The New England Patriots have expressed interest in free-agent running back Leonard Fournette, a source told Jeff Howe of The Athletic.Several other teams are also making a push to sign Fournette, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Fournette after three seasons Monday, and he went unclaimed on waivers Tuesday.The 25-year-old racked up 1,000-plus rushing yards in two of his three seasons with the Jaguars, but he failed to meet high expectations after being selected fourth overall in 2017.The LSU product appeared in 36 games over the last three years, averaging 1,169 rushing yards (four yards per carry) and eight touchdowns per 16 games played. He also averaged 60 receptions for 448 yards and a touchdown.In 2019, Fournette posted 1,152 yards and three scores through 15 games while also catching 70 passes for 522 yards.The Patriots struggled to run the ball in 2019, ranking 25th in yards per carry and 18th in rushing offense.New England's depth chart is currently loaded at running back, featuring leading runner Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, and Damien Harris, as well as pass-catching back James White and Lamar Miller, who the team signed to a one-year deal in August.Meanwhile, the Buccaneers ranked 28th in yards per rushing attempt last season. Tampa Bay, which invested a second-round pick in running back Ronald Jones in 2018, added to the position this offseason with veteran LeSean McCoy and third-round rookie Ke'Shawn Vaughn.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kirk Cousins has an interesting strategy for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.In an appearance on Spotify's "10 Questions with Kyle Brandt" podcast in July, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback admitted that although he's fine wearing a mask and wants his teammates to feel safe, his personal level of concern is about ".000001" out of 10."I want to respect what other people's concerns are," Cousins told Brandt. "For me personally, just talking no one else can get the virus ... I would say I'm gonna go about my daily life. If I get it, I'm gonna ride it out. I'm gonna let nature do its course. Survival of the fittest kind of an approach, and just say, if it knocks me out, it knocks me out. I'm going to be OK. You know, even if I die. If I die, I die. I kind of have peace about that."So that's really where I fall on it. So my opinion on wearing a mask is really about being respectful to other people. It really has nothing to do with my own personal thoughts."The interview took place prior to the start of on-field drills at training camp, as the veteran passer questioned how players would be able to practice while wearing masks.Cousins has fully participated in Vikings camp thus far with no reported deviation from the NFL's COVID-19 protocols.The 32-year-old clarified his comments Wednesday after being criticized."... What I was trying to say back then, admittedly, I probably wasn't as clear as I would have liked to have been," Cousins said, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. "But what I wanted to say then, what I would echo again now is that while the virus does not give me a great amount of personal fear, there's still great reason for me to engage in wearing a mask and social distancing and washing my hands as frequently as I can and following protocols that have been set in place obviously to be respectful and considerate of other people, which is very important, but then also to be available for all 16 games this fall because as the protocol is set up, if a player were to test positive, they would potentially be out for a game or games."And so there's plenty of reasons to wear a mask, social distance, and be very vigilant to help stop the spread of the virus. That was the heart of what I was trying to say in July."The league agreed to a handful of rules in August, including multiple rounds of testing and mask requirements, as players reported to facilities.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cornerback DeAndre Baker is expecting the New York Giants to release him this week, a source close to the 22-year-old told Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.Baker was charged with four counts of armed robbery in early August and is awaiting trial scheduled for Jan. 20, 2021. If convicted, he'll face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in state prison.In May, Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar were arrested and accused of robbery in Miramar, Florida. Witnesses said Baker pointed a gun at attendees of a party and directed two other men, including Dunbar, to take their money and valuables. He also allegedly ordered another suspect to shoot an individual who entered during the incident.Prosecutors declined to charge Dunbar, citing "insufficient evidence." Baker's attorney, Bradford Cohen, previously criticized the charges against his client, labeling them "disgusting."Baker has been on the commissioner's exempt list since July, and the Giants will have to pay his base salary of $973,442 if he's on the roster at the start of the regular season.Giants general manager Dave Gettleman expressed his disappointment with the incident involving Baker."There was nothing in DeAndre's background that would suggest these things would happen," Gettleman said Wednesday. "So it's disappointing on a variety of levels. It's disappointing and I guess what it teaches us all is nothing's 100% except death and taxes. It's disappointing. I'd be lying if I said anything less. It's disappointing, but it's life."The GM added, "In life, there's timing that's involved. In life, there's timing. That's how I'll respond to that."New York drafted Baker out of Georgia in the first round in 2019. He amassed 61 tackles and eight pass breakups through 16 games as a rookie.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dwayne Haskins will start at quarterback for the Washington Football Team over Alex Smith, head coach Ron Rivera announced Wednesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.More to come.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn announced Wednesday that Tyrod Taylor will open the season as the team's starting quarterback, according to NFL Network's Omar Ruiz.This means rookie first-rounder Justin Herbert will kick his NFL career off as Taylor's backup when the Chargers open their season Sept. 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals."Until someone steps up and shows that they can run this team, that’s the way we're going in to it," Lynn told reporters, according to Gilbert Manzano of the Orange County Register. "Tyrod Taylor is our starter."With no preseason games and less training camp reps available due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor was widely expected to have the starting advantage over the relatively raw former Oregon standout.The veteran last started in 2018 for the Cleveland Browns, making way for Baker Mayfield after three contests. He signed with L.A. last offseason but didn't start any games.Taylor made his name in three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He completed 62.6% of his passes for 8,857 yards and 51 touchdowns against 16 interceptions through 44 games from 2015-17, earning one Pro Bowl nod.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced Wednesday that star safety Derwin James underwent successful surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee and will be placed on injured reserve.James will miss the entire 2020 campaign, but Los Angeles expects him to make a full recovery in time for the start of the 2021 season.The former first-round pick suffered the injury during practice Sunday, and his initial reported timetable was pegged at six-to-eight months.James took the league by storm as a rookie in 2018, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. However, a foot issue limited James' sophomore campaign to just five games.The 24-year-old is one of the NFL's true defensive chess pieces, lining up and excelling in multiple spots on Los Angeles' stop unit.PositionCareer SnapsPercentageEdge/DL32021.4%Box safety64443.1%Slot CB26517.8%Outside CB332.1%Free safety23315.6%With James sidelined, the Chargers could deploy a committee approach at safety depending on defensive packages, with options including Desmond King, Rayshawn Jenkins, Nasir Adderley, and rookie Alohi Gilman.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.With just over a week until the NFL season begins, we're running through our best bets to lead the league in key statistical categories. Today, we'll discuss the league's top rushers, led by reigning winner and Titans star Derrick Henry. No player has repeated as rushing champion since LaDainian Tomlinson (2006-07). Here are our best bets.PLAYERODDSDerrick Henry+700Nick Chubb+800Ezekiel Elliott+800Saquon Barkley+900Christian McCaffrey+1100Joe Mixon+1200Dalvin Cook+1400Josh Jacobs+1400Chris Carson+1600Kenyan Drake+2000Clyde Edwards-Helaire+2000Lamar Jackson+2000Aaron Jones+2000Raheem Mostert+2000Miles Sanders+2000David Johnson+2500Le'Veon Bell+3300Leonard Fournette+3300Todd Gurley+3300Mark Ingram+3300Alvin Kamara+3300James Conner+4000Melvin Gordon+4000Cam Akers+5000Sony Michel+5000David Montgomery+5000Devin Singletary+5000Jonathan Taylor+5000Austin Ekeler+6000Ronald Jones+6000Jordan Howard+6600Marlon Mack+6600D'Andre Swift+10000Ke'Shawn Vaughn+10000Nick Chubb (+800)Only two players have rushed for more yards than Chubb (2,490) since he entered the league in 2018, and he's the only player to average at least 5.0 yards per carry in both seasons (minimum 150 attempts). He finished just 46 yards behind Henry for the rushing crown last year despite the Browns holding him below 20 carries in each of his final five games.His seven games of 100 rushing-plus yards last season were tied for the most by any player in the last five years. Now, with a better coaching staff and reworked offensive line, the sky is the limit for Chubb in his third campaign.Raheem Mostert (+2000)Are we sure Mostert isn't really, really good? He led all running backs in yards per carry (5.6) in 2019, which would seem fluky if he hadn't tallied 7.2 yards per rush in his career heading into last season. He didn't get 10 carries in a game until Week 12, and he promptly averaged 89.4 rushing yards over his final eight contests, including the playoffs. That would have ranked third in the NFL over a full season.The 49ers had more rushing attempts last year than any team outside of Baltimore, and they restructured Mostert's contract this summer to more closely align with his status as the team's leading rusher. With his potential combination of volume and efficiency, there's too much upside not to take a swing.Jonathan Taylor (+5000)If you're looking for a long shot, you can do worse than Taylor, who had a record 12 200-yard rushing games at Wisconsin and earned more yards through three seasons (6,174) than any player in college football history. The Colts traded up into the second round to take the talented back, and he'll be right at home behind the league's best offensive line.That dominant front five helped Marlon Mack to the NFL's ninth-most yards per game (77.9) a year ago, but injuries kept him from competing for the rushing title. If injuries cut into his competition with Taylor, too, you'll be running to the bank to cash on the Colts' workhorse back.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Put aside the notion that Bill O'Brien has any understanding of roster value in his role as the Houston Texans' general manager. O'Brien has proven he plainly doesn't through a series of panicked moves in recent years."It is hard to distill exactly what O’Brien’s ethos is at this moment, but if we had to sum it up in a word, it would be 'reactionary,'" Rivers McCown wrote in this year's Football Outsiders Almanac. "Piss O’Brien off and the names will change, the situation will generally stay the same, and the Texans will have fewer draft picks or stars when it’s all said and done."Yet, as counterintuitive as it may seem, there's a certain logic to the way O'Brien has reshaped the skill positions around quarterback Deshaun Watson. The question is whether his approach can actually work. O'Brien's head coaching history suggests it probably won't.Watson is one of the NFL's top quarterbacks. He jumped into the first tier - at No. 5 overall - in Mike Sando's annual QB Tiers report at The Athletic, which is a poll of 50 NFL coaches and evaluators. Sando noted the 10-6 Texans were the league's only team in 2019 with at least a .500 record despite fielding a defense that ranked 20th or worse in defensive expected points added - a credit to Watson's ability. The 24-year-old also brought Houston back after spotting the Buffalo Bills a 16-0 lead in the wild-card round.So with Watson heading into his fourth season - the tail end of his cheap rookie-contract years - what did O'Brien do? He traded away star wideout DeAndre Hopkins, took on oft-injured running back David Johnson's bloated contract, traded for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and added veteran slot man Randall Cobb in free agency. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesHopkins is indisputably one of the game's best pass-catchers. During Watson's first three seasons, Hopkins led the NFL in touchdown catches (31) and targets (487), was second in receptions (315), and third in receiving yards (4,115).So why get rid of a talented, volume wideout like that? Why replace him with a player like Cooks, who's now on his fourth team in five seasons? Especially when a pair of speedy deep threats in Will Fuller and Kenny Stills are already on the Texans' depth chart. Why even bother with Johnson, who carries a salary-cap number of $11.2 million in 2020 and hasn't come close to matching his extraordinary 2016 production in the subsequent three seasons?Three reasons:

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 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, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Sigmund Bloom of Football Guys joins Boone to discuss the latest news and the players whose stock has risen or fallen the most in training camp.

Las Vegas Raiders have placed wide receiver Tyrell Williams on injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday.Williams reportedly received a torn labrum diagnosis but hoped to play through the injury. He will undergo surgery at some point in September and remain sidelined for six months, ending his 2020 season, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Williams arrived at training camp expecting to lead a young Raiders receiving corps into the new season. The 28-year-old got off to a hot start for the Silver and Black a year ago before seeing his numbers decline down the stretch due to battling injuries.The Raiders signed Williams to a four-year, $44.4-million contract in free agency in 2019, stealing him from the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. Williams has no money guaranteed on the final two years of his contract.The Las Vegas depth chart at wideout includes Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow, and Zay Jones - all 25 years old or younger - as well as veteran Nelson Agholor.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are open to trading running back Alvin Kamara, a source told NFL reporter Josina Anderson.Kamara has reportedly skipped several days of training camp without permission, possibly for reasons related to his contract. The 25-year-old is looking for an extension before embarking on the final season of his rookie deal, when he's slated to make $2.13 million in base salary. New Orleans would seek a first-round pick in any deal for Kamara, reports The Athletic's Jeff Duncan.The three-time Pro Bowler intends to participate in the Saints' practice Wednesday after taking an epidural shot in his back last week, which sidelined him the last few days, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Both parties will now continue to work on a new deal, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Kamara has been an integral part of the team since being drafted in the third round in 2017. He contributes to the Saints as a rusher, receiver, and returner.Alvin Kamara from 2017-19Total YardsYards Per AttemptTDsRushing2408527Receiving20688.510Kickoff returns47331.51Punt returns11270Although Kamara hasn't made his contract requests public, he should expect more than the four-year, $48-million extension Joe Mixon reportedly agreed to Tuesday with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Carolina Panthers made Christian McCaffrey the top-paid running back in the NFL earlier this offseason with a four-year extension worth over $16 million annually.

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker agreed to a six-year, $85-million contract extension that includes $37.5 million in guaranteed money, his agency announced Tuesday.Decker is now set to earn $14.16 million annually, which ranks eighth among left tackles, according to Spotrac. The Houston Texans' Laremy Tunsil is tops at the position at $22 million per year following a record-breaking extension he signed earlier this offseason.The new pact includes one voidable year, meaning Decker is tied to the club for the next five seasons, and he'll earn $15 million annually starting in 2021, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 27-year-old has been the Lions' primary starter at left tackle since the team drafted him 16th overall in 2016. After appearing in all 16 games as a rookie, the Ohio State product missed eight contests in his sophomore campaign. But he's stayed mostly healthy since, sitting out just one game in the last two seasons.The 2019 season was his second-best campaign, trailing only his rookie year, according to PFF. He allowed 35 pressures and seven sacks over 653 pass-blocks snaps.Detroit picked up the fifth-year option on Decker's rookie contract in 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Running back Leonard Fournette filed a grievance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, seeking to recoup the $4.17-million base salary his former team voided after waiving him Monday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Fournette had the fifth-year option on his rookie deal declined in May and was entering a contract season in 2020. He could have made $8.64 million this year, including the base salary and another $4.47 million in bonus, according to Spotrac.The 2017 fourth overall pick inked a four-year contract worth up to $27.1 million coming out of LSU.It is not the first time Jacksonville has voided part of Fournette's contract - the team also dropped his contract's remaining guarantees after he received a one-game suspension for an in-game fight in November 2018.The Jaguars parted ways with Fournette a month into training camp and less than two weeks before their season opener. He thanked the franchise and its fans on Twitter hours later.Fournette topped 1,000 rushing yards in two of his three NFL campaigns but overall has failed to match the high expectations that followed his decorated college football career. He averaged 4 yards per carry and scored 19 total touchdowns through 36 games with the Jaguars.The 25-year-old officially became a free agent Tuesday after going unclaimed on waivers, a source told Schefter.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.With just over a week until the NFL season begins, we're running through our best bets to lead the league in key statistical categories - including some appealing long shots. Let's start with the passing leaders, among which there's a ton of value if you can look past Patrick Mahomes at the top.PLAYERODDSPatrick Mahomes+400Matt Ryan+500Jared Goff+700Dak Prescott+800Tom Brady+900Matthew Stafford+1400Ben Roethlisberger+2000Deshaun Watson+2000Philip Rivers+2200Drew Brees+2500Kyler Murray+2500Carson Wentz+2500Russell Wilson+2500Aaron Rodgers+2800Daniel Jones+3000Baker Mayfield+3000Joe Burrow+3300Kirk Cousins+3300Jimmy Garoppolo+3300Sam Darnold+4000Teddy Bridgewater+5000Nick Foles+5000Drew Lock+5000Gardner Minshew+5000Ryan Tannehill+5000Cam Newton+5000Derek Carr+6000Josh Allen+6600Lamar Jackson+6600Dwayne Haskins+8000Tua Tagovailoa+8000Ryan Fitzpatrick+15000Tyrod Taylor+15000Mitchell Trubisky+15000Justin Herbert+20000Tom Brady (+900)Brady is no stranger to leading the league in passing yards, having done it three times and as recently as 2017. He still finished seventh in 2019 with 4,057 yards despite a lack of offensive weapons and some declining play.Jameis Winston led the league in passing yards last season (5,109) in Bruce Arians' first year at the helm for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now imagine what the coach can do with Brady in that loaded offense. This isn't a sexy price, but it's one worth paying.Philip Rivers (+2200)Rivers has finished in the top five in seven of his 14 seasons as a starter, including fourth place last year with a 4,615-yard effort. Now he heads to the Indianapolis Colts, and head coach Frank Reich - who coached Rivers for three years with the then-San Diego Chargers - could coax a career year from the 38-year-old in his dynamic passing scheme.Reich essentially laid the blueprint for the Chargers' passing attack the last seven years, though Los Angeles never could offer the protection in the pocket that Rivers will have this year. The Colts will likely rush it more than his Chargers teams ever did, but there's too much upside not to take a shot.Kyler Murray (+2500)There's a strong correlation between pass attempts and the yards leader, and few quarterbacks will sling it this year as often as Murray will. As a rookie, the Arizona Cardinals signal-caller finished ninth in attempts (542), but a so-so receiving corps limited his yardage upside.That won't be an issue again with DeAndre Hopkins in the fold, and another year in Kliff Kingsbury's system should help Murray acclimate to the extreme passing volume that the Air Raid offense calls for. With all the momentum behind Arizona's passing attack, this price should be 20-1 or shorter.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals and running back Joe Mixon agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the club for five more seasons, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Mixon's new deal is worth $48 million, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. His $12 million in average annual value will make him the NFL's sixth-highest-paid tailback.The 24-year-old was entering the final year of his rookie deal and was reportedly considering holding out of training camp if he didn't receive an extension.Mixon, Cincinnati's 2017 second-round pick, attended the start of camp but was sidelined recently as he's been dealing with migraines.He got off to a slow start last season but finished with 1,137 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 16 games, adding 287 receiving yards and three scores.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Left tackle Riley Reiff accepted a restructured contract to avoid being released by the Minnesota Vikings, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.The Vikings asked Reiff to take a pay cut after the Yannick Ngakoue trade, which ate up nearly all of Minnesota's remaining cap space. Ngakoue lowered his 2020 salary from $17.78 million to $12 million to facilitate the trade, but the Vikings were still in a financial bind.Initially, Reiff appeared unenthusiastic about the Vikings' request, and reportedly told teammates Monday he was going to be cut. His agent began seeking out potential trades that night, according to Rapoport, leaving his future in Minnesota up in the air Tuesday morning."Well, we'll just have to see today, won't we?" head coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday before practice when asked about the veteran's status, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.Reiff is entering his fourth year with the Vikings. He signed a five-year deal worth $58.75 million with Minnesota in March 2017 after playing the first five seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions.Had Reiff been released, Rashod Hill and second-round rookie Ezra Cleveland were candidates to move into the starting lineup.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tua Tagovailoa is practicing without limitations during training camp, but Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is erring on the side of caution with his rookie quarterback.The Dolphins are expected to name Ryan Fitzpatrick their Week 1 starter, and Flores noted that Tagovailoa's hip injury will be a factor in determining the team's early-season quarterback plans."(Tua's recovery) is definitely part of the conversation, for sure," Flores told reporters Tuesday, according to Safid Deen of the Sun Sentinel. "We're at 10 months (since he was hurt). It was a pretty serious injury. He looks good, though. You guys have seen him. He's healthy. He's moving around to his right and to his left. But yes, that's part of the conversation."Tagovailoa's college career at Alabama ended last November after he suffered the hip injury, and he was unable to participate in the majority of the lead-up to the 2020 draft. He passed his physical in July and was cleared to fully participate in team practices.Miami selected the lefty fifth overall this past April, but Flores is more concerned with Tagovailoa's long-term health than rushing him onto the field as a rookie."Look, he's a great kid," he said. "I care about him. And I want what’s best for him."The Dolphins open their season Sept. 13 against the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It turns out Chicago Bears fans won't have to wait so long to find out which of Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles will take the reins at quarterback to begin the season.Bears head coach Matt Nagy appeared to say Saturday that he wouldn't publicly announce his starting quarterback prior to the season opener against the Detroit Lions. He clarified his comments Monday, however, insisting his decision will be made as early as next Monday, days before Chicago's first game Sept. 13."What I meant, to keep it real simple, was that there was not going to be a quarterback named this week that we're in right now," Nagy said, according to team writer Larry Mayer. "So I apologize if I made that gray. But there will be no waiting until the middle of the week or the end of the week for that to happen. That wouldn't be fair to our team and it wouldn't be fair to the quarterbacks.""You will know by the time most teams usually know. We're not hiding anything," Nagy added. "We're going through, for us, this whole process and we don't even know that yet, to be quite honest. So we're talking through those situations and what's best and how to go about it."Trubisky has been Chicago's primary signal-caller over the last three seasons, but his struggles resulted in the Bears declining the fifth-year option on his rookie contract and trading for veteran Foles this offseason.Foles posted an 0-4 record after battling injuries in his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, while Trubisky won eight of his 15 starts and failed to lead the Bears to the playoffs.Nagy declined to comment on whether one quarterback currently has an edge, but it was reported last week that Foles was ahead of Trubisky for the job. Both QBs have taken reps with Chicago's first unit.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has informed Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder the league is taking over the investigation into his alleged workplace misconduct, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Snyder supports the NFL's initiative, Rapoport adds.In a Washington Post report last week, multiple former Washington employees accused Snyder and other ex-team employees of sexual harassment and misconduct.Snyder denied the accusations, saying the Post's article features several "questionable and unnamed sources."The claims against Snyder came out just weeks after 15 former Washington female employees said they were sexually harassed or verbally abused during their time working for the team from 2006 to 2019, which spans much of Snyder's tenure as the franchise's owner.Washington minority partners are now reportedly pressuring Snyder to sell the club this offseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are finalizing new six-year contracts with head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach, which will tie both of them to the team through the 2025 season, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.More to come.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.A lot has happened since we gave our early look at each NFL team in March. With the season now just over a week away, here are our best bets for all 32 teams' season win totals from theScore Bet:Arizona Cardinals under 7The Cardinals have a few big names on defense, and it barely mattered in 2019. It won't be enough this year, either.Atlanta Falcons under 7.5The offense is flashy - as always - but I'm not buying enough defensive improvement for Atlanta to finish any better than 7-9.Baltimore Ravens over 11.5The best roster from 2019 actually improved during the offseason. The Ravens won't be three wins worse than they were a year ago.Buffalo Bills over 8.5The Bills return 21 of 22 starters and an experienced coaching staff in a year when continuity matters more than ever. This is the best bet on the board.Carolina Panthers over 5.5This may be an unpopular take, but I don't think Carolina's roster is as bad as it's made out to be. If the defense is passable, six wins are well within reach.Chicago Bears under 8The Bears' defense isn't what it used to be, which means they'll need a lot from their quarterback, whoever that ends up being. That doesn't sound like a recipe for an over.Cincinnati Bengals under 5.5I love the Bengals as a week-to-week value, but six wins are a bit much to ask for in Joe Burrow's first season as a pro.Cleveland Browns over 8.5The Browns have fooled us before, but Kevin Stefanski and a rebuilt offensive line will change everything in Cleveland. This number underrates the talent level on the roster.Dallas Cowboys over 9.5Even if you don't trust the coaching, believe in the talent for Dallas, which played more like a 10-win team than one with eight victories a year ago.Denver Broncos over 7.5Drew Lock is a major question mark, but the rest of the Broncos' roster is loaded. Lock won't be bad enough to tank this.Detroit Lions over 6.5The NFC North is a mess, and the Lions added enough talent on defense to complement an underrated offense.Green Bay Packers under 9I know I'll regret this in December, but there are too many warning signs in Green Bay after an incredibly lucky 2019 season. Staying away is probably the safest move.Houston Texans under 7.5This low number accurately reflects the talent level surrounding Deshaun Watson in Houston. There are easily two better teams in the division, making eight wins tough to reach.Indianapolis Colts over 9This total has been rising since March, and we still can't get enough of the over. Philip Rivers should thrive behind the Colts' stout offensive line.Jacksonville Jaguars under 5There would be sneaky value on the over if this were any lower, but an inexperienced and undermanned Jaguars roster shouldn't be counted on for six wins.Kansas City Chiefs under 11.5The Chiefs' defense has too many holes to feel great about this high of a win total, especially for a team that won exactly 12 games in each of the last two years.Las Vegas Raiders under 7I want to like the Raiders, but there's a reason their win total is dropping. Their defense is awful, and their 2019 record is primed for regression. A tough schedule in 2020 doesn't help.Los Angeles Chargers under 7.5I was cautiously optimistic about the over in March. But a looming quarterback competition and injuries on defense have me backing off the Chargers. This one could be close, though.Los Angeles Rams under 8.5I expected this number to drop during the summer, but bettors are still buying the Rams hype from two years ago. This isn't the same team, and there isn't any value betting it to go over in this division.Miami Dolphins under 6.5The Dolphins' total is 0.5 wins higher than it was in March, and that's enough for me to back off. Miami is still a year or two away.Minnesota Vikings over 8.5I was pessimistic in March, but the Vikings' defense is too nasty to ignore, especially with the addition of Yannick Ngakoue. An impressive haul from the 2020 draft helps, too.New England Patriots under 9A healthy Cam Newton would change my outlook, but I'm skeptical we'll see that for 16 games. After a mass exodus of talent in free agency and the opt-out period, all signs point under in New England.New Orleans Saints over 10.5The Saints have won 13 games for two straight years, and the roster is even better this season. You can't ask for much more.New York Giants over 6Daniel Jones is still fumbling in training camp, which isn't a great sign for the over. But an improved roster - especially on defense - should be enough for New York to overcome those turnover woes.New York Jets over 6.5I loved the Jets' under in March, but the more I dig, the more sneaky value there is on positive regression for one of 2019's unluckiest teams.Philadelphia Eagles over 9.5Injuries are already plaguing the Eagles in training camp. Still, there's enough talent and positive regression to bet high on a modest number.Pittsburgh Steelers under 9The Steelers are a popular over candidate after a disappointing 2019, but is a 38-year-old Ben Roethlisberger really the difference-maker? Hard pass.San Francisco 49ers over 10.5This team got a bit lucky in 2019, but this number is too low for an elite roster from top to bottom. The defense alone carries San Francisco above this mark.Seattle Seahawks under 9.5There are major red flags in Seattle after four fourth-quarter comebacks and nine wins by seven points or less - the latter being tied for the most by any team in three decades.Tampa Bay Buccaneers over 9How is this total still so low? With a loaded offense and efficient defense, the Buccaneers should be getting at least 10 wins in the market.Tennessee Titans over 8.5Ryan Tannehill's breakout last year was for real. Can the Titans' defense keep up this season? At this number, we like their chances.Washington Football Team under 5Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong in Washington. If this number was 0.5, I might still bet the under.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Unlike MVP, which is dominated by quarterbacks, the offensive player of the year award sees a greater distribution of winners across various positions.Four quarterbacks have won the accolade over the last eight seasons, with three running backs and a wide receiver - Michael Thomas in 2019 - earning the honor.Here are the full odds for the award and our three favorite value bets heading into the season.PLAYERODDSPatrick Mahomes+1000Derrick Henry+1000Lamar Jackson+1000Christian McCaffrey+1000Michael Thomas+1000George Kittle+1400Russell Wilson+1600Julio Jones+2000Alvin Kamara+2500Dak Prescott+2500Tom Brady+2800Davante Adams+3000Nick Chubb+3000Ezekiel Elliott+3000Saquon Barkley+3300Carson Wentz+3300Drew Brees+4000Dalvin Cook+4000Chris Godwin+4000Tyreek Hill+4000Raheem Mostert+4000Kyler Murray+4000Deshaun Watson+4000Odell Beckham Jr.+5000Mike Evans+5000DeAndre Hopkins+5000Aaron Jones+5000Travis Kelce+5000Baker Mayfield+5000Joe Mixon+5000Cam Newton+5000Aaron Rodgers+5000Odds listed for players +5000 or shorterRussell Wilson (+1600)You can't love that Brian Schottenheimer still holds the keys to this offense, but the run-obsessed coordinator's hand might be forced this season. The Seahawks have talent on defense, but a thin group of cornerbacks and an almost non-existent pass rush - they had the second-fewest sacks in the NFL last season and lost Jadeveon Clowney - will spell trouble for this unit. Opposing teams will find success moving the ball against Seattle, resulting in plenty of volume for Wilson and the offense.High-scoring games bode well for Wilson's stats, and there's no doubt what he's capable of when the ball is in his hands. He has plenty of options through the air with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf leading a strong group of pass-catchers, and he's well-equipped to burn defenses with his legs.Consistent cries from Seahawks fans to lean into Wilson more might finally come true in 2020. That could result in a monster season for the 31-year-old after his first 4,000 yard passing season since 2016.Davante Adams (+3000)Who else is Aaron Rodgers going to throw the ball to? Allen Lazard is Adams' biggest competition for targets, and there's little else beyond him on the Packers depth chart. Adams soaked 11 targets per game over the last two seasons, and the expectation is that number increases this year, which would lead to a huge stat line.Of course, the adverse effect of this is Adams will see double coverage often, but that's typically the case for many of the game's top talents. If they're not seeing double-teams then their target share is surely being eaten into. Adams has been a focal point for defenses since his 2016 breakout season, but it hasn't mattered much as he's got the talent, quarterback play, and a friendly schedule, according to aFPA, to overcome it. Pushing 12 targets a game, Adams could set career highs in receiving yards (1,386) and touchdowns (13).Dalvin Cook (+4000)It's been a whirlwind offseason for Cook, who went from being a possible holdout to 'full go' in the span of a couple of months. Injuries have always been the knock on Cook. He played 71% of the offensive snaps for the Vikings through the first 11 weeks of last season before getting hurt and having his workload reduced over the final few games as he eased back from injury.Fully healthy heading into the 2020 season, and motivated by the desire for a new contract, the shackles are off Cook and he looks primed for a big workload. Stefon Diggs is gone and while the Vikings did their best to replace his targets, this is still a run-first team. Cook excelled following the arrival of Gary Kubiak and his zone-blocking scheme last season, and, provided he plays a full 16 games, the running back could surpass 2,000 total yards and 15 touchdowns as the focal point of the offense on a Vikings team ripe to return to the summit of the NFC North.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 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, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, John Daigle of Rotoworld joins Boone to discuss the Jacksonville Jaguars cutting Leonard Fournette, other notable news items, and some intriguing deep sleepers for 2020.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been absent from training camp without permission for the past three days, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kamara's lack of attendance is believed to be related to his contract, according to Schefter. The fourth-year rusher is entering the final year of his rookie deal.Kamara has been a vital part of the Saints' offense since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2017. While he's never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season, Kamara has been a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses thanks to his abilities in the passing game. He's also returned kicks and punts at times over the last three seasons.Alvin Kamara from 2017-19Total YardsYards Per AttemptTDsRushing2408527Receiving20688.510Kickoff returns47331.51Punt returns11270As of Aug. 20, the Saints had been discussing an extension with Kamara's representatives, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers reset the running back market this offseason by inking a four-year extension for just over $16 million per season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Picture this.It's 2013. You're the new general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hoping to build a competitive franchise for years to come, you understand it may take a year or two of rebuilding to get there. A crystal ball enters your possession and reveals your team will earn a top-five pick in each of the next five drafts. It's the perfect recipe for success, right?This was (aside from the crystal ball, of course) David Caldwell when he was hired by the Jaguars. What followed was some of the more questionable moves the NFL has seen over the last decade, and the club's decision to waive Leonard Fournette highlights what is the poorest run organization in the league.Caldwell has made a handful of head-scratching free-agent signings during his tenure - Julius Thomas, Chris Ivory, and Nick Foles are a few - but he'll mostly be remembered for draft blunders and an inability to retain core pieces.A few notable busts actually precede Caldwell, but here's a look at Jacksonville's recent high-profile selections:YearPickPlayerStatus2011No. 10Blaine GabbertBust/Traded in 20142012No. 5Justin BlackmonBust/Off team2013No. 2Luke JoeckelBust/Off team2014No. 3Blake BortlesBust/Off team2015No. 3Dante FowlerTraded in 20182016No. 5Jalen RamseyTraded in 20192017No. 4Leonard FournetteWaivedEarly years Scott Halleran / Getty Images Sport / GettyCaldwell didn't get off to a hot start. Holding the second overall pick in 2013, the Jaguars selected their future left tackle in Joeckel. Battling injuries and inconsistencies, he was mostly unimpressive across four campaigns.The draft that year wasn't as talented overall compared to recent classes, but three-time Pro Bowler Lane Johnson was snagged two picks later by the Philadelphia Eagles. Ezekiel Ansah and Sheldon Richardson were also on the board for a club in desperate need of a pass-rush boost (Jacksonville's 20 sacks ranked dead last in 2012). DeAndre Hopkins and Xavier Rhodes were also chosen later in the first round.It was a defining year for Caldwell in 2014, and not in a good way. The Jags chose Bortles as their franchise quarterback after giving up on Gabbert, who was drafted three years prior. We know how that ended, though Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater were the other two first-round passers selected in that draft. It's worth mentioning that after Bortles, 12 of the next 14 picks have earned Pro Bowl nods.Unfortunately, mistakes were made in Caldwell's first two drafts as Jacksonville reached for needs and targeted players thought to be the best prospect available. Two swings, two misses.Key players driven awayJacksonville followed the Bortles blunder with a few solid decisions in the draft. The most notable example was in 2016 when Caldwell added Ramsey, Myles Jack, and Yannick Ngakoue in the opening three rounds. The problem? Two of them were driven away.Ramsey and Ngakoue quickly emerged as premier young players at their respective positions, but problems with team culture highlighted by the hiring of former vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin ultimately cost the organization.The two defensive stars repeatedly voiced their concerns with upper management's handling of contract extensions and other issues within the organization. As a result, Ramsey and Ngakoue refused to commit long term to the franchise and were ultimately traded.2017 draft Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyWe've reached our climax. Entering the 2017 NFL Draft, Bortles earned a paltry 11-34 record as a starter with 69 touchdowns to 51 interceptions across three campaigns. While many would have cut their losses, the Jaguars selected Fournette fourth overall.The selection is by no means a knock against Fournette as a prospect - the running back shined at LSU and offered a unique blend of size and speed - but most evaluators saw this coming. Opting for a tailback with such a high pick in a passing league will have anyone questioning the decision.What's more astounding is that if Caldwell and Jacksonville had correctly identified the need to select a quarterback, both Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were available. Perennial All-Pro candidates Jamal Adams, Christian McCaffrey, and Marshon Lattimore were also passed on for Fournette.Imagine how different the NFL would look with Mahomes in Duval County ...Where to next?The Jaguars made a run to the AFC title game at the end of the 2017 season, but what remains of that roster is stunning. Of the team's 22 starters that year, only five are still with the organization (three offensive linemen, Jack, and defensive tackle Abry Jones).Jacksonville's mostly avoidable roster turnover in the last three years is beyond comprehension, and the majority of the responsibility falls on Caldwell. With a 2020 lineup easily among the weakest in the league, the general manager and head coach Doug Marrone are on borrowed time. The question actually is, how have they lasted this long?At least the club stands a pretty good chance at drafting Trevor Lawrence in 2021.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers aren't considering safety Earl Thomas as a possible replacement for injured star Derwin James, head coach Anthony Lynn told reporters Monday, according to Emmanuel Morgan of the Los Angeles Times.The Baltimore Ravens released Thomas on Aug. 23 after he fought teammate Chuck Clark during practice."Since you guys keep telling me how stacked we are in the secondary, why the hell would we be looking anywhere else?" Lynn said.James is reportedly expected to miss significant time with a meniscus issue. The Chargers said James suffered a right knee injury in practice and no timetable for his return has been determined.Thomas has been a defensive playmaker throughout his career, though he was reportedly an unpopular figure in the Ravens' locker room. Baltimore moved on from him one season after giving him a four-year, $55-million contract in free agency.Thomas posted 49 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks, and four pass breakups in 15 games last season and was named to his seventh Pro Bowl. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, where he was a celebrated member of the Legion of Boom.The Chargers could slide Rayshawn Jenkins or Desmond King over to strong safety until James returns, but that would leave them thin at free safety, which is where Thomas has made his living.A healthy James would have given Los Angeles, which has Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr. at cornerback, an elite secondary on paper. Injuries limited James to five appearances in 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders have released veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo.Amukamara joined the Raiders on a one-year deal in May after spending three seasons with the Chicago Bears. Chicago cut him in February to clear cap space. He started 42 games for the Bears and hauled in three interceptions.The Raiders brought Amukamara aboard as insurance for their youth at cornerback, a group that includes sophomore Trayvon Mullen and first-round rookie Damon Arnette."I spoke to (general manager) Mike Mayock this morning," Amukamara told reporter Josina Anderson. "He said they like where they're at with the young guys. I respect him. I still want to play. I've played in all systems. I can thrive anywhere."Amukamara will head back to free agency and look to join the fifth team of his career. The 30-year-old has also played for the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Within an ever-competitive NFL landscape, numerous last-place clubs have reversed course to capture division crowns the following year. While there were no such instances in 2019, at least one team skyrocketed from worst to first in each of the previous four seasons.As we turn our attention to the upcoming campaign, here's every last-place team from 2019 ranked according to their chances of winning the division this time around.8. Carolina Panthers2019 record: 5-11Notable moves:

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone believes the decision to waive Leonard Fournette was in his team's best interest."At the end of the day, I've got to be able to field a team that gives us the best chance to win," Marrone said, according to team writer John Oesher.Jacksonville parted ways with Fournette less than two weeks before their 2020 season opener, and general manager David Caldwell exhausted all trade options before waiving the running back."We couldn't get anything," Marrone said, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "A (fifth-round pick), a sixth, anything. We couldn't get anything."The Jaguars reportedly believed Fournette was at the center of some recent locker room issues, and the 2017 fourth overall pick often vocalized his strained relationship with the franchise.Despite the reported off-field concerns, Marone said the running back's release was related to his on-field performance as opposed to legal or internal team issues, according to News4's Justin Barney.Fournette lasted just three years in Jacksonville. He amassed 1,152 yards on the ground and three touchdowns in 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars waived running back Leonard Fournette less than two weeks before their 2020 season opener, the team announced Monday.Jacksonville drafted Fournette with the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft. He was entering the final year of his rookie contract after the team declined his fifth-year option in May.The Jaguars believed Fournette was at the center of some recent locker room issues and tried to trade him this offseason, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport."(Head coach) Doug (Marrone) is trying to clean up the place," an NFL coach said, according to Rapoport.Though he's been fairly productive since entering the league, Fournette has failed to meet the expectations associated with his high draft slot. He averaged four yards per carry and scored 19 total touchdowns across 36 games with the Jaguars.The 25-year-old also drew the ire of coaches and management at times throughout his tenure. He reportedly had a strained relationship with former vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin.Fournette's departure highlights a number of offseason changes in Jacksonville, as well as another short-lived stint for one of the team's high draft picks. None of the Jaguars' first-rounders from 2012 to 2017 are still on the roster. Additionally, none of their six straight top-five picks from 2012 to 2017 lasted more than five years with the franchise.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to trade defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth-rounder, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing sources.Conditions attached to the fifth-round selection could push the pick as high as the third round, Schefter adds.While the deal has yet to be officially announced, Ngakoue appeared to confirm the news on Twitter Sunday evening.

Los Angeles Chargers superstar safety Derwin James is likely to miss significant time due to a meniscus injury suffered during practice Sunday, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.James reportedly requires further evaluation. The 24-year-old's treatment options are a meniscus trim, which would have a four-week recovery timeline, or a full repair, which could mean several months on the sideline, Rapoport notes.Injuries also hampered James' 2019 campaign, as a stress fracture in his foot limited him to five games.The Chargers drafted James 17th overall in 2018 out of Florida State. He immediately staked his claim as one of the best young defenders in the league, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a rookie.Los Angeles will open its 2020 campaign with a Week 1 matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The injury bug continues to plague the Philadelphia Eagles, with rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor sidelined for "at least a couple of weeks" with a small labrum tear, sources told Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Reagor won't require surgery but will miss Philadelphia's season opener against the Washington Football Team in two weeks, per Davison.It's currently unclear whether he'll be ready for Week 2.The Eagles expected Reagor - this April's first-round draft pick - to shoulder a significant offensive load with Alshon Jeffery still working his way back from a foot injury.The first-year wideout injured himself while attempting to make a tackle during a team scrimmage following a Jalen Hurts interception.Greg Ward, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, and rookie John Hightower are the next three receivers on the Eagles' depth chart behind DeSean Jackson.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans and linebacker Zach Cunningham agreed to a four-year, $58-million contract extension, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Cunningham's reported $14.5-million yearly wage would make him the NFL's third-highest paid off-ball linebacker in terms of average annual value, behind Bobby Wagner and C.J. Mosley.Houston selected Cunningham in the second round of the 2017 draft. He was entering the final season of his rookie contract.The 25-year-old started all 16 games last year, playing in 87.5% of his team's defensive snaps. He recorded 142 tackles, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries in 2019.Cunningham is once again expected to take on a significant role in the middle of Houston's defense, starting next to Benardrick McKinney.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LSU star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has informed the team he will opt out of the 2020 college football season to concentrate on his NFL career, sources told CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd.The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, Chase was arguably the nation's premier pass-catcher and is expected to be a first-round pick next April.Chase is expected to make an official announcement regarding his decision Monday.The junior's opt-out isn't directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dodd. It's believed NFL agents may have convinced Chase to leave the Tigers ahead of his final collegiate campaign.Along with 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow, Chase helped pace the Tigers' record-breaking offense last season. He amassed 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns, including 221 yards and two scores in the national championship game against Clemson.The talented wideout would easily be the highest-profile player to opt out of the 2020 campaign thus far. Other prominent offensive players skipping the upcoming slate include Oklahoma's Kennedy Brooks and Wake Forest's Sage Surratt. Big Ten stars Rondale Moore, Micah Parsons, and Rashod Bateman have also opted out as the conference currently isn't slated to stage games this fall.LSU, meanwhile, now appears set to suffer yet another loss after its spectacular 2019 campaign. Fourteen players from Ed Orgeron's squad heard their names called in the draft this past April, with seven selected in the first two rounds. Starting safety Kary Vincent Jr. recently decided to skip the 2020 season as well.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz won't participate in Sunday's practice and is day-to-day with a soft tissue injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Wentz's injury is reportedly considered minor. The Eagles are taking a cautious approach and fully expect him to be healthy in time for Week 1, reports NBCS's Dave Zangaro.Philadelphia has suffered multiple injuries during training camp, most notably losing left tackle Andre Dillard and right guard Brandon Brooks for the season.Right tackle Lane Johnson has missed the last seven practices with a lower body injury, according to 94 WIP's Eliot Shorr-Parks. Miles Sanders, Derek Barnett, and Javon Hargrave are among a handful of other players who have missed significant camp action.Wentz himself has struggled with injuries for a portion of his NFL career thus far. He suffered a concussion during the Eagles' wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks in January, and also missed time with a torn ACL and back injury over the last three years.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins traded former second-round linebacker Raekwon McMillan and a 2021 fifth-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2021 fourth-rounder, the teams announced Saturday.Miami selected McMillan 54th overall in 2017 after he enjoyed a decorated three-season career at Ohio State.The 24-year-old missed his entire rookie campaign due to a torn ACL but bounced back in his sophomore season, racking up 105 tackles and two forced fumbles through 16 games.McMillan, who's entering the final year of his rookie deal, amassed 72 tackles in 13 contests last season. He was Miami's best run defender among those who appeared in at least 12 games, according to PFF.The Dolphins signed linebackers Elandon Roberts and Kamu Grugier-Hill in free agency, and they're now expected to share snaps alongside Jerome Baker in the middle of the defense.The Raiders, meanwhile, also added to the linebacker position earlier in the offseason, landing free-agent defenders Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears fans will have to wait until the 2020 season begins to find out who will be under center this year.Head coach Matt Nagy said Saturday he won't reveal his starting quarterback prior to the Bears' season opener against the Detroit Lions, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles have both taken snaps with Chicago's first unit, but Foles is reportedly ahead of Trubisky for the job.Nagy declined to say which quarterback has played better at camp, Dickerson adds.The Bears acquired Foles in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March after missing the playoffs last season.Trubisky posted an 8-7 record in 2019 for Chicago while throwing for 3,138 yards and 17 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. The Bears declined the fifth-year option on the former second overall pick's rookie contract this offseason.Foles, meanwhile, battled injuries in his first season with the Jaguars and went winless during four starts.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith continues to progress toward an inspiring return to football following a serious leg injury.Smith participated in full-team work at training camp for the first time Saturday, and though his team wasn't in full pads, head coach Ron Rivera is thrilled about the signal-caller's progress."It was a very big step because again, it's back to football, 11-on-11, bodies around you," Rivera told reporters Saturday. "Sure, we were in shells today, but just the fact that he was doing something with 11 guys on the field at the same time I think is a big step in the direction that we all want to head."Smith took three snaps in the 11-on-11 red-zone drill, handing the ball off on two plays and throwing a 5-yard pass to running back J.D. McKissic, according to a team practice report obtained by ESPN's John Keim.Rivera is now aiming for Smith to take part in Washington's full 11-on-11 session over the upcoming week."It's really just to gauge his confidence in himself," the coach said. "It's an opportunity for us to gauge where he is in terms of his total movement with 11 players on the field on both sides. So, we'll see how it goes. The hope is in the next few days we can just continue to progress with him."Smith suffered a broken fibula and tibia in November 2018 and underwent 17 surgeries to give himself a chance of resuming his NFL career.The 36-year-old has been practicing with Washington's second unit, behind presumed starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins.Washington's depth chart also features Kyle Allen, who was acquired this offseason after spending two campaigns with the Carolina Panthers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Peters was set to become the Philadelphia Eagles right guard this season, but his team might need him to return to left tackle. Peters apparently would be fine with that decision as long as his contract is re-worked.Peters wants to be paid like a starting left tackle if the Eagles move him back to the role this year, sources told Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.The 38-year-old, who started 140 games at left tackle for the Eagles from 2009-19, signed a one-year, $3-million contract to return to Philadelphia this offseason.Peters has been practicing at right guard and emerged as a replacement for Pro Bowl blocker Brandon Brooks, who is out long term due to a torn Achilles tendon.Philadelphia was counting on 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard to play at left tackle in 2020. However, Dillard is likely to miss the entire upcoming campaign with an injury, which leaves an important opening in the Eagles' offensive line.Left tackle is the most valuable position contract-wise among offensive linemen. Houston Texans' Laremy Tunsil ($22 million), Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Castonzo ($16.5 million), and Tennessee Titans' Taylor Lewan ($16 million) are the highest-paid players at the position, according to Spotrac.Washington Football Team's Brandon Scherff will make $15 million under the franchise tag in 2020, leading all guards.Overall, left tackles have an average salary of $3.76 million, while guards earn $2.2 million per season, per Spotrac.Head coach Doug Pederson said the Eagles are evaluating all their options at tackle."Jason Peters is obviously in the conversation," Pederson said Saturday. "We do have some young players, Jordan Mailata, Matt Pryor. Jack Driscoll, who's a (fourth-round) rookie, obviously, but has been playing some tackle for us."The three players mentioned by Pederson have yet to play an official snap at offensive tackle in the NFL.Peters has been one of football's premier blockers since Philadelphia acquired him via trade with the Buffalo Bills in 2009. He's been named to nine Pro Bowls and earned two first-team All-Pro nods in his 16-year career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes isn't letting critics deter him from speaking about social justice issues.When asked Saturday about the negative comments he received from fans regarding voting rights and the Black Lives Matter movement, Mahomes said he's going to continue doing what he believes is right."I'm going to do whatever I can to fight for equality for all people. And I feel like I've shown that over the offseason and I'm going to continue that fight," he explained, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. "I'm not worried about people and how they're going to do negative stuff back to me. I'm worried about doing what's right for humanity and making sure all people feel equal."Mahomes was among the NFL players featured in a video released in June calling on the league to condemn racism and admit it was wrong for silencing players from peacefully protesting. He also offered support to NBA players in their efforts against racial injustice and police brutality.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick left the Miami Dolphins' practice at Hard Rock Stadium early on Saturday after learning his mother died, head coach Brian Flores told reporters, including Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.Fitzpatrick showed up at the Dolphins facility but left before the scrimmage session when he received the news from Flores. The rest of the team took a knee in prayer during practice."Fitz has tried to work through. He's always tried to practice," Flores said. "Our hearts go out to him as a team and an organization. ... There's things bigger than football."Flores added that Fitzpatrick will "take as much time as he needs" before returning to camp.Fitzpatrick is expected to be the Dolphins' Week 1 starter over first-round rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The journeyman appeared in 15 games (13 starts) for Miami in 2019, racking up 3,529 yards and 20 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.Miami's depth chart also features 2018 first-round signal-caller Josh Rosen.The club will open the season on the road on Sept. 13 against the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is planning to implement more content addressing racial injustice to its Week 1 games this season, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.The league and players association have discussed allowing players to read personalized poems and deliver vignettes based on personal experiences with racial injustice, Fowler adds.The NFL has previously thought of other social justice initiatives for the upcoming campaign, including playing what's traditionally known as the Black national anthem before the season-opening games.Additionally, stenciling "End Racism" and "It Takes All of Us" messages on end-zone borders for all home openers and allowing players to don helmet decals honoring police brutality victims are also part of the league's plan.Several NFL teams canceled practice earlier this week in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Wisconsin on Aug. 23. Players have been vocal in demonstrations since the incident, and "a few prominent Black players" reportedly want to sit out a game to force action.Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said Friday that his team wouldn't have played if there was a game this week.The NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and other sports leagues postponed action this week after players from the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in response to the Wisconsin shooting.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin hit home for Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon.Gordon is a native of Kenosha and felt especially impacted by Sunday's shooting."I was so emotional because I have family that was out there that seen the shooting, and that could have been them," Gordon said, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "That could have been one of my family members getting shot in the back seven times. That could have been my family shot in the middle of the street - one of my family, one of my friends. And that was just so disheartening. ... It hurts even more when it hits at home - when it's at home in your own backyard, and it's your people."The Broncos canceled practice Thursday and instead met as a team to discuss social justice issues. Gordon spoke in front of teammates he's known only for a few short months. He signed with Denver as a free agent in March."It was tough in general," he said of speaking in front of the team, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "I just - any time Kenosha or anything that is brought up and I keep seeing it repeatedly, I just get emotional. I was getting emotional about it, and I just had to get it off my chest."This could happen in anyone's community. We have to be there for each other."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 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, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone went live to recap the latest training camp updates, discuss his fantasy draft strategies, and answer more listener questions.

The NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and other sports leagues postponed action this week after the Milwaukee Bucks staged a walkout in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Wisconsin. Other players across various leagues followed suit, and many NFL players openly debated how they would join the conversation.Star quarterback Russell Wilson said Friday that had the Seattle Seahawks been in the midst of the regular season, they would not have played a game this week."Yeah, for sure," Wilson said on 710 AM ESPN Seattle, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. "I think just witnessing what happened to Jacob and everything else and all the things that have added up to this, it's devastating. It's truly devastating just to watch that."The NBA will return to action Saturday after committing to establish a social justice coalition and agreeing to have team governors work with local election officials to use arenas as voting locations for the 2020 U.S. general election where possible.Wilson and his teammates are discussing how to make a difference."I think for us as a team, for the Seahawks, we're definitely discussing what do we do next, how do we make a change, how do we cause movement, and how do we make a difference. We're in the midst of all that right now," he said."We don't have weeks and we don't have months, we don't have years to change it. We have to all do it together and we've got to do it now and we need change now and we need people to make a difference now."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL Comeback Player of the Year is one of the most fun - but unpredictable - awards to bet on each season. We've already seen two dramatic moves on the oddsboard this summer, with Cam Newton signing with the Patriots and Alex Smith returning for Washington.Those two can easily win this accolade, but it's worth looking beyond the co-favorites at such a short price in a volatile field. Here are the full odds for the award and our three favorite value bets heading into the season.PLAYERODDSAlex Smith+300Ben Roethlisberger+300Cam Newton+300Field+400A.J. Green+800Matthew Stafford+800J.J. Watt+1000Nick Foles+1000Teddy Bridgewater+1200James Conner+1500Myles Garrett+1500David Johnson+1600Andy Dalton+2000Antonio Brown+2000Todd Gurley+2000JuJu Smith-Schuster+2500Odell Beckham Jr.+2500Baker Mayfield+3000Derrius Guice+3000Jerick McKinnon+3000Kerryon Johnson+3500DeSean Jackson+4000Lamar MIller+4000Joe Flacco+5000Josh Gordon+5000Mitchell Trubisky+5000Alshon Jeffery+6000David Njoku+6000T.Y. Hilton+6000Jordan Reed+7000O.J. Howard+8000Andrew Luck+10000Devin Funchess+10000Stephen Gostkowski+10000Josh Rosen+12500Field (+400)Whenever you can get the field in a market this volatile, it's always worth a shot. This list doesn't include Le'Veon Bell, one of the league's best talents despite lackluster numbers with the Jets. It doesn't have Bradley Chubb, an elite pass-rusher who tore his ACL in 2019.The real prize is Rob Gronkowski, one of the consensus favorites in the betting market and a legitimate force for this award if he can rekindle his magic with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. I wouldn't recommend betting Gronkowski at +400 alone, but you can't miss out with the field as a bonus.Matthew Stafford (+800)Stafford isn't the favorite, but he's the safest bet on the board. He's more talented than Smith or Newton and has a secure job, too. The Lions QB had a career-worst year in 2018 and missed half of 2019 with an injury.It's a shame because he was on pace for a career season before his back injury, which he's since healed from. There's enough talent around him to pad his stats if he can return to form, making him a compelling bet at decent odds.Jordan Reed (+7000)No long shot is more intriguing than Reed, the uber-talented tight end who simply can't stay on the field. The former Washington star missed all of 2019 with a concussion - his seventh on record since college - and he's never started more than eight games in a season since joining the league in 2013.He considered retirement before signing with the 49ers this season, and he's already shown flashes of brilliance in Kyle Shanahan's offense at training camp. San Francisco knows how to put its tight ends in a position to succeed, and a gaudy touchdown total alone could be enough to bolster Reed's case. Can he stay healthy? I'd take 70-1 odds to find out.(Odds source: theScore Bet)C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has tested positive for COVID-19, the team's senior vice president of communications Greg Bensel told Amie Just and Ramon Antonio Vargas of The Times-Picayune.Benson, 73, was diagnosed with the coronavirus within the last few weeks and is currently under daily medical care.It's currently unknown whether she is displaying any symptoms.

The Los Angeles Rams and Jalen Ramsey aren't close to agreeing on a new contract as the Pro Bowl cornerback enters the last year of his current deal, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson.The negotiations between the two parties are still in the early stages, Anderson adds.Ramsey will earn $13.7 million in 2020 on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. His next deal is expected to make him one of the highest-paid players at the position, which is currently topped by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay at $16.7 million per year.The Rams acquired Ramsey midway through last season via a blockbuster trade that sent two first-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 25-year-old appeared in nine games for Los Angeles in 2019, racking up 33 tackles, four pass breakups, and one interception.The 2016 fifth-overall pick has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Of all the veteran quarterbacks changing systems in 2020, Cam Newton might be the most fun to project.The 31-year-old is entering his first year with the New England Patriots, who signed the 2015 MVP this summer to compensate for the loss of Tom Brady. Couple the direction of the Patriots franchise with all the uncertainty surrounding the former Carolina Panthers passer's game, and it makes for an intriguing handicap.Let's dive into the numbers and see if there's any value on Newton's props.Cam Newton Total Passing YardsOddsOver 2950.5-110Under 2950.5-110Cam Newton Total Touchdowns OddsOver 19.5-110Under 19.5-110The case for the overOn the surface, these totals seem low, right? After all, Newton's surpassed the 3,000-yard plateau in every season he's played at least 14 games, and he's had 18-plus touchdowns in every qualified year:YearPassing YardsPassing TDs20114051212012386919201333792420143127182015383735201635091920173302222018339524Those numbers become even more impressive when considering the Panthers ranked in the top half of the league in pass-play percentage just once - in 2018 - when Newton was their primary starter:YearPanthers' Pass-play % Ranking2011No. 232012No. 252013No. 282014No. 252015No. 312016No. 252017No. 272018No. 16The dual-threat quarterback will undoubtedly see a significant uptick in pass attempts this season. Brady had at least 500 attempts in eight of his final nine full campaigns with the Patriots, and his teams were almost always playing in positive game scripts.If the 2020 New England squad - which has already seen several key players opt out - isn't as competitive as ones in years past, Newton will have to throw his way back into games.The case for the underNewton has to win the job first. He's currently competing with second-year signal-caller Jarrett Stidham, a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in 2019.If the three-time Pro Bowler does get the nod, he'll have one hell of a gauntlet to get through: The Patriots are set to play seven games against secondaries that rank among PFF's top 10 units heading into the year (Ravens, Chargers, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams, Bills twice).Staying healthy has also been a chore for Newton - he dealt with a nagging shoulder injury in 2018 and played in only two games last year before hitting the shelf.Best bets - Under 2,950.5 passing yards and under 19.5 touchdownsNew England is a great place for any player to succeed, let alone a successful, veteran quarterback who led the Panthers for close to a decade. So why does this feel like a round peg being jammed into a square hole?Newton always has some upside as a dual threat, but it's hard to envision a scenario in which he lights it up through the air.Not only will Newton play roughly half his games against the cream of the defensive crop, but his skill corps leaves a lot to be desired. Veterans receivers Julian Edelman and Mohamed Sanu are 34 and 31, respectively, while Jakobi Meyers and N'Keal Harry underwhelmed as rookies in 2019.This feels like a throwaway year for the Patriots. Don't be too keen to hit the over button on many of their player props in 2020.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.