HEADLINES

Month: August 2025

Broncos LB Drew Sanders To Miss Start Of Season

August 4th, 2025 at 3:40pm CST by Ely Allen

AUGUST 4: Sanders recently underwent surgery to address the injury, 9News’ Mike Klis reports. Payton specified the issue was actually a ligament in Sanders’ foot, rather than a tendon. That is a somewhat encouraging correction given the different recovery timeline which should be in store as a result. Nevertheless, Payton noted the healing process will be “north of four to six weeks,” so missed time in the fall remains the expectation in this case.

JULY 27: The Broncos were given a bit of a scare when third-year linebacker Drew Sanders was carted off the field at practice yesterday with an apparent lower body injury, per Luca Evans of The Denver Post. After Sanders missed most of his 2024 campaign with an April torn Achilles tendon, there was significant concern for another injury, though head coach Sean Payton relayed that the issue was not his Achilles this time, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.

In an update today, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the results of an MRI determined that Sanders suffered an injury to a tendon in his foot “that will keep him out (for) an extended period of time.” An exact recovery timeline was not ready, as further testing is still required to determine if he’ll need surgery, but Sanders is not expected to return in time for the season opener, so he’ll be getting a late start to the season for the second year in a row.

A third-round pick in 2023, Sanders split his time as a rookie as both a reserve behind linebackers Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell in the box and a reserve behind Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, and Baron Browning on the edge, following an injury to Randy Gregory. With the loss of Jewell in free agency, Sanders was expected to step in next to Singleton, but his fateful torn Achilles changed the team’s plans.

When Singleton suffered a tear of his own (ACL) only three games into the season, the Broncos relied on Cody Barton and Justin Strnad, who admirably filled in the linebacking roles for a defense that finished the season third in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed. Barton priced himself out of Denver, earning a three-year, $21MM deal with the Titans, while Strnad was re-signed on a one-year, $2.7MM contract.

Already returning Sanders, who played in five contests off his return from the Achilles injury last year, the Broncos made an interesting move in signing former 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who played in two games last season coming back from an Achilles tear of his own. Greenlaw actually experienced a quadriceps injury in early offseason practices with his new team, but it was minor enough for Denver not to address the position through the draft or further free agency.

Singleton and Greenlaw have both overcome their injuries and have been participants in training camp so far. If the two can stay healthy, they should be leading the linebacking corps when the season opens. It’s unfortunate that Sanders suffered his setback, as he would’ve been in line as the first man off the bench for the position and an excellent option to fill in should either of his teammates experience setbacks of their own. Despite his snap shares on the edge as a rookie, Payton made it known back in February that Sanders would be focusing on his role as an inside linebacker moving forward.

With Sanders’ return date unknown, Strnad now takes on that responsibility behind Singleton and Greenlaw, once again prepared to step into a starting role, if necessary. Behind Strnad, though, a group of undrafted linebackers is composed of Levelle Bailey, who played five defensive snaps as a rookie last year, and rookies Karene Reid, JB Brown, and Johnny Walker Jr.

Jim Harbaugh Hopes Chargers Bring Back WR Keenan Allen

August 4th, 2025 at 2:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Keenan Allen worked out with the Chargers last week as the sides contemplate a reunion. No deal has been signed yet, but that will be the case if head coach Jim Harbaugh has his way.

When speaking to the media on Monday, Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim) Allen’s workout went well. He also noted his desire for a contract to be worked out in this case. Attention will thus turn to the efforts of Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz – who traded Allen away last spring – to finalize a pact.

The Bolts attempted to work out a pay cut with Allen in 2024 while the Harbaugh-Hortiz regime looked to make needed salary cap adjustments. In the end, Allen was dealt to the Bears while Mike Williams was released. Williams returned to Los Angeles but then elected to retire, leaving the door open to a veteran addition this summer. Harbaugh made it clear back in April he would welcome a second Allen tenure with the Chargers, so today’s comments come as little surprise.

Through the 2024 campaign and beyond, Allen has expressed a willingness to remain in Chicago or to return to Los Angeles. The Bears still have D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, and the team added Luther Burden in the second round of the draft as a slot option for the present and future. Another Bears campaign is thus not expected, and little interest has been shown so far from other teams. With roughly $31.5MM in cap space, the Chargers could easily afford to bring Allen, 33, back into the fold.

Ladd McConkey enjoyed a stellar rookie season in 2024, and he figures to be a mainstay (particularly in the slot) for years to come. Allen is best suited to operate on the inside at this stage of his career, but the six-time Pro Bowler could of course also provide Justin Herbert with an experienced option on the perimeter. Especially given Williams’ decision to retire, the Chargers could stand to add a veteran presence at the WR spot.

Allen topped 1,000 yards six times during his Bolts tenure, including a career-best 1,243 in 2023. A repeat of that production would not be expected in the event a new Chargers deal were to be worked out, but one could still prove to be beneficial for both parties. It will be interesting to see if Harbaugh’s desire comes to pass in this situation.

Titans Considering Defensive Addition; Preston Smith On Team’s Radar?

August 4th, 2025 at 2:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Roster cuts following training camp and the preseason represents a time when a number of roster moves are made in the NFL. At or around that time, the Titans could be a team to watch closely.

Tennessee is “open” to making at least one defensive addition late in free agency, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Specifically, making one of more moves at corner or along the edge could be in play. If a pass rush signing is sought out, Fowler names Preston Smith as potential target.

Smith was traded from the Packers to the Steelers midway through last season. The move ended his Green Bay tenure (which dated back to 2019) but did not yield much in the way of production with his new team. In eight Pittsburgh games to close out the campaign, Smith notched only two sacks (bringing his season total to just 4.5).

That figure falls well short of Smith’s best campaigns. To no surprise, the 32-year-old was released by the Steelers in a cost-shedding move after the season. Little interest has been shown since then, although the Bills were named as a potential suitor before free agency. Buffalo instead signed Joey Bosa on the open market.

The Titans released Harold Landry in March. That move ended his seven-year tenure in Nashville, which included six seasons of action. Landry spent much of that time as the team’s top edge rusher, collecting at least nine sacks on four occasions. Replacing his production will be a key concern for the Titans moving forward. Second-round rookie Oluafemi Oladejo will play a role in that effort, but a veteran presence along the edge would also be a welcomed addition.

Tennessee entered Monday with over $29MM in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if Smith is indeed offered a deal. In any case, the Titans could afford moves at other positions as well prior to the start of the campaign.

49ers Release K Greg Joseph

August 4th, 2025 at 1:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers made a slew of roster moves on Monday. Included among them is the release of veteran kicker Greg Joseph.

In May, the 49ers signed Joseph as a contender for the 2025 kicking gig. The 31-year-old took part in minicamp and the opening stages of training camp, but his time in San Francisco has come to an end before the preseason. As a result of today’s move, Jake Moody is the lone kicker on the roster at the moment.

Moody entered the league in 2023 with high expectations as the No. 99 pick in his draft class. He enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, connecting on 21 of 24 field goal tries and all but one of his extra point attempts. Last season, however, things took an unwanted turn. In 14 games, Moody missed 10 field goal attempts, including five from within 50 yards. Competition was sought out in response, but pending another addition at the position he is set to once again handle kicking duties in 2025.

Joseph had a three-year run with the Vikings following brief tenures in Cleveland and Tennessee. Last season, the former UDFA made appearances for three teams; in all, he went 16-for-2o on field goals and 11-for-11 on extra points. As teams around the league prepare for the preseason in advance of final roster cuts, it will be interesting to see if Joseph lands another opportunity in the near future.

The 49ers’ other Monday moves consisted of signing defensive end Bradlee Anae, defensive tackle Bruce Hector, safety Jaylen Mahoney, cornerback Fabian Moreau and offensive lineman Isaiah Prince. They will each look to carve out a depth spot over the coming weeks while (in all likelihood) seeing playing time during the preseason as the team deals with minor injuries at number of positions.

In corresponding transactions, cornerback Tre Avery, receiver Isaiah Neyor, quarterback Tanner Mordecai and tight end Mason Pline have been waived. Each member of that quartet will be available to interested teams via the waiver wire. Provided they go unclaimed, each will become a free agent.

Charles Cross Seeking Seahawks Extension; LT Undergoes Finger Surgery

August 4th, 2025 at 12:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

2025 marks the first year in which Charles Cross is eligible for an extension. The Seahawks’ left tackle said in June he would be interested in a long-term pact, and that stance has not changed.

[RELATED: Recapping Seahawks’ Offseason]

“I want to be in Seattle for my career,” the former first-rounder said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “That’s something I always thought of and wanted for myself. Hopefully we can get something done and it’ll go that way.”

Cross noted during those remarks that extension talks have yet to take place between his camp and general manager John Schneider, who agreed to another new Seahawks pact last week.. Plenty of time remains for a deal to be struck, of course. Seattle made the easy decision to pick up the Mississippi State product’s fifth-year option last spring. As a result, Cross is on the books through 2026 with a scheduled $17.56MM in compensation for that season.

A multi-year pact will cost much more considering the upward movement in the tackle market. Recent days have seen three notable pacts worked out for blindside blockers, including Rashawn Slater receiving a record-breaking Chargers pact. His new Bolts deal carries an average annual value of $28.5MM. Bernhard Raimann (Colts) and Kolton Miller (Raiders) have also inked deals north of $20MM per season. A total of 14 tackles are now at or above that AAV figure.

Cross will no doubt look to join that group on his second contract. The 24-year-old has missed only three games to date in his career, and in 2024 he received a top-10 PFF grade at his position. A new pact for right tackle Abraham Lucas – who has only one year remaining on his deal – may be seen as a more urgent endeavor for Seattle in spite of his injury issues. In any case, Cross’ case will be an interesting one to watch whenever extension talks begin.

In more immediate news, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Cross recently underwent surgery to repair a dislocated finger. The issue had been lingering, per Henderson. Given the timing of the procedure, a full recovery in time for Week 1 is expected. It remains to be seen if any traction toward a long-term contract will have been made by that point, however.

Dolphins Extend DT Zach Sieler

August 4th, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Ely Allen

AUGUST 4: Sieler’s deal is now official, per a team announcement. Full terms have not yet emerged, but agent Drew Rosenhaus said during his weekly appearance on Sports XTRA (video link) this new pact will pay out $34MM across the 2025 and ’26 campaigns. With an upgraded cashflow and long-term security, Seiler will look to remain one of Miami’s top players for years to come.

AUGUST 3: The Dolphins are getting ahead on some future contract situations by giving defensive tackle Zach Sieler the new deal he requested despite him having two years remaining on his original deal. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the two sides have agreed on a three-year, $67.75MM extension with $44MM guaranteed. With the new deal, he becomes the highest-paid player on Miami’s defense.

Sieler’s come a long way since his humble beginnings. Unranked as a high school recruit, Sieler travelled about two hours north to attend college at Ferris State University, where he made the decision to walk on to the football team. After a redshirt year, Sieler helped the Bulldogs win their conference two years in a row in 2014 and 2015. In the latter year, he won the conference’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and National Defensive Player of the Year honors. He repeated those honors in 2016 but opted to sit out the 2017 season, after having earned his degree, to prepare for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Though obviously talented, Sieler was considered a bit of a wildcard after having spent a year away from football. Regardless, he was chosen by the Ravens with the 238th pick of the draft in the seventh round — Ozzie Newsome‘s final pick as the team’s general manager. In an emotional draft day phone call, Newsome informed him of that fact and Sieler told the legendary GM, “I’ll make you proud.”

That pride may not have come right away for Newsome. After appearing in only two games as a rookie, Sieler failed to make Baltimore’s initial 53-man roster in 2019 and ended up on the practice squad. He got signed back to the active roster in October, but the team waived him again two months later.

This time, when he hit the waiver wire, the Dolphins kept him from returning to the Ravens’ practice squad, claiming Sieler the next day. In just three games (including his first career start) to close out the season with Miami, Sieler played more snaps than his entire first year and a half in Baltimore. The Dolphins signed him on for another year and Sieler appeared in every game, starting eight, while tallying 3.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

The disruptive lineman was doing so well that season that he earned himself a two-year, $7.63MM extension partway through the season. In those next two years, Sieler would start 24 of 34 game appearances, notching 5.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 132 tackles as he blossomed into am eventual full-time starter. In that 2021 season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the third-best interior defender in the NFL.

In 2023, the Dolphins quickly extended Sieler for another three years at $30.75MM. With a year still remaining on his prior deal, this new extension would keep him under contract through the 2026 season. After that contract came through, Sieler really turned it on. Starting every game for the first time in his career, Sieler tallied career highs in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (22) while adding 63 tackles, four pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

Last year, he kept it going. Despite missing two games with injury, Sieler matched his sack total from the prior year while totaling 19 tackles for loss, 55 tackles, two pass deflections, and another interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery. His 2024 performance had him graded as the 11th-best interior defender in the league, per PFF.

Having totaled double-digit sacks in each of the past two seasons, Sieler made it known that he was interested in a new deal, despite his remaining years. A day after seeing Zach Allen get a four-year, $102MM extension, the Dolphins have followed suit, perhaps realizing that Sieler may just make himself even more expensive with another double-digit sack performance.

It’s safe to say, at this point, that Newsome is probably proud, even if Sieler isn’t on his team anymore. In fact, Schefter points out that Newsome’s final rookie class — including (in draft order) tight end Hayden Hurst, quarterback Lamar Jackson, offensive tackle Orlando Brown, tight end Mark Andrews, cornerback Anthony Averett, safety DeShon Elliott, center Bradley Bozeman, Sieler, undrafted cornerback Darious Williams, and undrafted running back Gus Edwards — has now generated more money in future contracts than any draft class in NFL history.

While Newsome gets to be proud, Sieler deserves every bit of credit for where he ended up. From walking on to a Division II football team to sneaking into the last 19 picks of the NFL draft to making a name for himself with double-digit-sack seasons in Miami, Sieler continues to surpass expectations at every step of his career.

Roger McCreary Aims To Remain With Titans

August 4th, 2025 at 10:40am CST by Adam La Rose

Roger McCreary has served as a mainstay in the Titans’ secondary during his three years in the league. The team’s slot corner is eligible for a new deal, and an extended stay in Tennessee would be welcomed in this case.

“The Titans drafted me, I feel like this is always home for me, so I’ll always be happy to come back,” the 25-year-old said (via veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky). “But I feel like it’s really not my decision – it’s in the upper room. So I’ve got to come out and just keep playing and if it comes it comes… If I play good, that’s going to come.”

Selected in the second round during the 2022 draft – then-GM Jon Robinson‘s final one at the helm, as it turned out – McCreary saw plenty of time on the outside during his rookie season. A shift inside began to take effect the following year, though, and last season he played almost exclusively in the slot. That will remain the case for 2025 with Jarvis Brownlee having played his way into a starting role on the perimeter.

Robinson was replaced by Ran Carthon, but that proved to be a short-lived setup. Carthon’s firing paved the way for Chad Brinker to take on the general manager role this offseason, although Chad Brinker resides as the Titans’ top decision-maker regarding roster moves. As Kuharsky notes, Brinker said at the start of training camp that no extension talks have taken place with McCreary to date. No deadline is in place for any potential negotiations to be cut off, however.

McCreary graded out as PFF’s No. 69 corner during his rookie season, but a step forward took place in 2023 (resulting in a 34th-place finish amongst qualifying players). Last year (as the Titans dealt with L’Jarius Sneed‘s absence for mush of the campaign but still managed a strong showing against the pass), he regressed and received a career-worst PFF grade of 61.3. The Auburn product would help his value considerably with a strong showing in 2025.

Sneed represents a potential cut candidate next spring based on his injury issues and the financial implications of moving on. Releasing the former Chief would eliminate the Titans’ most lucrative contract amongst defensive backs, something which could pave the way for a McCreary investment. It will be interesting to see if serious contract talks take place in the closing stages of the offseason.

Brandon Beane: Bills Still Discussing Extension With RB James Cook

August 4th, 2025 at 9:49am CST by Adam La Rose

James Cook took part in mandatory minicamp in June and participated in the opening practices of training camp. The extension-seeking running back elected not to take part in Sunday’s practice, however.

That shift to a hold-in drew questions about whether or not it would continue. Indeed, ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg notes Cook is present for Monday’s practice but not in uniform. The Bills declined to offer a comment on the situation yesterday, but general manager Brandon Beane has since spoken publicly about Cook.

“I wish we weren’t here,” Beane said during an appearance on WGR550 Monday morning (via Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News) when speaking about Cook’s decision to hold in. “This is my ninth season here, we’ve never had a player miss due to a contract or anything like that, so that’s disappointing for me.”

Beane added he and the team became aware of Cook’s shift in participation shortly before Sunday’s practice. It remains to be seen if electing not to take part will bring about traction on the negotiating front. Team and player have discussed a deal throughout the offseason, one in which a quartet of other key Bills players (Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Christian Benford, and Terrel Bernard) have each received second contracts. Beane noted communication is still ongoing between the Bills and Cook’s camp as the team looks to prevent a potential free agent departure next spring and the two-time Pro Bowler aims to become one of the league’s highest-paid running backs.

$15MM publicly emerged as Cook’s asking price earlier this offseason. Only three players at the position – Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry – are attached to a deal with that high of an AAV. That trio has combined to collect four first-team All-Pro nods and their respective track records outpace what Cook has achieved so far. At the age of 26, though, the Georgia product can be expected to remain one of the NFL’s top backfield producers throughout the length of any new deal he signs.

“We’ll see if we can get something done,” Beane said while confirming it remains the Bills’ objective to keep Cook in the fold past the coming campaign. “If not, he knows that we would try again after the season. So, just if we don’t get something done now, doesn’t mean that we can’t get it before he’s a free agent.”

Time still remains for a deal to be struck, but in the absence of an extension Cook’s willingness to suit up without a new pact – along with his performances, of course – would become a major Bills storyline for 2025. As the team prepares for its latest bid to reach the Super Bowl, this situation remains one worth monitoring.

NFLPA Names David White Interim Executive Director

August 4th, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Adam La Rose

Uncertainty has loomed over the immediate and long-term future of the NFLPA following the abrupt changes made in recent weeks. Following the resignations of both Lloyd Howell and J.C. Tretter, the search process began for an interim executive director.

That effort has now resulted in a hire. David White has been named the union’s new leader on an interim basis, per an NFLPA announcement. White is a former SAG-AFTRA executive director who is currently the CEO of 3CG Ventures, a coaching and strategic firm. In 2023, when Howell was elected, White was the only other finalist for the position (and was supported 10-1 by the NFLPA’s executive committee in a straw poll). After being the runner-up last time, he will take charge of the union for the time being.

“We have full faith in David to take the union forward and operate in the best interests of our membership,” a statement from NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin reads. “David has spent much of his career fighting for collectively bargained rights in the labor movement and is committed to putting players first in all the union does. We are confident that he will inspire solidarity and provide the necessary stability during this period of transition.”

The past two weeks saw a number of candidates interviewed for the position. Internal and external options received consideration, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler report. NFLPA chief player officer Don Davis as well as former quarterback Charlie Batch were among the finalists for the interim role, per the report. Interestingly, the ESPN duo adds a recent league memo which contained the name of five finalists for the interim executive role did not include White.

Howell appeared to be in position to lead the union through negotiations on the next collective bargaining agreement. This offseason has witnessed a number of scandals, however, and it ultimately came as little surprise when he stepped down last month. Since that decision, attention has turned to an ongoing federal investigation into the actions of OneTeam Partners, the group co-founded by the NFL and MLB Players Associations and which Howell sat on the board of governors for prior to his resignation.

Specifically, the matter of passing a resolution which would allow for OneTeam governors to be paid for their services on the board – separate from their existing compensation – is the subject of scrutiny. The ongoing probe, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk details, could reveal details about efforts on the part of Howell and other board members to allow for payment (which does not currently take place). In any case, the past several months have seen Howell’s NFLPA tenure come to an abrupt end and he has also resigned from his consulting position at one of the private equity firms eligible to purchase a stake in an NFL team.

Representatives from all 32 teams took part in Sunday night’s vote to install White as Howell’s temporary replacement, per the ESPN report. The search for a permanent executive director will begin soon, according to Reeves-Maybin, and that process will also include representation from each team when a final vote takes place.

Bills RB James Cook Holding In?

August 3rd, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Rory Parks

5:00pm: NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes (video link) Cook’s camp and the Bills have remained in consistent contact regarding extension talks, adding that the parties are not believed to be far apart. That makes today’s move somewhat surprising, and it remains to be seen whether the nature of negotiations will shift in the near future and whether missed regular season action becomes a real possibility.

12:43pm: Bills running back James Cook is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is seeking a lucrative extension. However, he fully participated in Buffalo’s first training camp practice, and reports at the time indicated he would continue to do so and would not ‘hold in.’

That appears to have changed. Cook did not practice on Sunday, and when asked why, he simply replied, “business” (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). When asked if he would practice Monday, he answered, “business.” Per Getzenberg, he kept repeating the word “business” in response to follow-up questions. The team, meanwhile, indicated it has no comment on the matter, per Getzenberg.

Prior reports suggested the Bills and Cook were still discussing a new deal, although we had also heard there was little traction in negotiations since Cook’s asking price of $15MM per year became public. That AAV would place Cook in a third-place tie with Derrick Henry in the league’s running back hierarchy, and while Cook (26 in September) is over five years younger than Henry with considerably less mileage on his odometer, he does not have nearly the same track record as a game-changing talent.

Still, since taking over as the Bills’ RB1 in 2023, Cook has earned two Pro Bowl nods and has averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry across 444 totes. He has also demonstrated a nose for the end zone, recording a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns last season as part of a Buffalo offense that finished 10th in yards and second in scoring. He is therefore justified in making a big ask, and it is unclear whether his apparent new stance reflects some sort of regression in contract talks.

The Bills have busy on the extension front this offseason. The likes of Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Christian Benford, and Terrel Bernard have each received lucrative second contracts keeping them in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. General manager Brandon Beane has previously suggested Cook would need to replicate his previous production from the 2024 campaign before the team makes a similar commitment to him, however. Today’s development is another sign that could be the case.

In addition to Cook, Buffalo has veteran Ty Johnson and 2024 fourth-rounder Ray Davis set to return in the backfield. The presence of those two as depth options could once again prevent Cook from handling a true three-down role this season, something which would in turn hinder his market value on a second Bills pact or one sending him to a new team.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

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