The Vikings hired the 37-year-old O'Connell to replace Mike Zimmer, a longtime defensive-minded coach who patrolled Minnesota's sideline from 2014-21. O'Connell spent the past two seasons on the Los Angeles Rams' coaching staff, working with one of football's brightest offensive minds in head coach Sean McVay."Everything we're doing makes sense," Thielen said. "Everything looks alike, acts alike, feels alike. The terminology makes sense. It's a lot, though."He added: "I'm trying to figure out ways, as an old man, to learn fast and to figure out the little details."Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook also has some learning to do. O'Connell recently said he explored different formations with Cook during Minnesota's organized team activities, including lining him up as a wideout."He's lining up at receiver, he's running the football. Shoot, we might even let him throw the football just to give everybody a little something to prepare for," O'Connell said on "The Adam Schefter Podcast." "He's working every single day, he's so motivated, he wants to win, and he's leading not only that running back group, but he's a major part of our entire football team."The Vikings' offense averaged 25 points per game last season, ranking 14th in the NFL. It was the team's worst ranking since 2018.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Kenny Pickett as their next franchise quarterback when they selected him 20th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, but the rookie is prepared to work his way up from the bottom."I didn't think I was going to walk in and be the (No.) 1," said Pickett, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "It's kind of what I was expecting, just come in here and earn everything I get."Pickett is working behind Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky during voluntary workouts. Rudolph is entering Year 4 in Pittsburgh after primarily acting as Ben Roethlisberger's backup, while Trubisky signed a two-year deal as a free agent this offseason and boasts 50 starts in five seasons.The Steelers will allow all three quarterbacks to compete for the starting role, and head coach Mike Tomlin said after the draft in April that Pickett "certainly has a chance" to be under center in Week 1.Pickett was the lone quarterback taken in the first two rounds, arguably putting him under the most pressure to hit the ground running in the NFL.Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Matt Corral were forced to wait until Round 3 despite pre-draft speculation they all could be selected on Day 1.Pickett produced a breakout season for Pitt as a senior in 2021, throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns against seven interceptions.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arapahoe County District Attorney's office filed a motion to dismiss all charges against Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy ahead of his hearing Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The motion was then officially signed off by a judge, closing the case, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero."After reviewing the evidence, I always believed that no crime had been committed and all charges would be dismissed," said Jeudy's attorney, Harvey Steinberg.Jeudy was arrested May 12 on charges of second-degree criminal tampering with a domestic violence enhancer after the mother of his child called police and said he'd locked her wallet and the child's medical paperwork in his car. According to the police report, Jeudy acknowledged he'd locked baby formula and other items in his car because the woman had taken one of his phones and wouldn't return it. Sheriff Tyler Brown said after the incident that there was no physical contact between Jeudy and the woman.The 23-year-old Jeudy was released on bond the next day. The woman involved in the case said she didn't feel threatened during the incident and later asked for the charges to be dropped.Jeudy, the 15th overall pick in 2020, is entering his third season with Denver.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some people get soft in old age, but Bill Belichick apparently isn't one of them.New England Patriots safety and captain Devin McCourty, who has been with the team since 2010, says that Belichick remains as intense as ever - even at the age of 70."I've always said, when people ask me what's Bill like, that he's the model of consistency," McCourty told ESPN's Mike Reiss. "Showing up to your job every day, having the same attitude, the same messaging, and being able to do that over and over again is hard."He continues to come in here, Day 1 of OTAs, for however many years it is, and it's the same intensity."Belichick is entering his 48th season in the NFL and 23rd as head coach of the Patriots. He's currently the second oldest active bench boss in the NFL behind the Seattle Seahawks' Pete Carroll, who was born seven months earlier.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jeff Gladney died in a car accident Monday morning at the age of 25, his agent Brian Overstreet told Drew Davison and Clarence E. Hill of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram."We are devastated to learn of Jeff Gladney's passing. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all those who are mourning this tremendous loss," the Cardinals said in a statement.The Minnesota Vikings selected Gladney with the 31st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The TCU product started 15 games in his rookie season and recorded 81 tackles, though he didn't grab an interception.Minnesota released Gladney last August after police charged him with felony assault. He was found not guilty earlier this year.Gladney, who remained unsigned for the entire 2021 campaign, inked a deal with the Cardinals in March.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Donald announced he was contemplating retirement after playing his eighth NFL season. Though the Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman says he's excited about the possibility of repeating as a Super Bowl champion in 2022, he'll only return for Year 9 if he can ink a new contract with L.A."I don't need to play football to be fine," Donald said on the "I AM ATHLETE" podcast. "I was blessed to play this game, to make the money I made, the accomplishments I made in eight years. ... I'm complete. If I can win another one, that's great. But if not, I'm at peace."A Super Bowl win was virtually the only thing missing from the 31-year-old's football career, and the eight-time Pro Bowler checked off that box as the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in February."Me talking about retirement, that was happening way before we won the Super Bowl," Donald said. "I've been saying that since I got into the league. I was gonna play eight years and then be done. That's what I've been saying."Rams general manager Les Snead recently said he's trying to find middle ground on a deal that pays Donald what he's worth while still ensuring the club is still in a position to improve."It ain't about the money," Donald said. "It's a business at the end of the day. For me, it's about winning. I don't want to play football if I can't win anyway, so I feel like if I have a real opportunity of winning another Super Bowl, then it makes sense to play. But again, it's still a business, we have to handle the business side of things, and if that wasn't to get handled, then it's an it-is-what-it-is type of situation. I'm gonna be fine regardless."Donald is football's highest-paid interior defensive lineman with a $22.5-million average annual salary, though his contract ranks sixth in the NFL among defenders, according to Spotrac.The Pitt product has enjoyed a decorated career since the Rams drafted him in the first round in 2014. He's won three Defensive Player of the Year awards - tied for the most ever - to go along with seven first-team All-Pro berths."I got to experience everything that I can experience as a defensive player in the NFL, from individual success to team success, from NFC West championship to winning my conference to winning the Super Bowl. ... I know what all that feels like. That's why I say if I don't play, I'm complete," he said.Donald is signed with the Rams through 2024 after inking a six-year extension in 2018.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Heading into the final stretch of his NFL career, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce says he's focused more on winning than maximizing his earnings."Money, in my mind, is almost secondary at this point in my career," Kelce said Thursday, according to The Kansas City Star's Blair Kerkhoff. "I'm here for the legacy, and I'm here to try and make the Kansas City Chiefs the best team possible. That's my main focus. That's why I'm here."The comments come after San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle told Mike Florio of the "Pro Football Talk" podcast May 20 that the pay disparity between tight ends and wide receivers "boggles (his) mind."But Kelce made it clear that he isn't looking to renegotiate his contract."I appreciate Kittle saying that. That's my guy, and he always wants to see every tight end get paid as much as their production is," Kelce said. "At the same time, I signed my contract understanding what I had. I put a lot into this."Kittle tops the tight end market with a $15-million annual salary, while Kelce sits in second at $14.31 million, according to Spotrac. Kelce's annual salary is topped by 22 wide receivers.The receiver market exploded this offseason. Davante Adams signed a five-year, $141.25-million extension following his trade to the Las Vegas Raiders to briefly top the position at over $28 million per season.Kelce's former teammate, Tyreek Hill, then exceeded that mark by nearly $2 million per year, inking a four-year, $120-million deal with the Miami Dolphins.But it's Kelce who's been the most productive receiver over the past six seasons, racking up an NFL-high 7,267 receiving yards. Meanwhile, his 565 catches are second to only Adams, and his 47 touchdown catches rank sixth.The 32-year-old is also riding a streak of six straight 1,000-yard seasons, a feat no other tight end in NFL history has achieved.Kelce - whose contract runs through the 2025 season - could have an even bigger workload in 2022 following Hill's departure.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers likely aren't expecting Christian Watson to immediately replace departed star receiver Davante Adams, but the rookie is already making a strong impression on his new team."His combination of size and speed is great," Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. "He's a big guy. He can move. He's going to be a problem once he figures things out."Randall Cobb, the veteran wideout left in Green Bay following Adams' blockbuster trade to the Las Vegas Raiders and Marquez Valdes-Scantling's exit to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, also hyped up the second-round pick following the start of offseason workouts."He has the total package," said Cobb. "Just being around him for the past week and seeing some of the things he can do, he has all the tools. He's very gifted."The 6-foot-4, 208-pound Watson starred in his final season at North Dakota State in 2021, racking up 43 catches for 801 yards with seven touchdowns to establish himself as one of the 2022 draft's most explosive playmakers.While Watson is viewed as a relatively raw prospect, he could take on a significant role from Day 1 to help fill the void left by Adams, who led Green Bay in targets, catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in each of the last five seasons.Allen Lazard and free-agent addition Sammy Watkins round out the Packers' projected top four receivers, with 2021 third-rounder Amari Rodgers - who had just four catches as a rookie - and 2022 fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs set to compete for playing time.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns don't plan to release Baker Mayfield even if the disgruntled quarterback is still on the roster at the start of training camp, a source told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.The 27-year-old requested a trade in March after Cleveland pursued quarterback Deshaun Watson. Though Watson initially eliminated the Browns as a potential destination, Cleveland eventually acquired the three-time Pro Bowler from the Houston Texans.Mayfield is under contract for $18.85 million in 2022, the last year of his rookie deal. Releasing the signal-caller wouldn't make sense for the Browns financially, as they would still have to take the hit of his fully guaranteed contract this upcoming season.Mayfield has been linked to the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks. Carolina and Cleveland discussed a potential trade during the 2022 NFL Draft, but the Browns weren't willing to pay most of Mayfield's salary as part of the deal proposed by the Panthers, reports Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer.Carolina ended up adding a quarterback in the draft, selecting Matt Corral in the third round.A shoulder injury bothered Mayfield for most of the 2021 season, limiting him to just 17 touchdown passes against 13 interceptions in 14 games. He underwent surgery this offseason.Cleveland also signed veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett in free agency. The NFL has yet to announce whether it'll suspend Watson this year.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL might be done with Antonio Brown, and the wide receiver says he isn't looking to find a way back.Asked if he would suit up next season during an interview at a Fan Controlled Football game, Brown said, "Nah, don't play yourself looking at me to play.""Obviously, we live the game, but you can't play forever," he added. "I think I'm a great player that's done everything in the game."There's been no reported interest in Brown from any NFL teams since he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after dramatically walking off mid-game in Week 17.Brown recently said he's hoping to retire with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career and racked up the second-most yards in franchise history (11,207).The 33-year-old was still an effective player in his final year in Tampa Bay, catching 42 passes for 545 yards and four touchdowns in seven appearances.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke can already see improvement from Trevor Lawrence this year as the quarterback enters his second NFL season."He's just more confident," Baalke said, according to John Shipley of Jaguars Report. "He's carrying himself with more confidence. He's delivering the ball quicker. He's continuing to do that. I've seen that through the course of the offseason, getting the ball out of his hands, being more decisive."Lawrence entered the NFL as the first overall pick in the 2021 draft and was labeled one of the best prospects ever.However, the 22-year-old completed just 59.6% of his passes for 3,641 yards and 12 touchdowns against a league-high 17 interceptions in 2021. Though the Jaguars went 3-14 with him under center, Baalke liked how Lawrence handled his struggles."He's an old soul," Baalke said. "He's a leader, and he does it in his own way, like any good leader does. He's got his own style. But the maturity showed last year was very impressive, and he's continued to build on that as we work through this offseason."Jacksonville improved Lawrence's subpar supporting cast from last year, signing veteran players on both sides of the ball in 2022. The team added wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, guard Brandon Scherff, and cornerback Darious Williams, among others. The Jaguars also bolstered their roster through the draft, selecting two players in the first round, including pass-rusher Travon Walker at No. 1 overall.The Jaguars also hired head coach Doug Pederson to replace Urban Meyer."I'm really excited about the future," Lawrence recently said. "Obviously, we all learned a lot last year, but being able to build on what we have now (and) really create something special, I feel like we have a lot of the right people, and that's what you need.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns and tight end David Njoku reached an agreement on a four-year, $56.75-million extension that includes $28 million guaranteed, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.Njoku's new $14.19-million average annual salary will rank fourth among tight ends, according to Spotrac.Tight endTeamAverage salaryGeorge Kittle49ers$15MTravis KelceChiefs$14.31MDallas GoedertEagles$14.25MDavid NjokuBrowns$14.19MMark AndrewsRavens$14MThe 25-year-old, who received the franchise tag in March, was set to earn $10.93 million under the tag in 2022. The two sides had until July 15 to ink a multi-year extension.

Amazon Prime Video is targeting Pat McAfee for an alternative Thursday Night Football telecast, sources told Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.McAfee's show would follow in the footsteps of Peyton and Eli Manning's "ManningCast" for Monday Night Football, which was a major success for ESPN during its debut season in 2021.The former Indianapolis Colts punter said in February he'd engaged in talks with Amazon, but his busy schedule could be a roadblock.McAfee hosts his own weekday show on YouTube and SiriusXM, and he also works as a wrestler and color commentator for WWE.Amazon will take over Thursday Night Football from the 2022 season and is reportedly paying the NFL $1 billion annually through the 2033 campaign for broadcast rights.The company landed Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit as its broadcast duo in March.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick's workout with the Las Vegas Raiders was positive, but a deal is not imminent at this point, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.The free-agent quarterback worked out for the Raiders on Wednesday. It was his first official workout with a team since his last NFL appearance in 2016.Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels was coy Thursday when asked about Kaepernick's session."(General manager) Dave (Ziegler) and his staff have worked out tons of guys this spring, and we really don't make comments about the evaluations that we made or what they looked like, what they didn't look like, strengths and weaknesses, those kind of things," McDaniels said.Kaepernick petitioned his services to NFL clubs following a throwing exhibition at a Michigan spring game earlier this offseason. He also said he would be open to a backup job.The 34-year-old last played for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 campaign when he began kneeling during the U.S. national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.Kaepernick compiled a 28-30 record in six years with the 49ers from 2011-16 and led the team to one Super Bowl appearance.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The draft is over. Free agency has slowed. Organized team activities are underway. In a few weeks, the NFL will hit the snooze button for a month or so before training camps ramp up again.Yet Baker Mayfield remains with the Cleveland Browns, and Jimmy Garoppolo is still with the San Francisco 49ers. This is true even though both teams have landed quarterbacks who will replace them.How did this happen? Where do things go from here? Why ask so many questions? Why not?Hold up. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't made any announcement about who the team's starter would be, right?Well, right. But that's just the way Shanahan operates with the media. But let's be clear: the San Francisco 49ers intend to start Trey Lance at quarterback in 2022. Their actions scream it, even if they won't come right out and say it. Anyone waiting around for an official announcement on this is going to have a pretty boring summer. Lachlan Cunningham / Getty ImagesHow have their actions screamed it?They traded a ton of draft picks just last year to move up to select Lance, so they clearly see him as their future. Yeah, they gave Lance a developmental year in 2021, but they surely intend to capitalize on his rookie contract for as long as they can.Further, they also gave Nate Sudfeld a $2 million, fully guaranteed contract for this season, which isn't what you do for a No. 3 QB, let alone a dude you intend to stash on the practice squad. Shanahan has also specifically said he hired Brian Griese out of the Monday Night Football booth to become his QB coach because of what Lance can learn from his playing experience. Oh, and Shanahan said just this week he expects the team to trade Garoppolo before the start of the season.Why hasn't a trade happened yet?Garoppolo had shoulder surgery on March 8, and other teams understandably weren't keen on trading for a player who wouldn't be able to throw for them at OTAs this spring - especially a dude whose contract calls for him to make $24.2 million this year. And now that the QB carousel music has stopped, there aren't too many potential trading partners. Think about it. How many teams still might want to address QB1 now that all the smoke has cleared? Carolina? Seattle? Maybe Houston? Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesAnd the Niners likely aren't going to trade him to Seattle.You're catching my drift, yes.Is this small pool of potential trade suitors what complicates things for Mayfield, too?That's definitely part of it, yes. But the bigger holdup on Mayfield is his contract. The Browns had to exercise his fifth-year option by May 3 of last year, and once they did that, the $18.858 million he was due in 2022 became fully guaranteed.That's a new twist in the collective bargaining agreement, by the way. The previous CBA mandated that fifth-year options for first-round rookies were guaranteed only for injury up until they became fully locked in at the start of the following league year.Under the old system, the Browns could have picked Mayfield’s option up and traded for Deshaun Watson the following spring while releasing Mayfield around the same time without having to pay him another cent. Now they're on the hook for that $18.858 million no matter what.Even if they trade him away?Mayfield's rookie contract had offset language, but ...Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there, college boy. Explain this to me in plain English, please.Mayfield is getting $18.858 million no matter what, OK? No NFL team wants to trade for that, and as we explained already, few are even in a position to even attempt to do so. And one of those teams that perhaps could do it - the Panthers - is already locked into a fully guaranteed fifth-year option on Sam Darnold for the same amount of money. Stacy Revere / Getty ImagesWait. What?Yup. When the Panthers traded for Darnold last spring, they had to make a decision on Darnold's fifth-year option, which is pegged to a set figure for QBs, though it can be higher depending on certain performance metrics, as it will be this year for Lamar Jackson. Knowing the risks, the Panthers chose to pick up his option anyway, and ... LOL.You were about to say something about "offset language" a minute ago, though. Translation?Oh, right. I was saying Mayfield's rookie deal had what's called offset language, which basically means that had the Browns released him during his first four seasons, whatever amount another team signed him for would offset whatever else the Browns owed him.There are conflicting reports about whether those offsets carry forward to the fifth year in rookie deals. The point being: if they do, as Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer wrote, Mayfield would have little incentive to sign somewhere else for anything more than the $1.035-million veteran minimum, if only to stick it to the Browns and leave them holding the bag for the remaining $17.823 million. In this case, at least, it's strictly business and it's personal.So what can the Browns do?They can offer to eat most of that money for any potential trade partners, but the question becomes, how much are they willing to swallow? The Charlotte Observer's Jonathan M. Alexander reported this week that the Panthers wanted Cleveland to take on between $13 million and $14 million when they engaged in trade discussions during the draft. After those talks fell apart, Carolina selected Matt Corral with the 94th pick.Now, even after the draft, Panthers GM Scott Fitterer did not rule out the possibility of adding another veteran QB. But at this point, it's fair to say that outcome is far less likely to happen.What about the Seahawks?Seattle's got Geno Smith and Drew Lock set to duke it out this summer, but if the trade compensation is right - both in terms of what Cleveland is willing to eat from Mayfield's contract and whatever assets the Browns stand to receive - the Seahawks could certainly be a possible landing spot, sure. That doesn't mean it will happen. Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty ImagesCan't the Browns just keep Mayfield?They sure can. In fact, doing that would allow them to either move Mayfield at the trade deadline in October or ride things out for the entire season so he can hit free agency next spring. That latter outcome would also allow the Browns to reel in a 2024 compensatory draft pick. But Mayfield is famously ornery, so there's no telling how he might handle staying in Cleveland. Then again, Mayfield might benefit from being a team player under such circumstances, because doing so could potentially help his cause in free agency come 2023, particularly if he has to spend 2022 as a backup.Couldn't the 49ers just keep Garoppolo as an expensive backup, too?I mean, they could, but there are some key differences between Garoppolo's and Mayfield's situation. For one, Garoppolo's $24.2-million salary is not guaranteed, which means San Francisco can cut him without any cash or cap consequences.Why haven't they just released him?Clearly, the 49ers still think they can get something back for Garoppolo in a trade. And a market might yet develop for him. Another team's QB could sustain an injury. Or perhaps a team like the Panthers could take a good look at Darnold and Corral between now and the start of the regular season and decide the QB room needs that other veteran option after all. Same with the Texans, who currently have Kevin Hogan, Jeff Driskel, and Kyle Allen backing up Davis Mills, which seems less than ideal.Here's something else to bear in mind: anyone on a team's Week 1 roster is guaranteed his salary for the remainder of the season. If the Niners want to avoid paying full freight on Garoppolo, they'll likely either move him or cut him by that deadline. They could also ask him to take a pay cut, and while he likely wouldn't accept one, he also might not have much of a choice. This will ring true if he gets to the end of training camp with nowhere to land except on a bad team desperate for a QB that won't be paying him anywhere close to $24.2 million as a free agent off the street.So for both QBs, this all could take some time to shake out?Probably, yeah.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes believes it will take a group effort to replace departed star wide receiver Tyreek Hill this season."That's what you're going to see with this offense this year,'' Mahomes said Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "It's going to be everybody. It's not all going to be one guy. Obviously (tight end Travis Kelce) is still going to get a lot of completions, a lot of yards, but the whole receiving room is going to have big days, and that can be something we use to our advantage."It's a very deep receiving room. It's hard to tell which guys are going to make it because we've got so many good receivers. That's what you want. You want that competition. You want guys competing every single day to make the roster because they're going to help us in the end."Hill's trade request after extension talks with the Chiefs stalled was arguably one of the biggest surprises of a drama-filled NFL offseason. The team shipped him to the Miami Dolphins in late March for a package that included a first-round pick.The 28-year-old speedster led the Chiefs with 111 catches for 1,259 yards and nine touchdowns last season, while no other wideout on the team exceeded 700 yards.Kansas City aggressively worked to rebuild its receiver group, with free agents JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling signing one- and three-year deals, respectively.The reigning AFC West champions also drafted Skyy Moore in the second round and added former Clemson star Justyn Ross as an undrafted free agent. Ross was viewed as a possible first-round selection before being diagnosed with a congenital spinal condition and missing the entire 2020 season.Mahomes got to grips with his new weapons during workouts he organized in Texas."I think we got some chemistry in ... working out with them, throwing with them, we'd go to lunch, we'd go to dinner, stuff like that,'' Mahomes said. "You kind of build chemistry."I think it's translated. So far in the practices, we feel like we're on the same page ... and we're going to keep building on that."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Given the rate at which injuries strike the running back position, knowing who's next in line for carries is critical for fantasy owners.Not all backup rushers are created equal, and though the league-winning potential of players like Kareem Hunt and Tony Pollard may appear obvious, many second-string ball carriers don't get the respect they deserve in fantasy drafts.Here's how we're ranking the top reserve tailbacks, broken down into tiers:Elite backup options RkBackupTeam1Kareem HuntCLE2Tony PollardDAL3AJ DillonGB

Quarterback Lamar Jackson is set to miss the opening week of the Baltimore Ravens' voluntary OTAs."We've been down this road many times through the years," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters Wednesday, including ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I'll just let Lamar speak for himself on that. It's for him to talk about. You can ask him."Harbaugh declined to say whether he was concerned about the former MVP missing practice time. "It's not for me to speak for somebody else on that," the coach said.Jackson tweeted, "Can't wait to get back" Tuesday but did not say why he wasn't attending practice.While the two-time Pro Bowler is not required to attend the voluntary sessions ahead of the club's mandatory minicamp in June, it marks the first time the Ravens' starting passer has missed an OTA session."Voluntary does means voluntary," Ravens president Sashi Brown said Thursday. Brown also noted that Jackson has been working out away from the team.Jackson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Ravens have insisted they want to negotiate a long-term deal with their 2018 first-round pick. However, he hasn't been interested in discussing an extension.If the two sides can't work out a new deal before next offseason, Baltimore is expected to place the franchise tag on the quarterback.Jackson is coming off perhaps his most difficult campaign since entering the league. With the Ravens' roster plagued by injuries, he missed the final four games of the season with an ankle injury of his own and threw a career-high 13 interceptions. He also threw for 2,882 yards and added 767 rushing yards for 18 total touchdowns.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne was not in attendance for Thursday's voluntary OTA session, a source told The Athletic's Ben Standig.Payne's absence comes two days after he reportedly walked off the practice field and skipped team drills, frustrated with the lack of a contract extension. He did, however, participate in team meetings and the post-practice lifting session Tuesday.The 2018 first-round pick is set to earn $8.5 million in the final year of his rookie contract. Payne established career highs last season with 61 tackles and 15 quarterback hits to go along with 4.5 sacks.Payne is seeking a long-term commitment similar to that of teammate Jonathan Allen who inked a four-year, $72-million contract extension last summer.It's uncertain whether the Commanders are willing to sign the 24-year-old to a lucrative deal. Washington used a 2022 draft pick on Phidarian Mathis who could potentially replace Payne in the future.Payne isn't the only player skipping OTA sessions this week. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is avoiding the team facility while waiting for an extension. Montez Sweat is also away, but head coach Ron Rivera said the pass-rusher is attending to a personal issue, and he expects him to return next week.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CeeDee Lamb isn't shying away from the spotlight of being the Dallas Cowboys' No. 1 wide receiver in 2022."I've been ready," Lamb said, according to team reporter Rob Phillips. "That's just me and my competitiveness. That's in my nature. It's kind of how we grew up playing football. I'm always ready for my name to be called."It's a dream that I've always wanted to live, and now that I'm actually living it, I feel like it's my opportunity to fulfill it. So I'm looking at it as an opportunity."The Pro Bowl wideout will enter the season as one of the Cowboys' more established targets following the departures of Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson.Quarterback Dak Prescott endorsed Lamb as "the guy" to lead the receiving corps moving forward.The third-year star is embracing the featured role and understands consistency is key to leading by example next season. "I want to be that guy," he said.Lamb worked in tandem with Cooper during his first two campaigns but is now expected to sit atop a depth chart that also features Michael Gallup, James Washington, and rookie Jalen Tolbert.The 23-year-old led Dallas with 79 receptions for 1,102 receiving yards, and six touchdowns while averaging 13.9 yards per catch in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL and NFLPA updated the rules governing the injured reserve and non-football injury/illness list Wednesday.Players placed on IR must now miss a minimum of four games before they're eligible to return to the active roster, according to a statement obtained by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Additionally, teams will only be given eight opportunities to designate players for return, and a player can only be signaled to return up to twice a season.Last season, there were no limits on how many times clubs could designate players for return, and players on IR only had to miss three games before being able to rejoin the team.The league also announced teams will be able to carry up to 16 players on their practice squads, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Edwin Porras of Fantasy Points joins Boone to discuss the latest injury updates heading into the 2022 fantasy season.

Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim expressed confidence that Kyler Murray will agree to a new contract in the near future."I just think it's a timing thing," Keim said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday. "Every quarterback that's done it before has done it anywhere from July to September. … We know that he's under contract for another year and also the fifth-year option. He is our future, we feel that way strongly. And I feel like we'll be able to get something done this summer."The star quarterback and the Cardinals have seemingly been at odds over a potential contract extension. Murray's agent submitted an offer to the club in February and stressed the need for "real commitment from the organization." However, he reportedly withdrew the offer in April.Later in April, Keim said there's "zero chance" Murray will be traded, and Arizona exercised his fifth-year option, which keeps him under contract through 2023. He's scheduled to earn a base salary of $965,000 and collect a $4.5-million roster bonus this season, per Spotrac.Murray wasn't in attendance for the start of voluntary OTAs this week and isn't expected to participate.The 2019 first overall pick looked like an early MVP candidate after a 7-0 start last season but faltered down the stretch. He completed 69.2% of his passes while tossing 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns against 10 interceptions through 14 games. He scored five touchdowns on the ground, down from 11 in 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick is working out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Kaepernick's last NFL appearance came as a member of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, which was the same year he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.The Raiders' interest marks the quarterback's first workout with a team since his last NFL appearance and his first visit since he met with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kaepernick participated in a throwing session during a Michigan spring game in April and offered his services to any interested NFL clubs. The 34-year-old also expressed openness to being a backup."I can help make you a better team. I can help you win games," Kaepernick said following his April throwing exhibition. "I know right now the situation likely won't allow me to come in (and) step into a starting role. I know I'll be able to work my way to that, though."Raiders owner Mark Davis expressed his support for the prospect of adding Kaepernick in 2020, telling ESPN's Paul Gutierrez that he'd informed front-office staff members they had his "blessing" to sign the quarterback if they desired.The Raiders' quarterback room is headed by Derek Carr. Below him on the depth chart are Jarrett Stidham, who was recently acquired via trade, and Nick Mullens.A second-round pick in 2011, Kaepernick took the league by storm in his second season and guided the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. He threw for 72 touchdowns to 30 interceptions in San Francisco while adding 2,300 yards and 13 scores with his legs.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Linebacker Devin White says it's "Super Bowl or nothing" next season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."I'll say it in front of all the cameras," White said following Wednesday's OTA session. "That's the only goal. That's what we want, and that's what we're after. We know we're not there yet. It's a long season; it's a long way to go. But that's what we're fighting for."White added that the Bucs need to get over the hump against the Los Angeles Rams after losing two games last season to the eventual Super Bowl champions.L.A. beat Tampa Bay 30-27 in the NFC divisional round to end the Bucs' bid for a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The NFC South club has beaten the Rams just once in its previous five matchups, with the lone win occurring during the 2019 regular season.White said losing to the Rams took a long time to get over because he felt the winner would likely win the Super Bowl. However, the defender added that he's using last year's defeat as "fuel to the fire" to return to the sport's biggest stage.The 2021 Pro Bowler also said he spoke with head coach Todd Bowles about Tampa Bay's losses in 2021, which includes falling to division rival New Orleans Saints.The 24-year-old defender said he's focused on improving last season's weaknesses. The Bucs are poised to resume their Super Bowl ambitions following Tom Brady's return after the quarterback briefly retired this offseason.Tampa's defensive unit allowed 92.5 rushing yards per game (third in the NFL) in 2021 while allowing 20.8 points per contest.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers promoted vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan to general manager, the team announced Wednesday.Khan, who has been with the Steelers since 2001, is tasked with succeeding retiring GM Kevin Colbert, who headed Pittsburgh's front office since 2000."Omar has been an integral part of our football operations department during his 21 years with the team, and that experience will serve him well in his new position," said Steelers president Art Rooney II.Khan said, "I am ready for this challenge and grateful to continue the success we have had on the field during my first 21 years. I look forward to completing our football operations staff and working tirelessly to build another championship football team for Steelers Nation and our community."The Steelers are reportedly set to hire Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel Andy Wiedl as assistant GM, according to independent NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala.Khan and Wiedl were among six candidates who received second interviews for the opening. The other finalists included Steelers pro scouting coordinator Brandon Hunt, former Buffalo Bills GM Doug Whaley, Tampa Bay Buccaneers executive John Spytek, and Tennessee Titans front office member Ryan Cowden.The Steelers proved to be one of the most consistent NFL franchises under Colbert. They've captured 10 division titles and made three Super Bowl appearances, winning twice, since he joined in 2000.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are re-signing pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, the team announced Wednesday.The three-time Pro Bowler signed a one-year contract worth up to $11 million, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Both parties agreed to terms earlier this week but wanted to finalize details before making the transaction official, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Clowney turned down multi-year deals from other teams ranging from $14 million-$15 million per season, Rapoport adds.Clowney spent the 2021 campaign with the Browns and served as a productive pass-rush partner opposite Myles Garrett. Clowney started 14 games and notched nine sacks, his most since 2018.Cleveland acquired pass-rusher Chase Winovich to bolster its defense earlier this offseason in a trade with the New England Patriots. A third-round pick in 2019, Winovich recorded 5.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons but failed to register a single sack last year. He also played just 14% of the Patriots' defensive snaps.The Browns allowed 21.8 points per game last season and tallied 43 sacks.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.