Cowboys LT Tyler Guyton Suffers Bone Fracture
Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton suffered a knee injury during training camp today that has been diagnosed as a bone fracture, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Guyton is also dealing with a sprained knee, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
Initial signs pointed toward an ACL tear, Guyton will not require surgery and may even be ready for Week 1 with a projected four- to six-week absence. In the meantime, Dallas will have to find a new first-team left tackle for training camp who can step up in the regular season if Guyton experiences a setback.
The current roster doesn’t offer any obvious answers. Chuma Edoga, who started four games amid Guyton’s injury woes last year, is now in Jacksonville. Asim Richards replaced Guyton for one game and rotated in during several others, but has been lining up at guard in training camp. Left guard Tyler Smith moved to left tackle for two games in 2024 as well, but he spent the other 14 developing into one of the best guards in the league.
2024 seventh-rounder Nathan Thomas, who spent his rookie season on injured reserve, may also be an option. He has been rotating in as the second-team left tackle in training camp in addition to some time at guard, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Guyton, the No. 29 pick in the 2024 draft, dealt with some injuries in college with five absences due to his injury over his last two seasons at Oklahoma. Despite appearing in 15 games with 11 starts as a rookie in Dallas, he only played 57.22% of the team’s offensive snaps over the course of the year. Guyton played every snap in the first four games before leaving the game in Week 5 and missing Week 6. He played almost every snap in Weeks 8 and 9 before another injury that sidelined him for Week 10. From Week 11 on, he only commanded a 43.4% snap share with a rotational role at left tackle due to poor play that may have been exacerbated by his injuries.
The Cowboys will be hoping that Guyton can hit the ground running when he returns in late August or early September so he can put together a much stronger 2025 season compared to his disappointing performance as a rookie.
Giants Bring Back WR Gunner Olszewski
Gunner Olszewski is back in the fold for the Giants. The veteran receiver/returner has a new deal in place with the team, as first reported by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. 
The move is now official. Olszewski spent time with the Giants in 2023 and was set to remain in place last year. The 28-year-old wound up being injured just before New York’s regular season opener, though, and he was unable to see any playing time. Now, Olszewski will be able to spend the remainder of training camp carving out a roster spot.
Today’s deal comes on the heels of fellow special teams mainstay Bryce Ford-Wheaton suffering an Achilles tear. His absence – stemming from the second season-ending injury of his three-year career – created an opening for an addition to replace his third phase contributions. That will take the form of a familiar face.
Olszewski is a veteran of 65 games across his time with the Patriots, Steelers and Giants. The former UDFA has made only 15 catches in his career and surpassed 100 offensive snaps just twice in a season. An uptick in workload in that capacity should not be expected upon returning to the Giants. Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt are set to remain the team’s top WR options in 2025.
That will leave Olszewski to operate as a fill-in option at the receiver spot while also offering value in the return game. He earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2020 for his work as a punt returner in particular, and he handled that role last time around with the Giants. It would come as no surprise if the same were to be true in 2025.
Broncos, WR Courtland Sutton Nearing Extension Agreement
Courtland Sutton and the Broncos worked out a short-term contract arrangement last year, but the matter of an extension has remained a talking point this offseason. That may change in the near future. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Sean Payton said (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer) a Sutton extension should be in place “soon.” Both Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post and NFL insider Jordan Schultz have offered reports of considerable progress being made with respect to contract talks.
Sutton’s involvement in training camp has varied so far, Mike Klis of 9News notes. The 29-year-old has largely been a non-participant in team drills so far, although Parker adds team and player have an agreement in place regarding his workload. That is, of course, another strong indication a new deal could be in place shortly.
Sutton’s future has been a talking point for quite some time now, with a trade receiving strong consideration in the 2023 offseason. The Pro Bowler nevertheless managed to remain in place with Payton taking over in a receiver room which lost Jerry Jeudy via trade last year. Sutton enjoyed a strong first campaign working alongside rookie quarterback Bo Nix, recording a career-high 81 receptions along with 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns.
That production helped the former second-rounder’s case for another multi-year pact, one which would eliminate the possibility of a free agent departure next spring. Sutton and the Broncos targeted 2025 as the time for such a deal to be worked out. An extension could offer a raise up front compared to the $14MM he is owed while also lowering his scheduled $20.2MM cap charge.
Despite a mutual interest between team and player to hammer out an extension, Sutton was reported to have fallen behind edge rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive linemen Zach Allen in the pecking order regarding new Broncos commitments. Neither of those two have a deal in place, although a number of discussions on the Bonitto front in particular have taken place. Checking off one box in the form of a Sutton extension would, in any case, set Denver up for stability at the receiver spot as Nix plays out his rookie contract.
The Broncos have taken the draft route several times in recent years to add receivers to complement Sutton. Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant will all be counted on to provide value in the passing game in 2025 and beyond. Given Nix’s strong connection with Sutton, though, it would come as no surprise if another long-term commitment were to be made. $15MM represented the average annual value the last time that was the case for the SMU product, but with the position now featuring nine players attached to an AAV of $30MM or more, a raise will no doubt be in store if/when a pact is officially in place.
Incident With Raiders Teammate May Have Triggered Christian Wilkins’ Release; DT Generating FA Interest
JULY 28: ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted during a Monday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link) that Wilkins “playfully went to kiss a teammate on the top of his head,” citing multiple members of the organization. The teammate took issue with the act, which is presumably the one previously reported on. As Wilkins sorts out his free agent options, this incident will no doubt be a point of interest amongst potential suitors.
JULY 27: The reporting on the Raiders’ surprising decision to release defensive tackle Christian Wilkins has centered around the disagreement between the two sides as to Wilkins’ approach to his recovery from the foot injury that prematurely ended his 2024 season. However, that may not be the only factor.
Per Josina Anderson of The Exhibit, an unspecified incident with a teammate may have triggered the release. The team has not confirmed any such incident or complaint, though a league source confirmed to Anderson there was a situation in which Wilkins was “playing around.”
The source presumably offered no further details, and without more, it is impossible to even speculate as to what the alleged incident could have been. It is also natural to think that the Raiders, who are staring down the barrel of a historic dead money charge stemming from Wilkins’ release, may be attempting to bolster their chances of circumventing those salary cap ramifications.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who suggests that is the case, also discusses in a separate piece the difficulties Las Vegas could face if its argument that it properly voided Wilkins’ remaining guarantees is limited to the injury issue. Citing Article 39, Section 6 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Florio says Wilkins has the absolute right to a second opinion in medical matters. So, if the Raiders’ medical team wanted Wilkins to undergo a second operation on his foot, and if Wilkins’ decision to eschew surgery in favor of continued rehab was supported by a different doctor, then Vegas may not have a leg to stand on. Indeed, a league source told Anderson that Wilkins never received a documented write-up for behavioral matters.
Nonetheless, Anderson believes there may be some merit to the rumors regarding the incident with the teammate, because it otherwise does not make sense to cut a quality player at a seismic financial cost simply because of a disagreement over the best course of injury treatment (which is not necessarily an uncommon occurrence). It is also worth noting that, although Wilkins was placed on the active/PUP list on July 18, his release did not come with a failed physical designation (via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer).
That is not to mention the comment head coach Pete Carroll made in May affirming Wilkins had been doing everything he needed to do in order to get back on the field, which Anderson posits is further support for the notion that there is something else at play other than Wilkins’ health. On the other hand, even at the time he made that statement, Carroll acknowledged Wilkins was in the midst of a “long, challenging process,” and as of late June, the 29-year-old was still in a walking boot (though a report from earlier this month indicated Wilkins was making progress).
The upshot here is that a pending contentious battle over finances has become more muddled. But Wilkins, just one year removed from being one of the biggest free agent prizes in the sport, has already attracted the interest of several teams, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link). Rapoport does not identify the teams, and he says it is still uncertain when Wilkins will be medically cleared.
Steelers Release Cordarrelle Patterson
Cordarrelle Patterson entered training camp on the Steelers’ roster bubble. To little surprise, then, the veteran running back/returner has been let go. 
Patterson himself posted on X Monday that he has been released. He will now hit the open market with plenty of time remaining in the offseason to find a new opportunity. One year remained on Patterson’s contract, and this move will create $2.8MM in cap savings while generating $950K in dead money.
After three years with the Falcons, Patterson joined the Steelers last offseason. The 34-year-old followed Arthur Smith from Atlanta to Pittsburgh by doing so, giving the new offensive coordinator a familiar option to work with. Finding himself behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on the depth chart, Patterson only handled 32 carries on offense, though. His 11 kick returns also fell well short of his previous highs in that regard.
A four-time All-Pro based on his special teams abilities, Patterson has topped the NFL in yards per kick return on three occasions in his career. 2016 marked the most recent time that was the case, however, and the former first-rounder has not been a major contributor in the third phase since his final Bears season (2020). That campaign saw Patterson earn his fourth Pro Bowl nod.
Warren is still in place for the Steelers, a team which added Kaleb Johnson during the draft. Those two will handle backfield duties in 2025 and quite possibly beyond the coming season. Having made just 12 catches last year, Patterson’s absence will also not be expected to make a notable impact in Pittsburgh’s very different passing game. Teams around the league may see Patterson as a potential upgrade in the return game, but it will be interesting to see if a strong market emerges in light of his 2024 production.
The Steelers entered Monday with more than $17MM in cap space, but that figure will increase with Patterson no longer in the fold. Pittsburgh could look into further additions late in free agency while Patterson searches for his next NFL gig.
Browns QB Kenny Pickett Dealing With Hamstring Injury
For the time being, the Browns’ quarterback competition has only three healthy participants. Kenny Pickett is sidelined with a hamstring ailment. 
The injury occurred late in Saturday’s practice, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Pickett will be re-evaluated in the coming days to determine the severity of the situation. In the meantime, veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders will split reps during practice.
Further testing will reveal the extent of the injury, but Mary Cay Cabot of cleveland.com reports the Browns are not planning an addition under center. That is certainly an encouraging sign with respect to Pickett’s prognosis as he looks to return to action as quickly as possible. The former first-rounder is among the signal-callers who have seen notable time with the starting offense so far in 2025.
Pickett looked to be in the lead for the QB1 gig this spring, although a report from one month ago indicated Flacco would enter camp as the frontrunner. The latter has familiarity with head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme along with the backing of at least some Browns veterans. Flacco could look to further increase his odds of receiving the Week 1 nod with a slight uptick in work given Pickett’s absence.
Cleveland will, to no surprise, not consider a trade involving either of the rookies. With Gabriel and Sanders safe, many have pointed to Flacco and Pickett – both of whom are pending 2026 free agents – as a potential trade candidates at the end of the summer. The winner of this year’s quarterback competition will of course survive roster cutdowns, but the veteran which does not earn the gig could represent a backup option for outside suitors.
Nevertheless, the prospect of carrying all four quarterbacks on the roster through the start of the season has been raised, and general manager Andrew Berry recently repeated his willingness to take that route. In any case, Pickett’s health will be a factor in determining how the depth chart shakes out. His injury outlook will thus be worth monitoring.
Dolphins To Host TE Noah Fant
Noah Fant‘s free agent tour will include a third visit. The veteran tight end is meeting with the Dolphins today, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
Fant’s first visit took place with the Bengals last week, but it was reported at the time interest was being shown from other suitors. As such, the Saints hosted him shortly after Cincinnati did the same. With no deal in place yet, Miami will explore another addition at the tight end spot.
After it became clear no extension would be worked out with Jonnu Smith, the Pro Bowler was included in the Jalen Ramsey–Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. That move created a vacancy at the tight end position, and the Dolphins moved quickly in taking an unexpected route to fill it. A trade was worked out with the Giants to acquire Darren Waller, who has unretired to play at least one more NFL campaign.
If healthy, Waller should be able to operate as Miami’s top pass-catcher at the tight end spot. The same would also be true of Fant if he were to join the team, however. The 27-year-old has not struggled to line up suitors in the wake of his Seahawks release. Fant has recorded at least 40 catches in five of his six NFL seasons, notching 500 or more yards on four occasions.
Similar production could be expected if Fant were to join the Dolphins, although Waller could also occupy a notable complementary role to wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle if things go according to plan in his case. Miami opened up cap space with yesterday’s restructure of Fitzpatrick’s contract, creating the possibility of a short-term signing amongst the veterans still on the market. Fant will now be a name to watch on that front as he contemplates his options.
Cowboys G Robert Jones To Miss Time
The Cowboys’ offensive line will be shorthanded through the remainder of training camp and into the start of the regular season. Guard Robert Jones has suffered an injury which will keep him sidelined for the time being. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Todd Archer report Jones broke a bone in his neck yesterday. As a result of the ailment, an absence of two to three months is expected. The news marks a blow for the free agent signing, especially given his workload early in training camp.
Jones had spent time at right guard with the starting offense during camp, supplanting first-round rookie Tyler Booker in that role. WFAA’s Ed Werder notes Jones had been enjoying a strong camp to date, but his ability to compete for a first-team gig has now disappeared. Surgery will not be required in this case, per Archer.
After spending his first four seasons with the Dolphins, Jones signed a one-year, $3.75MM deal to join the Cowboys. The 26-year-old has 30 starts to his name, including 17 from last season. Tyler Smith is in position to operate at his preferred left guard spot, however, and the decision to select Booker on Day 1 of the draft put the Alabama product on track to handle right guard duties. Especially with Jones now injured, the Smith-Booker tandem will prepare to play together in the regular season.
The offensive line was an issue for Dallas during the disappointing 2024 campaign, Booker’s ability to succeed in a starting role – along with the development of second-year left tackle Tyler Guyton – will be critical in determining how the unit fares this season. Jones will represent an option to fill in along the interior if needed once he returns to full health. That will not be possible at the start of the year, however.
Buccaneers’ David Walker Suffers ACL Tear
David Walker will not be available to the Buccaneers during the 2025 season. The rookie edge rusher suffered an ACL tear and will miss the campaign, as first reported by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Walker went down in practice Friday, and subsequent testing has revealed the unfortunate news. The fourth-rounder’s attention will now turn to recovery as the Buccaneers move forward with their remaining options along the edge. Walker entered the league after winning the Buck Buchanan award as the top defensive player at the FCS level.
During his time at Central Arkansas, Walker earned All-American acclaim three times. His production helped his draft stock, and as a mid-round selection the 25-year-old was in position to occupy a rotational role during his first year with the Bucs. That will no longer be the case given the injury.
Tampa Bay has YaYa Diaby set to reprise his role as a full-time starter from last season. Free agent addition Haason Reddick is on track to work with the first-team defense in 2025. The Buccaneers’ remaining depth chart along the edge includes Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell as backups. As Fox Sports’ Greg Auman notes, the injury to Walker will help the chances of Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez to survive roster cuts at the end of training camp.
With over $26MM in cap space, the Buccaneers could certainly afford a low-cost veteran to help compensate for losing Walker. Za’Darius Smith, Jadeveon Clowney and Matt Judon are among the edge rushers still on the market at this point, but none have been linked to Tampa Bay this offseason. Unless anything changes on that front, the team will move forward without a notable outside addition.
Chargers, Rashawn Slater Agree To Extension
10:25pm: Mike Florio of NBC Sports delivered some details on Slater’s new record-setting contract. Of the $92MM in guaranteed money, $29MM comes in the form of his signing bonus. His base salaries in 2025 ($2MM) and 2026 ($11MM) are fully guaranteed, as are the $7MM roster bonuses in each year. His base salaries for the remaining years are $26MM in 2027 (guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2026), $23.29MM in 2028 ($10MM guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027), and $20.75MM in 2029. He can also receive a $7MM roster bonus in 2029, giving Los Angeles incentive to let him play out the final year of the deal.
The deal is structured in a way that rewards Slater with the largest one-year, two-year, and four-year cash flows for an offensive lineman in NFL history. Daniel Popper of The Athletic adds that Slater’s cap hits as a result of the new contract will be $14.8MM in 2025, $23.8MM in 2026, $31.8MM in 2027, $29.09MM in 2028, and $33.55MM in 2029.
1:03pm: Rashawn Slater will not enter the 2025 campaign as a pending free agent. Talks on a Chargers extension produced an agreement Sunday. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports team and player have agreed to a four-year, $114MM extension. This monster pact – which is now official – includes $92MM guaranteed and makes Slater the highest-paid offensive linemen in NFL history. As a result of this pact, he is on the books with Los Angeles through 2029.
Given the Chargers’ decision to pick up Slater’s fifth-year option last spring, he was on track to collect $19.04MM in 2025. A mutual interest has long existed for a multi-year pact to be worked out, however, and after skipping OTAs the former No. 13 pick attended mandatory minicamp. Expecting to land an extension in time for Week 1, Slater was also present for the start of training camp this month. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Slater sat out early practices while the agreement was finalized.
When Penei Sewell inked his Lions extension last offseason, he moved the bar to $28MM in average annual value. Tristan Wirfs narrowly surpassed that mark on his second Buccaneers contract, and Slater has now moved to the top of the pecking order. The 26-year-old’s AAV of $28.5MM is a new watermark for offensive linemen, and his guarantee figure – which will come into greater focus when the full structure of this pact is known, of course – far outpaces the other top earners along the O-line.
Slater has started all 51 of his regular season games with the Bolts, putting to rest questions about his arm length potentially preventing him from operating as a left tackle at the NFL level. The Northwestern product earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and has rebounded from a health perspective since being limited to three games the following year. Slater finished a career-worst 17th in terms of PFF grade in 2023, but he landed a far better evaluation last season.
In 2024 – with No. 5 pick Joe Alt handling right tackle duties – Slater received a 90.9 PFF grade, good for second amongst qualifying tackles. The Chargers will be counting on that level of play continuing for the foreseeable future. Alt loomed as a potential candidate to replace Slater on the blindside starting in 2026, but today’s move ensures that tandem will remain in place for years to come.
Strength up front was, to no surprise, a key target for the Jim Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz regime when it took over last year. The Chargers now have Slater under contract long term while Alt has plenty of runway on his rookie pact. Mekhi Becton was signed in free agency after his stellar one-and-done Eagles campaign, and he will occupy the right guard spot. A rotation between left guard and center is ongoing with respect to Zion Johnson and Bradley Bozeman, but regardless of how that plays out the offensive line will again be expected to be among the league’s best in 2025.
The Bolts made the postseason in Harbaugh’s first year in charge, but a turnover-filled performance on the part of quarterback Justin Herbert resulted in a wild-card exit. If the team is to take a step forward this year, Slater will no doubt play a major role. His performance will now be measured with a record-breaking commitment on the part of the team in mind.