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NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Zach Ertz: Jayden Daniels wants to be so great that it really resonates with guys
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had a wildly successful first season, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game and winning AP offensive rookie of the year. But that doesn't automatically mean he'll be able to pick up right where he left off when the Commanders take on the Giants to open the season on Sept. 7. Given Daniels' work ethic, however, veteran teammate Zach Ertz is particularly confident that the quarterback will continue to progress in Year 2. 'I think he had a phenomenal year last year,' Ertz said in an interview with Kay Adams this week. 'And I think when he goes back and watches the film, I, as a tight end, can't exactly say what he needs to improve on. But I know there's always things in this league that you can improve on. Going into my 13th year, there's things that I'm continually trying to get better at. And, really, that's all sports. That's the best part about sports, is you can always find something to work on because no one is a perfect player. So for Jayden, I'm sure it's just little things — consistency, footwork, timing, whatever it is. There's something that he is working on because he's a guy who loves to put in the work, loves the process, and has very, very high standards for himself. 'He has such high confidence in himself because he wants to be so great that it really resonates with the rest of the guys on the field and on the team with him. So, from the outside looking in, you could say he had a phenomenal year. But in the back of his mind, he's saying, 'I could be better this year.' And it's crazy going into his second year, how good he was last year. But he's going to have that mentality for, hopefully, the next 15 years.' Being in the league for a while and seeing his share of quarterbacks, Ertz has an appreciation for how Daniels performs and how he handles himself. 'His humility — the thing about Jayden is, things really haven't changed,' Ertz said. 'He's such a humble guy. He is just one of the guys. And oftentimes, when you see guys come in that were drafted as high as he was, that won the Heisman — they come in with almost an ego. And Jayden was just a guy that wanted to learn. I think that's so rare, and I think that speaks about the type of person he is, the type of person that he'll continue to be. 'Yeah, his confidence, his comfort in the offense has grown from last year when first he came in to now — the offseason, OTAs. His demeanor, his ability to execute, yeah, it's improved. But the person has not changed at all.' Daniels completed 69 percent of his passes last season for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 891 yards with six TDs. In three postseason games, he completed 66 percent of his throws for 822 yards with five touchdowns and one pick.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin ‘frustrated' over contract, uncertain for camp
Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin said he hasn't decided whether he will attend the opening week of training camp next week, telling reporters on Tuesday that he is "pretty frustrated" about the lack of movement on contract talks with the team. The star wideout skipped mandatory minicamp last month and broke his silence on Tuesday, expressing his unhappiness over the lack of a new deal. "I've been pretty frustrated, I'm not gonna lie," McLaurin told reporters. "Everything that has transpired up to this point has been disappointing and frustrating. I've wanted to continue my career here. I've created my life here. My wife and I bought our first home here, so this is somewhere where I've always wanted to be." McLaurin has one year remaining on his three-year, $68 million contract extension. His status for next week's training camp remains unclear. "I'm trying to take things day by day," McLaurin said. "I think that's the disappointing part where I was hoping up until this point that things would clear up a lot more than they have. I haven't made that decision yet. I just want to see how the rest of this week goes and take it day by day and go from there." McLaurin caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and had a career-high 13 touchdowns last season. He was a critical piece in Washington's playoff run to the NFC Championship Game, catching 14 passes for 227 yards and scoring three touchdowns in three postseason games. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Lions Named Top Potential Suitor for 8-Time Pro Bowler
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Detroit Lions are once again expected to be one of the top Super Bowl contenders in the NFC during the upcoming 2025 NFL season. After an impressive regular season last year that ended with a 15-2 record, the Lions did not win a game in the playoffs. Instead, they were eliminated by the red-hot Washington Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Heading into the 2025 campaign, Dan Campbell and Detroit are looking to get that sour taste out of their mouths. Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images With training camp about to get underway, the Lions could be a team to watch for possible roster moves. One area that Detroit could use more help is in the pass rush. Read more: NFL Exec Reveals Major Red Flag About 49ers' Christian McCaffrey Last season, superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down with a broken leg. The team went out and acquired Za'Darius Smith ahead of the trade deadline, but he has yet to re-sign this offseason and is still a free agent. Adding more depth is still a need for the Lions. Keeping that in mind, they have been connected as a top potential suitor for an eight-time Pro Bowl pass rusher late in free agency. That player is none other than former Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills star Von Miller. CBS Sports analyst John Breech made the potential connection between Detroit and Miller. "If you take one look at the Lions' schedule, you'll see why adding Miller might help. During the 2025 season, Detroit will be facing Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott. If you're facing a gauntlet like that, you need pass rushers," Breech wrote. "The Lions do have Aidan Hutchinson, but they don't have much outside of that. Last season, the Lions pass rush absolutely disappeared after Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury that saw him break his tibia and fibula. This year, Hutchinson will be coming back from that brutal injury so the Lions could certainly use some help just in case he's not quite 100% right away." Read more: Peyton Manning Delivers Strong Words on Bears' Caleb Williams Miller would not be asked to come in and be an every down threat. Instead, he would be able to come in and focus on pass rushing downs. During the 2024 NFL season with the Bills, Miller played in 13 games. He racked up 17 tackles and six sacks. While he may no longer be the elite superstar that he once was, Miller is still capable of making an impact. The Lions may not have interest in him, but he would be a good addition on a one-year deal to provide depth and pass rushing ability. For more Detroit Lions and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
When does the 2025 NFL season start? Everything to know about Week 1
The days are getting shorter, the air will be getting colder and the schools will be back in session. After a summer hiatus and months of waiting, football is back – for real this time. It will no longer be about the players in the best shape of their lives at training camp. It will no longer be about the preseason battles for roster spots. It will no longer be about the things that don't count in the real standings. Soon, the Philadelphia Eagles will look to fly high and defend their Super Bowl 59 championship in Week 1, in just a few short months. Before that, preseason gets underway, and the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers Here's what to know about when the NFL season starts in 2025, as well as the rest of the Week 1 schedule. When is the first NFL game in 2025? The 2025 NFL regular season begins on Thursday, Sept. 4, as the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys. Jalen Hurts and the birds will open their title defense in front of a raucous Lincoln Financial Field crowd in South Philadelphia – their first time seeing the Eagles play a game at home since the NFC Championship Game. The visiting Cowboys add a little extra flavor to an already highly anticipated game, especially with their new-look in 2025. Dak Prescott returns from injury, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will debut as a receiving duo and Brian Schottenheimer will make his first appearance on the sidelines as an NFL head coach. On the Philadelphia sideline, it's all about the high-flying Eagles, many of which have returned from last season. The NFC East figures to be a competitive division, with the Cowboys serving as somewhat of a wild card. One of these teams will land the first punch in a season-long battle. Can the Eagles soar to new heights on a night of celebration or will the Cowboys ground the birds? The 2025 NFL season will give us an answer to that question soon enough. When is the first NFL preseason game? The Detroit Lions take on the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, July 31, at 8 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio. Preseason Week 1 in gets underway in earnest on Aug. 7. NFL Week 1 schedule 2025 Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 Monday, Sept. 8, 2025
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jalen Hurts gets support from Nick Sirianni as questions swirl about the NFL QB hierarchy
Well, at least we can always count on Nick Sirianni. We have not yet reached a league-wide consensus regarding Jalen Hurts' standing among his NFL peers. It's tough to accept, but there is a possibility that we may never reach a consensus. Even leading the Philadelphia Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances hasn't resolved this uncertainty, prompting us to question whether common ground will ever be achieved. Keep in mind. This is the reigning Super Bowl MVP, yet every time we see rankings or discussions, many say the same thing. Hurts is a worse quarterback than rookies and guys who can't seem to beat him. Take, for instance, ESPN's recent series, penned by Jeremy Fowler. He spoke with NFL executives, coaches, and scouts about the game's top signal-callers and pieced together a top-ten list based on his findings. Smoke cleared. Dust settled. Guess where Jalen Hurts landed. He was ranked ninth... Among the nine players slotted ahead of him were Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels. We're reminded constantly that Herbert has all of the tools, but he's never won a playoff game. Daniels has been ranked ahead of Jalen Hurts before, but he's 0-2 vs. Hurts in games when both started and finished the contest. That includes Daniels' loss in the most recent NFC Championship Game. It seems the Jalen Hurts disrespect is a constant stream of negativity with no end in sight. To make matters worse, theories swirl that he was carried to a championship by elite teammates and superior coaching, as if he had contributed nothing to the win. Fear not. That idea was blown to smithereens by the man you would most expect to do so. Nick Sirianni ends the latest audacious Jalen Hurts claim There's only one Nick Sirianni. That's probably a good thing for everyone outside of the Eagles organization. What on Earth would we ever do with two, except maybe win a couple more Super Bowls? Coach is one of a kind. He's uniquely authentic and willing to run through a wall for his players without a helmet. Recently, he aimed at an overworked theory, that Hurts is nothing more than a game manager whose success is born from being surrounded by superior weaponry. 'Yeah... That's bull---' That's a direct quote from Philly's leader, one offered to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Reuben Frank. As Roob states, Hurts isn't someone who can simply be measured in passing yards, passer rating, or touchdowns. Sirianni continued: 'I mean, he plays the most important position in all sports, and it's the most ultimate team game there is. And what I admire about him is his selflessness of doing anything we need to do to win... You name me a team that wins and wins consistently that doesn't have good players around you. Like, you name me a coach that doesn't have good players around him that wins. Like, you don't win with bad players, and it's the same thing you don't win with bad players as you're a quarterback either." So, back to our question. How can Jalen Hurts possibly be the NFL's ninth-best quarterback? Based on the resume alone, debate continues to rage. Fowler's story birthed some of this discussion, but it also offers some of the necessary praise.. "Hurts' status is cemented. He's a Super Bowl winner who plays big in big moments. He's the most potent short-yardage quarterback rusher in NFL history. His streak of four consecutive seasons with 10 or more rushing touchdowns is the league's longest ever for a passer. He's also one of the game's most accurate passers, ranking first in completion percentage over expected (+6.6). And he throws a beautiful deep ball. That touchdown pass to Devonta Smith in Super Bowl LIX was a Superdome-sized work of art." If you're a Hurts supporter (which we assume most of you are) and frustrated, don't fret. You aren't alone. I assure you, some of us get it. He has received early MVP backing from a national writer, so here's a recommendation to help reduce the desire to throw fits. Understand that this is part of the deal for an NFL quarterback. Jalen Hurts possesses the temperament needed to excel, though. He'll keep winning. He'll continue to score touchdowns, both rushing and passing. His critics will keep moving the goalposts, and when it comes down to theories and analysis, remember what Coach Sirianni told you. 'It's a team game. Yeah, that always bothers me, to be honest with you, when it's talked about because it's football.' We all hear you, Coach! If we're being honest, Jalen Hurts could win three more Super Bowls. Nothing will ever be good enough.
