Antonio Brown Reports To Raiders
The Antonio Brown soap opera could be winding down. On Monday, the Raiders’ star wide receiver reported to practice, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Drew Rosenhaus Downplays Antonio Brown’s Absence]
Brown showed up at the Raiders’ facility Monday morning and was in attendance for the daily team meeting. The club’s walk-through practice was canceled, but Brown is back in the building and, ostensibly, ready to get to work.
The mercurial Brown has put the Raiders through the ringer in recent weeks. A cryotherapy mishap left the wide receiver with a foot injury, which was believed to have been the cause of his training camp absence. Then, we learned that Brown was actually staying away because the NFL barred him from wearing his favorite helmet. Brown is still awaiting the outcome of tests to his prized Schutt AiR Advantage headgear, but it now seems like he’s on the right track to suit up in September.
Drew Rosenhaus On Raiders’ Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown missed another practice on Sunday, but Drew Rosenhaus is doing his darndest to keep the hysteria to a minimum. On Monday morning, Rosenhaus went on WSVN-TV’s “Sports Xtra” to discuss the Raiders star. 
[RELATED: Antonio Brown Misses Another Raiders Practice]
“We have worked very closely with the Raiders, and will continue to work very closely with the Raiders,” Rosenhaus said. “I’m not sure we agree that we’ve exhausted all the options, as [Raiders GM] Mike Mayock said, but there’s no doubt it’s still an ongoing process. We are trying to work with the team and the league and the union on a solution. We haven’t figured that out yet.
“To say that AB is upset about the decision to not let him wear his helmet is accurate, but we’re still processing it and figuring it out. I wouldn’t make too much about him not being there today, as much as we’re still trying to come up with a solution that works for everyone.”
The league is allowing Brown to find a version of the Schutt AiR Advantage helmet that can pass rigorous NOCSAE testing, but it’s not clear if he’ll be able to get clearance on his favorite headgear.
Chiefs May Re-Sign G Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen could be on the verge of reuniting with the Chiefs. The guard is discussing a deal with the team, according to former teammate Geoff Schwartz (on Twitter). 
A new deal would mark Allen’s third go-round with Kansas City. The Chiefs drafted Allen in the second round of the 2012 draft and brought him back into the fold in the middle of the 2018 campaign. In between the KC stints, he spent time with the Texans.
Allen has has 66 career starts to his credit, including four last season. The Texans paid him $7MM/year on his last deal, but he’d come significantly cheaper here in 2019.
Chargers’ Derwin James Suffers Injury
Chargers safety Derwin James suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The injury occurred during Thursday’s practice and may sideline him for a significant period of time.
James has been spotted in a boot, according to Rapoport, and Dr. David J. Chao (Twitter link) estimates that he will miss a minimum of six weeks. The more likely scenario, he says, is at least a couple of months, making him a candidate to be placed on IR and designated for return later on.
James made a name for himself immediately at Florida State when he tallied 91 total tackles and 4.5 sacks as a true freshman. A knee injury cost him the bulk of his sophomore year, but he returned in his final year at FSU to register 84 tackles, two interceptions, eleven passes defended, and a sack. Coming off of that performance, the Bolts used the No. 17 pick to select the safety.
Last year, the 23-year-old started in all 16 games for the Chargers and notched 105 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. Without James, the Chargers’ secondary will take a hit, though coach Anthony Lynn seems prepared to fill the void internally.
“We’re going to miss him a lot,” Lynn told reporters. “But we’re a team. We have a good team and we have guys that will step up, and we’ll be fine.”
Jets’ Avery Williamson Done For Season
Avery Williamson‘s season ended before it could start. The Jets linebacker is done for the year with a torn ACL, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). 
Williamson was on the field for the Jets in Thursday night’s preseason game and calling signals for the defense. He was set to continue in a similar veteran leadership this season, but he’ll have to wait until 2020 to pick things up again.
This opens up a major hole for the Jets’ D at the weakside linebacker spot alongside C.J. Mosley. One has to imagine the Jets are on the hunt for a new three-down ‘backer who can work in Gregg Williams‘ defense, but there aren’t a ton of great options out there.
Last year, Williamson totaled a career-high 120 tackles and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 traditional linebacker.
No Extension For Chargers’ Philip Rivers?
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers will likely play out the final year of his contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears. Both sides are “in agreement” that Rivers will probably wind up playing out his deal and addressing his status after the 2019 season, when his deal expires. 
Rivers, who will turn 38 this year, has started in every game for the Bolts since 2006. Currently, he’s scheduled to earn $16MM in the final year of his four-year, $83.25MM extension. That was a significant deal at the time of signing, but the market has advanced significantly for QBs.
Meanwhile, the Bolts are without a true Plan B. The Chargers have looked into taking a QB high in the draft for years, but they have not selected a signal caller in the top three rounds since 2006.
There’s no reason for the Chargers to sweat it, at least, not yet. The Patriots and star Tom Brady are in a similar boat, with the superstar set for free agency after the ’19 season thanks to two void years in his newly-revised deal.
Eagles Sign Brett Toth
The Army has granted offensive tackle Brett Toth permission to join the Eagles (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Under the previous guidelines, Toth would have been locked into his service requirement. However, he’ll be able to put all of that on hold as he pursues his NFL dream.
Toth made history as the first player from West Point to play in the Senior Bowl and he’ll look for new watermarks with the Eagles. Toth’s entry into the NFL, along with the recently cleared-to-play Austin Cutting, could boost recruiting for all of the U.S. service academies and open doors for current Army, Navy, and Air Force football players.
Toth played 31 games for the Black Knights and seamlessly transitioned from tight end to an offensive line role.
Cardinals’ Robert Alford Suffers Leg Injury
More bad news for the Cardinals’ secondary. Cornerback Robert Alford has suffered a tibia fracture, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). He’ll be sidelined for about two months, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), leaving Arizona dangerously short-handed to start the season. 
The Alford injury stings a bit more after star cornerback Patrick Peterson was slapped with a six-game suspension for a PED violation. At minimum, the Cardinals’ pass defense is looking paper thin for games against the Lions, Ravens, Panthers, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Falcons. In the coming days, the Cardinals may look for a significant upgrade at cornerback or, at least, some additional depth.
For now, the Cardinals look to rely on Tramaine Brock and rookie Byron Murphy to start the season.
Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott In Shape
There’s no telling when Ezekiel Elliott will report to the Cowboys, but it sounds like he’s ready to go at any time. Currently, Elliott’s weight is in the low 220s, the lowest it has been since his rookie year, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears. 
[RELATED: No Deadline For Cowboys’ Elliott, Cooper, Prescott]
Elliott’s weight has been a cause for concern in the past. Known for his midriff cut-off jerseys, Elliott has taken some flack for being seen with a (minor) amount of belly fat in place of his once-defined abs. Nitpicking aside, Elliott’s apparently solid conditioning is a good indicator that he is prepared to play football this season, despite his reported threat to miss games if he does not get a new deal.
The Cowboys have reportedly pitched a contract to Elliott that would be closer to Le’Veon Bell‘s than Todd Gurley‘s, making Elliott the second-highest paid running back in the league. Zeke, meanwhile, is probably gunning for the top RB spot.
XFL Signs Landry Jones
The XFL has its first player. On Thursday, former Steelers quarterback Landry Jones agreed to sign with the XFL. 
Jones’ exact destination is TBD. He will be drafted by “one of the XFL’s eight teams” in October, according to the league’s press release.
“We’re excited to welcome Landry to the XFL as our first player and first quarterback,” said XFL Commissioner and CEO, Oliver Luck. “He’s an accomplished athlete with outstanding college credentials and pro experience, and his heart and desire to play football epitomizes the type of individual we want in the XFL.”
Jones, meanwhile, says he “can’t wait to suit up.” Indeed, it’s been a while since Jones saw meaningful action. His last NFL game came in December 2017 when he started in place of Ben Roethlisberger. In previous seasons, Jones flashed some ability in his Big Ben fill-in opportunities.
Last year, Jones had a cup of coffee with the Jaguars. Then, this offseason, he spent some time with the Raiders before being released in May. Earlier this month, he worked out for the Lions, but left Detroit without a deal.
Despite his recent unemployment spell, Jones remains on the NFL radar. He first put himself on the map at Oklahoma where he set Big 12 Conference records in passing yards (16,646), completions (1,388) and touchdown passes (123).