Aaron Rodgers Reports To Packers
Aaron Rodgers is in the building. Hours after reaching agreement on a revised contract, Rodgers arrived for Tuesday morning’s practice in Green Bay (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
[RELATED: Rodgers Wants Packers To Sign Cobb]
Rodgers touched down in Wisconsin on Monday night. Now, it’s official — Rodgers’ holdout is over. The two sides reached an unexpected compromise that will include the voiding of Rodgers’ 2023 season. Next year, the two sides will revisit their situation, which should mean an extension for the reigning MVP or a parting of ways.
The new deal doesn’t come with any new money, which is consistent with what we’ve heard all along — Rodgers’ holdout was less about dollars and more about loyalty. Meanwhile, his 2021 has been restructured to give the Packers additional cap room. Some of that cash could go towards a reunion with longtime pal Randall Cobb.
So, for the time being, 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love will continue to hold the clipboard. Of course, that won’t stop the speculation as Rodgers begins his “Last Dance.”
Daniel Kilgore Retires From NFL
That’s a wrap for Daniel Kilgore. On Monday, the longtime NFL center announced his retirement on Instagram, capping his career after ten pro seasons. 
“After an unforgettable decade, I am announcing my retirement from the NFL,” Kilgore wrote. “My love for the game of football will never go away, but I have decided that at this point in my life it is time to retire.”
Kilgore, 33, caught on with the Chiefs late in the 2020 preseason. He started three games for Kansas City between Weeks 6 and 8, but he only saw three more regular season games the rest of the way, with two of those outings seeing him collect a total of only five offensive snaps. Kilgore appeared in the Chiefs’ win over the Bills in the AFC Championship, playing on six special teams snaps. He also took the field for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl showdown against the Bucs.
Despite a number of injuries, Kilgore managed a lengthy NFL career with 98 appearances and 60 total starts for the 49ers, Dolphins, and Chiefs. We here at PFR wish him the best in retirement.
Bears To Sign Jesse James
The Bears have agreed to sign Jesse James to a one-year deal. The tight end (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). It’s likely a low-cost, one-year deal for the veteran, allowing Chicago to evaluate him in camp with little risk. 
James was released by the Lions earlier this year, just halfway through his four-year, $22.6MM pact he signed back in 2019. Starting out as a fifth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2015, he flashed some potential in Pittsburgh, including a 423-yard campaign in 2018. Between 2016-2018, James managed 112 grabs for 1,113 yards and eight touchdowns.
That potential earned him the big contract from the Lions, but the Penn State product disappointed there. In 32 games (18 starts) over two years, James hauled in just 30 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Outside of some reported interest from the Bills back in April, we haven’t heard much about James this offseason. Now, he’ll look to join a TE group that includes Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, and fellow newcomers J.P. Holtz and Jake Butt.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Marcus Henry
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee, OL Jason Spriggs
- Cut: RB Tony Brooks-James
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Reece Horn
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Kyron Brown
Denver Broncos
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Jamar Johnson, CB Kary Vincent
Houston Texans
- Placed on PUP list: OL Marcus Cannon, OL Lane Taylor
- Cut: LS Mitchell Fraboni
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: DT Rob Windsor (out for year)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LS James Winchester
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: P Corliss Waitman
- Cut: K Dominik Eberle
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Tutu Atwell
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Carson Meier
- Cut with injury settlement: TE Jibri Blount
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on PUP list: K Riley Patterson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Kendall Donnerson
- Placed on PUP list: WR Michael Thomas
- Placed on NFI list: OL Derrick Kelly
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Eddie Yarbrough
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Darece Roberson
- Cut: CB Saivion Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DB Chris Cooper
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DL Kyle Peko, Anthony Rush,
- Cut: DL Bruce Hector
Saints To Audition Chris Hogan
The Saints will work out a group of wide receivers on Monday, including veteran Chris Hogan (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Hogan, who most recently played for the Jets, could help fill in for Michael Thomas as he recovers from his ankle injury. 
[RELATED: Michael Thomas To Miss Time]
Hogan has been spending his summer in the Premier Lacrosse League, reliving his days at Penn State. Hogan played only played one season of college football at Monmouth before transferring to the Nittany Lions where he played lacrosse. Then, he hooked on with the Bills practice squad and eventually became a well-known figure with the Patriots from 2016-2018.
The two-time Super Bowl champ has since spent time with the Panthers and Jets, but injuries slowed him at both stops. With Gang Green last year, he recorded 14 catches for 118 yards.
At the age of 33, Hogan doesn’t profile as a perfect replacement for Thomas. However, the Saints hope to have Thomas — with healthy ligaments — on the field sooner rather than later.
Vikings Waive Jaylen Twyman
The Vikings have waived rookie defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman, per a club announcement. The move will make room for new wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who agreed to a deal over the weekend. Twyman will revert to the non-football injury list if he clears waivers.
Twyman was shot four times in Washington D.C. earlier this summer. Fortunately, the Pitt product is expected to make a full recovery, but the incident will keep him off the field for the time being. No surgery was required, but his “superficial, exit wounds” prompted the Vikings to put him on the non-football injury list.
“He walked himself into the hospital. He was an innocent bystander in a car — wrong place, wrong time,” agent Drew Rosenhaus said. “They did X rays, there are no broken bones, no ligament damage. I spoke to his father, he’s going to be OK. And I informed the Vikings of everything that is going on and how he is.”
The Vikings drafted Twyman in the sixth round at No. 199 overall. In his two years at Pitt, the 21-year-old notched 57 tackles and eleven sacks.
Bears Place Tarik Cohen On PUP
The Bears announced that they have placed Tarik Cohen on the Physically Unable to Perform list. It’s a sign that the running back may be behind schedule as he looks to recover from last year’s ACL injury. 
At this rate, it doesn’t sound like the Bears should expect to have Cohen for Week 1. Cohen, who turns 26 on Monday, has spent his entire career in Chicago. That includes his 2018, a season with 1,169 yards from scrimmage, eight touchdowns, and tons of highlights as a returner. He led the league with 411 punt return yards in ’18, capturing All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods.
Things haven’t been quite the same since. Cohen started a career-high 11 games in 2019, but he was limited to just 669 yards from scrimmage. Last year he limited by the ACL, but he ceded the top job to David Montgomery before the injury even happened.
Cohen is still an important part of the Bears’ offense, so they want him on the field and healthy ASAP. Beyond that, there are also some financial considerations — it’s been less than a year since he signed his three-year, $17.25MM extension.
If Cohen misses time, the Bears will open the year with Damien Williams, Ryan Nall, Artavis Pierce, and rookies Khalil Herbert and CJ Marable behind Montgomery.
Titans Sign John Simon
The Titans have signed outside linebacker John Simon, per a club announcement. Fellow pass rusher Tuzar Skipper has been cut in a corresponding move. 
Simon has been with the Patriots for the last three years. In 2020, he started in all 16 games and registered 53 stops with two sacks. All in all, he’s got 97 appearances and 52 career starts to his credit for the Ravens, Texans, Colts, and Patriots.
Simon is perhaps best known for the three-year, $14MM deal he signed with the Colts in 2017. That deal didn’t make it to Year Two, but he’s quietly put together a solid career in the NFL. Few know Simon’s ability better than Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who’s coached the veteran at two different stops.
Skipper, meanwhile, will go to the waiver wire. Teams will have 24 hours to enter claims on him before he reaches unfettered free agency.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DE Daeshon Hall
Bengals, Sam Hubbard Agree To Extension
The Bengals and Sam Hubbard have reached agreement on a four-year, $40MM extension (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Hubbard has been of the few bright spots in the Bengals’ front seven. Now, they’ve got him locked up for years to come.
Hubbard has split time at defensive end and linebacker, racking up 177 tackles and 16.5 sacks since his 2018 debut. Over the last three seasons, he’s proven to be one heck of a third round find. The Bengals hope for similar results from this year’s crop of mid-round linemen — Joseph Ossai, Cameron Sample, and Tyler Shelvin. But, even if they all don’t pan out, they’ll have the 26-year-old leading the charge for years to come.
The bulk of Hubbard’s 16.5 career sacks came in his first two pro seasons. Last year, he had just two, thanks in part to a mid-year elbow injury. The Bengals are counting on him more than ever now that Carl Lawson (5.5 sacks in 2020) has moved on to the Jets.
This year, the Ohio State product will be joined by a number of new faces, including ex-Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson. As a first-time full-time starter, Hendrickson notched 25 QB hits, and 13.5 sacks. Between Hendrickson and continued improvement Hubbard, the Bengals are expecting much better results than last year when they finished one of the worst pass rush units in the NFL.