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Byron Leftwich Yet To Join Colorado’s Coaching Staff; Team Eyeing Mike Zimmer

July 11th, 2025 at 11:04am CST by Adam La Rose

Byron Leftwich was involved in this year’s coaching cycle as he eyed a return to the NFL. The former Cardinals and Buccaneers offensive coordinator interviewed with the Seahawks for their OC posting, but it did not result in a hire.

In March, it was reported Leftwich would join Colorado’s staff for 2025 in an unknown capacity. That could still prove to be the case, but head coach Deion Sanders‘ latest comments on the matter indicate a deal has not officially been made on that front. Sanders is still interested in adding Leftwich to his staff along with another veteran NFL coach.

“Our coaching staff, this is without Byron Leftwich, which I’m praying that he does the right thing, and Mike Zimmer, we have 160 years of NFL experience,” Sanders said at the Big 12 media day (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “With those two added, that’s 204 years of NFL experience. And I want those years.”

Leftwich last worked in the NFL in 2022. Bruce Arians‘ retirement following the previous season resulted in Todd Bowles being promoted to head coach. The Buccaneers’ offense saw a notable downturn in production, ranking 25th in points after a top-three finish in each of the previous three campaigns. Bowles elected to move on from Leftwich, who has been unable to land another NFL gig over the past two years. The 45-year-old was last in the college game in 2022, the final season of his playing career.

Zimmer was out of the NFL for two seasons after his tenure as head coach of the Vikings came to an end. In 2024, he reprised his previous role as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Zimmer’s tenure in Dallas was tied to that of head coach Mike McCarthy, however, so the team’s mass changes on the sidelines left him in need of a new opportunity. At the age of 69, Zimmer has been linked to retirement, and the end of his second Cowboys stint thus appeared to mark the end of his career.

Zimmer has previously expressed a desire to again work as an NFL head coach, although he has noted it is unlikely an opportunity will present itself on that front. The college ranks could allow him to continue his career, though. If he were to take that route, Colorado would be an obvious landing spot. Zimmer worked as a consultant for Sanders with the Buffaloes (and earlier at Jackson State) and his nephew Andrew is already on Colorado’s staff.

Sanders has Pat Shurmur in place as the offensive coordinator on his staff, one which also includes Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp. Plenty of notable names will be in place for 2025 regardless, but the staff could still add one or two more if Leftwich and/or Zimmer wind up taking positions for this season.

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Likely To Land On Reserve/PUP List

July 11th, 2025 at 10:17am CST by Adam La Rose

An ACL tear limited Brandon Aiyuk to seven games last season. Given the timing of the injury, it has long been a question with respect to when the 49ers wideout will be able to return to action in 2025.

Time still remains for Aiyuk to continue making progress in his recovery, but at this point it remains unlikely he will be in the lineup at the start of the campaign. During an appearance on KNBR, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area confirmed (via 49ers WebZone) a stint on the reserve/PUP list would come as no surprise in this case. Moving Aiyuk to that list would ensure at least a four-game absence to begin the campaign.

However, Maiocco added Aiyuk’s knee remains ahead of schedule, an update which has been provided more than once this offseason. As a result, the door could still be open to the 27-year-old suiting up in Week 1. The 49ers have made it clear they are satisfied with their current group of receivers – a unit which no longer includes Deebo Samuel – heading into 2025. That is based in large part on the team’s confidence Aiyuk will manage to return to his previous form in short order.

The Arizona State product’s receiving totals increased during each of his first four seasons in San Francisco, including 1,342 in 2024. That improvement made Aiyuk an extension priority for the 49ers, although the long-running process of working out a second contract included a trade agreement being reached which would have sent him to the Steelers. In the end, a four-year pact was signed carrying an average annual value of $30MM to keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area. That makes him one of eight wideouts attached to an AAV of $30MM or more.

Expectations will thus remain high whenever Aiyuk manages to return to the field. The former first-rounder will be tasked with leading a pass-catching group which still features tight end George Kittle and veteran Jauan Jennings but has seen a number of changes in recent years. 2024 No. 31 pick Ricky Pearsall and free agent signing Demarcus Robinson are among the receivers who will be expected to carve out notable roles on offense, particularly while Aiyuk is sidelined.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already said Aiyuk will miss the beginning of training camp, but his ongoing rehab process will be worth watching closely. In the lead-in to the start of the campaign, a decision will need to be made to place him on the reserve/PUP list or leave him on the active roster in the hopes he will be available earlier than Week 5. It will be interesting to see if progress in the coming weeks alters the team’s thinking in this case.

Chargers RB Najee Harris Injured In Fireworks Incident

July 10th, 2025 at 9:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Chargers running back Najee Harris was injured during a Fourth of July fireworks accident, according to Rick Hurd, Nate Gartrell, and Darren Sabedra of The Mercury News. The running back’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, released a statement assuring that his client only suffered superficial injuries and will be good to go for the 2025 campaign.

“Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees,” Hendrickson said in his statement (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). “Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”

There were a handful of recent online rumors surrounding Harris and a fireworks incident. Fortunately, many of those rumblings proved to be overblown, as the veteran RB apparently managed to avoid a serious injury. According to The Mercury News, other individuals were hurt in the accident, although the severity of those injuries hasn’t been revealed.

Of course, any fireworks incident will bring back memories of Jason Pierre-Paul, who suffered a serious hand injury during a 2015 accident. That incident required the pass rusher to have his right index finger amputated. To JPP’s credit, the defender played another nine seasons following that injury.

After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Steelers, Harris joined the Chargers this offseason. The RB hasn’t necessarily lived up to his first-round billing, although he has managed to top 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four NFL seasons. Harris is expected to lead the RB room in 2025, although the Chargers did use a first-round pick on North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton.

Bengals, Trey Hendrickson Not Expected To Agree To Extension Before Training Camp

July 10th, 2025 at 9:48pm CST by Ben Levine

There appears to be no end in sight to the standoff between Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals. While the 2025 version of the organization would benefit from an immediate resolution, it doesn’t sound like that will end up coming to fruition. While Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic says that the “best play” for the Bengals’ chemistry would be to wrap up this saga ASAP, the writer doesn’t anticipate a new deal being signed before training camp.

To review: Hendrickson has made it clear he doesn’t intend to play the upcoming season on his expiring contract, and the pass rusher also admitted that negotiations between the two sides got personal. The Bengals have been known to dig their heels during negotiations, and they’ve also been apprehensive about giving veterans a third NFL contract. That would seem to signal that Hendrickson’s tenure with the organization would soon be coming to an end, although the team hasn’t been all that receptive to dealing the star defender.

For what it’s worth, we heard recently that the two sides resumed communications as they work towards a contract resolution, with the front office starting to feel some desperation to get their defensive leader back on the practice field. Of course, after handing out lucrative new contracts to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the cash-strapped Bengals may be hard pressed to fit Hendrickson into their cap sheet.

We also heard that there’s been a disagreement about the structure of any contract. While Hendrickson is rightfully seeking some long-term security, the Bengals have traditionally front loaded contracts so they’d have the ability to bail early. The two sides dealt with similar negotiations last offseason, with the Bengals and the defender ultimately agreeing to a one-year, $21MM extension that kept him attached to Cincy through the upcoming season.

That $21MM average annual value keeps Hendrickson just outside of the top-10 among pass rushers, although the four-time Pro Bowler certainly deserves to be among the highest-paid players at his position. Since joining the Bengals ahead of the 2021 campaign, Hendrickson has compiled 57 sacks, a total that already places him sixth on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard. The veteran has been especially productive over the past two seasons, collecting a total of 35 sacks.

We heard recently that Hendrickson is still willing to hold out into the regular season if necessary. Assuming the organization wants to avoid that worst-case scenario, they’ll have to make some major progress in negotiations over the next month-plus.

Chiefs’ Trey Smith Addresses Extension Talks

July 10th, 2025 at 9:26pm CST by Ben Levine

Time is ticking for the Chiefs and Trey Smith to agree to a multiyear extension. While both sides would benefit from some long-term security, it sounds like the offensive guard isn’t overly concerned about his current lame-duck status.

“I leave it to the hands of my agents,” Smith said during a recent appearance on Up and Adams (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “Obviously, the front office staff of the Chiefs are elite, and you know, at the end of the day, I just let them take care of it. I just have to focus on being the best version of myself, being the best football player and being prepared for training camp because St. Joe’s is around the corner.”

The former sixth-round pick finished his rookie contract in 2024 and was subsequently slapped with the franchise tag. That means the offensive guard is temporarily attached to a $23.4MM salary for the upcoming season, an AAV that would easily make him the highest-paid player at his position. That probably explains why Smith isn’t sweating his lack of an extension, and assuming he can stay healthy next season, he may be happy to face a similar situation next year. The two sides have until July 15th to agree to an extension. Otherwise, Smith will play the upcoming season on the tag.

Still, it seems pretty clear that Smith is destined to ink a long-term deal with Kansas City. The Chiefs moved on from fellow guard Joe Thuney this offseason, opening a potential hole on one side of the offensive line. That competition will likely come down to Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Suamataia, who have combined for five career NFL starts.

Alongside center Creed Humphrey, Smith provides some stability on the interior. Smith has only missed a single regular season game since entering the NFL, and he’s consistently finished in the top-20 in Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings. With a Pro Bowl nod and two Super Bowl rings on his resume, Smith is surely eyeing a lucrative pay day, and the Chiefs have plenty of reasons to hand him that next pact.

Garett Bolles Intends To Play Rest Of Career With Broncos

July 10th, 2025 at 6:56pm CST by Ben Levine

The ink is barely dry on Garett Bolles‘ new contract with the Broncos, but the offensive tackle is already anticipating his next deal. While speaking with reporters recently, Bolles said he hopes to sign one last contract with Denver before calling it a career.

“Well hopefully I can do one more. That’s my goal,” Bolles said (h/t Zack Kelberman of SI.com). “We can talk about that later. I’m just grateful to be here. This organization has given me everything. This state has given me everything. The fanbase, the love I have for all my teammates. … I have an amazing coaching staff that believe in me. That’s all it takes. Once you believe in me, I’ll run through a wall for you. I’m glad to be here. I don’t think too much about the future or anything like that. I just focus on the now and what that’s going to bring to me, and just get ready to protect [QB] Bo [Nix] as much as I can.”

While the lineman’s sentiment is nice, it may be a bit premature to be thinking about his fourth NFL contract. The former first-round pick just inked a four-year, $82MM deal back in December that should keep him in Denver through the 2028 season, although there’s an out in 2026 that could lead to that desired fourth contract. Bolles signed a four-year, $68MM extension following the conclusion of his rookie pact.

Bolles is currently placed seventh among left tackles in average annual value, a ranking that is well deserved. The Utah product has started all 116 of his regular-season appearances since entering the league. After being limited to five games in 2022 thanks to a broken leg, the veteran didn’t miss a single contest between 2023 and 2024. After Pro Football Focus graded him as the 19th-best tackle in 2023, Bolles improved to the 14th spot (among 81 qualifiers) in 2024.

Bolles is now the longest-tenured member of the Broncos, and he should continue to be a franchise stalwart playing in front of a franchise QB. While the lineman intends to keep climbing the franchise games-played leaderboard (he’s currently ranked 54th), he admitted that he’s not thinking much about his long tenure with the organization.

“I don’t know if it changes much. I just love everyone,” Bolles said. “Everyone asks me a bunch of questions all the time. I’m just there for everybody. I don’t want to call myself old. I still have more years to go, but I guess I’m old in age but not in football years. I have a young body that I can just continue to go.”

Bucs May Try Zyon McCollum In Slot

July 10th, 2025 at 5:17pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Buccaneers’ safeties have taken the majority of the team’s slot snaps over the past three years, but reports out of their spring practices indicate that head coach Todd Bowles could slide one of his outside cornerbacks into the nickel in 2025.

Tampa Bay is returning both of its starting cornerbacks from last season (Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum) and also added two Day 2 cornerbacks in April’s draft (Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish). All four have primarily played on the boundary in the last three years, so getting more than two on the field will require at least one to play in the slot.

Dean has been a consistent contributor on the outside for his entire six-year career when healthy, so he will likely remain in that role this year. Parrish, a third-round pick, took first-team reps at nickel during spring practices. He primarily played on the boundary in college, but multiple pre-draft projections pegged him for a switch to the slot. If he were to hold onto the starting role, Dean and McCollum would likely reprise their 2024 roles as full-time starters on the boundary.

Bowles also mentioned McCollum as a potential nickel convert, according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. The fourth-year corner has played more than 80% of his NFL snaps on the outside, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In his last six seasons – three in college and three in the pros – McCollum has only played 267 snaps in the slot, but he will have plenty of time to adjust during training camp. However, he may object to moving to a less-valuable position in a contract year.

McCollum playing in the slot would open up an opportunity for Parrish or Morrison to compete for a starting role on the boundary in nickel and dime sets. Morrison did not participate in spring practices as he recovers from last year’s hip injury and subsequent surgery, but he is expected to be ready for training camp.

It is still possible that the Buccaneers revert to their previous strategy of deploying safeties in the slot. Even if Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith as more traditional safeties this year, Christian Izien has been one of the team’s most frequent slot defenders over the past two years. He earned Tampa Bay’s primary nickel job as an undrafted rookie in 2023, but struggled in 2024 as he ceded more slot snaps to Smith. A return to his 2023 form could keep him on the field in a contract year.

Boye Mafe, Seahawks Not Working On Extension

July 10th, 2025 at 3:43pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Seahawks are not engaged in extension talks with fourth-year outside linebacker Boye Mafe, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.

Mafe, a 2022 second-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He broke out in 2023 with 9.0 sacks and 25 pressures, but could not quite match that pace last seasons under new head coach Mike Macdonald. Mafe still earned a career-high 75.2 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in 2024 with notable improvements in run defense and pass coverage, indicating that he’s trending in the right direction in a contract year.

The Seahawks’ signing of DeMarcus Lawrence this offseason will likely eat into Mafe’s snap share, but neither Lawrence nor Uchenna Nwosu are owed guaranteed money past 2025. That could position Mafe to be the undisputed starter in 2026 if he outplays his veteran teammates this season and agrees to stay in Seattle. He could pursue such a contract before the season, but Dugar believes that the two sides will wait until after the season.

As a result, 2025 has massive financial implications for Mafe. Edge rushers from the 2021 draft class with comparable statistics cashed in this offseason, including Greg Rousseau ($20MM APY) and Dayo Odeyingbo ($16MM). Another strong year from Mafe could push him over the $20MM per year threshold.

49ers WR Demarcus Robinson Pleads No Contest To DUI Charge

July 10th, 2025 at 1:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Demarcus Robinson was arrested on a DUI charge in November, and a formal charge was laid in January. The veteran receiver’s legal process on that front has now reached a conclusion.

Robinson entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge earlier this week, as detailed by ESPN.com. As a result of the agreement, charges of driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher and driving without a valid license were dismissed. Robinson will not serve any jail time and will pay a fine of $390 while serving three years probation.

“Mr. Robinson has taken this process extremely seriously by already completing most of the terms of his probation,” attorney Jacqueline Sparagna said after the hearing concluded. “We expect that his probation will terminate early at the 18-month mark after which his case will be expunged.”

The Rams allowed Robinson to continue playing as his case progressed, and he finished the year with career-bests in multiple statistical categories. He then signed a two-year, $8MM contract with the 49ers this offseason and could be in line to start at the beginning of the year as the team awaits the return of Brandon Aiyuk.

A suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy could interrupt those plans. In 2023, Saints safety Marcus Maye was suspended for three games after entering a no contest plea for a 2021 DUI charge, consistent with league policy, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. Robinson would appear to be subject to the same punishment, though that may depend on the specific circumstances of his case, including his pleading down to a misdemeanor.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.

Jets CB Michael Carter II Fully Healthy

July 10th, 2025 at 11:33am CST by Adam La Rose

Michael Carter II managed to play 13 games last season, but he was nowhere near full strength for much of that time. The fifth-year Jets corner is healthy entering training camp, however.

Carter dealt with an ankle injury which lingered through the opening part of the campaign. He eventually recovered but then faced issues stemming from a herniated disc in his back. The 26-year-old saw his defensive snap share drop to 32% – by far the lowest mark of his career – as a result.

“It was super tough, more mentally than physically,” Carter said during minicamp (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “Everything physically was going on, but mentally I was just trying to make sure I was kind of staying in it, staying enthused, not being down and trying to prepare the best I could so I could help my teammates and at least try to make an effort to make it through a game and be out there for those guys because I want it so bad.

“I definitely wanted to make sure I did everything I could to do what I could for them. It was one of those things that it didn’t work out, but I’m in a lot better place now.”

Being back to full health will be key for Carter given the investment made in him by the Jets’ previous regime. The former fifth-rounder landed a three-year, $30.75MM extension last offseason which made him the league’s highest-paid slot corner at the time. Carter no longer holds that title, but after handling snap shares between 64% and 74% during his first three years with the team he can once again be expected to serve as a crucial member of New York’s secondary in 2025.

The new tandem of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn will have Sauce Gardner in place for at least the next two years (although he is understandably among the team’s current extension priorities). New York expectedly lost D.J. Reed in free agency and replaced him with Brandon Stephens to operate as a starter on the perimeter. Carter will be tasked with handling slot duties once again in 2025, and his ability to remain healthy will be key in determining the success of the Jets’ defense.

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