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SAN DIEGO — It’s nothing but good vibes for Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers in what has become their annual trek to his former stomping grounds at the University of San Diego. “Blessed is the word that I can come up with because there’s no word better than blessed,” Harbaugh said about the second year of his team’s return to San Diego. “That’s how I think of the days here when I was coaching at USD.” The team practiced in front of packed crowds for two days in their former city, which included a moment of silence for former Chargers linebacker Billy Ray Smith, who passed away last week at the age of 64 due to dementia caused by CTE, according to Smith’s family. Mike McDaniel got into the act. The blingy offensive coordinator said he was unprepared to take off his shades during an indoor press conference with reporters. “Ron Burgundy wasn’t lying,” McDaniel said about being in San Diego. “This place is sweet.” Even recently engaged franchise quarterback Justin Herbert joined the love fest, as fiancée Madison Beer stroked his brow like both were hanging out at the beach on the field after practice. But hey, this is football season. So, here are four takeaways from watching this team with Super Bowl expectations on the hoof for two days. 1. McDaniel-Herbert Duo Off To Good Start One of the biggest moves this offseason for Harbaugh was letting go of good friend Greg Roman in favor of an innovative offensive mind in McDaniel. So far, Herbert and McDaniel have meshed well, as the Oregon product is focused on getting the ball out more quickly and leaning on a diverse running game led by second-year pro Omarion Hampton and free-agent signee Keaton Mitchell. McDaniel talked about stressing Herbert in practice, citing an example of the talented quarterback forcing a ball into tight coverage to Tre Harris that was picked off by safety Kendall Williamson. “He hasn’t strayed,” McDaniel said about Herbert. “What you’re asking a quarterback to do is not succumb to the compass of results. It’s the process of how we’re doing things, and his investment has been a full immersion into that process.” For his part, Herbert said the detailed McDaniel is showing him a new way to look at generating efficient, effective offensive plays that lead to explosive plays and scores — by pushing the limits and learning from the mistakes made in practice. “The more reps, the better,” Herbert said when asked about his evolution in mastering the offense. “In OTAs we did everything we could to master the footwork, master the offense. Now, we’re just going out there and playing fast and letting the ball fly around. And I think that’s what is important in camp, is to just go out there and play football like you’re reacting and playing in a game. And treating those reps like real game reps.” 2. Tre Harris Taking Another Step In Development One player who has consistently flashed so far is second-year pro receiver Tre Harris. The Ole Miss product selected in the second round by the Bolts last year finished with 30 receptions for 324 yards and a score as a rookie. Harris bulked up this offseason and has looked more explosive during training camp as a frequent target for Herbert. McDaniel said Harris was a player he wanted to draft while serving as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. “He is a grown man,” McDaniel said. “He’s put on the appropriate mass through blood, sweat and tears, giving him the muscle and strength that will make him a matchup nightmare.” 3. Offensive Line Remains A Work In Progress The Chargers have both bookend tackles back healthy and participating in practice after season-ending leg injuries in left tackle Rashawn Slater and right tackle Joe Alt. Harbaugh said joining that duo as cemented starters up front are free agent pickups Cole Strange at right guard and center Tyler Biadasz at center. That said, there’s a five-man competition for the starting left guard position between Kayode Awosika, Trey Pipkins, Trever Penning, Jake Slaughter and Branson Taylor. Harbaugh said Awosika is leading the pack right now, and he’d like to decide on a starter in another 10 practice days. However, with the rash of injuries the Chargers experienced last season and Herbert finishing as the most-hit quarterback in the league in 2025, the important thing for the Chargers is creating positional flexibility through the offensive line room by generating experienced, functional depth along the offensive line. “There’s a high focus on it,” Harbaugh said. “It’s critical to us. And Butch (offensive line coach Butch Berry) is doing a great job. There’s numerous guys with guard-tackle flexibility. … We’ve got a good amount of flexibility there.” Harbaugh has mentioned working smarter, not harder in training camp. So, considering the bad injury luck this franchise experienced last season, it was good to see the Chargers have a light job through practice a day after the team’s first padded practice. Specifically, left tackle Rashawn Slater, who missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee in a training camp practice, got a bit dinged up during the first padded practice, appearing to suffer a leg injury. Rather than limp through practice, the Chargers wisely had Slater watch from the sidelines to avoid further injury. Slater returned to practice the following day and appeared healthy. Harbaugh and the Chargers appear focused on putting their best foot forward when it comes to health, working to get their best players to the start of the regular season as healthy as possible. 4. Tuli Tuipulotu contract impasse still an issue The Chargers already have a tough task in replacing departed defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who left to take over the Baltimore Ravens head coaching job this offseason. Former Western Michigan defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, who served as the safeties coach for the Bolts two years ago, has been tasked with that job. Making matters worse for the Chargers is that one of the team’s best defensive players, linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, has been limited for much of camp as he’s seeking a contract extension while entering the final year of his rookie deal. The Bolts would like to have the team’s leading pass rusher (13 sacks in 2025) from last season back to full-go sooner rather than later.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love is an NFL quarterback with two impulses above all others. The first is the one I suspect coach Matt LaFleur is most proud of, in large part because it’s the one LaFleur and his staff have instilled in Love over the course of the 27-year-old QB’s five years with the Green Bay Packers. “I’m always trying to get to third-and-short,” Love told me Tuesday at Packers camp. But there’s another impulse. And perhaps this one is innate, in part because of Love’s rare height, weight, speed, agility and — most important — arm strength. That impulse? “I always want the big play,” the 6-foot-4, 220-pound QB told me. Of course, in football, as in life, you can’t “always” have two distinct things. Get into third-and-short. Or hunt the big play. “Definitely in constant conflict,” Love said with a laugh. The difficulty of quarterbacking in today’s NFL — with an uptick in conservative, shell defenses that force passers to be painstakingly patient — is managing that conflict. But when a QB gets it right, his coaches are happy and his receivers are happy and he — in turn — is happy. “Everybody’s happy,” Love agreed. “It all comes down to winning.” Nowadays, that’s all Love seems to care about. While his counting stats have progressively decreased, his advanced stats have never been better. His touchdown totals have declined, but his mastery of the game is luminescent on his game tape. Love has turned into The QB Nerd’s favorite quarterback, with film-watchers and data-crunchers touting him endlessly. But then the fantasy football owners and box-score warriors treat him as their scapegoat, pointing to disappointing game totals, flagrant errors and interceptions (of which there are not many). Love landed outside the top 10 among QBs in at least one executive poll this offseason. He wasn’t one of the top 10 rated QBs in “Madden 27.” And he’s never been a Pro Bowl selection — just a one-time alternate joining the likes of Mac Jones and Shedeur Sanders. Where is the love? The first thing you have to do with Love is throw the counting stats out the window. To some degree, that seems to be what he’s doing. “He’s very aggressive when it comes to looking for home runs,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told me Tuesday. “But he’s learned to take what the defense gives him. … It’s what a mature person does, and a mature quarterback. He’s obviously developed into that.” Now, entering his sixth season under LaFleur, Love said that his job is about “finding those completions.” That expression gave me pause. You don’t typically think of completions as a game of hide-and-seek. But with all the disguises that defenses show these days, it’s a quarterback’s job to play detective — both before the snap and after. To distinguish fact from fiction. To decipher coverages. That’s where Love told me he felt he’s improved most. As Love has matured, LaFleur, who calls Green Bay’s plays, has given the QB more authority over the offense. Just listen to Love’s routine after receiving the play call. “The more years I played, you hear a play and you already kind of know what he’s calling [before he’s finished],” Love told me of LaFleur. “You know why he’s calling the play. You know what the situation is, and so … you’re kind of visualizing the play as he’s calling it.” After relaying the play in the huddle, Love gets to the line to see what the defense has to offer in the way of information. “I’m thinking about where I’m going to be going with the ball pre-snap and making those notes pre-snap on what I’m going to be doing,” Love said. So practical. He’s falling in love with third-and-1 — or even third-and-3. “You get into that mindset where I’m always trying to get to third-and-short. If there’s a way I can take a checkdown, take the completion, things that are moving the sticks and staying out of these third-and-long situations are always going to help us at the end of the day,” Love told me. It’s not just about keeping the offense on schedule — which is one form of situational awareness that helps a QB take control of the game. It’s also about setting up his special teams and defense for success. Packers long snapper Matthew Orzech said there are times when he’s anticipating a long field goal attempt — or, perhaps worse, a punt scenario where the offense is backed up against the goal line. So he is mentally preparing for the opposing unit to bring something nasty in hopes of generating a blocked kick and a touchdown recovery. But just as things look grim for the special teams unit … “Somehow he’s able to just take that checkdown to the running back outside that gets us outside the five-yard line,” Orzech told me. “There’s been a few of those for sure where you’re standing there gearing up for an all-out rush, all-out holdup, knowing something crazy is about to happen, but then he just gets you just enough yards on a smart little checkdown that’s not flashy at all.” That’s how a quarterback adds points or takes them away from an opposing team. We always hear about players doing the little things right. This is one example of the little things that Love does right. One of many. The Packers QB focuses on finding the right completion — and then, finally, the big completion finds him. Which is why receiver Christian Watson — with his 4.36 speed — and tight end Tucker Kraft — with his 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame – are always waiting. Always ready. “I’m always hunting [for a big play,]” Love told me. “I want to put pressure on the defense and take the top off. And you’ve got to know when to take those shots and how to weigh the risk of, ‘Alright, I want this shot, but you know it’s not a good opportunity right now.’ [When] we get the perfect coverage for something, [then it’s], ‘I got to be able to hit this down the field.’” Love’s efficiency isn’t just about an improved completion percentage or success rate. It’s about recognizing the rare opportunities to do what makes him special: unleash a deep ball. And it’s about capitalizing when a defense serves up the chance. Love’s big plays are so impressive that they almost look like … luck. Like they’re not the type of thing that he can reproduce. But they are. Whether it’s about ball placement or off-platform throwing (or his patented fadeaway jumper), Love has proven he can repeat the improbable. “It’s only luck when it’s once in a blue moon,” Watson said. “Those kinds of one-off-seeming plays, he makes them consistently, and obviously we make them often.” In 2025, Love’s EPA/dropback was on par with that of NFL MVP Matthew Stafford, tied for second in the NFL (.19), per Next Gen Stats. Love’s completion percentage over expected was fourth in the NFL. His success percentage was tied for eighth with Jared Goff. His big-time throw percentage was 5.8%, per PFF, fifth highest. He had 27 big-time throws, eighth most. That comfort comes from trust. That trust comes from communication. That communication often stems from failure. “Anytime anything goes negatively, honestly, we’ll always talk about it,” Watson told me. “I’ll come by after and tell him my thought process, and then he’ll tell me his thought process on the play, just to get a feel for where we’re at there. … What I should have done better? Or what he thinks he could have done better.” Perhaps it’s fair then to arrive at a logical question. Is Jordan Love underrated? “One hundred percent,” Watson said. “I think that when you bring up any of those meaningful quarterback stats, I feel like he’s up there in all of them.” “Absolutely, absolutely,” Packers receiver Skyy Moore told me. “Yeah,” Stenavich said. “He may not lead the league in passing yards or anything like that. But I think the biggest thing is, like you said, the EPA. When we are throwing the ball, what happens?” Good things. “And that’s a testament to him and what we do as an offense,” Stenavich said. That’s also a testament to Love’s progress as a passer. And that’s a sign of his ascendance into the realm of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Finding NFL players with something to prove this season — or in any season — is not difficult. But of those currently navigating contract years or looking to move past 2025 hiccups, who has the most to gain in 2026? Here’s my top 11 in descending order, ranking players not only by financial compensation at stake but also their perception in the eyes of the league: Williams established himself as one of the league’s brightest young quarterbacks last season, delivering in the clutch and leading the Bears to their first playoff victory in 15 years. If he builds on what was an impressive second season, he sets himself up for what could be an extension that resets the quarterback market in the 2027 offseason. The 31-year-old Mayfield is entering a contract year after he and the Bucs failed to reach an extension agreement before training camp. A bounce-back campaign in 2026 — Mayfield’s numbers regressed across the board last season compared to his first two years in Tampa — should earn the former No. 1 overall pick a deal that ranks comfortably in the top 10 of quarterback contracts. Nix has been a good quarterback through two NFL seasons, helping lead the Broncos to back-to-back playoff appearances. If he makes the leap to elite in Year 3, it not only would mean a record-setting contract for the 2024 first-round pick next offseason, but would also make Denver a legitimate Super Bowl contender. If Pickens once again performs like a true WR1 in 2026, a top-end wide receiver contract awaits him from the Cowboys or someone else in the spring. The former second-round pick will play in Dallas this season on the franchise tag, which will pay him $27.3 million fully guaranteed. After an injury-riddled 2025, Daniels needs to show the Commanders that he can stay on the field. Doing that, and picking up from his historic rookie season two years ago, would all but guarantee him a deal that resets the benchmark for quarterback contracts. The talented Woolen is coming off a season in which he lost his starting job. After three years with the Seahawks, he’s now with the Eagles on a prove-it, one-year deal worth $12 million fully guaranteed. If he can recapture Pro Bowl form from his rookie season, he’ll be able to secure a contract that will rank among the richest cornerback deals. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick, Young’s career has been marked by inconsistency, including a benching in 2024. But he’s coming off his best season as a pro — he posted career-highs in completion rate, passing yards and touchdowns, and guided the Panthers to their first playoff appearance in eight years. Another step forward in 2026 will cement his place as Carolina’s long-term quarterback. After playing just 12 games over the past two seasons combined due to suspension and injury, Rice is now in the last year of his rookie deal. If he’s on his best behavior and produces like a WR1 this season, the former second-rounder is in line for a lucrative second contract. Texans general manager Nick Caserio has said the team has had “productive” extension talks with Stroud, but there’s a possibility that the QB plays this season without a new deal, given his playoff struggles last season and general regression since his rookie year in 2023. A bounce-back Year 4 would not only cement Stroud’s status as Houston’s long-term quarterback, but also earn him a mega extension in 2027. Murray signed a league minimum, one-year contract with the Vikings after his release by Arizona. If he wins Minnesota’s starting quarterback job and regains Pro Bowl form, a top-end QB deal will be waiting for him in the spring. Football-wise, Nacua already deserves a second contract that would be the richest for a wideout in league history. He led the NFL with 129 catches last season and his 95.3 receiving yards-per-game career average is the most all time. But after a few off-field controversies dating back to last season, the All-Pro receiver must rebuild the Rams’ trust in him to earn that mega extension. The former fifth-round pick is slated to make just over $5.6 million in base salary in 2026, while a new deal would be expected to start at over $42 million in average annual value.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The hope for every NFL team ahead of each season always comes down to one truth: the belief that they have a player (or players) who will finally exceed their expectations. Someone, they think, is about to become a star. And they believe the whole team will be carried along for the ride. So who’s primed to break out in 2026? Some are familiar names. Some have flown way under the radar. Here are 16 breakout candidates — one for each NFC team. NFC EAST His career has been a disaster of injuries, from a torn ACL keeping him out as a rookie to another one prematurely ending his second season and ruining his third. But in between, Overshown did have five sacks in 13 games in 2024, where he showed off his speed and explosive playmaking ability. Presumably healthy now, the 6-2, 220-pound linebacker could be a star on a Dallas defense that needs one with Micah Parsons now long gone, especially with a rebuilt defensive line playing in front of him. Overshown has the sideline-to-sideline skills the Cowboys have been lacking of late. There were huge expectations for the No. 3 overall pick of last year’s draft, but his headline numbers didn’t match them. He didn’t have his first full sack until Week 13 and finished with just four overall. But buried behind that disappointing total were 23 quarterback hits and, according to PFF, 66 quarterback pressures, which led all rookies. Those are huge numbers, which indicate there’s a lot more to come. He still has fellow pass-rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux to draw attention, and a new defensive coordinator in Dennard Wilson to presumably find better ways to use him. Double digits in sacks wouldn’t be a shock for Carter. When Howie Roseman traded fifth- and sixth-round picks for Wicks this offseason, it looked like a depth move for a team that was about to trade A.J. Brown. But it could end up being a lot more than that. Yes, DeVonta Smith is the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver, and first-rounder Makai Lemon is the favorite to be No. 2. But Wicks could put up a fight for that spot in the short term. He was underused in Green Bay, despite catching 60% of the balls thrown his way and averaging 12.3 yards per catch. He’s also only 25, so his best might still be in front of him. Lemon has more upside, but Wicks has the experience and played in the system new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is bringing with him from Green Bay. Wicks will have a chance to help fill Brown’s shoes, especially early in the season. In Jayden Daniels’ spectacular 2024 rookie season, 19% of his passes went to tight end Zach Ertz, who was his second-leading receiver (66-654-7). Ertz is gone now, replaced by the 26-year-old Okonkwo. He averaged 54-522-1 over the past three seasons for some bad Titans offenses. The Commanders do have a new offensive coordinator (David Blough), but Daniels clearly loves to throw to his tight ends. And he doesn’t have a lot of other great weapons to choose from in Washington anyway. All of that should mean an increase in workload for Okonkwo, who potentially has huge upside with a better quarterback. NFC NORTH He went a long way toward establishing himself as an elite tight end last season when he caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns. But it’s how he finished that truly showed off his potential. He exploded after catching just 11 passes for 116 yards over the first six games of his rookie campaign. In his final four games alone, including two in the playoffs, he had 28 catches for 378 yards and two touchdowns. If he even comes close to replicating that over a full season, he might be the NFL’s top receiver at his position. The Bears do have Cole Kmet to take away a few catches, but Loveland is firmly established as Chicago’s No. 1 tight end. There aren’t many more electric than him in the entire league. The Lions looked like they had a budding star in the middle of their defense in 2023 when McNeil had five sacks through the first 13 games and was proving to be a tough run-stuffer. But then his season was derailed by a knee injury. The Lions still gave him a four-year, $97 million extension, but the next year he had 3.5 sacks in 14 games before tearing his ACL. He’s presumably healthier now than he has been in three seasons. And with a healthy Aidan Hutchinson and Tyleik Williams alongside him, the Lions’ line could be more dangerous than ever. McNeill won’t get a lot of attention from blockers, which could give him the room for his pass rushing numbers to shoot back up. The Packers didn’t give the 2022 second-rounder a four-year, $110 million contract in the offseason for more of the same from a player who’s never topped 41 catches or 620 yards in any of his four NFL seasons. Nor would they have traded away Dontayvion Wicks or let Romeo Doubs leave in free agency for a middling player. What they did was clear the deck for the 27-year-old to finally fulfill his promise in what surely will be a larger role. Matt LaFleur’s offense has never been high volume for the passing game, and it has always encouraged spreading the ball around, save for some seasons involving Davante Adams. But there are fewer weapons for quarterback Jordan Love to target now, and Watson has the talent to be the best of the smaller bunch. The 23-year-old edge defender recorded eight sacks last season, but even more was expected when the Vikings traded up to get him in the first round in 2024. He didn’t do much as a rookie, or in the first half of last season. But the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year had 6.5 sacks over the final eight weeks of 2025, which could be a sign of things to come. The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia, clearing the way for the speedy Turner to be the top edge rusher in Brian Flores’ blitzing scheme. If the second half of last season was any indication, he could eventually be one of the best pass-rushers in the league. NFC SOUTH After picking off 13 passes in his final two seasons at Notre Dame, everyone knew Watts had ball-hawking instincts. The lone conern was whether he had the skills to do it in the pros. Well, there’s no question now, after the third-round pick had six picks in his rookie season and finished fourth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. The only question now is, how high is his ceiling? Watts had 11 pass breakups, 96 tackles and a fumble recovery as a rookie, showing he’s got an all-around game. He has the potential to be a regular among NFL interception leaders and an anchor in the Atlanta secondary for a long time. He’s competing alongside the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in front of him (Tetairoa McMillan) and another former first-rounder (Xavier Legette). But there is still room to grow with the Panthers for this former undrafted rookie (2024). The proof was in Coker’s playoff outburst — a nine-catch, 134-yard, one-touchdown performance in a first-round loss to Rams. Coker was actually already beginning to emerge over the final five games of the regular season (19-244-3). And he’s yet to drop a pass in his short career. The 6-3, 213-pounder likely opens the season as Carolina’s third receiver, but if quarterback Bryce Young continues to improve, Coker has a chance to put up sizable numbers in that role. That’s why the 24-year-old just got a new three-year, $55 million deal. He was the best rookie quarterback last season, even though the second-rounder started only nine games for a bad Saints team. He put up some impressive numbers in those starts, completing 69.2% of his passes for 2,256 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also led the Saints to a 5-4 record, including a 4-1 finish that nearly got them into the playoffs. This offseason, New Orleans beefed up its offensive line (with free agent guard David Edwards), drafted a first-round receiver (Jordyn Tyson), and added a top free-agent running back (Travis Etienne). In other words, the 26-year-old Shough is set up for even more success with offensive-minded head coach Kellen Moore again calling the plays. Playing in a bad division, Shough could quickly emerge into a star. He absolutely exploded onto the NFL scene as a rookie last year with 25 catches, 445 yards and five touchdowns over his first five games. But he seemingly hit a wall after that and played himself right out of Rookie of the Year contention. He still finished with a respectable 63-938-6 stat line, but he was on pace for so much more as the centerpiece of the Bucs’ passing game for much of the season given the injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. No Buc had more targets (127), yet Egbuka caught only 49.6% of those passes. Assuming he improves at getting into the right spots and finishing plays, he will have a chance to put up elite numbers, especially with Evans no longer in the picture. NFC WEST He has 103 catches, 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns since the Cardinals drafted him No. 4 overall. It’s about what would be expected of him if that had come in one season instead of two. Harrison, however, has been hampered by injuries and a terrible quarterback situation in Arizona. Entering Year 3 … well, hopefully his health has at least improved. If so, expect new coach Mike LaFleur to add some creativity to an offense surely built around this potentially dominant receiver. His numbers should spike, even if the Cardinals’ QB situation remains a mess. He had 12 sacks last season, so maybe it could be argued that he already had his breakout season (and really, most of the powerful Rams already have). But last season, he was the big man on the edge of the L.A. defense. Now, opposing offenses will have to deal with Myles Garrett (and perhaps Aaron Donald again). With the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year on the other end, it’s safe to say Young won’t see many double teams this year. He was already a top-10 pass-rusher in most categories, and with Garrett drawing most of the attention now, Young’s pressure rate and sack totals should only increase. He came into the NFL in 2024 with a reputation for locking down college football’s best receivers, and late in his rookie season he began to flash that potential. But last season was a step back for the former second-rounder, who wilted at times under the pressure created by the 49ers’ lack of a pass rush. That rush should be better this season, and accordingly, the 25-year-old Green could be right back on track. He has the speed, physical style and elite instincts to develop into one of the NFL’s elite corners. He just has to put it all together. For three seasons, the 6-1, 214-pounder has been the perfect handcuff in Seattle for Kenneth Walker III and a bruising option at the goal line. With Walker now in Kansas City, the 25-year-old Charbonnet is in prime position to be a bell-cow back. The good news is, he has shown over the years he’s more than capable of handling that. The bad news is, he’s never really been asked to expand his role for more than a few games at a time. He’s been fairly durable while averaging 4.1 yards per carry and has caught 82% of the passes thrown his way. Considering that 2026 first-round pick Jadarian Price had a limited role at Notre Dame, he’s not really a threat to steal too many touches right off the bat. Don’t be surprised if Charbonnet puts up Walker-like numbers as Seattle’s unquestioned No. 1 back.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Does Texas quarterback Arch Manning have what it takes to be college football’s top signal-caller this season, especially after his performance last year? Manning committed to Texas as the No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class and sat behind former starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for a year in 2024, with a few starts early in the season. When Manning was handed the keys as their starter last season, the expectations didn’t seem to be met right away. FOX Sports’ Matt Leinart joined First Things First to talk about Manning’s future with the Longhorns and why he’s capable of being one of the sport’s top quarterbacks. “He started off pretty slow last year, but as the season went on, he was really good,” Leinart said. “He’s built the right way. I actually kind of feel like there’s less pressure on him this year … He has all of what you want in a quarterback, and it’s not just the last name and the pedigree.” Manning threw an interception in each of his first three starts last season and had under a 60% completion rate in three of his first four starts. However, things seemed to click for him after the Longhorns’ convincing 26-3 win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma in Week 6. The Longhorns finished 7-1 in their final eight games of the season with Manning throwing 14 touchdown passes, two interceptions and rushing for five touchdowns down the stretch. Now the expectations are back for Manning as he heads into his second full season as the starter, especially after being tabbed as a Heisman frontrunner early. In a college football season that features returning quarterbacks like Oregon’s Dante Moore, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, the playing field to be the best is nothing but competitive. The Longhorns also face a strong SEC slate, which includes road contests at LSU, Texas A&M and Tennessee, with Ole Miss and Ohio State at home. After missing the College Football Playoff last season, Manning and the Longhorns are looking to make a return with a talented roster featuring edge rusher Colin Simmons, transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman, and transfer running back Hollywood Smothers. Texas opens the 2026 season against Texas State at home on Sept. 5.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The pads are on at training camp for all 32 teams across the NFL, but transactions continue to dominate the headlines early on in practice season. Wednesday gave us another update in Aaron Donald’s potential return to football, with the most recent bit of news suggesting that he might be on the precipice of rejoining the Los Angeles Rams. Elsewhere, Stefon Diggs found his next professional home after being a free agent for the last few months, and the Detroit Lions general manager provided some insight on extension negotiations with star running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Here are all the headlines you need to know from Wednesday around the NFL. Two years after walking away from the game, Aaron Donald might be ready to put the pads back on. The former All-Pro defensive tackle officially worked out with the Los Angeles Rams Wednesday, per the NFL Wire. Donald wanted to do a workout in a football helmet, even though he did not wear pads during it, according to ESPN. He ended up using the Rams’ team equipment at their facility during training camp, requiring them to report his activity to the NFL. A league source recently told our Erc D. Williams that Donald was leaning toward returning. However, Los Angeles hasn’t given Donald a date he has to make a decision. If Donald unretires, he’ll join arguably the most talented defense in the NFL. The defensive line already features two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Poona Ford to go with a secondary that has cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs reportedly agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $12 million with the Washington Commanders. Diggs spent last season with the New England Patriots, recording 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games during their Super Bowl run. The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, who was a key contributor during New England’s run to the Super Bowl last season, provides Daniels and the Commanders with another target out wide along with Terry McLaurin. Prior to the signing, Washington needed another receiver following the departure of Deebo Samuel, who recently rejoined the San Francisco 49ers. There was some speculation that the team could go after 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk if he became available. Now, Washington has some stability after McLaurin in a wide receiver room that includes Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks and third-round rookie Antonio Williams. Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell returned to the practice field in a limited capacity Wednesday, participating in padded practice drills for the first time since December 2024. Dell missed the entire 2025 season after sustaining multiple torn knee ligaments and a dislocated kneecap in late 2024. He ran routes and caught passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud during individual work Wednesday. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said his recovery plan is unchanged and he expects Dell to continue his program as scheduled. Dell has totals of 1,376 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns over 25 career games as he formed a strong connection with Stroud in their rookie seasons back in 2023. When Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson reset the running back market with his historic extension, he didn’t just secure his own future, but he started a ticking clock in Detroit. Now, all eyes turn to Jahmyr Gibbs and his potential extension with the Lions. Speaking with SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday, Lions general manager Brad Holmes gave an update on where negotiations stand with Gibbs. “We love Jahmyr,” Holmes said. “Me and Dan [Quinn] have always been believers in that one-two punch. I just think that’s kind of how the league is going now and we’re having dialogue. We’ll see where it goes.” Gibbs has been one of the NFL’s premier playmakers since coming into the league. Despite sharing a workload in Detroit’s backfield, he has compiled 3,580 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns, while adding 181 receptions for 1,449 yards and another 10 scores through the air. Robinson’s three-year, $75 million deal gives both sides a baseline for negotiations. That contract made Robinson the highest-paid running back in NFL history, a title Gibbs could soon claim. Whether Gibbs receives a similar payout remains to be seen, but as long as his camp hold-in continues, all pressure rests on the Lions front office. The San Francisco 49ers’ injury bug continues to bite during training camp this year. On Wednesday, the team was missing over 20% of its roster, with plenty of key faces not suiting up for practice, per The Athletic. Several key players have been added to the injury report, according to ESPN. Nick Bosa and Dre Greenlaw are dealing with soreness, Kyle Juszczyk has a broken finger, Jacob Cowing is managing a hip flexor strain and Carver Willis is in concussion protocol. Brett Toth is dealing with an undisclosed injury, while head coach Kyle Shanahan remains limited as he works his way back to the sidelines full-time.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Tarik Skubal is a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the Dodgers are reeling. Following a 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers have now lost six consecutive games. They also lost Skubal’s debut in Dodger blue on Tuesday night and are going through their longest losing streak of the season. Furthermore, the Dodgers (69-46) have lost 15 of their last 25 games and have been knocked off the pedestal by the Milwaukee Brewers (70-43) for the best record in both the National League and MLB altogether. What gives? Colin Cowherd, for one, thinks this dry spell is exposing the Dodgers as a flawed club. “Stop staring at the paint job. Look under the hood: the Dodgers are a mess,” Cowherd asserted on Wednesday’s edition of “The Herd.” “The Skubal acquisition was much more life-raft than adding a helipad to the yacht. … The Dodgers have bullpen issues and age issues.” As for some of the struggling bats, star shortstop Mookie Betts is having arguably the worst offensive year of his MLB career. He entered the team’s Wednesday afternoon game against the Cubs with a .223/.280/.390 slash line. Right fielder Kyle Tucker, who the Dodgers signed to a four-year, $240 million deal in the offseason, entered Wednesday with a career-low in batting average (.243), slugging percentage (.381) and OPS+ (101); center fielder Andy Pages — who blasted 10 home runs, drove in 39 runs and boasted a .304/.357/.530 slash line over his first 46 games this season — entered the day with a .245/.318/.405 slash line over his last 67 games. Over the last 30 days, the Dodgers are 20th in MLB in runs (93), tied for 21st in on-base percentage (.306), tied for 17th in home runs (26), tied for 15th in slugging percentage (.399) and 12th outright in hits (196). Meanwhile, on the rotation front, left-hander Blake Snell has made one start this season due to shoulder and elbow injuries; right-hander Tyler Glasnow has been limited to seven starts due to a back injury; second-year starter Roki Sasaki has struggled to turn a corner, finding difficulty in finishing off hitters and sporting a 4.64 ERA and an 89 ERA+. In the bullpen, closer Edwin Díaz, whom the Dodgers signed to a three-year, $69 million deal in the offseason, recently returned from a roughly three-month absence due to elbow surgery; as a collective, Los Angeles is 16th in the sport in bullpen ERA (4.08) and has blown 16 save opportunities. “This team is winning on the margins the last two years, and now they’re broken,” Cowherd said. As for their championship success in recent memory, the Dodgers were just the third seed in the NL playoffs last season. They trailed the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 in the World Series and 4-2 in the eighth inning of Game Seven before pulling off the series comeback. Still, Los Angeles is seeking to become the first MLB team to three-peat as World Series champions since the New York Yankees did so from 1998-2000.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The start of training camp sparks hope for the fan bases of all 32 NFL teams, especially those who missed the playoffs the year prior. But even as the NFL sees plenty of turnover on a year-to-year basis, only a handful of teams that missed the postseason the year prior make the playoffs the next season. Which teams will be a part of that group this year? FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd predicted which five non-playoff teams from last season are most likely to make the postseason in 2026 on a recent edition of “The Herd,” as one of the 18 teams that missed the playoffs last year looked to replicate what the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots did in 2025. After star quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15 last season, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Now, with a healthy Mahomes, a new offensive weapon in Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III and the addition of top-10 pick Mansoor Delane, Cowherd believes the Chiefs are able to make their way back into the playoff picture. “Andy Reid. 27 seasons. Never had back-to-back losing seasons,” Cowherd said. “They have two huge needs, corner (Delane) and running back (Walker). They have addressed both with elite players. They were 1-9 in one-score games. “I do believe, when Mahomes has protection and a semi-solid run game, he’s a playoff quarterback. Kansas City is back in.” The New Orleans Saints finished their 2025 campaign on a high note under first-year coach Kellen Moore, when rookie quarterback Tyler Shough led the team to four wins in the final five games. So, the Saints added around Shough over the offseason. They signed Jacksonville Jaguars standout Travis Etienne, adding him to a running back room with Alvin Kamara. They also used a top-10 pick on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and signed one of the top interior offensive linemen available in free agency, David Edwards. With all of those additions, Shough surging and a relatively uncompetitive NFC South, Cowherd is expecting the Saints to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. “Very winnable division. It’s noisy in Tampa. Tyler Shough … [he] won four of their last five games last year. They went heavy with wide receiver, tight end and running back in the offseason,” Cowherd said. “So they are building an offense around him and they got money to spend. Travis Etienne will shore up that running game, which was lousy last year. Their defense was top 10. “This is not a firepower, offensive division. Tyler Shough played well late. … He led all rookies in completion percentage, passing yards and passer rating. … Tyler Shough was kind of the surprise quarterback in the league.” A new head coach in John Harbaugh and second-year Jaxson Dart could be the keys to the New York Giants earning a playoff spot. The Giants are getting Malik Nabers back after the star wide receiver’s second season was cut short due to an ACL tear. New York also loaded up in the draft. It selected Ohio State star linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick before nabbing Miami (Fla.) offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick. Those additions, plus some potential luck, lead Cowherd to think that the Giants will make the postseason as a wild-card team. “The last two years, the Giants were 2-15 in one-score games. Last year, they were 1-7. Nobody was close to that bad,” Cowherd said. “They have Dart, who was pretty good as a rookie. [Cam] Skattebo is back. They’ve added pieces on the offensive line. Arvell Reese, Malachi Fields, Notre Dame wide receiver, Francis Mauigoa, who was solid from Miami. So I love their draft class. I don’t think this is an 11, 12-win team. I think they sneak in as a wild card. Cowherd also has Harbaugh’s old team on this list. The Baltimore Ravens brought in Jesse Minter to replace Harbaugh after going 8-9 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Like the Lions, the Ravens bring back the majority of their nucleus that helped them become one of the AFC’s top teams earlier in the decade. Now, they just have to hope quarterback Lamar Jackson can remain healthy for a full season after missing four games last year. “They have an easy schedule in the first seven weeks with a rookie head coach, first-time playcaller and a lot of moving parts. It’s kind of a soft opening for the Baltimore Ravens,” Cowherd said. “Also, they’ve never missed back-to-back seasons since Lamar Jackson was their quarterback… Jesse Minter is going to be a great first-year head coach. … They don’t have everything buttoned up, I think they make their way in.” The Detroit Lions enter the 2026 season with one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. Going by combined opponents’ winning percentage from the 2025 season, the Lions have the sixth-easiest slate in the league, which could be enough to turn things around after a 9-8 year. Detroit also returns the majority of its nucleus that helped it win the NFC North in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. Jared Goff has remained productive, and he still has high-level playmakers around him like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions are shuffling some things around along the offensive line and defense in 2026. However, Cowherd isn’t too concerned about the changes Detroit is making along the edges. “They face [one of the easiest schedules] in the NFL. New England had it last year. How did that work out last year? Made it to the Super Bowl,” Cowherd said. “Detroit has upgraded. … They’re already good at running back, wide receiver, quarterback, O-line; they’ve shuffled in some players. Panay Sewell goes to left tackle, Blake Miller, the rookie, their top pick, goes to right tackle. “This is a winning team. They had the most injured defense the last two years. … They’ve had bad injury luck. I think with a new OC, I think it’s kind of an offense in a mediocre defensive division where I think they’ll eat. The Lions are back in the playoffs.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The hope for every NFL team ahead of each season always comes down to one truth: The belief that they have a player (or players) who will finally exceed their expectations. Someone, they think, is about to become a star. And they believe the whole team will be carried along for the ride. So who’s primed to break out in 2026? Some are familiar names. Some have flown way under the radar. Here are 16 breakout candidates — one for each AFC team. AFC EAST The 2024 second-rounder started to flash what he’s capable of last season when he had three interceptions, two sacks and 85 tackles in his first full season as a starter. Now he’s surrounded by some sages to help him take the next step. The Bills’ new defensive coordinator is Jim Leonhard, who spent a decade playing safety in the NFL. And the Bills brought in veterans Geno Stone and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to play alongside Bishop. The 6-2, 206-pounder is a weapon who has proved he can line up almost anywhere in the Buffalo secondary. Leonhard is the right guy to figure out how to use him best. If the Dolphins are going to avoid being a total disaster, they’ll need a breakout from new quarterback Malik Willis. But if Willis breaks out, he’s going to carry a receiver along with him, and the 26-year-old Atwell is the top candidate for that. The Rams once had big plans for the 5-9, 165-pounder with electric speed. But he was buried behind a lot of talent in L.A., and then hurt last season by a hamstring injury. He’s still only 26 and has averaged an impressive 14.6 yards per catch in his career. As a slot receiver in an offense that lacks weapons overall, he could end up being one of Willis’ favorite and most productive targets. He likely won’t put up Pro Bowl numbers, but they could be big for him. There’s a reason the Patriots took the 6-5, 319-pound left tackle No. 4 overall last year, even if it wasn’t always evident. He gave up five sacks during the regular season as a rookie, and then struggled even more in the playoffs, eventually giving up a sack and (by one count) 14 pressures in the Super Bowl. In fairness to him, Campbell was battling a knee injury over the past couple of months. Also, he’s still only 22 years old. And now he’s got a little more help next to him in new left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. In other words, there is plenty of hope, even after Campbell’s disappointing season. He’s entrenched at left tackle in New England, and he’s definitely a lot better than he showed as a rookie. He looked like a throw-in in the Sauce Gardner trade, but maybe he was a little more than that. The 6-2, 205-pound Mitchell was a second-round pick in 2024, but he had some drop issues in Indianapolis, plus a bone-headed fumble when he prematurely celebrated near the goal line, costing the Colts a touchdown. But he is still only 23 years old, and he had 24 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns in eight games for the Jets in 2025 despite their horrific quarterback situation. That part should be a little better this season with Geno Smith throwing him the ball. Mitchell will also have less attention from defenses with a healthy Garrett Wilson lining up alongside him. That’ll give Mitchell plenty of room to start fulfilling his potential and show he can be, at least, a good No. 2. AFC NORTH The 22-year-old thought he played just “OK” last season, which is probably a bit of an understatement. He did have 84 tackles and two interceptions, while leading the Ravens in defensive snaps. But the good news for him is that new Ravens coach Jesse Minter has a well-earned reputation for developing and getting the most out of defensive backs — and few he’s had have been as talented as Starks. Playing on a defense alongside safety Kyle Hamilton, Starks has a chance to put up much bigger numbers. And if the Ravens improve their pass rush (they had 30 sacks last season, third-fewest in the league), he’ll be one of the biggest beneficiaries this year. It took a while for the Bengals to figure things out with Hill, but late last season, it looked like they finally did. When they shifted him to outside cornerback and let him take advantage of his blazing speed, the fourth-year pro’s production skyrocketed, and he looked like the lockdown corner many always thought he could be. Hill, who played safety and nickelback in college, was mostly a safety in the two years after the Bengals drafted him in the first round (2022). Then, after they moved him to corner in 2023, he tore his ACL in Week 5. But he finally looks healthy and settled in at the correct position. His speed and skills should take care of the rest. If you were watching carefully, you saw Fannin break out a bit last year as a rookie, finishing with 72 catches for 731 yards and six touchdowns for an awful team with terrible quarterback play. He also had to compete for snaps with TE David Njoku. Now Njoku is gone and new head coach Todd Monken will run an offense that will probably lean even more on the 21-year-old receiver — and Fannin might just be the Browns’ best weapon in the passing game. With a little better play from his quarterbacks — obviously not a guarantee — he has a chance to put up truly elite numbers, especially if he can finally harness some of the explosiveness he once showed at Bowling Green. The No. 21 pick of the 2025 draft sprained his knee in the Steelers’ preseason finale, and though he only missed the first two games, he was never fully healthy (and missed another three games in December). Still, he had three sacks in somewhat limited playing time over 12 games. If he’s fully healthy, he’ll be a bigger part of a defensive line that still has T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward to draw most of the attention. Harmon probably won’t put up huge sack numbers, but he’ll have an increasing impact and show everyone why he’s being groomed as Heyward’s successor. AFC SOUTH With Christian Kirk gone and Tank Dell still recovering from a gruesome leg injury that cost him all of last season, there is opportunity for an expanded role in the Texans’ offense. Higgins, a 2025 second-rounder, was targeted 68 times last season and caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns. But the 6-4, 215-pounder is capable of a lot more, especially as a red-zone weapon. He should clearly be C.J. Stroud’s No. 2 option behind Nico Collins. And if Higgins can’t deliver, don’t rule out a breakout from his former Iowa State teammate, WR Jaylin Noel, who went 45 picks later in the same draft. Noel has better speed, but Higgins has already emerged as a starter. Colts GM Chris Ballard said that Latu is on the verge of a breakout, and it’s easy to see why he believes that. The 25-year-old had 8.5 sacks last season, with six of those came in the final nine games. He was credited with 20 quarterback hits while Pro Football Focus gave him 61 total quarterback pressures. Double-digit sacks seem like a lock for the 2024 first-round pick, especially with Arden Key now on the opposite end to take some of the pressure off. Latu has shown in spurts how disruptive he can be to opposing offenses. The Colts think this season he’ll prove to be one of the best disrupters in the entire league. It would be easy to say the best breakout candidate in Jacksonville is Bhayshul Tuten, since he was the backup to the departed Travis Etienne. But don’t sleep on this former sixth-rounder who spent the past three seasons with the Commanders. Rodriguez was an under-the-radar signing, but he’s a Liam Coen favorite from their one year together at the University of Kentucky (2021). Assuming Rodriguez fully recovers from offseason foot surgery, I believe he’s a good bet to emerge as the workhorse back in the Jaguars’ offense. He might not have Tuten’s breakaway ability. But he could get the majority of the carries, especially when it comes to the tougher, shorter yards. Yeah, OK, as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Ward should break out. In fact, he should have done it already. But in reality, he was the third-best rookie quarterback in the NFL last year behind Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough. Don’t just blame Ward, though. His paltry numbers (3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) were mostly a product of his weak supporting cast. The Titans have since upgraded their offensive line and receiving corps, the latter of which now includes Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate. Plus, Ward has a much better offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll. All the additions should put Ward in position to prove he was worthy of being the top pick. AFC WEST J.K. Dobbins was on his way to an impressive season last year, only to do what he often does — get hurt. That forced the Broncos to turn to Harvey, who has big-play potential and breakaway speed. He wasn’t explosive as a rookie, but he did end up with 896 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns in pretty limited action. He also showed he’s capable of carrying a bigger load. He averaged just five carries per game before Dobbins got hurt. He’ll almost certainly get more touches this season even if Dobbins is healthy. The Chiefs lost both their starting corners this offseason as they traded Trent McDuffie and let Jaylen Watson leave. They replaced them by drafting Mansoor Delane in the first round and brought back L’Jarius Sneed. But the 29-year-old Sneed has played just 12 games over the past two seasons, which means the door is wide open for Williams. The 23-year-old third-rounder was excellent in limited action as a rookie. By some measures, he was one of the NFL’s best cover corners while recording seven passes defensed. He’ll likely start alongside Delane on the outside. But even if he doesn’t, he’ll have a much larger role in a Steve Spagnuolo defense that should be much better overall. It’s hard to view his rookie season as anything other than a major disappointment. He rushed for just 975 yards and caught only 55 passes for 346 yards after being drafted No. 6 overall. And not all of it can be chalked up to the Raiders being so awful that defenses knew to key on Jeanty. He simply struggled much more than anyone thought he would. The Raiders might not be much better this season, but Jeanty will at least have an improved offensive line that now features three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. Las Vegas has a few more weapons this year, too, which should give Jeanty more room to operate. And new head coach Klint Kubiak certainly got a lot out of his running backs in Seattle. The stage is set for Jeanty to show why he was drafted so high. After a really strong rookie season (82-1,149-7) in 2024, last year was supposed to be McConkey’s breakout season. But things went wrong right from the start. Despite a heavy workload early in the season, his production suffered from his inability to hold onto the ball. And then late in the season, as the Chargers offensive line crumbled and QB Justin Herbert battled injuries, McConkey’s target share started to disappear. While his final numbers were a huge disappointment (66-789-6), the speed and skills that made him an early second-round pick are still present. In fact, he seems exactly like the type of speedy receiver new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel would want to feature. Don’t be surprised then if McConkey ultimately blossoms into a star.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The pads are on and players are getting paid across the league as NFL training camp rolls on and teams near their preseason openers. Tuesday saw several contract extensions across the NFL, with three members of the 2023 draft class setting new benchmarks at their respective positions. And with the first bit of preseason action right around the corner, the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers have each named their starting quarterbacks for Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game. Here’s all the news you need to know from Tuesday around the NFL. Bijan Robinson’s hold-in is over. The star running back agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons worth up to $75 million on Tuesday, with $51 million guaranteed. Robinson’s average annual salary of $22.25 million makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, moving past Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million). Robinson becomes the second running back in NFL history guaranteed over $40 million, following rookie Jeremiyah Love’s fully guaranteed $53 million deal. Robinson’s $51 million guaranteed leads all veteran running back contracts, topping Barkley ($36 million) and Ashton Jeanty ($35.9 million). The agreement establishes a new standard for top-tier running backs as Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs continues his own hold-in while seeking an extension. As Gibbs has arguably been better than Robinson for most of their respective careers, the Falcons running back might not hold the record for the highest-paid player in the history of the position for long. The Baltimore Ravens will sign wide receiver Zay Flowers to a four-year, $140 million contract extension with $108 million guaranteed. The agreement replaces Flowers’ 2027 fifth-year rookie option, which Baltimore exercised in April. The $35 million average annual value ties Flowers with Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson for the fourth-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Only Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million), Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25 million), and Drake London ($35.26 million) hold higher average annual salaries. Flowers’ contract places his annual salary ahead of CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, and A.J. Brown. With Flowers and New Orleans Saints star Chris Olave each getting extensions over the last week, that only sets the bar for Los Angeles Rams All-Pro Puka Nacua to receive an extremely rich deal over the offseason. Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but isn’t expected to be extended before the start of the season. The extension for Flowers could also set the bar for what George Pickens might get next offseason after the Dallas Cowboys franchise tagged him this offseason. Flowers set a Ravens single-season record for a wide receiver with 1,211 receiving yards in 2025. His receiving output represented 36.9% of Baltimore’s total receiving yards, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba (44.1%) for the highest share in the league. Since entering the NFL in 2023, Flowers ranks third in receiving yards among his draft class with 3,128 yards, behind Nacua (4,191) and Smith-Njigba (3,551). The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with All-Pro right tackle Darnell Wright on a four-year, $116 million contract extension that includes $93 million guaranteed. The deal includes the most guaranteed money for an offensive lineman in NFL history, per NFL Network. The former first-round selection locks in his long-term future in Chicago as the highest-paid right tackle in the league. The Bears drafted Wright with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 draft and has started 49 out of 51 games the past three seasons. Wright earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders reportedly took all first-team reps for the Cleveland Browns during training camp Tuesday. Sanders completed 21 of 25 passes with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions, per ESPN Cleveland. Deshaun Watson reportedly completed 5 of 11 passes with no touchdowns or interceptions. Dillon Gabriel finished 4 of 7 with one interception. As the Browns’ quarterback competition heats up, Sanders gave a quote that instantly went viral when he was asked if he’s ever been in a quarterback competition. “Yeah, I have, me vs. myself,” Sanders replied. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was seen catching passes in an unconventional fashion at Tuesday’s practice. Lamb wore a net covering his helmet and facemask while catching passes from the Jugs machine during training camp. As Lamb is using unconventional ways to practice catching the ball, he’s also prioritizing his health ahead of the 2026 season. “For one, for me, it’s all about being healthy, being available for my team, because the last two years, that wasn’t the case,” Lamb told reporters on Sunday. “So, just overall health and being able to lead, and teach the younger guys and, overall, I gotta go be me – going out there, making plays, helping the guys, and scoring.” Lamb missed three games last season due to an ankle injury. Third-round rookie Carson Beck will start at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals in Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers in Canton, Ohio, the team announced Monday Jacoby Brissett and backup Gardner Minshew II are reportedly unlikely to play. Carolina head coach Dave Canales confirmed Kenny Pickett will start the Hall of Fame Game for the Panthers. Pickett is reportedly expected to play a few series, with the rest of the work to be handled by undrafted rookie Haynes King.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports