HEADLINES

Month: August 2025

Cowboys To Bring Back T La’el Collins

August 1st, 2025 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

After meeting with La’el Collins, the Cowboys have a deal in place. Although the Micah Parsons news will overshadow anything Cowboys today (and for the foreseeable future), the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris reports they have a deal in place with Collins.

This deal may not be final yet, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, but Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz confirms Harris’ report of an agreement. The contract is pending a physical, per Schultz, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicates the Cowboys will officially process the transaction Saturday. While working out Collins, the Cowboys also auditioned veteran tackle Geron Christian, Wilson adds.

Collins has not seen regular-season action since suffering ACL and MCL tears as a Bengal in 2022, though he has latched on with multiple teams since his September 2023 Cincinnati release. Collins, 32, reunited with the Cowboys to close the 2023 season but did not see any game action. Collins did not make the Bills’ 53-man roster last summer and spent the season out of football. The Cowboys are giving him a chance at another year.

The Cowboys deployed Collins as both a guard and tackle starter, grabbing the first-round talent as a UDFA back in 2015. The team moved Collins to right tackle in 2017, and he worked as — a missed 2020 season notwithstanding — the team’s RT starter over the next five seasons. The Cowboys rewarded Collins with two extensions but shed the second one from their payroll in 2021, leading to the Bengals signing. Collins did not make it through a season in Cincinnati, and the team released him from the reserve/PUP list months later.

For his career, Collins has made 86 starts (71 with Dallas). This profiles as a last chance of sorts, due to the time the LSU product has been away from regular-season action. The Cowboys have run into a key O-line injury, with left tackle starter Tyler Guyton expected to miss several weeks due to a bone fracture and sprained knee. They also are without free agent guard addition Robert Jones. The team has Terence Steele entrenched at right tackle, but Jones is a key swing option following the first-round selection of Tyler Booker. All-Pro Tyler Smith is locked in at left guard, with the Cowboys resisting a move back to tackle for the ascending performer. At this point in his career, Collins would be a depth option at best. But he is one the Cowboys appear to need right now.

Ravens TE Isaiah Likely Undergoes Surgery For Broken Bone In Foot

August 1st, 2025 at 11:56am CST by Ely Allen

AUGUST 1: Likely confirmed on Friday that his surgery took place. His recovery period will now begin as he looks to minimize the regular season time missed as a result of the procedure.

JULY 31: After having some of the best injury luck in the league last year, the Ravens were tested in the opening days of camp. Yesterday’s practice ended when tight end Isaiah Likely rolled his ankle and needed to be carted off the field. Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that Likely would miss a few weeks. News broke this morning that Likely suffered a small fracture in his foot and will be undergoing surgery this week to repair the broken bone, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

It’s an unfortunate development for Likely as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract, but the diagnosis is actually a bit of a relief for player and team. Early estimates predict about a six-week recovery for the 25-year-old, with thoughts that it could be a shorter recovery period depending on the results of the surgery. A full six weeks from today puts us midway through Weeks 1 & 2, and if he can get an expedited recovery, he could be back on the field in time for the season opener.

The Ravens aren’t likely to try to rush him back onto the field, though. They’ll be okay with him getting a late start to the season — a much better predicament than what a more severe injury could have put them in. It’s a long season, and they’ll be careful and sure that he’s ready to come back.

Likely doesn’t need to prove himself to Baltimore. Though his career-high totals from last year were modest (42 catches, 477 yards, six touchdowns), Likely has flashed serious ability over his three years in the league. It’s hard to get snaps from behind an All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler, and franchise touchdown leader in Mark Andrews, but the Ravens have had trouble keeping Likely off the field. On occasions when Andrews has missed time with injury, Likely has shown full potential to function as a team’s TE1.

Per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), though Andrews ranked as the fourth-best tight end in the NFL last year, Likely was right behind him at seventh. They were one of only two teams to have two players in the top ten; Minnesota’s duo of T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver ranked eighth and ninth, respectively.

Baltimore is in good hands, though. TE3, who will now step up in Likely’s absence, is Charlie Kolar. Kolar ranked 20th in the league, per PFF, and when ranking tight ends purely by their receiving grades, Andrews, Kolar, and Likely appear at fourth, eighth, and ninth, respectively. Kolar will now have to keep those analytic grades up with more opportunities early in the season until Likely can get back. Also, playing in the final year of his rookie deal, Kolar could have a chance to prove himself to the free agent market, as well.

It will be interesting to see if Baltimore puts Likely on an injured list that would require him to miss the first four games of the season or if they decide to keep him on the active roster to avoid the forced absences. It could also throw a wrinkle in their roster-building plans if they decide to roster an extra tight end until Likely is full-go.

If so, it might require a free agent signing, considering the only two tight ends on the roster behind Andrews, Likely, and Kolar are Sam Pitz — an undrafted rookie — and Zaire Mitchell-Paden — a player who has failed to appear in a single NFL game since going undrafted in 2022. Whatever they decide, it will likely just be a bandage to patch things up until Likely can return.

Micah Parsons Considering Trade Request From Cowboys

August 1st, 2025 at 10:24am CST by Adam La Rose

The latest update in the Micah Parsons saga further illustrates the tensions between his camp and the Cowboys. With no active extension talks ongoing, an escalation could soon take place.

Parsons is now “considering drastic measures” as it pertains to his future, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. That could include a trade request or a decision to cut ties with the Cowboys altogether. The latter step would be rather difficult since the four-time Pro Bowler is under contract with Dallas for 2025, but a public request to be dealt would of course fall in line with standard practice for a number of players dissatisfied with their situation.

Since a face-to-face summit with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took place in the spring – during which the framework of an agreement was worked out – things have spiraled in this case. The top of the edge rush market has swelled multiple times in 2025, as expected. T.J. Watt now leads the way as a result of his $41MM-per-year Steelers pact, but Parsons has long been expected to surpass that figure based on his age.

The 26-year-old originally targeted the start of free agency as the timeline for a new deal before shifting that to the beginning of training camp. With both artificial deadlines having come and gone, Parsons has grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress at the negotiating table. The price of a second Dallas contract – presuming one eventually gets signed – will no doubt be higher than it would have been had the parties consummated a deal before the Watt agreement. Public comments made recently on both sides have heightened speculation this situation may not result in the long-term pact many have long expected would be the case.

Prior to Russini’s report, Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS confirmed on Friday morning that the narrative of tension between Parsons and the Cowboys has a strong foundation. He added that, in addition to issues of term length and compensation, “feelings” are among the issues yet to be resolved in this saga. An asking price beyond what was already (informally) agreed to this spring would be an understandable cause for consternation on the part of the Cowboys. Likewise, seeing his extension talks drag out in a similar fashion to those of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year has unsurprisingly irked Parsons and his representation given their desire to work out a deal as early as 2024.

Having earned a spot on the first or second All-Pro team during each of his four seasons to date, Parsons has a strong case to move the EDGE market to a new financial position. The Penn State product has amassed 52.5 sacks to date and will be counted on to lead the way in the pass rush department for Dallas in 2025 and (theoretically, at least) beyond. No agreement being struck in this case could lead to a free agent departure next spring or, more likely, a decision from the Cowboys to apply the franchise tag.

Agent David Mulugheta has been in contact with Adam Prasifka, who regularly has a strong role in player contract talks. Neither Jerry nor COO Stephen Jones has spoken with Mulugheta to date, however, and it would come as a surprise if any positive movement were to come about until and unless that changes. For now, attention will turn to Parsons and his willingness to take things a step further in the absence of traction on the negotiating front.

Louis Rees-Zammit To Return To Rugby

August 1st, 2025 at 9:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit made an attempt at an NFL career last year. While he did not play in any regular season games, he noted in June his intention of continuing to push for a roster spot through at least the 2025 campaign.

A change of heart has since taken place, however. Rees-Zammit – who began with the Chiefs but spent the 2024 campaign on the Jaguars’ practice squad – announced on Friday that he is returning to rugby. His NFL tenure thus comes to an end after three preseason appearances with Kansas City.

“It’s been a great experience but it’s time to come home,” the 24-year-old wrote on Instagram. “I’ve decided that this is the best time to make this decision to give myself time to get everything in place for next season.”

Rees-Zammit’s attempt to break through in the NFL came amidst questions about his best position. Time spent at both receiver and running back did not yield a clear path to a roster spot with the Chiefs, and he was among the team’s final roster cuts. Immediately after being waived, the Welshman joined the Jaguars via a practice squad deal. After not seeing any game time, he landed a contract on Jacksonville’s active roster in February (as opposed to a reserve/futures pact) and later received a roster exemption through the International Player Pathway.

As a result, waiving Rees-Zammit or placing him on the reserve/retired list in the wake of today’s decision will not alter the Jags’ outlook heading into the final month of the offseason. If the team elects to make a skill position addition at some point over the coming weeks, Jacksonville will be able to afford one with nearly $19MM in cap space.

CB Greg Newsome Hopes To Finish Career With Browns

August 1st, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Greg Newsome has frequently been mentioned in trade talks, but he is set to remain with the Browns for 2025. As he enters what could be a make-or-break Cleveland season, the former first-round corner aims to land a new commitment from the team.

The Browns exercised Newsome’s fifth-year option last spring. As a result of the move, he is due $13.38MM for 2025, a season in which a starting role on the outside should await him. The Achilles tear suffered by Martin Emerson this week will sideline him for the 2025 season and leave Cleveland without a full-time CB starter. Denzel Ward will remain in place as a perimeter starter, but in Emerson’s absence Newsome should move from the slot to the boundary.

A strong campaign in that role would help Newsome’s value on his second NFL contract, regardless of where it comes from. The 25-year-old saw a notable decline in playing time and struggled in coverage last season before landing on injured reserve. In the wake of those developments – along with a looming Emerson raise provided he lands a new Browns pact – Newsome has long been connected to trade rumors. If the Northwestern product has his way, though, he will remain in Cleveland through the remainder of his career.

“I’ve said it since the day I was drafted, I want to be a Brown for life, and in order to do that I got to hold [up] my end of the bargain,” Newsome said when asked about his future (via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal). “The good thing is I’m starting this training camp healthy so I’m able to get out there and get the reps in before the season starts, and that’s my main goal. It’s always been my goal is to be a Brown for life, so I got to hold up my end of the bargain.”

Newsome has 54 games and 42 starts to his name, but he will look for a healthier and more productive 2025 than his previous campaign (in which he was charged with four touchdowns and a passer rating of 112.5 allowed in coverage). While the Browns struggled in total defense last season, they ranked 12th against the pass. Improvement in both areas will be difficult without Emerson, but Newsome figures to have a notable role in the effort to take a step forward.

Given his age, Newsome would be at least an attractive depth option for contending teams leading up to the trade deadline. An encouraging season would also boost his free agent stock, but it will be interesting to see if the Browns show a willingness to authorize a long-term pact in the event they retain him through the regular season.