The Jacksonville Jaguars placed running back Travis Etienne on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday.Etienne will undergo surgery to deal with a mid-foot Lisfranc sprain, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The move officially ends Etienne's rookie season. Only players who are on the 53-man roster as of next Tuesday can be placed on short-term IR, Schefter notes.The tailback was expected to miss at least 12 weeks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Jacksonville selected the 22-year-old in the first round (25th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.Etienne exited the first quarter of Monday's preseason contest against the New Orleans Saints with a foot injury.The Clemson product was expected to provide the Jags with an offensive boost alongside former college teammate and No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence.Etienne is the ACC's all-time leading rusher with 4,952 yards. He added 1,155 receiving yards in four seasons with the Tigers.Jacksonville will now rely on James Robinson and Carlos Hyde to lead its rushing attack to begin the 2021 campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers signed wide receiver Robby Anderson through the 2023 season after agreeing on a new two-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.The pact is worth $29.5-million and includes $20.5 million in guaranteed money, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Anderson, who was set to become a free agent after the 2021 season, posted a career-high 1,096 receiving yards in his first year in Carolina last season. He also led the team with a career-best 95 receptions on 136 targets.One of the NFL's top deep threats, Anderson saw his yards per catch drop last season in comparison to the 2019 campaign (15 to 11.5). However, the receiver improved his catch percentage from 54.2% in 2019 to 69.9% in 2020.The 28-year-old joined the Panthers on a two-year, $20-million contract last year after spending his first four NFL campaigns on the New York Jets.The new extension is a win-win scenario, as Carolina keeps one of its top wideouts around for at least a few more years at a relatively low cost and the former undrafted pass-catcher will become a free agent and sign his fourth NFL contract at just age 30.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mac Jones has a chance to separate himself in the New England Patriots' quarterback competition."It is," coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday when asked if Sunday's preseason finale against the New York Giants is a good opportunity for the rookie passer, according to NBC Sports Boston. Belichick added, "Look, our entire team has opportunities every day."The Patriots announced Monday that quarterback Cam Newton would be away from the practice field until Thursday due to a "misunderstanding" regarding COVID-19 protocols.An important member of the Patriots organization believes the situation has "opened" a window of opportunity for Jones, reports NFL Network's Mike Giardi."We'll evaluate everything the way we always do: based on the information we have," Belichick said Tuesday, according to Giardi.There's also some frustration within the organization regarding Newton's situation, sources told Giardi.The 10-year veteran left the New England area for team-approved medical treatment. Newton has tested negative for the virus so far but is subject to a five-day re-entry period before being allowed to return to the team.Newton is participating virtually in team activities during his absence.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton isn't rushing to choose a starting quarterback for Week 1 between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill."I don't have a timeframe," Payton said after Winston had a standout performance on Monday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Grant Gordon of NFL.com."When we know what direction we're going, we'll let you guys know. We're not going to try to anticipate saying, 'Hey it's gonna be mid-week or next week,'" he added. "But I was pleased with not just the quarterbacks but how we played as a team for the most part."Winston completed nine of 10 pass attempts for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter against the Jaguars in his first start this preseason. Second-year wide receiver Marquez Callaway caught both touchdowns and finished with five receptions for 104 yards."I haven't started a football game in so long, so I was just so excited to get an opportunity to start and lead the pack," Winston said. "It was exciting and the rhythm was great."Hill, who started last week's contest, took over versus Jacksonville at the end of the first quarter and played into the second half, finishing the night with 138 yards and one score on 11-of-20 passing.Winston joined New Orleans last year as a free agent after playing his first five NFL seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He attempted only 11 passes in 2020, as Hill started the four games when Drew Brees was sidelined.Winston has thrown for 219 yards and three touchdowns against one interception while completing 72.7% of his passes (16 of 22) over two preseason appearances in 2021. Meanwhile, Hill has completed 19 of his 32 pass attempts for 219 yards and one score versus one pick.Payton previously said he hoped to name the starter before the final preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, according to Peter King of NBC Sports.New Orleans opens its 2021 campaign at home against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 12.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Travis Etienne is out indefinitely after suffering a mid-foot sprain during Monday's preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Etienne left in the first quarter after notching one reception and one carry for 4 total yards.The 2021 first-round pick figured to be a key piece in Jacksonville's offense this season alongside longtime Clemson teammate and first overall pick Trevor Lawrence. James Robinson and Carlos Hyde will likely comprise the Jaguars' backfield in Etienne's absence.Etienne, 22, posted 4,952 yards rushing and 1,155 reception yards over four years with Clemson.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams have avoided another major injury in their backfield.Running back Darrell Henderson is considered day-to-day after spraining his thumb in practice, the Rams announced Monday, according to team reporter Stu Jackson.Henderson is expected to be ready for Week 1, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Rams are counting on Henderson to be their feature back after losing Cam Akers for the season due to a torn Achilles. Los Angeles also waived running back Raymond Calais with an injury designation Monday.A third-round pick in 2019, Henderson totaled 147 yards on 39 carries during his rookie season. The 24-year-old's role grew in 2020 when he rushed for 624 yards across 11 starts.The Rams open the regular season against the Chicago Bears on Sep. 12.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran pass-rusher Everson Griffen on Monday, the team announced.Griffen, 33, played his first 10 NFL seasons for the Vikings before opting out of his contract to become a free agent after the 2019 campaign. He then signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, who later traded him to the Detroit Lions midway through the 2020 season.The four-time Pro Bowler admitted he regrets leaving Minnesota after 2019. He racked up 33 tackles, six sacks, and four pass breakups last campaign."I left because I thought the grass was greener on the other side, to be honest, and it wasn't," Griffen said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I learned I'm back home and I'm happy to be home. I should have stayed last year, to be honest. Where people love me, where the fans love me, where you guys love me."Griffen, a former fourth-round pick, previously recorded 74.5 sacks through 147 appearances in Minnesota from 2010-19.The veteran pass-rusher also plans to apologize to quarterback Kirk Cousins after calling the quarterback "ass" on Twitter earlier this offseason."I haven't really talked to him yet but I'm going to get around to doing that," Griffen said. "Apologize to him, apologize to Coach Zimmer, (GM) Rick (Spielman) about what I said. I take full ownership in that. I've still got to talk to Kirk and apologize to him about that."Although Griffen's prime may be behind him, he could be a solid contributor to the Vikings' defensive line, which lacks star power opposite Danielle Hunter.Minnesota also bolstered its pass rush this year by signing Stephen Weatherly and drafting Patrick Jones in the third round.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After returning to practice Monday following foot surgery in early August, Carson Wentz is confident he'll be able to play in his team's season opener Sept. 12."I'm optimistic, but we will see how it responds," said the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, according to Olivia Ray of WISH-TV.He added: "It's going to be up to the doctors, for sure. At the end of the day, as long as there's nothing that I can do to injure myself or to make it worse ... I've played through a lot worse, but it's going to come down to what the doctors say."Wentz's recovery timetable is 5-to-12 weeks. He returned to the practice field on a limited basis Monday for the first time in almost a month.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton will be away from his team's facility until Thursday due to the NFL's COVID-19 protocols, the Patriots announced Monday.Newton left the New England area Saturday to attend a team-approved medical appointment. The signal-caller has since received daily COVID-19 tests that produced negative results, but he's subject to a five-day re-entry process before returning to practice due to a "misunderstanding" regarding tests conducted away from NFL facilities, the team said.Only fully vaccinated players are exempt from daily re-entry testing, according to the league's updated protocols.

The Las Vegas Raiders' offseason pursuit for a high-profile edge rusher could've led them back to Khalil Mack.Las Vegas reached out to the Chicago Bears in March about a potential trade for Mack, sources told The Athletic's Vic Tafur.The club believed inquiring about the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year was worth a shot due to Chicago's salary-cap issues, but the Bears expressed no interest, adds Tafur.The Raiders, who drafted Mack fifth overall in 2014, dealt the six-time Pro Bowler to Chicago prior to the 2018 season in exchange for a package including two first-round picks. Mack, who held out of all Raiders activities while seeking a new deal before the trade, signed a six-year, $141-million extension with the Bears shortly after the move.Las Vegas, which amassed only 21 sacks last season, signed free-agent defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a two-year deal in March in order to bolster its pass rush.Chicago cut two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Kyle Fuller and restructured several contracts, including Mack's, because of the team's tight salary-cap situation.Mack, who racked up nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 2020, will face his former team in October as the Raiders host the Bears in Week 5.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carson Wentz, Quenton Nelson, and Ryan Kelly will return to practice Monday, Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich announced Sunday."You're going to see (Wentz) out there on the practice field this week," Reich said, according to team reporter J.J. Stankevitz. "He'll be out there tomorrow taking some things."He'll be out there. It'll be limited. He'll be limited but he will be participating, as will Kelly and as will Quenton Nelson."Wentz and Nelson underwent identical foot surgeries in August and were initially expected to miss between 5-to-12 weeks.Kelly injured his elbow early in training camp and has not participated in practice since.Despite the initial rehab time frame, Wentz and Nelson were reportedly trending toward being ready for the Colts' opening week contest against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 12.The Colts acquired the 28-year-old signal-caller via trade in February from the Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz is looking to redeem himself in a new setting after leading the NFL with 15 interceptions and 50 sacks a year ago.Nelson, a three-time All-Pro, has started every game for the Colts since the franchise drafted him in 2018.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel announced on Sunday he's tested positive for COVID-19, according to team reporter Jim Wyatt.The Titans head coach decided to get tested after experiencing a sore throat. Vrabel is currently quarantining and added he believes no one else has tested positive at the moment.Tennessee participated in joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week before the two sides clashed in a preseason contest Saturday.

The Denver Broncos are inching closer to naming a starting quarterback.Head coach Vic Fangio says a decision could come shortly, but it won't be an easy one due to Drew Lock's and Teddy Bridgewater's stellar play."The calendar’s closing in on us. It won’t be tomorrow. The earliest it would be would be early next week, or we’ll let it go another week," Fangio said following Saturday's preseason game, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio."Drew and Teddy have done well, as you guys have seen, and they’ve made it a hard decision," Fangio added. "We’ll give it thorough thought. We’ve been discussing it with the coaches, with George (Paton) all along, and we’ll continue to do that."Bridgewater and Lock have each received one start this preseason, with both quarterbacks making a case to win the starting job. Bridgewater completed 9 of 11 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 30-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, Lock threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings last week."Both of these guys have done well," the bench boss said. "We can play and win with either one of these guys, and that’s a good thing."The Broncos acquired Bridgewater from the Panthers this offseason after Lock struggled to cement himself during his first two seasons in the NFL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets are exploring ways to trade for a pass-rusher after losing Carl Lawson to a season-ending Achilles tear, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Lawson was enjoying a dominant training camp with the Jets before tearing his Achilles in practice Thursday.The 26-year-old signed a three-year, $45-million contract with New York this offseason and was expected to significantly improve the club's defense. The former Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman recorded 5.5 sacks last campaign but registered 32 quarterback hits.The Jets notched 31 sacks in 2020, tied for 20th in the league, with Quinnen Williams leading the club with 7.5 sacks. However, Williams was the only player on the team to eclipse four sacks.New York made a big push this offseason to improve after finishing 2-14 last year. The club drafted quarterback Zach Wilson in addition to signing Lawson and wide receiver Corey Davis in free agency.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Soldier Field crowd continued to rally behind Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields on Saturday - at Andy Dalton's expense.Bears fans booed Dalton during the first half of Saturday's preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills as the veteran signal-caller struggled to get the offense going. Dalton orchestrated just one scoring drive against the Bills, leading to a 34-6 halftime deficit and chants for Fields.The rookie quarterback appreciated the support but lobbied for fans to avoid calling for him while Dalton is playing."The fans are awesome getting me out there, but you also have to realize that Andy is a human being, too," Fields said, according to The Athletic's Jon Greenberg. "Andy is out on the field right now. So, I think it’s kind of disrespectful to Andy, them cheering my name out like that."My advice to them would be: Just cheer for who is out there playing on the field.”A large portion of the Chicago fanbase has been vocal about their preference to start Fields despite head coach Matt Nagy holding firm on Dalton's status as the starter."I think it’s a good situation for us," Nagy said. "... I truly understand the, I don’t know what the word is for people to want to see more of Justin. I get that. But we also understand where we’re at and what the true plan is, and all we can do is ask Andy to keep playing and Justin to keep playing and Nick (Foles) to keep playing."Fields, who the Bears took 11th overall in this year's draft, has held his own on the field. He went without a touchdown in this outing but passed for 142 yards while also adding two scores in his preseason debut against the Miami Dolphins last week.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers and wideout Robby Anderson are deep in discussions on a multi-year extension, a source told The Athletic's Joseph Person.An agreement could be finalized within the next several days, Person reports.Anderson signed a two-year, $20-million contract with the Panthers in 2020. He's set to earn $8 million this season, per Spotrac.The 28-year-old logged career highs with 95 receptions and 1,096 receiving yards in his first campaign in Carolina.Anderson will reunite with quarterback Sam Darnold this season. The former Jets wideout previously spent two campaigns with Darnold, who the Panthers acquired this offseason.Carolina has prioritized locking up its young core recently. The Panthers extended offensive tackle Taylor Moton in July for four years and $72 million.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton was booed as he took the field on Saturday for the team's second preseason game.Dalton did little to silence his detractors, beginning the contest with back-to-back three-and-outs. He completed 11 of 17 pass attempts for 146 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the first half.Despite the veteran's struggles, head coach Matt Nagy is sticking with Dalton as the starting signal-caller."We need to see him in the regular season," Nagy said, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.Dalton signed a one-year, $10-million contract with the Bears this offseason. He spent last year with the Dallas Cowboys after playing his first nine campaigns with the Cincinnati Bengals.The veteran went 4-5 as a starter for the Cowboys, throwing for 2,170 yards and 14 touchdowns to go with eight interceptions.Chicago traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft to select Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick.Fields, who played most of the second half on Saturday, went 9-for-19 for 80 yards, and he added 46 rushing yards. The Ohio State product has quickly become a fan favorite in the preseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese died Saturday at the age of 73 after a battle with cancer, the team announced."This is a sad day for our Titans family," Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said. "Floyd spent over two decades with our franchise in a variety of roles - position coach, assistant general manager, and ultimately, general manager - and he excelled at all of them."Reese began his career as a linebackers coach with the then-Houston Oilers in 1986. He eventually became the general manager of the Oilers/Titans in 1994, a position he held until 2006.The Titans enjoyed plenty of success under Reese. He's the winningest general manager in franchise history after finishing his career with 111 wins, with 106 victories coming in the regular season. Tennessee appeared in one Super Bowl and two AFC Championship Games under Reese.The former general manager is also credited with drafting numerous franchise greats. Draft picks during Reese's tenure include Eddie George, Steve McNair, Jevon Kearse, and Derrick Mason, among others.The Titans will induct Reese into the team's Ring of Honor this season.Copyright © 2021 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.theScore staff took part in a 12-team, 12-round mock fantasy draft to offer some insight on what to watch for in each round.This is a PPR (point per reception) scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We omitted defenders and kickers, as they're normally selected in the final two rounds.Draft participants: Mike Dickson, Hayley McGoldrick, Alex Chippin, Daniel Valente, Matt Washington, Caitlyn Holroyd, Alex Moretto, Justin Boone, Ian Dalley, Gino Bottero, Chris Scaglione, Taylor RohalyRound 1PickPlayerTeam1Christian McCaffrey (RB1)Dickson2Alvin Kamara (RB2)McGoldrick3Dalvin Cook (RB3)Chippin4Derrick Henry (RB4)Valente5Ezekiel Elliott (RB5)Washington6Nick Chubb (RB6)Holroyd7Saquon Barkley (RB7)Moretto8Aaron Jones (RB8)Boone9Davante Adams (WR1)Dalley10Tyreek Hill (WR2)Bottero11Austin Ekeler (RB9)Scaglione12Jonathan Taylor (RB10)RohalyRound 1: Team Moretto shows no fear regarding Saquon Barkley's return from a torn ACL, selecting him as the seventh overall. This will likely look like a smart move by October when the Giants back has returned to form and is pushing for top-three fantasy stats at the position.Aaron Jones is the first choice in my draft strategy guide for picking in the middle of the round, and he falls to me here. Jones and Austin Ekeler have massive pass-catching upside, making them nice values as the eighth and ninth running backs off the board.Round 2PickPlayerTeam13Stefon Diggs (WR3)Rohaly14Travis Kelce (TE1)Scaglione15DeAndre Hopkins (WR4)Bottero16DK Metcalf (WR5)Dalley17Calvin Ridley (WR6)Boone18Antonio Gibson (RB11)Moretto19Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB12)Holroyd20Najee Harris (RB13)Washington21J.K. Dobbins (RB14)Valente22Chris Carson (RB15)Chippin23Josh Jacobs (RB16)McGoldrick24Justin Jefferson (WR7)DicksonRound 2: Travis Kelce sneaks into the early second, a rarity these days. While there's a strong argument for spending a first-round pick on such a difference-maker at tight end, this is a much friendlier price to pay.This draft took place before the Chiefs' second preseason game when Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an ankle injury. Though early reports seem positive, this could push his value down in the coming weeks - especially if it turns out to be a dreaded high ankle sprain.Most of our mocks this year have been heavy on running backs in the opening two rounds. As much as I like J.K. Dobbins, Chris Carson, and Josh Jacobs, you almost never need to draft them this high.Round 3PickPlayerTeam25Joe Mixon (RB17)Dickson26Terry McLaurin (WR8)McGoldrick27A.J. Brown (WR9)Chippin28Darren Waller (TE2)Valente29CeeDee Lamb (WR10)Washington30Keenan Allen (WR11)Holroyd31Patrick Mahomes (QB1)Moretto32D'Andre Swift (RB18)Boone33George Kittle (TE3)Dalley34Allen Robinson (WR12)Bottero35Julio Jones (WR13)Scaglione36Josh Allen (QB2)RohalyRound 3: With 16 running backs taken in the first two rounds, it's not surprising to see receivers dominate the third. Every wideout chosen in this frame has an excellent shot at returning top-10 fantasy stats.Someone might draft Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen this early in your league, but that doesn't mean it needs to be you. Quarterback is deep, and using this much draft capital on a starter means losing out on high-end players at more important positions.Round 4PickPlayerTeam37Adam Thielen (WR14)Rohaly38Miles Sanders (RB19)Scaglione39Darrell Henderson (RB20)Bottero40David Montgomery (RB21)Dalley41Robert Woods (WR15)Boone42Mike Evans (WR16)Moretto43Amari Cooper (WR17)Holroyd44Chris Godwin (WR18)Washington45Cooper Kupp (WR19)Valente46Brandon Aiyuk (WR20)Chippin47Tyler Lockett (WR21)McGoldrick48Diontae Johnson (WR22)DicksonRound 4: Team Dalley and Team Bottero went against the grain and avoided running backs through the first three rounds. Though David Montgomery and Darrell Henderson have some question marks around their fantasy outlooks, they're fine starting options for teams anchored by multiple elite receivers or a top-tier tight end.Another draft and another share of Robert Woods for me. My exposure to the Rams wideout is dangerously high at this point, but his consistency over the last few years has me excited for what's to come with Matthew Stafford throwing him the ball. My roster has remained balanced through four rounds, which is my favorite approach since it allows me to soak up whatever value is available the rest of the way.Round 5PickPlayerTeam49Kyle Pitts (TE4)Dickson50T.J. Hockenson (TE5)McGoldrick51Jerry Jeudy (WR23)Chippin52Chase Claypool (WR24)Valente53Kyler Murray (QB3)Washington54Lamar Jackson (QB4)Holroyd55Ja'Marr Chase (WR25)Moretto56Travis Etienne (RB22)Boone57Mike Davis (RB23)Dalley58D.J. Moore (WR26)Bottero59Odell Beckham Jr. (WR27)Scaglione60Kareem Hunt (RB24)RohalyRound 5: If you are going to reach for one of the top quarterbacks, this is a much better range to consider them. Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson have just as good a chance to finish as the overall QB1 as Mahomes or Allen, who both went two rounds earlier.In a move perhaps partially made out of spite, I drafted three running backs in the first five rounds - a rare occurrence for me. But I couldn't sit by and watch Team Dalley or Team Bottero be rewarded for waiting on the position by securing Travis Etienne and his receiving upside in Round 5. Sometimes you have to play defense in your draft, and Etienne will slot into my flex spot.Round 6PickPlayerTeam61Mark Andrews (TE6)Rohaly62Tee Higgins (WR28)Scaglione63Chase Edmonds (RB25)Bottero64Myles Gaskin (RB26)Dalley65Robby Anderson (WR29)Boone66Javonte Williams (RB27)Moretto67James Robinson (RB28)Holroyd68Raheem Mostert (RB29)Washington69Dak Prescott (QB5)Valente70Ronald Jones II (RB30)Chippin71Trey Sermon (RB31)McGoldrick72JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR30)DicksonRound 6: Despite my best efforts, Team Bottero finds a solid RB2 in Chase Edmonds, giving the squad an outstanding receiving corps four wideouts deep (Tyreek Hill, DeAndre Hopkins, Allen Robinson, D.J. Moore) and two upside RB2s in Henderson and Edmonds. It's a strong start for one of our mock regulars, so all the practice is clearly helping.The mad dash for running backs early on has pushed some riskier ball carriers up the board and into the sixth round. It's hard to justify someone like Ronald Jones going this early given his limited targets and the uncertainty in the Buccaneers' crowded backfield. You must be willing to adapt as your draft unfolds, but don't overpay too much for a positional need.Round 7PickPlayerTeam73Michael Carter (RB32)Dickson74Michael Thomas (WR31)McGoldrick75Aaron Rodgers (QB6)Chippin76Kenny Golladay (WR32)Valente77DeVonta Smith (WR33)Washington78Courtland Sutton (WR34)Holroyd79Michael Pittman Jr. (WR35)Moretto80Antonio Brown (WR36)Boone81Zack Moss (RB33)Dalley82Damien Harris (RB34)Bottero83Melvin Gordon (RB35)Scaglione84D.J. Chark (WR37)RohalyRound 7: Antonio Brown has continued to climb my rankings throughout the offseason. After accumulating top-30 numbers in the second half of 2020, Brown has impressed onlookers in Buccaneers practices and is one Mike Evans or Chris Godwin injury from breaking the fantasy football landscape. That's exactly the kind of player you should target as your fourth receiver.Round 8PickPlayerTeam85James Conner (RB36)Rohaly86Russell Wilson (QB7)Scaglione87A.J. Dillon (RB37)Bottero88Devin Singletary (RB38)Dalley89Laviska Shenault Jr. (WR38)Boone90Deebo Samuel (WR39)Moretto91Dallas Goedert (TE7)Holroyd92Jarvis Landry (WR40)Washington93Tyler Boyd (WR41)Valente94Evan Engram (TE8)Chippin95Justin Herbert (QB8)McGoldrick96Mike Williams (WR42)DicksonRound 8: After avoiding running backs in the first three rounds, Team Dalley has thrown every pick since at the position - with mixed results. After David Montgomery, this team has selected very risky profiles in Mike Davis, Myles Gaskin, Zack Moss, and Devin Singletary. Davis should lead the Falcons' backs this season - if the 28-year-old can maintain his effectiveness. Gaskin is falling down draft boards after the Dolphins talked up a three-back committee. And the Bills' backfield is likely to remain capped due to Josh Allen's usage on the ground. I'm worried about this roster.Round 9PickPlayerTeam97Alexander Mattison (RB39)Dickson98Leonard Fournette (RB40)McGoldrick99Jaylen Waddle (WR43)Chippin100Mecole Hardman (WR44)Valente101Jamaal Williams (RB41)Washington102David Johnson (RB42)Holroyd103Nyheim Hines (RB43)Moretto104Tony Pollard (RB44)Boone105Brandin Cooks (WR45)Dalley106Gus Edwards (RB45)Bottero107Latavius Murray (RB46)Scaglione108Henry Ruggs III (WR46)RohalyRound 9: This round is loaded with upside picks, as it should be at this point in the draft. It's filled with intriguing receivers stepping into big opportunities and high-upside backup running backs who could unlock their potential if an injury strikes. Unless you still need your starting quarterback or tight end, this is how you should be drafting from this round on.Round 10PickPlayerTeam109Chuba Hubbard (RB47)Rohaly110Corey Davis (WR47)Scaglione111Will Fuller (WR48)Bottero112Tom Brady (QB9)Dalley113Michael Gallup (WR49)Boone114Marvin Jones (WR50)Moretto115Marquise Brown (WR51)Holroyd116Elijah Moore (WR52)Washington117Curtis Samuel (WR53)Valente118Emmanuel Sanders (WR54)Chippin119Darnell Mooney (WR55)McGoldrick120Matthew Stafford (QB10)DicksonRound 10: There's not often an entire round of quality picks, but we have just that in Round 10 as managers make fantastic selections across the board. Based on their early showings with their new clubs, veterans like Corey Davis and Marvin Jones have the potential to be heavily targeted No. 1 wideouts in their respective offenses. They might become two of the biggest steals in 2021 fantasy drafts.Round 11PickPlayerTeam121Phillip Lindsay (RB48)Dickson122A.J. Green (WR56)McGoldrick123Kenyan Drake (RB49)Chippin124Mark Ingram (RB50)Valente125Jonnu Smith (TE9)Washington126T.Y. Hilton (WR57)Holroyd127Robert Tonyan Jr. (TE10)Moretto128Ryan Tannehill (QB11)Boone129Marquez Callaway (WR58)Dalley130Noah Fant (TE11)Bottero131Gabriel Davis (WR59)Scaglione132J.D. McKissic (RB51)RohalyRound 11: Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, and Ryan Tannehill are my three quarterback targets in this area of the draft, so I'm pleased to see Tannehill fall to me in the 11th. As long as Julio Jones stays healthy, Tannehill has the potential to maintain his impressive efficiency while providing a fantasy boost with his rushing stats.Round 12PickPlayerTeam133Cole Beasley (WR60)Rohaly134Deshaun Watson (QB12)Scaglione135Jalen Hurts (QB13)Bottero136Rondale Moore (WR61)Dalley137Logan Thomas (TE12)Boone138DeVante Parker (WR62)Moretto139Tevin Coleman (RB52)Holroyd140Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR63)Washington141Marlon Mack (RB53)Valente142Zach Ertz (TE13)Chippin143Nelson Agholor (WR64)McGoldrick144Tre'Quan Smith (WR65)DicksonRound 12: It's hard to knock anyone's picks this late in the draft, but it feels like a few teams could have put some roster spots to better use. If you have a solid starting quarterback - as Team Scaglione does in Russell Wilson - there's no need to gamble on Deshaun Watson playing in 2021. And though Evan Engram isn't guaranteed to provide high-end weekly fantasy stats for Team Chippin, a declining Zach Ertz doesn't seem like a late-round bet worth making - even if the Eagles trade him before the season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the 2021 NFL season approaches, three franchises face an obvious, unavoidable question that promises to linger until their head coaches resolve it: How long will it take them to start their first-round rookie quarterback?The Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets already have their answer. Barring injury or something unforeseen, Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are both expected to begin their Sept. 12 openers under center, even if Jacksonville's being a bit cagey about outright acknowledging Lawrence's status. The Jags and Jets won a combined three games last season, and they used the draft's first two picks on Lawrence and Wilson to help level set their respective rebuilds. That's it. That's the summary for those two teams.After that? It gets complicated. The San Francisco 49ers traded up to land Trey Lance third overall, and the Chicago Bears did the same to score Justin Fields at No. 11. The New England Patriots, still scuffling along the unknown path of their post-Tom Brady reality, stayed put. But the Pats nabbed Mac Jones at No. 15 anyway.The Niners, Bears, and Patriots all possess experienced veteran quarterbacks, and all three have better rosters than the Jags and Jets. To varying degrees, each team has enough structure in place to allow its rookie to get a little more used to the water before forcing him to swim.But the time to leap into the deep end of the pool will come soon enough. Head coaches Kyle Shanahan, Matt Nagy, and Bill Belichick will all calibrate their decision to turn to the New Guy based on any number of internal factors. And even though each team's respective fan base will no doubt calmly and rationally call for change the instant Jimmy Garoppolo, Andy Dalton, or Cam Newton flings an incomplete pass, the question of when that switch might happen has no right or wrong answer.Between 1999 and 2020, 28 teams collectively drafted 65 quarterbacks in the first round, according to Stathead. Only the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and the Patriots didn't join the list. (Congratulations to the Cleveland Browns, I guess, for selecting a league-high five first-round passers during that span.) Although teams aren't great at choosing quarterbacks, those picks were made in the hope of securing each club's future at the sport's most important position.So, according to Pro Football Reference, what can be gleaned from when these passers were handed the keys?

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt announced during Friday's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs that he'll be back at practice Monday, according to ESPN's Field Yates.Watt landed on the physically unable to perform list July 28 due to a hamstring injury.Arizona defensive line coach Brentson Buckner recently said his plan is to have Watt on the field for 65% of his team's defensive snaps this season, per Jim Trotter of NFL.com."I've told him, 'You've got capable young guys, so let them eat some of the snaps,'" Buckner said. "It's super hard for him because he's always had to be the man, but I've told him that he's got to be able to trust me that every guy in our room is going to have a role, and one might be for a guy to take 10 snaps off J.J. in the run game."A first-round pick in 2011, Watt played every game through his first five NFL campaigns. However, he's played only two full seasons since 2016 due to injury concerns."Every offseason, there has been trainers and doctors telling you, 'Hey, you have to be conservative here, you have to take it easy here; you can't do this, you can't do that; you can only do this, you can only do that,'" said Watt, who played at least 88% of the Houston Texans' defensive snaps every year he was healthy from 2011 to 2020."It gets to a point where, yes, I can go out there and play, but if I can't train the way I need to train and practice the way I need to practice, then I'm not going to be the player I need to be."Watt was one of the Cardinals' biggest free-agent acquisitions this offseason. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year racked up 52 tackles, five sacks, and seven pass breakups through 16 appearances with the Texans in 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald may have played his final snap.Fitzgerald was asked about his playing future during an appearance on Sirius XM radio show "Let's Go" and said he currently has no desire to play football, though that could change."To be honest with you, I just don't have the urge to play right now," Fitzgerald said, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "I don't know how I'll feel in September, October, November moving forward but I just, today, I just don't have the urge. And I think I have to be respectful of that."Football is not one of those games you want to walk out there and play and not be fully engaged and ready to prepare and do the things necessary that you need to do."The future of the 37-year-old has been one of the biggest mysteries of the offseason. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury left the ball in Fitzgerald's court when the team arrived for training camp, noting the club had plans for his return or retirement.Arizona bolstered the position this offseason as Fitzgerald remained mum on his future, signing veteran wideout A.J. Green in free agency while also drafting Rondale Moore in the second round of the 2021 draft.Fitzgerald has spent his entire 17-year career with the Cardinals and rewrote the team's record books. He ranks first in franchise history in receptions (1,432), receiving yards (17,492), and receiving touchdowns (121).His production took a major hit during the 2020 campaign with a reduced role. His 54 receptions, 409 yards, and one touchdown were all career lows.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft position

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft position

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft position

Aaron Rodgers revealed he would've said yes to becoming the host of "Jeopardy!" had the job been offered to him.The Green Bay Packers quarterback told Adam Schein of SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio he had "so much fun" during his two weeks as a guest host and was interested in turning it into a full-time gig."Yes, I definitely would have (accepted the job)," Rodgers said. "I mean, if they would have figured out a way to make it work with my schedule, yeah, for sure."The comments were made prior to Friday's news that Mike Richards will step down as "Jeopardy!" host amid backlash stemming from past offensive comments he made. Richards was announced as Alex Trebek's successor just last week.Rodgers noted during the interview he experienced a lot of the same emotions on the "Jeopardy!" set as he does walking onto Lambeau Field."When we walk out the tunnel at Lambeau, we have these bricks that were from the old stadium and there's a little plaque there that talks about the type of legends that walked over these bricks," Rodgers said. "And every now and then, you got to look over at it and kind of pinch yourself and just realize how special it is, what you're doing right now, and how many greats have been in this position right here."There was a lot of those moments being on stage, thinking about Alex and how much he meant to me and so many millions of people worldwide who spent their evenings with him for so many years."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles ruled out second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts minutes prior to their preseason loss Thursday against the New England Patriots due to an illness.Head coach Nick Sirianni explained postgame that the signal-caller was experiencing pain in his abdomen. Hurts wasn't feeling well upon his arrival at the stadium and went to the hospital to rule out any serious issues."He's fine now, he's doing OK now," Sirianni said.Hurts was ultimately diagnosed with a stomach infection and was told to stay home for at least two days, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Eagles, who were booed on their way to the locker room at halftime, lost 35-0 to the Patriots in their second preseason appearance this year.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How's that for an encore? After going 11-2 on our NFL preseason bets in 2019, we were perfect this past week to extend our record this year to 4-0. Using the tips from our preseason betting guide, here are my favorite plays for Week 2:Chiefs (-3, 41) @ Cardinals

All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey downplayed reports from practice Wednesday that Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow had a banner day at his expense."I watched the film twice and I still can't find the plays where I was burnt multiple times," the Los Angeles Rams star said Thursday. "But, sure. He had one good catch on me yesterday - six yards, stupid fourth-down play."Ramsey's assessment contradicted various beat reporters who suggested the diminutive Renfrow gave the NFL's highest-paid cornerback the business in the slot.Renfrow indicated his battle with Ramsey was competitive, noting his opponent "beat me a couple of times today, too." He also said, "If I can beat Jalen Ramsey, I can beat anybody in the NFL.""I get that sometimes mentioning my name going against certain receivers may give them buzz and it may pump them up some," Ramsey said. "This is no disrespect to Hunter Renfrow because I actually think he's a pretty good player, I think he has some Cooper Kupp in him, but I didn't have no issues yesterday."Watching the film, I played pretty well yesterday, so maybe people just need to learn the differences between zones and man and schemes. It doesn't really bother me but sometimes I feel like you got to set the record straight and then you just leave it at that."Renfrow, a fifth-round pick in 2019, finished third on the Raiders in receiving last season with 656 yards to go along with a pair of touchdowns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell called himself an "asshole" for cutting long snapper Don Muhlbach on his 40th birthday."There's no way to sugarcoat that," he told reporters Thursday, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard. "I'm an asshole. That's about the best way to put it, and I hate it. There's no way around it really, but ultimately that falls on me. It's my fault. Don's a hell of a dude. It sucks."Detroit released Muhlbach on Tuesday, ending his tenure with the team after 17 seasons. He played in 260 games for the Lions, the second-most in franchise history.Campbell was vague on the reasoning for the move when asked about it two days ago, saying only that "it was time."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson is undergoing an MRI on his Achilles after being carted off the practice field with a leg injury Thursday, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 26-year-old reported that he felt a pop, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, prompting concern that he may have sustained a season-ending injury.Lawson joined the Jets on a three-year, $45-million contract this offseason after four campaigns with the Cincinnati Bengals. New York is counting on him to improve a thin pass rush, and he's been one of the club's top performers at training camp.Though the former fourth-round pick had only 5.5 sacks last season, he ranked sixth in the NFL with 64 quarterback pressures, per PFF. He has 20 sacks in 51 career games.Lawson has a history of leg injuries. He tore his left ACL in 2014 while at Auburn and tore his right ACL in 2018 while with the Bengals.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone goes over his favorite players to select in every round of this year's fantasy drafts.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu is entering the third and final year of his contract, and although general manager Brett Veach is willing to extend the star defensive back this year, there are no guarantees he'll be able to."The landscape is super tricky," Veach said Wednesday, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN. "We're at a $30-million (salary-cap) deficit from what we thought, and next year it's $15 million. Right now, some things are out of our control just because of the cap reductions this year and next year."The NFL salary cap was set at $182.5 million in 2021, a drop of around $15 million from last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kansas City currently holds $6.8 million of cap space.The Chiefs extended some of their biggest stars over the last two seasons, signing quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defensive lineman Chris Jones, and tight end Travis Kelce to lucrative contracts.Mathieu's $14-million average annual salary currently ranks sixth in the NFL among safeties, but his $19.73-million cap hit is the highest at the position in 2021."It's frustrating because we're handicapped a little, and there are only certain things we can do to make it make sense for him," Veach said. "But where we are now is going to be completely different than where we will be once the season ends, and we have a lot more clarity on contracts and how the money is disbursed and allocated and how we can fit things. ... It has nothing to do with us not wanting him or him not wanting to be here. It's just one of those unfortunate timing things."Veach added that if the Chiefs can't extend Mathieu this year, restructuring other players' contracts will give Kansas City more flexibility ahead of next season.Mathieu, 29, will likely be in a position to demand a contract similar to the four-year, $61-million deal that the Denver Broncos recently gave free safety Justin Simmons. Jamal Adams is currently the league's highest-paid safety after signing a four-year, $70-million extension with the Seattle Seahawks.Mathieu reacted to Adams' new deal on social media soon after it was announced Tuesday.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is unlikely to play in Week 3 of the preseason, which would close the door on him seeing any exhibition action."There's a good chance he won't play," head coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday about the upcoming matchup with the Houston Texans, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.McCarthy previously said he wouldn't play Prescott, who's nursing a shoulder strain, in the preseason finale if he isn't fit for the third game.Prescott continued his modified throwing program at practice Wednesday, and the Cowboys still believe he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. Dallas will open the 2021 campaign Sept. 9 against the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The 28-year-old hasn't played since suffering a dislocated right ankle and compound fracture on Oct. 11, 2020. Prescott's also been nursing a sore shoulder since the beginning of training camp.The Cowboys signed Prescott to a four-year, $160-million contract in the offseason, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid field generals.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton isn't focused on the growing hype around rookie Justin Fields, who could threaten to take his starting job at some point in 2021."Do I want the fans behind me and this team and all that kind of stuff? Yes," Dalton said Wednesday. "Do I want them behind Justin? Absolutely I do. But that's not my focus. I can't focus on all that right now."Like I've said before, Justin's gonna have his time, and Justin's gonna have a great career. But right now, it's my time, and so my focus is on being the best player I can be for this team and doing everything I can to help this team."The Bears anointed Dalton their starter early in the offseason after signing him to a one-year, $10-million contract. Chicago later traded up in the first round of the NFL draft to select Fields 11th overall.The 22-year-old rookie impressed in his preseason debut, completing 14 of 20 pass attempts and scoring two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins. Bears head coach Matt Nagy conceded afterward that Fields will get some starter's reps in Chicago's second exhibition tilt, though the signal-caller is now battling a sore groin, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.Dalton, a 10-year veteran, spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys after nine years with the Cincinnati Bengals. He threw for 2,170 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 11 appearances for Dallas, making nine starts.The 33-year-old took the Bengals to the playoffs on five occasions but never won a round. He missed one of those five postseason contests due to injury.The Bears and the New York Jets are the only NFL franchises to never have a 4,000-yard passer in the 16-game era.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins will undergo back surgery, head coach Matt Nagy announced Wednesday.Nagy added that he's hopeful the rookie tackle can come back at some point this campaign.Chicago hopes Jenkins can return in November, but there's a chance his season is over, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Bears traded up in the second round to select the former Oklahoma State lineman and envisioned him as the team's starting left tackle. However, Jenkins never practiced during training camp due to his lingering back issues.Chicago already had a contingency plan ready, signing veteran tackle Jason Peters on Saturday. Nagy previously said the 39-year-old will compete for the starting left tackle job. Peters has started 203 games and made nine Pro Bowls over his career.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool suffered a minor ankle sprain Tuesday at practice and "should be fine," a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and tight end Eric Ebron assisted the sophomore off the field, prompting fear that he had suffered a significant injury.

The New Orleans Saints are signing former first-round wide receiver Kevin White, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.White, Bennie Fowler, and Devin Smith, among other receivers, worked out for the Saints on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.White, 29, hasn't met expectations since entering the league as the seventh overall pick in 2015. He's yet to catch a touchdown, and he racked up just 25 receptions for 285 yards through his first three pro campaigns with the Chicago Bears. White spent last year with the San Francisco 49ers but played only nine snaps.The Saints have been looking for wide receiver help this offseason. They lost Emmanuel Sanders to free agency and won't have their leading pass-catcher, Michael Thomas, to start the 2021 campaign due to an ankle ailment.New Orleans also recently signed veteran wideout Chris Hogan, who'd entered the Premier Lacrosse League this offseason after spending the 2020 NFL campaign with the New York Jets. The Saints' wide receiver depth chart also features Marquez Callaway and Tre'Quan Smith, among others.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions informed long snapper Don Muhlbach on Tuesday - his 40th birthday - that he's being released."Dude's a pro," head coach Dan Campbell said, according to the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett. "He's an even better person. … I hate it, man. This is the hardest time."Muhlbach is one of the NFL's oldest active players. He joined the Lions in 2004 after a brief preseason stint with the Baltimore Ravens and spent the next 17 years in Detroit.Muhlbach snapped 15 game-winning field goals, five game-winning extra points, and only had one punt blocked in his 17-year run with the Lions. His 260 games with Detroit is the eighth most in NFL history for a player with one team, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com."It was time," Campbell said when asked why the Lions chose to part ways, per Birkett. "It's time."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams signed a four-year extension Tuesday, tying him to the club through the 2025 season, the team announced.Adams secured a $70-million deal that includes $38 million guaranteed and makes him the highest-paid player at his position, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The agreement came after extension talks reportedly hit a wall. The Seahawks were apparently prepared to use the franchise tag on Adams in 2022 once his rookie deal expired; he reportedly would have tried to secure a more lucrative tag by arguing he plays linebacker instead of safety.Seattle acquired Adams from the New York Jets last offseason in a blockbuster trade. The Seahawks gave up two first-round picks and a third-round selection in the deal.After starting slowly with the Seahawks by his standards, Adams rounded into form down the stretch last season. The 25-year-old finished the campaign with a team-high 9.5 sacks, blitzing more frequently than he did with the Jets. He underwent offseason shoulder and finger surgeries to repair injuries that may have contributed to a regression in coverage.The Seahawks have now reset the market at three different positions over the last three years. In 2019, they handed Russell Wilson a quarterback record of $35 million per year and signed Bobby Wagner to a linebacker record of $18 million per season.NFL's highest-paid safetiesPlayerTeamAAVJamal AdamsSeahawks$17.5MJustin SimmonsBroncos$15.25MBudda BakerCardinals$14.75MEddie JacksonBears$14.6MKevin ByardTitans$14.1MA three-time Pro Bowler, Adams reported to Seahawks training camp on time but sat out practices while awaiting a contract resolution. He'll return to a defense that surrendered 285 passing yards per game last season, which ranked second-worst in the NFL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NFL being a quarterback league, it feels like we may never see a non-passer win MVP again. In the last two years, we've watched Derrick Henry rush for 2,000 yards; Christian McCaffrey record 1,000 rushing AND receiving yards; and Michael Thomas break the single-season receptions record (149). None of them received an MVP vote.Could this be the year that changes? The top two MVP candidates, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, have each won the award within the last three years. The last player to win twice within four years was Rodgers in 2011 and 2014, and he was only the third to do so since 2002. Voter fatigue is real, and it could spell a long-shot value in a star-studded field.Here are the odds for all non-quarterbacks to win MVP, along with five of our favorite value bets:PLAYERODDSChristian McCaffrey+4000Derrick Henry+5000Dalvin Cook+6000Alvin Kamara+10000Nick Chubb+10000Saquon Barkley+10000George Kittle+12500Jonathan Taylor+12500Aaron Jones+15000Allen Robinson+15000Calvin Ridley+15000Cam Akers+15000Davante Adams+15000Ezekiel Elliott+15000Julio Jones+15000Michael Thomas+15000Stefon Diggs+15000Travis Kelce+15000Tyreek Hill+15000DK Metcalf+17500Joe Mixon+20000Justin Jefferson+20000Mike Evans+20000Najee Harris+20000Odell Beckham Jr.+20000Austin Ekeler+25000Cooper Kupp+25000J.K Dobbins+25000Josh Jacobs+25000Keenan Allen+25000Leonard Fournette+25000Derrick Henry, RB (+5000)At some point, Henry's brilliance has to be recognized, right? The Titans running back led the league with 1,540 yards on the ground in a breakout 2019 that saw him rush for 896 in his final six games alone. He followed it up in 2020 with 2,027 rushing yards, which ranked fifth all time, in an era when passing is king.Henry should have more scoring opportunities and a greater spotlight this year, as Tennessee's offense projects to be even more explosive with Julio Jones on board. If King Henry's ever going to win MVP, this is the season.Alvin Kamara, RB (+10000)Few players are more explosive per touch than Kamara. He ranks second in scrimmage yards (6,164) since his rookie year in 2017 despite never seeing 300 touches in a season. This could finally be the year he surpasses that mark as the Saints' offense reinvents itself in the post-Drew Brees era.Kamara's efficiency will surely suffer as a result, and there are questions about his durability as he enters his age-26 season. At this price, though? There's immense upside.Nick Chubb, RB (+10000)While Henry is clearly the league's most decorated back, Chubb might be the most talented rusher on this list. The Browns star led all starting running backs in yards per carry (5.6) a year ago, and he recorded 1,494 yards on five yards per rush in 2019.Chubb, who figures to feature heavily in Cleveland's widely expected leap this season, should benefit from extra touches in the red zone, where he scored 10 of his 12 rushing touchdowns last year. Don't sleep on a talent like Chubb at this price.Tyreek Hill, WR (+15000)If any receiver is going to put up such ridiculous numbers to merit MVP consideration, Hill is a likely candidate. The Chiefs speedster ranked eighth in receiving yards (1,276) and second in touchdowns (15) a year ago despite finishing outside of the top 15 in receptions (87). Plus, he nearly broke the single-game receiving mark when he tallied 203 yards in the first quarter of a 269-yard effort in Week 12.The tricky part of Hill's candidacy is separating his production from his MVP-winning quarterback, so it'd likely take 2,000 yards or 20 touchdowns for him to get his due. Could Hill do it? It depends on if Kansas City lets him try.Austin Ekeler, RB (+25000)This is a pure numbers play, as very few people would consider Ekeler among the league's 10 or 15 best non-quarterbacks. But he can play like one. The Chargers' do-it-all back averaged 102.1 scrimmage yards in his nine full games in 2020, which would've ranked fourth across a full season.In his second year with quarterback Justin Herbert, Ekeler profiles as an ultra-safe weapon for his emerging signal-caller with elite upside if first-year head coach Brandon Staley employs him in a McCaffrey-like role. It's unlikely, but at 250-1, it's worth a shot.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers traded offensive tackle Greg Little, who was a second-round pick in 2019, to the Miami Dolphins for a seventh-round choice in 2022, the team announced Tuesday.Little started six games in two seasons for the Panthers but failed to solidify himself as a long-term building block. Though he came to training camp 12 pounds lighter this year, he didn't appear to be in the mix for a starting job after beginning the preseason opener on the bench, according to The Athletic's Joe Person.The Dolphins will look to unleash the athletic potential that helped Little become a star at Ole Miss and a second-round pick. He was a five-star recruit in high school, ranked above the likes of eventual first-rounders Nick Bosa, Ed Oliver, Dexter Lawrence, and Derrick Brown.Miami struggled up front in 2020 while fielding an offensive line short on experience. The Dolphins have Austin Jackson, a first-round pick in 2020, slated to start at left tackle, and veteran Jesse Davis penciled in at right tackle.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins revealed he was hospitalized during his bout with COVID-19.Dawkins said he spent four days in the hospital and detailed the toll the experience took on him mentally."It was one of the lowest points I've ever been. I never even thought I could get (to that) low because I'm so animated. That hit hard," Dawkins said. "Even with the mental stuff, it hit every part of me. I was shocked that it can even hit that. Being in a hospital was probably the hardest part because I was like 'man, I'm in a hospital, my team is out there working, and I'm here.'"Dawkins recalled moments during his hospital stay where he was unsure if he was going to pull through."I don't wanna scare anybody but there was moments that I was like 'I don't know if I'm going to make this.' I was down bad. I could barely move and I was just hurting."The 27-year-old lineman listed shortness of breath, coughing, and dehydration as some of his symptoms. He tested positive for COVID-19 just after receiving his second vaccine but had not reached the two-week mark after his shot."I'm glad that I had the vaccine when I had COVID. I wish that I could have been fully vaccinated. I was right before the fully vaccinated point but if I was fully, I think it would have been a little bit easier on myself."Dawkins opened training camp on the COVID-19 list but was activated off the reserve group last week and admits his conditioning took a hit. He added he lost about 16 pounds during his bout with the virus.A second-round pick in 2017, Dawkins has started 59 games for the Bills since entering the league.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Tuesday, we broke down five of the most undervalued teams in the NFL in various futures markets. Conversely, here are five teams we're staying away from heading into the 2021 season, along with their preseason Super Bowl odds and win total at theScore Bet:Seattle Seahawks (+2300, 10 wins) Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Seahawks have won at least 10 games in eight of the last nine seasons and won this division a year ago behind a 12-win campaign. That said, they're the only group in the NFC West that appears worse now than 12 months ago, and that could finally spell the end of this team's three-year playoff run.Seattle added very little during the offseason and lost more than it could afford. The team downgraded significantly in a secondary that was already easily exploitable, and it lacks any semblance of a pass rush after cutting Aldon Smith just a few months after signing him. The offensive line is still a liability, leaving little margin for error for Russell Wilson to play Superman once again. He faded down the stretch in that role a year ago and likely won't be able to do it all for this group in 2021 amid a much tougher field.Los Angeles Chargers (+2800, 9 wins) Joe Scarnici / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Chargers are one of only two teams with shorter than 30-1 title odds despite posting a losing record in 2020. The other is the 49ers, who were the most injured team in the league a year after making the Super Bowl. Doesn't this all feel a little too soon to anoint Los Angeles as a dark-horse contender?Yes, Justin Herbert is a rising star, but he already played like one last year during a 7-9 campaign as a rookie. Since 2000, nine quarterbacks have won Rookie of the Year; five of the eight before Herbert threw for fewer passing yards as a sophomore than as a rookie, and six of eight finished with a worse record. There are pieces here for a solid core, but this price has a Herbert progression baked in before we ought to be paying for one.Dallas Cowboys (+3000, 9.5 wins) Elsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere are too many questions with this club to feel confident betting these numbers. Chief among them: is Dak Prescott healthy enough to play 17 games and a full postseason, and can this team win if he doesn't? The Cowboys quarterback suffered one of the more gruesome injuries in recent memory, and he's already battling a shoulder injury in training camp that is slowing his return to game action.Is Ezekiel Elliott, who has been the engine of Dallas' run-heavy attack for five years, finally wearing down? Can this defense turn things around after ranking 28th in points per play allowed in 2020? There aren't enough answers to buy this team as a division winner.Pittsburgh Steelers (+4400, 8.5 wins) Jamie Sabau / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt may feel odd to fade such an iconic franchise like the Steelers, who have won at least eight games in every season since 2003. That streak may end this year behind one of the least inspiring teams from that era. It starts on offense, where Pittsburgh will employ a new scheme while trotting out five new starting offensive linemen to protect 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger, who threw four interceptions in his last game. Yikes.The Steelers' defense still boasts one of the best front lines in football, but that alone isn't enough to merit any sort of excitement in an AFC North that projects to be one of the best divisions in football. That won't be because of the black and gold.Atlanta Falcons (+5000, 7.5 wins) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Falcons have been priced to win at least 7.5 games for each of the last three seasons. Every year, they fall short, and this year doesn't look like it'll be any different. Atlanta's defense has been among the NFL's worst in that span and still lacks a consistent pass rush or secondary, which is a bad recipe in the pass-happy NFC South.While the Falcons added star tight end prospect Kyle Pitts in the draft, he won't be enough to replace the gaping hole left by All-Pro receiver Julio Jones, who forced his way to Tennessee over the summer. This may feel like a perennial seven-win team, but after a four-win campaign in 2020, even this win total feels like a reach.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tim Tebow's comeback attempt has come to an end.The Jacksonville Jaguars released the 34-year-old on Tuesday, the club announced Tuesday.Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer called the decision tough, but necessary."We knew that was an uphill battle for Tim," Meyer said, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Players loved him. Locker room loved him. But it was the right thing."Tebow bid farewell and thanked the organization for the opportunity on Twitter.

The first NFL Sunday is less than a month away, and there's still plenty of value in the market on a handful of undervalued squads heading into 2021. Here are five of our favorite teams to bet ahead of Week 1, along with their preseason Super Bowl odds and win total at theScore Bet:Tennessee Titans (+2800, 9.5 wins) Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Titans ranked third in yards per drive (40.6) and second in points per drive (3.0) in 2020, then added Julio Jones to a unit that now features two elite receivers in Jones and A.J. Brown; two-time reigning rushing leader Derrick Henry; and veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has posted a 90-plus PFF grade for two consecutive seasons. How's that for a star-studded offense?Yes, the defense could use some work, but Tennessee still won 11 games last year despite owning one of the worst defenses in the league. The Titans have won at least nine games in each of the previous five seasons and should improve on that in one of the weakest AFC Souths in recent memory.Chicago Bears (+3200, 7.5 wins) Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images Sport / GettyFor years, the Bears have been a quarterback away from contention. This group has quietly won at least eight games in three consecutive seasons, but Mitchell Trubisky's stunted development capped its ceiling. However, Chicago may have finally found its quarterback in Justin Fields, who looked the part in his preseason debut and has wowed with his performances in training camp.Even if former Pro Bowl quarterback Andy Dalton is under center for Week 1, this team's ceiling is elevated with Fields on the roster. There's enough elite talent on defense to support an offense with sneaky skill-position stars in Allen Robinson and David Montgomery. Don't sleep on this group, especially late in the year.Miami Dolphins (+3500, 9.5 wins) Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhy does it feel like everybody is writing off Tua Tagovailoa after just one season? The former Alabama star was thrown into the fire as the Dolphins' starter over the back half of the 2020 campaign despite rehabbing from a serious hip injury throughout that offseason - and he still managed to flash signs of elite upside while leading this group to a 6-3 record as a starter.Now he has a full offseason to train with a team that went 10-6 last year and posted a league-best 11-5 record against the spread. There's legit talent surrounding Tagovailoa on offense, and Miami's defense ranked fifth in points allowed per drive (1.8) a year ago behind a chaotic front and top-end secondary. The recipe is there for another 10-win season and a dark-horse title run.Washington Football Team (+4000, 8.5 wins) Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / GettyWashington might have the most limited ceiling on this list, as we know who Ryan Fitzpatrick is at this point in his career. That said, it's a heck of a lot better than what this team employed a year ago at quarterback, so a sprinkle of Fitzmagic could finally unlock the superstar upside of Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gibson, Curtis Samuel, and the rest of this explosive offense.That's to say nothing of Washington's defense, which was a top-five unit by nearly any measure last season and should only get better as phenom Chase Young improves on the edge. In a division only nominally better than it was a year ago, Washington (+250) is the team worth betting to win the NFC East and finish with a winning record.Carolina Panthers (+8000, 7.5 wins) Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images Sport / GettySay what you want about Sam Darnold, but the former USC quarterback has the arm talent to succeed in the NFL. Does he have the discipline? He'll have a chance to prove it in Joe Brady's offense, which ranked sixth in yards per drive in 2020 despite missing do-it-all back Christian McCaffrey for most of the season. He's back and surrounded by one of the league's most explosive receiving units with D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and rookie Terrace Marshall all at Darnold's disposal.The Panthers' defense has lapsed since Luke Kuechly's retirement, but there's talent on this roster. The young core of Shaq Thompson, Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, and Jeremy Chinn is among the best in the NFC, while free-agent signing Denzel Perryman could help stabilize the void left by Kuechly two years ago. There's risk here, but the upside could be immense.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Skill-position stars might power fantasy football, but offensive lines are the driving force behind most week-winning efforts.So as you prepare for your fantasy drafts, it's crucial to consider how O-lines across the league have changed this offseason, and how that will impact the players they're blocking for and protecting.We've ranked all 32 offensive lines, taking into account past performances, roster upgrades, overall depth, and the very underrated element of continuity.Starting lineups are projections and will be updated throughout the preseason.Offensive Line Rankings

Dallas Cowboys fans may need to wait until the season opener to see Dak Prescott on the field for the first time in almost a year.Although Prescott's shoulder has been healing well, head coach Mike McCarthy isn't ready to guarantee his quarterback will play during Saturday's preseason game against the Houston Texans."We'll see how the week goes, but there's no urgency from my perspective to see Dak play against Houston," McCarthy said Monday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "This is more about we don't want to create a setback possibly."His volume of throwing leading up to that point, I mean, he was probably in midseason form from the amount of work he put in over the summer, coming out of the OTAs. Just trying to get that volume back to where it belongs."If Prescott doesn't face the Texans this week, his long-awaited return will come during Week 1 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9, as McCarthy plans to use Dallas' final preseason contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 29 to evaluate the bottom of his depth chart.Prescott hasn't played since suffering a serious ankle injury in October 2020. The 28-year-old has recovered following surgery, but he sustained a shoulder strain on July 28 that's limited his training camp participation.The signal-caller recently said playing the preseason matchup against the Texans was part of his recovery plan.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are the NFL's first team to have a 100% rate of vaccination against COVID-19 among players, sources told Zach Keim of WSB.There are 28 teams above the 85% threshold, including 15 above 95%.

Jamal Adams would challenge his designation as a safety, arguing that he's a linebacker, if the Seattle Seahawks franchise tag him in 2022, a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.Adams and the Seahawks have reached an impasse in extension talks, Florio reports, potentially opening the door for the club to tag him after the 2021 season.The franchise tag represents a one-year tender worth no less than the average of a position's five greatest salaries. Historically, the top-paid linebackers have earned significantly more than the top-paid safeties.Adams has started every game of his four-year career at safety, but the Seahawks played him closer to the line of scrimmage and often had him rush the passer last season. He finished the campaign with a team-high 9.5 sacks.The 25-year-old began his career with the New York Jets, who traded him to Seattle last offseason after extension talks stalled and the relationship between player and team deteriorated.Adams reported to 2021 training camp on time, but he's sat out Seahawks practices while waiting for a contract resolution.Players have challenged their position upon receiving the tag in the past. However, such debates typically involve edge rushers who can be classified as defensive ends or outside linebackers, or defensive linemen who can be classified as ends or tackles.Adams is slated to earn $9.86 million in the final year of his rookie deal. The Seahawks parted with two first-round picks and a third-round selection to get him from the Jets, making it highly unlikely they'd let him walk as a free agent.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.