Chargers, Keenan Allen Discussing Reunion
The second-leading receiver in Chargers history is discussing a reunion with his initial NFL team. Keenan Allen said in January he would aim for either a Bears re-signing or a return to California. The latter option appears in play.
Allen is meeting with the Chargers today, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport report. Mutual interest exists here, as Jim Harbaugh did not slam the door on an Allen comeback in April. After longtime Allen sidekick Mike Williams retired before his second Bolts stint was to begin, a veteran opening exists here.
Although Allen is more of a slot player at this point in his career, the Chargers are determining if he and Ladd McConkey can coexist. McConkey seized command of the Bolts’ receiving corps last year, being drafted weeks after the team traded Allen to the Bears. After Chicago used a 2025 second-round pick on Luther Burden, Allen’s path back to the team looked to be blocked. A recent report indicated Allen was drawing interest, and the Chargers appear to be one of the teams open to a signing.
The Chargers have a locked-in top target in McConkey, but they do not have much certainty beyond him. The team has not seen 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston justify his draft slot, and rookies — post-Williams — are otherwise being asked to step in. Los Angeles added another second-round wideout, Tre Harris, and used a fifth-round selection on KeAndre Lambert-Smith. While Allen is 33 and nearing the end of his career, he could still probably provide a solid supporting-cast option. The Bolts are undoubtedly seeing what such a move will cost.
Allen’s 10,530 receiving yards trail only 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Antonio Gates (11,841) in Bolts history. Allen also trails Gates in terms of years of service with the franchise (16-11). Not certain to join Gates or Charlie Joiner in Canton, Allen is an all-time Chargers great who provided an important No. 1 presence during Philip Rivers‘ later years and Justin Herbert‘s rookie contract. Allen posted six 1,000-yard seasons with the Bolts, his most recent producing a career-high 95.6 yards per game.
After Allen’s 1,243-yard season, hard feelings emerged after the Chargers attempted to give him a pay cut. This came as the Bolts made four major moves to reach cap compliance in Joe Hortiz‘s first year as GM. The team gave Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack pay cuts and released Mike Williams. Allen was then traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. It proved interesting that Allen was willing to return to the Chargers under this regime, but it being in the city where he lived for 11 years upon becoming a pro obviously matters a great deal.
Last season, Allen became a regular Caleb Williams target. At 32, he caught 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bears did not adjust Allen’s $20MM-per-year deal upon acquiring him, letting it expire in March. Allen’s Chicago-or-L.A.-or-retirement pledge has not produced a known update yet, even as a recent report indicated multiple teams were interested. Allen has not been closely linked to another team, making these rather important Chargers talks.
A six-time Pro Bowler, Allen is running out of time to submit a Hall of Fame case. The Chargers giving him a chance to add important contributions to a playoff-caliber team would help in that regard. Allen joins Amari Cooper as accomplished unsigned 30-somethings at the position, as DeAndre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs and Tyler Lockett found homes months ago.
Cowboys Add T Geron Christian After Today’s Workout
Though, earlier today, it seemed as if La’el Collins was the victor of a two-man audition with Geron Christian today in Dallas, it appears both players will get a chance with the team in training camp. Following today’s announcement that Collins would be reuniting with the team that signed him out of college, Christian was announced as a signee, as well, in an announcement from his representation. 
The Cowboys offensive line is dealing with a bit of a hiccup as starting left tackle Tyler Guyton is now expected to miss several weeks due to a bone fracture and sprained knee. They also are currently 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 pure guard 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 the moment.
Christian joins Collins now as camp bodies, depth options who will need to use this opportunity to secure a bigger role. Collins has a leg up in both starting experience and experience with this team, but Christian has had more success with recent opportunities. Collins hasn’t appeared in a regular season game in either of the past two seasons.
Originally a third-round pick out of Louisville in 2018, Christian’s tenure in Washington was marred by injury. After tearing his MCL as a rookie with only two games under his belt, Christian was set up for redemption as he was named to be the successor to departing left tackle Trent Williams. Christian started six games before suffering a knee injury and missing the rest of the season.
After getting waived in the following offseason, Christian was claimed by the Texans. When both starting tackles went down with injuries in the first five weeks of the season, Christian was called upon to start at left tackle in eight games in 2021. After signing as a free agent with Kansas City and seeing little success, Christian returned to the Texans in 2023 but was cut shortly into the year.
He would land on the Browns’ practice squad and once again get forced into action when both starting tackles went down with injuries. He started the final nine games of the season for Cleveland at left tackle. Christian would once again branch out, signing with the Titans in 2024, then landing on the Rams’ practice squad when he failed to make the roster in Tennessee, and ultimately, getting signed off Los Angeles’ p-squad to rejoin the Browns in a special teams role.
He’ll compete now for another opportunity to stick around, ready to take over in case of injury. He joins Collins as the two new linemen in camp, and they’ll have work to do in order to make the roster for 2025.
D.C. Council Advances Commanders’ Stadium Deal To Next Step
The regular season has not yet commenced, yet the Commanders are coming into the year with one victory under their belt. Though it’s faced severe challenges ever since it’s conception, the team’s RFK Stadium Bill passed 9-3 in a vote by the D.C. Council, as first reported by ESPN’s John Keim. In a statement released by the team, owner Josh Harris called it a “historic moment,” saying the Commanders are now “closer than ever” to returning to their “spiritual home.” 
While the vote is surely a victory in progressing towards the ultimate goal of building a new stadium on the site of the old RFK Stadium, located in D.C., there are still a few steps to go. As outlined by Mike Florio of NBC Sports, today’s vote advanced the bill to a second reading. A second vote will take place on September 17, whereupon, if it passes, it will move on to Mayor Mureil Bowser, a strong proponent for the bill who regarded today’s vote as a victory.
Per a diligent retelling by Keim, this project dates back to the day Dan Snyder announced his intention to sell the franchise, considering some believe this deal could never have gotten this far under Snyder. Within a week of the sale, the new owner, Harris, was meeting with Bowser and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to start building relationships.
Following a successful congressional vote allowing Congress to lease the federal land where the stadium would be built to the city for 99 years, a vote that needed unanimous consent from all 100 senators, the secret was out as Bowser, Harris, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hosted a news conference announcing the deal between the city and the Commanders. This deal consisted of a $2.7BB investment from the team towards the stadium and a $1BB investment “through various means” from the city for the development of housing, a sports complex, and retail shops on the 174-acre property.
Despite a momentary threat from the commander-in-chief, the D.C. Council remained focused on pushing the deal forwards. With some financial alterations to the terms of the deal and some further discussion on the matter, Harris and the team were able to convince enough of the Council that they weren’t playing games and shopping around — it was D.C. or bust when finding a new home for the franchise.
A few more amendments in the days leading up to today’s vote did enough to secure the votes that were needed. As mentioned above, a second vote still stands as a future challenge, but Keim discloses that a source close to the situation has never “seen a second vote go a different way from the first.” Seeing the steps to come as a mere formality, the Council has told the team it can proceed with its planning for the stadium. A bumpy road home to be certain, with a few remaining bumps to endure, but a return to RFK Stadium is looking more and more likely for the franchise.
Texans Sign DT Marlon Davidson, Place Rookie DT On IR
An injury to seventh-round rookie defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton led to a successful surgery today, and the Texans already found his replacement, signing veteran defensive tackle Marlon Davidson, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. With Hamilton hitting injured reserve after the surgery, Davidson’s spot on the roster was earned after a successful workout with the team. 
Hamilton, a productive interior lineman at Rutgers last year, was carted off the field Wednesday with what appeared to be a significant lower leg injury. After being diagnosed with a fractured ankle and getting scheduled for surgery, it was determined that Hamilton was destined for IR with a potential four-month recovery on deck.
Davidson comes in as the next man up. After appearing in only eight games as a rookie, the second-round pick out of Auburn’s role grew a quite a bit in Year 2. Despite a few spurts of absences forcing him to miss six more games, Davidson found himself with a much larger snap share. In a Week 2 matchup, he recorded his first sack on Tom Brady, and in a Week 13 rematch, Davidson recorded a pick six off the arm of the future Hall of Famer.
Davidson’s NFL career has come crashing down ever since. Prior to the start of the 2022 NFL season, Davidson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and was placed on IR. Already on the roster bubble due to his frequent absences, Davidson was cut by the team the following month. He rebounded in the offseason, signing with the 49ers, but was relegated to the practice squad after failing to make the initial 53-man roster and released four weeks into the season.
Once again, Davidson found a new spot on the Titans’ practice squad. He would get called up to the active roster near the end of the season and actually ended up starting the final three games of 2023 in Tennessee. The Titans re-signed him in the offseason, but they placed him on IR with a biceps tear in the preseason. He remained there the entirety of the 2024 season.
Now he’ll get another new chance in Houston. As Hamilton goes down for the next four months, Davidson comes in to fill out the position group during training camp. If he wants any chance at making the 53-man roster to stay with the Texans, he’s going to have to show he can stay healthy.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/25
Here are the first minor NFL moves in August:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB Jaden Davis
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Grayland Arnold
Buffalo Bills
- Reverted to IR: DE Hayden Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Keenan Isaac
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): T Sebastian Gutierrez
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Garret Wallow
- Waived: CB Mario Goodrich
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Chris Lammons
- Released: CB Corey Ballentine
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: T Ricky Lee
- Waived: WR Louis Rees-Zammit (story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Ajani Carter, CB Azizi Hearn, WR Key’Shawn Smith
- Waived (with injury designation): CB Darius Rush, CB Eric Scott Jr.
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB Brett Gabbert
- Placed on IR: CB Kader Kohou (story)
Minnesota Vikings
- Reverted to IR: DE Alex Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived (with injury settlement): OL Marcus Tate
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Kyler Baugh
- Waived (with injury designation): DT Jacob Slade
- Waived (with injury settlement): OLB Jeremiah Moon
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB Curtis Robinson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Reverted to IR: S Marcus Banks, RB D.J. Williams
Washington Commanders
- Signed: Braylon Sanders
49ers Did Not Offer Charvarius Ward Extension; Latest On Colts’ CB Corps
Charvarius Ward landed on his feet in free agency, joining a few third-contract-seeking cornerbacks in collecting a nice payday on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. That market settled in between $16-$18MM per year, and Ward landed a deal on the high end of that range by signing with the Colts.
The All-Pro corner’s three-year, $54MM deal matched the pacts given to Carlton Davis and Byron Murphy, and it came after a down year for Ward in San Francisco. Ward mourned the loss of his 1-year-old daughter, who died in October. Ward missed three games, but he admitted his 49ers tenure was going south independent of his personal tragedy.
“Even before everything happened with my baby, I really wasn’t super motivated,” Ward said, via The Athletic’s Michael Silver. “Because after the year I had in ‘23, I wanted a contract extension — because I wanted to stay — and I knew I wasn’t getting a contract offer. They came to me and kind of told me what it was, ’cause they had (other) people to pay. So it kind of had me in my feelings a little bit. I just never made it public.
“I was hurt when I realized I wasn’t getting a contract extension or even an offer for an extension. So, I wasn’t motivated; like, from OTAs all the way through camp, I was kind of pissed off. I knew when the season started it was a wrap for me in the Bay.”
Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers were interested in paying Ward, but their actions revealed he was almost definitely set to be a one-contract 49er. San Francisco paid their other starting corner, Deommodore Lenoir, weeks after the death of Ward’s daughter. Lenoir, more than three years younger than the 29-year-old Ward, became the corner the 49ers built their 2025 roster around. Ward joins Kenny Moore in a suddenly pricey Colts CB corps. The 49ers also let the likes of Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Aaron Banks walk; they have since paid Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Fred Warner as well.
PFR’s No. 23 free agent, Ward will be expected to reprise his 2023 form in Indianapolis. He earned second-team All-Pro acclaim for that season, which produced a 49ers NFC championship. In 2024, however, Ward yielded 61.5% accuracy as the closest defender. This corresponded with a rise in passer rating allowed (116.6 – up from 2023’s 64.5 number). Pro Football Focus had rated Ward as a top-six corner in both 2022 and ’23, but it dropped him to 93rd. Despite moving close to 30, Ward commanded a big market — one that included interest from the Saints and Chiefs.
Ward and Moore will anchor Indy’s CB cadre, but the team has seen rookie Justin Walley push for a starting role. Walley drew praise during the Colts’ offseason program, but other competitors for the team’s boundary job opposite Ward (Jaylon Jones, Julius Brents) were down with injuries. Hamstring issues have limited both in training camp as well. Walley has since continued his ascent to the point he appears the favorite to be the team’s third CB starter, The Athletic’s James Boyd notes. The Colts have given the third-round pick first-team work alongside Moore and Ward, according to the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson.
Although Walley worked with the starters during the first week of Colts camp, Erickson notes the competition is not over. Jones made 27 starts from 2023-24, helping the team cover for Brents’ injury trouble. Brents is a former second-round pick who arrived just before the Isaiah Rodgers gambling scandal emerged, but the Indianapolis native has played only 11 games in two seasons.
Walley was rumored to be a Moore heir apparent in the slot. At 5-foot-11, the Minnesota alum has filled in for the veteran staple there during camp as well. Moore is not in any danger of being displaced this year, but the Colts look ready to give Walley a big role in the not-too-distant future. That may start on the perimeter this season.
Cowboys To Bring Back T La’el Collins
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 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
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
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.