Van Natta Jr.: NFLPA chaos 'will get worse'
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Bears QB Caleb Williams receives compelling take from ESPN analyst
Bears QB Caleb Williams receives compelling take from ESPN analyst originally appeared on The Sporting News Caleb Williams quickly erased doubts about his comfort with the offense under new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson. He completed 6 of 10 passes, including a touchdown, in Chicago's 38-0 win over the Buffalo Bills last weekend. Entering his second season in the NFL and under a new head coach, Williams faces pressure to show real progress, especially with an offensive-minded coach like Johnson. He and his teammates are still adjusting to a new offense during practices and the preseason. Despite the national media's concern over Williams, one analyst is advising Bears fans to be excited about the future of the USC product under Johnson. Can Caleb Williams take the next step? ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes appeared on "SportsCenter," noting that Williams was able to run Johnson's offense and show glimpses of how it's meant to function, pointing out that there were shades of how the Bears head coach ran the system during his time with the Detroit Lions. "It was backups," Kimes said. "I feel like you always have to say that in the preseason, but it feels like the Bears fans should be pretty excited based on what they saw. This was the first glimpse we saw of the marriage between Ben Johnson, new head coach, play caller, and Caleb Williams. It was interesting. You saw some of the same hallmarks of the Ben Johnson offense in Detroit: Caleb was under center, condensed formations, misdirection, all that jazz." Additionally, Kimes offered a take regarding how Williams looks from season No. 1 to season No. 2 in Chicago. MORE:Colin Cowherd sounds off on Bears QB Caleb Williams' showing against Bills "You also saw Caleb look as comfortable as I have seen him in the NFL," Kimes added. "We showed earlier the scene ball that he ripped to Cole Kmet. He saw the safety drop, middle of the field open, ripped it. That's the Caleb Williams that was the No. 1 overall pick for a reason. That's the one Bears want to see—a guy who looks comfortable, accurate, decisive. Very promising start."
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
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NY Giants injury updates: Two offensive stars returning to practice
EAST RUTHERFORD - Fans of the New York Giants can exhale: star left tackle Andrew Thomas is back. Thomas began training camp on the physically unable to perform list as he continued to work his way through foot surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury suffered last October. The Giants activated Thomas on Tuesday and he will participate in practice, likely on an individual basis to start, but he is in line to protect Russell Wilson's blindside on Week 1 in Landover against the Commanders. Star wide receiver Malik Nabers and rookie running back Cam Skattebo are also returning to practice, per Brian Daboll. This article originally appeared on NY Giants injury updates: Andrew Thomas, Malik Nabers return to practice
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Patriots trade targets: Top options if team deals early-round picks
The New England Patriots made significant upgrades to their roster during the offseason, but executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf wouldn't rule out making more ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Wolf was asked at Monday's practice whether he would consider trading a first-or second-round pick to add talent to the team. "Sure," the 43-year-old replied. Why would Wolf contemplate such a move? "Just doing what's best for the team," Wolf explained. "If there's a player out there that we feel like can help us and it costs that, then we would consider doing that." The Patriots are uniquely positioned to target top players via trade. They are armed with a league-high $59.8 million in cap space, per so they could extend any player they acquire using an early-round selection. Which players might be the Patriots top targets if they do get aggressive? Here's a look at a few candidates they could pursue. Trey Hendrickson Hendrickson is widely known to be available as he and the Bengals remain in a contract stalemate. The Patriots are among the teams to have called the Bengals to check in on veteran pass rusher, according to NFL insider Armando Salguero. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5. He, along with offseason signees Milton Williams and Harold Landry III, would provide a shot in the arm to a Patriots defense that totaled a league-low 28 sacks in 2024. While Hendrickson would fit well in New England, a deal between the two parties doesn't appear close, as NFL insider Josina Anderson outlined. "I'm told the New England Patriots currently feel the cost to acquire Bengals star rusher Trey Hendrickson is 'too much,' per a league source as of Monday," Anderson reported. "The club continues to do due diligence by monitoring the market for Hendrickson." Perhaps that will change if Cincinnati's reported asking price for the 30-year-old – a 2026 first-round pick and a young defensive player, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini – drops. TREY HENDRICKSON LANDING SPOTS: Texans, Eagles among best fits Terry McLaurin The Patriots signed Stefon Diggs during the 2025 NFL offseason, and added depth at receiver during free agency and the draft. Still, New England could use more proven talent at the position and a true, No. 1 target for Drake Maye. McLaurin would qualify. The seven-year veteran has posted five consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and generated a career-high 13 touchdowns last season as Jayden Daniels' top target. Despite McLaurin's success, he and the Commanders haven't been able to agree on a long-term extension, which prompted him to request a trade. The Commanders are currently projected to have the fourth-most cap space in the NFL during the 2026 offseason. As such, they may eventually find a middle ground with McLaurin, who could earn a contract similar to the four-year, $92 million pact the Denver Broncos reached with Courtland Sutton during the offseason. But if Washington is reluctant to give the soon-to-be 30-year-old McLaurin that type of contract, the Patriots could swoop in and target him to provide Maye a consistent weapon. Micah Parsons Like Hendrickson, Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys are embroiled in a contract dispute ahead of the 2025 NFL season. That led the two-time All-Pro first-teamer, who has recorded at least 12 sacks in all four of his NFL seasons, to request a trade out of Dallas. Will Jerry Jones capitulate to Parsons' demands? The Cowboys owner hasn't yet shown willingness to do while the team has insisted the two parties will eventually work something out. However, if the relationship becomes irreparable, Parsons would fetch the Cowboys a king's ransom on the trade market. There's little doubt the Patriots would be among the teams most interested in acquiring Parsons given their need for a long-term partner for Williams, a top interior rusher. Few teams would be as well-positioned as New England to send out draft capital for Parsons and give him a record-breaking contract. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who could Patriots target if they trade early-round picks?
