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Keenan Allen Drawing Free Agency Interest

July 23rd, 2025 at 6:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two of this era’s most accomplished wide receivers remain unattached as training camps begin. Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen have spent more than four months apiece in free agency.

Allen is two years older than Cooper, going into an age-33 season — should he choose to keep going — but teams remain interested in the polished route runner. Multiple teams have shown interest in Allen in recent weeks, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. This offering makes it sound like Allen does intend to play, as Schultz notes Allen is believed to have waited until camp to assess teams’ receiving situations.

An injury could shake up a team’s setup, but underperformance early in camp could as well. A number of teams could benefit from Allen, who is two years removed from averaging a career-high 95.6 receiving yards per game. Even on a disjointed Bears offense that featured two play-callers (and two Thomas Brown promotions), Allen churned out 744 yards and seven touchdown grabs in 15 games. The former Charger dynamo makes sense as a complementary option.

That said, Allen indicated early this year he would not want to play a 13th season in most of the NFL’s locales. He listed a Bears signing or a Los Angeles return as optimal, pointing to retirement if such a fit did not materialize. The Rams signed Davante Adams weeks after Allen’s comments, and they have the recently re-signed Tutu Atwell in place as a No. 3 option. The Bears drafted Luther Burden to pair with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, effectively finding a cheaper option after trading for Allen last March.

Jim Harbaugh did not close the door on circling back to Allen, though the second-year Chargers HC did not sound overly eager on that front. But the recently re-signed Mike Williams has since retired, opening a spot for a Ladd McConkey supplementary target. Allen regularly operated in the slot in Los Angeles and San Diego, though, potentially providing a complication due to McConkey’s skillset. Allen also did not leave L.A. on great terms, as the Bolts offered to keep him at a reduced rate before the trade.

A year later, he would not command close to the $20MM per year he was earning. The Chargers also drafted two receivers (Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith) following Harbaugh’s Allen comment. Quentin Johnston also lingers as an option, but the Bolts struggled to find non-McConkey aerial answers last season.

Allen would enter a 13th season having posted six 1,000-yard slates en route to six Pro Bowls. The Broncos came up as a potentially interested party in April, but they used a third-round pick on Pat Bryant. Allen would stand to give the team a refined Courtland Sutton sidekick, however; Marvin Mims‘ gadget presence notwithstanding, the team may lack such a piece presently. As it stands, though, Allen is unsigned. It will be interesting to see if he has expanded his list of acceptable destinations, seeing as the Chicago and L.A. routes may not materialize.

WR Notes: Godwin, Rice, Hill, 49ers

July 23rd, 2025 at 5:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chris Godwin missed the final 11 games of the Buccaneers‘ season, counting their wild-card loss, but still commanded a high-end free agency deal. Given a three-year contract worth $66MM, Godwin turned down at least one more lucrative offer (from the Patriots) to stay in Tampa. But his return from a dislocated ankle will not commence in earnest for a bit. Tampa Bay placed Godwin on its active/PUP list to open training camp, doing so after the veteran wide receiver did not participate in any OTAs or minicamp work. Godwin needed a second procedure on his ankle, according to ESPN’s Jenna Laine.

While Laine classifies this operation as minor, Godwin’s status bears monitoring. Todd Bowles did not confirm the wideout would be available for the Bucs’ opener, saying he was hopeful the longtime Mike Evans sidekick would be ready. The Bucs are loaded at receiver, drafting Emeka Egbuka in Round 1 following 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan‘s eight-touchdown rookie season, but this will be a storyline to follow during training camp. Tristan Wirfs is already expected to miss early-season time because of arthroscopic knee surgery. Godwin’s second surgery costing him regular-season time would be a tough break for the four-time reigning NFC South champs, but they have been patient with the former third-round pick’s injuries before. Though, Godwin did make it back by Week 1 of the 2022 season despite suffering a ACL and MCL tears in December 2021.

Here is the latest news around the 32 receiver situations:

Rashee Rice received a 30-day jail sentence stemming from his involvement in a hit-and-run sequence, but the embattled Chiefs wideout may not end up serving any time due to deferred adjudication. Completing the probationary process would allow Rice to avoid the prison stint. Rice is also practicing fully with the Chiefs to open training camp (via The Athletic’s Jenna West), avoiding the active/PUP list after missing most of last season with an LCL tear. With a Rice legal resolution emerging, a suspension should be expected in 2025. The 30-day sentence aside, the Chiefs do not have to act here. The organization has dealt with many high-profile instances involving off-field trouble, including a few at receiver, over the past several years. No team-imposed ban should be expected, as an expected NFL suspension will cover the discipline.
One of the previous players embroiled in off-field controversies in Kansas City, Tyreek Hill is now in Year 4 in Miami. Like Rice, the Dolphins talent is full go at training camp, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe tweets. Hill, who underwent wrist surgery this offseason, avoided a PUP placement and will work toward recapturing his Hall of Fame-level form of 2022 and ’23. He is coming off a down 2024, a season that featured him battle ailments in both wrists. A training camp return has been expected, and the 10th-year vet is on schedule. Hill was a partial offseason participant, but camp represents his first chance to catch passes since the offseason surgery.
Before signing Equanimeous St. Brown, the 49ers auditioned veteran kick returner Brandon Powell, Wilson adds. The 5-foot-8 performer operated as the Rams and Vikings’ primary kick returners in recent years. He has been a regular kick returner throughout the 2020s. Powell spent the past two seasons with the Vikings, following Kevin O’Connell to Minnesota. He worked as the Vikes’ primary kick returner in that span.

Lions Meet With LB Kyzir White

July 23rd, 2025 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions dealt with widespread injury trouble at linebacker last season, but the team has seen key principals reemerge. Both Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes are back at work, though Malcolm Rodriguez is not expected to join them for a while.

With their LB depth tested last year, the Lions may be ready to act early in 2025. They conducted a free agency visit with Kyzir White, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. A former Chargers, Eagles and Cardinals linebacker, White has resided in free agency since his two-year Arizona deal expired in March.

A 73-game starter, White was attached to a two-year Arizona deal worth $10MM. Deemed a low priority along with fellow Eagles Super Bowl LVII linebacker starter T.J. Edwards, White joined the Chicago-bound defender in departing Philly during the 2023 offseason. He reunited with ex-Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon and made 28 starts over the past two years. That included 17 in 2024, as the Cardinals quietly improved from 31st to 15th in scoring defense.

Pro Football Focus did not think much of White’s Arizona work, ranking him as a bottom-10 linebacker (among regulars) in 2024 and placing him 64th at the position in 2023. A converted safety, White began his career with the Chargers. A 144-tackle contract year (2021) drew Eagles attention, though he only commanded a one-year, $3MM deal. He still logged a 76% snap rate for a strong Eagles defense that season. He hit 94% and 95% rates, respectively, with the Cardinals.

White, though, was statistically productive in Arizona. He produced back-to-back nine-TFL seasons as a Cardinal and combined for 4.5 sacks in that span. This included a 137-tackle, 2.5-sack 2024. The former fourth-round pick also tallied an interception in both seasons. The Cardinals added Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency as a replacement (also on a two-year, $10MM deal), before using a fourth-round pick on Cody Simon.

Anzalone missed seven games with a broken arm last year, while a Week 3 knee injury shut down Barnes for the season. Detroit then lost Rodriguez to a late-season ACL tear. He began training camp on the team’s active/PUP list and is expected to miss regular-season time. The Lions are still fairly well situated here, thanks to the presence of 2023 first-round pick Jack Campbell, who played all 17 games last season. White, 29, may want to hold out for an injury to shake up a team’s starting crew. An early move, though, would give the seven-year vet a better chance of picking up a team’s scheme ahead of Week 1.

Saints Sign S Julian Blackmon

July 23rd, 2025 at 3:34pm CST by Ben Levine

JULY 23: Blackmon is joining the Saints on a one-year deal worth up to $5.5MM, Rapoport tweets. Mathieu had been attached to a one-year, $4MM pact, one reworked via a pay-cut agreement this offseason. Blackmon played out a one-year, $3.7MM Colts contract in 2024. Blackmon’s New Orleans accord is now official.

JULY 22: Following Tyrann Mathieu‘s sudden retirement announcement earlier today, the Saints have already found a potential replacement. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the team is signing veteran safety Julian Blackmon. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this evening that New Orleans was working to add Blackmon as a Honey Badger replacement.

A former third-round pick, Blackmon was a mainstay in Indy’s secondary over the past five seasons. He started 62 of his 66 games with the Colts, collecting 300 tackles and 21 passes defended. He also hauled in 10 interceptions, including seven between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The safety did deal with his fair share of injuries, including a torn Achilles in 2021 and shoulder issues in both 2023 and 2024.

Despite his starting experience, the safety hasn’t had the best of luck in free agency. Last year, he garnered interest from the Bills and 49ers before ultimately returning to the Colts on a one-year deal. This offseason, it’s been relatively quiet for the 26-year-old other than a March visit with the Panthers.

Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of Blackmon’s first three seasons in the NFL, with the site ranking him as a below-average safety. He improved to 38th among 95 qualifiers in 2023, and he had his best career showing (30th of 98) in 2024. He’s generally graded out well for his coverage prowess, and his ability to play multiple roles (including in the box, in the slot, and out wide) should prove to be an asset for his new squad.

The Saints were likely scrambling following Mathieu’s sudden decision to hang up his cleats, leading to tonight’s signing. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis hinted that the organization could make an addition at the position, although he also expressed confidence in the team’s current options at the position. 2023 fifth-rounder Jordan Howden is the current favorite to start opposite Justin Reid, although Blackmon will join the likes of veterans J.T. Gray and Terrell Burgess as competition for the starting gig.

Jayden Daniels Drove Von Miller To Commanders; DE Discussed Deals Elsewhere

July 23rd, 2025 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Von Miller‘s four years with Peyton Manning brought two Super Bowl berths and a championship; the Broncos secured four straight playoff byes during that period. The all-time pass-rushing great, however, suffered through Denver’s failed quests to replace the QB legend from 2016 until his 2021 departure. That period has impacted how Miller has approached free agency.

Denver traded Miller during the ’21 season, and his half-season with Matthew Stafford resulted in a Rams Super Bowl win. The Super Bowl 50 MVP then aligned with Josh Allen as a high-profile free agent in 2022. While Miller’s second ACL tear marred his Bills agreement, leading to a March release, he took the same approach to free agency this time around.

Going into an age-36 season, Miller said (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala) he met with multiple teams. His Commanders summit took place in late June, and Jayden Daniels sat in on a lunch that included Dan Quinn and GM Adam Peters. Daniels’ presence sold Miller, who signed a one-year, $6.1MM deal (with $4.4MM in additional incentives) last week.

“It was the best team with the best quarterback,” Miller said, via Jhabvala. “That’s usually the math for me to be able to go and do what I do. You can’t leave Josh Allen and just go anywhere. You can’t leave your old girlfriend and just go with just anybody. Josh Allen was MVP of the league last year. I feel like Jayden Daniels has MVP potential as well.”

Washington has not seen a starting QB hold the reins for more than six seasons since Joe Theismann‘s gruesome leg injury; that was 40 years ago. Although Robert Griffin III submitted a strong rookie season, the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year flamed out after an ACL tear sustained in the playoffs. Kirk Cousins started for the bulk of four seasons, while Super Bowl XXIV MVP Mark Rypien is the closest thing the franchise has seen to a long-tenured signal-caller, operating in that capacity for the better part of six years. The Commanders saw Daniels submit a monster rookie-year showing, however, one that catapulted the franchise to its first NFC title game since the 1991 team’s championship rampage.

Daniels’ potential to be the organization’s elusive long-tenured franchise QB obviously matters to just about every party in the building, though it probably does not impact Miller’s thinking due to his age. Daniels dragging a moderately talented roster to the Super Bowl precipice as a rookie certainly grabbed the 15th-year veteran’s attention.

With Daniels on a rookie contract through at least 2026, the Commanders have a tremendous opportunity. Miller will step in as a key option opposite Dorance Armstrong this season, helping a Commanders team that was set to carry a glaring hole into training camp. Miller suffered through some lean years as the Broncos sputtered replacing Manning, and he continues to select teams with ascending QBs when free to do so.

Giants Expect Andrew Thomas For Week 1; No Restrictions For Malik Nabers

July 23rd, 2025 at 2:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Andrew Thomas went down with a Lisfranc injury in mid-October and did not participate in the Giants’ offseason program. The All-Pro tackle has now begun training camp on the active/PUP list. While that is a camp-only designation that does not prevent Thomas from participating in regular-season games, his rehab continues.

That said, Brian Daboll did not confirm at minicamp Thomas would be ready for training camp. The fourth-year Giants HC now is offering a positive update on his top offensive lineman. Daboll expects (via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz) Thomas to be ready by Week 1. That would be a welcome development for a Giants O-line counting on its anchor, a player who has missed much of the past two seasons.

Thomas, who saw a nagging hamstring injury sideline him for seven games in 2023, opted for surgery after the Lisfranc issue surfaced last year. He missed 11 more contests, not giving the Giants a good early return on their summer 2023 extension. Initial expectations for Thomas pointed to a return to full strength by OTAs. The adjusted timetable keyed a more cautious approach, one that produced a revised buildup during the offseason program and a return during camp.

Alarm bells would blare if Thomas cannot resurface at some point during camp, but for now, the Giants are not sounding them. Until Thomas comes back, free agency addition James Hudson is in place as the Giants’ first-string left tackle.

The other significant injury situation in New York has involved Malik Nabers, but the team has its No. 1 wide receiver ready to go. Nabers did not participate in the Giants’ offseason program due to a toe injury. When the Giants opened training camp, though, Daboll confirmed (via Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano) the former first-round pick has no restrictions.

Nabers’ injury dates back to his time at LSU, but it has not caused him to miss a game in college or the NFL. The LSU product did indicate an eventual surgery could be necessary, via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, but he is at work as Russell Wilson prepares to hold off Jaxson Dart this year. (Daboll reiterated Tuesday, via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, that Wilson is the Giants’ unchallenged starter at camp’s outset.) Wilson said this offseason Nabers helped attract him to New York; it will be interesting to see how long this partnership lasts, as Dart’s debut will be a regular talking point.

Rounding out some Giants injury news, left guard Jon Runyan Jr.‘s rehab work was not confined to the ankle issues that required surgery. The 2024 free agency addition also underwent a shoulder procedure, Duggan notes. Runyan suffered a separated shoulder during training camp last year but played through it. Two seasons remain on Runyan’s three-year, $30MM contract.

Braxton Jones Receives Clearance; Bears Holding LT Competition

July 23rd, 2025 at 1:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Braxton Jones made a quick leap from Division I-FCS blocker to starting NFL left tackle as a rookie, moving into the Bears’ starting lineup despite being a 2022 fifth-round pick. As Jones prepares for a contract year, however, the situation has changed.

The Bears have seen their three-year LT starter receive clearance, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. Although Jones will need a ramp-up period as he wraps up his return from ankle surgery, he avoided the active/PUP list to open training camp. That is significant, but the Bears are not planning to give him the blindside gig without competition this year.

Kiran Amegadjie and Ozzy Trapilo, respectively chosen on Day 2 of the past two drafts, are competing with Jones for the LT post, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin notes. Ben Johnson referred to Jones’ experience making him the frontrunner, but the new HC referred to this as a true competition. That differs from how Chicago has proceeded at LT over the previous two summers.

Jones, 26, has started all 40 games he has played as a pro. This included 17 during the Bears’ woeful 2022 season. Over the past two years, though, the Southern Utah product has missed a combined 11 games. This included five due to knee and ankle injuries last season.

The fractured ankle Jones sustained in December defined his offseason, as he was a nonparticipant and rumored to be destined for the active/PUP list come training camp. Jones will at least have a better chance to stake his claim to keep the blindside job now that he has avoided it, but the new Bears staff will greenlight a challenge after the two abbreviated seasons.

Trapilo probably represents the bigger threat here, seeing as he is a second-round pick chosen on Johnson’s watch. Other than Darnell Wright, Trapilo is the Bears’ highest-drafted tackle (No. 56 overall) since Gabe Carimi (Round 1, 2011). Technically, Teven Jenkins (No. 39, 2021) was a tackle draftee; but he spent three years at guard in Chicago. The Bears appear prepared to, at the very least, groom the 6-foot-8 Trapilo for long-term LT duty.

Trapilo took first-team reps with the Bears’ first-stringers during team periods in their first camp workout, per Cronin. With Jones needing a bit of time to reacclimate, this does not seem to indicate Trapilo has an early lead. But it would point to the new staff having a slightly higher opinion of him than Amegadjie, chosen in Round 3 during Matt Eberflus‘ truncated final year on the job. The Yale alum missed a chunk of his rookie season due to injury, playing 125 snaps in six games.

Pro Football Focus has graded Jones as a top-35 tackle in each of his three seasons. This includes 19th- and 22nd-place rankings in 2022 and ’24. An opportunity exists for Jones to bolster his 2026 free agency stock by fending off the younger players for the gig. As of now, it does not look like he is a particularly important extension candidate in Chicago. A good contract year would place him as a high-end 2026 free agent. The next several weeks will be pivotal in forging this path.

Saints’ Tyrann Mathieu Announces Retirement

July 23rd, 2025 at 9:39am CST by Nikhil Mehta

July 23: The Saints will get some minor cap savings from Mathieu’s retirement, per NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett. He agreed to a revised contract earlier this offseason with a $2.47MM signing bonus and a fully guaranteed $1.53MM salary. The latter will come off this year’s cap, while the former will be taken off of Mathieu’s 2026 dead money from his last contract.

July 22: Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu announced his retirement on social media (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport), ending the Honey Badger’s sterling 12-year career.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said that the team was informed of Mathieu’s decision in advance, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, but it still came as somewhat of a surprise. It also leaves the team without a starting safety with six weeks left until Week 1. Mathieu started every Saints game for the last three years.

Loomis indicated that the Saints will explore adding a safety, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, but they may already have Mathieu’s replacement on the roster. It won’t be veteran offseason signing Justin Reid, as he was already expected to start this year. Instead, 2023 fifth-rounder Jordan Howden jumps out as the most likely candidate.

Though he has only logged 11 career starts, Howden played just under 50% of the Saints’ defensive snaps over the last two years, primarily as a free safety. That experience should put him in a strong position to start opposite Reid, though veterans J.T. Gray and Terrell Burgess will also be in the mix. A number of free agents safeties are also available, including former Saint Marcus Maye.

The Saints also drafted Virginia safety Jonas Sanker in the third round, a sign that they believe he can grow into an NFL starter. He will likely have a chance to compete for the starting job, but rookie safeties – even ones drafted on Day 2 – are rarely able to catch up to NFL speed and start right away.

Mathieu, meanwhile, will be enjoying retirement after 12 years, 180 appearances, 171 starts, and more than 11,000 snaps in the NFL. Despite an excellent college career at LSU, Mathieu fell to the third round in the 2013 draft due to size concerns. The Cardinals snagged him with the 69th overall pick, and he went on to finish fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Working regularly in the slot for the Cardinals in 2015, Mathieu earned a first-team All-Pro nod upon helping the team to a franchise-most 13 wins — and a run to the NFC championship game. The Cardinals gave Mathieu a five-year, $62.5MM extension in 2016; at the time, that deal made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. The Cards cut bait on the deal two years in, as the safety market cratered in 2018. After a one-off in Houston, Mathieu made his way to Kansas City and sparked a midcareer turnaround.

Hours after Washington gave Landon Collins a $14MM-per-year deal to reignite the safety market, Kansas City matched it — as the team loaded up around Patrick Mahomes‘ rookie contract. Mathieu played an instrumental role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV-winning season, justifying the team’s big-ticket payment. In 2020, Mathieu intercepted a career-high six passes and delivered his second straight first-team All-Pro season.

Despite Mathieu remaining a quality starter in 2021, the Chiefs let him walk as a 2022 free agent. They brought in Justin Reid as a cheaper alternative, redirecting Mathieu to the Saints (on a three-year, $27MM pact). New Orleans adjusted Mathieu’s deal twice, the second such change bringing a pay cut. Reid joined the Saints this offseason, but rather than finally align as a Mathieu teammate, the former Texans draftee will end up replacing him for a third time.

The LSU standout finishes his career with 36 interceptions, 11 sacks and seven forced fumbles. His work with the Cardinals and Chiefs spearheaded an All-Decade honor for the 2010s. Mathieu retires just shy of $100MM in career earnings, per OverTheCap, though that may change depending on how the Saints financially handle his retirement.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson Begins Training Camp Holdout

July 22nd, 2025 at 10:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

10:38pm: The latest round of negotiations between Hendrickson and the Bengals has proven to be “very contentious,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. He adds Monday’s talks did not yield progress, and it remains to be seen at this point when communication between the parties will open again. A lengthy holdout could very well be in store. He has since landed on the Bengals’ reserve/did not report list.

9:49am: Trey Hendrickson has long loomed as a candidate to skip the start of training camp. With the Bengals preparing to begin padded practices, the reigning sack leader is indeed absent.

Hendrickson informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday that he has elected to hold out from training camp. As a result, he will begin accruing mandatory daily fines while extension talks continue. Owner Mike Brown struck an optimistic tone yesterday when speaking to the media about the Hendrickson situation. For at least the time being, however, this stalemate will continue.

A native of Orlando, Hendrickson posted on Instagram that he has returned to Florida in the absence of an agreement. The 30-year-old has maintained since the spring that he is prepared to not only hold out of training camp but into the regular season if no extension is worked out. Several weeks remain to see if that will end up taking place, but today’s expected update is another indication this situation is not in a good place. To date, the Bengals have yet to offer a deal in the $35MM-per-year range and the team’s preference is to add one year to Hendrickson’s current pact.

Of course, guarantees are a key sticking point in negotiations. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Cincinnati is willing to authorize a multi-year pact which includes a “substantial raise” compared to the $16MM Hendrickson is currently owed for 2025 (video link). The issue, to no surprise, is the four-time Pro Bowler’s desire to secure guarantees for 2026 “and beyond” and thus match what a number of other edge rushers have received on that front this offseason with their new deals. T.J. Watt is the most recent pass rusher to reset the market, and his new Steelers pact includes $108MM fully guaranteed along with a record-breaking cashflow for non-quarterbacks.

It would come as a major surprise if Hendrickson were to match Watt in terms of base or locked in earnings on his next pact. Nevertheless, an increase in guarantees will likely be needed to get a deal done. During today’s episode of Good Morning Football, Manti Te’o said he has spoken with Hendrickson, who described the Bengals’ offers regarding guaranteed money as “atrociously, atrociously low” (h/t Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero).

The Bengals are certainly no stranger to contract drama leading up to the regular season. Tension with the likes of Joe Mixon, Jessie Bates, Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase over the past several years have created uncertainty about those players’ availability in time for Week 1. That will also be the case for Hendrickson unless a breakthrough can be made.

Micah Parsons Avoiding Hold-In, Not Practicing Due To Back Issue

July 22nd, 2025 at 9:55pm CST by Ben Levine

While Micah Parsons is still seeking a new contract, the star pass rusher was in attendance for the start of Cowboys training camp. However, it sounds like the veteran won’t be hitting the practice field anytime soon.

While speaking with reporters today, Parsons revealed that he’s nursing a back injury and doesn’t intend to practice until his body feels right. While Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News described the situation as a “hold-in,” Parsons said he’s not engaging in that negotiation tactic. The veteran also said he doesn’t plan on holding out (via Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports).

“Just being mindful,” Parsons said of his refusal to practice (via Jane Slater of NFL Network). “Obviously, just want to get the body going the right way and where I want it to. But, obviously, with D-Law gone, like I said, I just feel like it was my turn to lead and it’s hard to do that from the crib. So, I want to be here with the guys, show them that I care; I want to be here, win championships. So, that’s why I’m here.”

Parsons and the Cowboys appeared to be progressing towards a deal earlier this offseason, but there have been no developments on that front over the past few months. In the meantime, a handful of pass rushers have earned lucrative new deals, and Parsons admitted that those contracts have left him discouraged about his own contract situation.

“When you go around the league and you see these other teams taking care of their best guys, I seen T.J. [Watt] gotten taken care of. Maxx [Crosby] got taken care of. Myles [Garrett] got taken care of, [and] he’s got two years left on his deal,” Parsons said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “You see a lot of people around the league taken care of, and you wish you had that same type of energy.”

Parsons provided some more insight into his negotiations with the Cowboys…or lack thereof. The pass rusher said there’s “really not much movement” on the extension front (via Jon Machota of The Athletic), and the player said his agent, David Mulugheta, recently reached out to the organization but hasn’t heard back (via Watkins). Parsons even went as far as to acknowledge a potential divorce, noting that “if this is the end, this is the end…I understand the nature of the business” (via Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

Yesterday, Jerry Jones didn’t convey the same urgency as Parsons, as the Cowboys owner indicated that he’s not in any rush to finalize a new deal. On the flip side, Jones also said the two sides effectively came to an agreement on a new contract earlier this offseason (via Hill), but it’s uncertain when negotiations went off the rails. ESPN’s Adam Schefter seemed to contradict Jones’ comments, noting that the two sides still haven’t engaged in formal contract talks.

While a long-term pact once seemed like a certainty, it sounds like Parsons is at least considering a potential exit out of Dallas. While a number of edge rusher standoffs (particularly between Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals) have commanded headlines this offseason, this developing Parsons/Cowboys saga is suddenly center stage.

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