Latest news with #NFI
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrew Thomas placed on PUP list by New York Giants
Star left tackle Andrew Thomas, recovering from Lisfranc surgery that limited his 2024 season to six games, has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list by the New York Giants on the eve of 2025 training camp. Running back Eric Gray, competing for a spot as a backup, will also begin training camp on PUP. He has a knee injury. Players on PUP to begin training camp count against the 90-man roster, but cannot practice until they are removed from the list. The Giants also made a pair of other moves. Edge defender Victor Dimukeje, who suffered a pectoral injury during the offseason, has been placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. Safety Anthony Johnson (failed physical) was waived, making room on the roster for safety K'Von Wallace, signed earlier on Tuesday. The health of Thomas, who has missed 18 games with injuries the past two seasons, is critical for the Giants. Over the past two years, the Giants are 6-10 with Thomas in the lineup, 3-15 without him. The Giants signed James Hudson in free agency as depth for Thomas, and also selected offensive lineman Marcus Mbow in Round 5. There is, though, no way the Giants offensive line can be at its best without Thomas. We will see how long this lasts. More from 'Things are looking up' for Darian Thompson — report Giants take LB Zach Cunningham in latest MTD mock draft 2017 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC NFL Draft: Is TE David Njoku right pick at 23 for the Giants? New York Giants news, 4/17: 2015 draft do-over, Odell Beckham, more Offseason workouts begin Tuesday for New York Giants Bill Belichick's draft rules: 'Smart, tough, dependable' players
Chicago Tribune
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
4 things we learned as Chicago Bears reported to camp, including Jaylon Johnson out for ‘a few weeks'
The Chicago Bears are back at Halas Hall. Veteran players reported for training camp Tuesday in Lake Forest, and general manager Ryan Poles, coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams met with the media. The team will hold its first practice Wednesday morning. Here are four things we learned. The Bears placed Johnson on the non-football injury list over the weekend, and Poles said Tuesday the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback will be out for a few weeks because of a leg injury. The NFI list is for players who suffer injuries away from team facilities. Poles said Johnson injured his leg while training on his own. He declined to elaborate on the injury. 'It is going to take a few weeks before he can come back,' Poles said. 'We've got a lot of faith that he's going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back. I'm sure we'll have updates as we go through training camp, but it's going to take a little bit of time. But (we're) not overly concerned about (it) long term.' Still, the Bears will be without their top coverage cornerback for a while. With the Sept. 8 season opener against the Minnesota Vikings looming just seven weeks from now, 'a few weeks' is not insignificant. Photos: Chicago Bears report to training campWithout Johnson, the spotlight in practice will turn toward cornerbacks Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith. In other injury news, running back Ian Wheeler and wide receiver Jahdae Walker were activated off the NFI list. The Bears previously designated veteran quarterback Case Keenum for the NFI list but removed him a day later. Poles noted that left tackle Braxton Jones and rookie tight end Colston Loveland, who dealt with injuries in the spring, are healthy and ready to go for camp. Poles suggested there would be a 'ramp-up period' before they're 100% back to football activities. Additionally, the Bears signed cornerback Tre Flowers and defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon. Flowers, an eighth-year NFL veteran, spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts. Kpassagnon is in his ninth season and spent the last four years with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with the New Orleans Saints. To make room for those two, the Bears waived defensive end Jereme Robinson and safety Alex Cook. Speaking at the lectern in the media room, Johnson asked the assembled media if anyone had seen the Netflix documentary 'Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds.' Few in the room had. 'Spoiler alert,' Johnson warned. The first-year head coach likened training camp to the preparation process of the Air Force's elite aerial demonstration team. 'It's four new pilots and they've never worked together,' Johnson said. 'Through the course of their training, it's all about earning trust because it's a dangerous job and they're doing some very dangerous acrobatics throughout the air.' Johnson sees parallels between the Thunderbirds pilots and his football team. There's a new head coach, new coordinators and new position coaches. There are new offensive linemen who must grow comfortable playing together. There's a defense learning a new scheme under Allen. And then, of course, there's a quarterback working with a new play caller in Johnson. 'Really the next six weeks is about us coming together because it takes time to build that trust,' Johnson said. 'It's hard to earn, and it's really easy to lose that trust.' Johnson has talked a lot about trust since taking over as head coach in January. Perhaps nowhere is that more important than in the play caller-quarterback relationship. Johnson and Williams need to be on the same page if the Bears offense is going to turn a corner in 2025. 'He and I have been talking all spring, all summer, constant phone calls, constant conversations,' Johnson said. 'And so I think we're in a great place and he wants to get coached hard. And we're going to push him as hard as we can and do what is right for the team.' Poles spoke publicly for the first time since the Bears awarded him a contract extension earlier this month. The deal matches Poles' duration with Johnson's; both are under contract through the 2029 season. For a franchise that has been constantly juggling GMs, head coaches and quarterbacks over the last 15 years, this should give Poles and Johnson some stability to build the team together for the next several years. 'I am excited about the alignment and the stability that we have within our leadership group here,' Poles said. 'I have an unbelievable group of people that support me, believe in me, work with me, that help drive what we're doing on our roster and on our football team, and that means a lot.' In a four-minute statement, Poles addressed Jaylon Johnson's injury, several transactions and his updated contract. He did not, however, answer any questions from the media. That was a notable departure for a GM who typically has answered questions every year as players report. 'My sole focus right now is supporting Ben, his coaching staff, our players and our entire organization and football operation,' Poles said. Johnson confirmed it will be a three-man race for the left tackle job, as expected. Braxton Jones will compete with second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie and rookie Ozzy Trapilo. All three will get 'a fair shot,' Johnson said. With only so much time allowed on the practice field, there are limited reps to go around. 'That's why everything's going to matter,' Johnson said. 'Every play matters. It all is going to matter as we go through this thing. I can't tell you I've been through a three-man race before, and so each play is going to be evaluated and they've got to take full advantage of each opportunity that they get.' As expected, third-year pro Darnell Wright will remain at right tackle. Wright, a 2023 first-round draft pick, worked on the right side throughout organized team activities and minicamp. As a rookie last year, Amegadjie saw limited action and started one game. Trapilo, a second-round draft pick, started at right tackle the last two seasons at Boston College. With 40 NFL starts under his belt, Jones likely remains the favorite to win the job. He won the starting left tackle job as a rookie fifth-round pick out of Southern Utah in 2022 and has held the job ever since. 'I would like to think his experience will help him, but we're coming in with blank slates right now,' Johnson said. 'And so just because a guy's played and another guy hasn't in this league, we're going to let the competition play out and we'll see where it goes.'
USA Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Giants place Andrew Thomas, Eric Gray on PUP list
The New York Giants opened their 2025 training camp on Tuesday. As is the case at the start of every training camp, players who are rehabbing from injury and expected to return are given preseason designations. The Giants announced that left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) and running back Eric Gray (knee) will start camp on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and linebacker Victor Dimukeje was placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list. The PUP list permits teams to "manage players with football-related injuries during training camp and the preseason." Players on the active/PUP list count against the 90-man training camp roster during preseason games and can be activated at any point before final cuts after being medically cleared. Players who are still on PUP after the roster cutdown date of August 26 must sit out the Giants' first four regular-season games. Dimukeje suffered a torn pec during offseason workouts. Like a player placed on PUP, he can be activated at any time during camp. If he begins the season on the NFI list, he must sit out the first six games of the regular season. The team also announced that defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. was waived/injured. His roster spot was filled by the signing of free agent safety K'Von Wallace.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
6 important things to know from report day at Rams training camp
Los Angeles Rams coaches arrived at Loyola Marymount University on Monday but on Tuesday, players reported to training camp on campus. While there were no major surprises from report day – Kyren Williams was among those to show up despite his contract situation – there were some notable takeaways from the team's press conferences. Sean McVay provided updates on Alaric Jackson and Matthew Stafford, while Rob Havenstein shared the latest on his health heading into training camp. Players will begin practicing this week, with the first open practice taking place on Thursday, so they're ready to get to work at LMU. Here are six important things to know from Tuesday's press conferences. Rams will meet with Kyren Williams' agent on Wednesday to continue contract talks The Rams and Williams continue to talk about a potential contract extension for the star running back, though no deal has been struck yet. McVay told reporters that they've made progress and the team will sit down with Williams' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, on Wednesday to keep those conversations going. Williams is confident a deal will get done at some point and he made it clear that he wants to stay with the Rams, so it's about getting a deal over the finish line. 'We have gotten closer,' McVay said. 'Haven't gotten a deal over the finish line, obviously. He has done everything that he can control that makes you want to say, 'Let's try, in good faith, to try to figure this out for this guy because he's representing all the things that are right about the Rams.'' Alaric Jackson won't start on an injury list and could play Week 1 Jackson is currently dealing with blood clots in his leg, which he was diagnosed with this offseason. The good news is he won't start training camp on the PUP or NFI list, so he'll be a participant in practice. He just won't do the team drills and physical work with the other linemen. Instead, he'll stick to individual drills as the Rams take it one day at a time with their left tackle. McVay did say he wouldn't rule out Jackson playing in Week 1, saying that's a 'very real possibility' if all goes according to plan. Matthew Stafford will be limited in the beginning of camp Perhaps the most surprising news coming out of McVay's press conference was the fact that Stafford will be limited to start camp. He will only do individual work with trainers for the first week of practice as he manages some back soreness that 'crept up' leading into camp. McVay isn't concerned about Stafford's status for the season and they planned to give him additional days off anyway, but it's a situation to monitor. Rob Havenstein will be a full participant in practice Havenstein is coming off shoulder surgery and decided to continue playing rather than retiring after the 2024 season, which was in consideration for the right tackle. The Rams were smart with him in the offseason program and didn't push him too hard, but he'll be back to full strength this week. He told reporters that he'll be a full-go in practice, which is great news given Jackson's uncertain status on the left side. At the very least, the Rams will have one of their starting tackles in the early stages of camp. Braden Fiske comfortable playing at a heavier weight Fiske said in his press conference that he's feeling good after having minor knee surgery. He even bulked up a bit, adding more muscle to his frame and cutting his body fat. He said he's comfortable playing at a heavier weight, especially after changing his diet and working with a dietician this offseason. He worked hard to take care of his body and is up to 292-293 pounds after playing below 290 last season. 'That's where I feel the best at,' he said. 'Last year, I kind of floated under 290, which was fine but I feel a lot better when I'm a little bit heavier. I don't get moved around too much, so feels a lot better at that weight.' McVay can feel 'youthful energy' despite Rams being older The Rams are right around average when it comes to the overall age of their team, but the offense is undeniably older. With veterans such as Stafford, Havenstein, Tyler Higbee and even Davante Adams, the offense is a little bit on the older side. However, McVay still feels a lot of energy coming from that group, which he loves to see. 'It does feel like a youthful energy that we have, and I even feel that from some of our players – you watch the way Matthew Stafford's running around in the offseason and how he feels and his vibe. So even some of these guys that are older by age, they feel young,' he said.
NBC Sports
13 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Sean McVay: We're 'hopeful and optimistic' LT Alaric Jackson will be able to play
The Rams have some optimism that they'll have their left tackle when the season opens in September. Alaric Jackson has been dealing with blood clots in his lower leg. It's the second time he's dealt with the issue, which caused him to miss the final nine games of the 2022 season. But opening his press conference on Tuesday, McVay said there is a plan in place for Jackson to return to play. 'That's obviously been a unique situation,' McVay said. 'What I think's been great that we've been able to learn is we do have a plan in place that we're confident in that, most importantly, he feels good about, that hopefully leads to him being on the field for us. But we are going to take it a day at a time. He's not going to be on a PUP or NFI list. What he'll be able to do in the meantime is, some individual drills with [the training staff]. Some of that will be with coaches. Some of the jog-throughs. The actual physical stuff, he will not partake in right now. And we'll just take it a day at a time with something of this nature. 'But I do feel good about the plan we have in place that hopefully leads to him being able to go out there and compete with his teammates. I know he is really feeling good. He's handled this like a total stud. And I think the perspective that this stuff gives you, where it's about the human being first and foremost, but he's got a lot of people that love him that are with him on this journey and we're excited to be able to take it a day at a time with him.' Asked as a follow-up if it's on the table for Jackson to be ready when the season starts, McVay said he wasn't ruling anything out. 'What I also don't want to do, and hopefully you can understand this, is set expectations on something that we are in the process of learning,' McVay said. 'We have a plan in place that, if things go according to plan, feel like that is a very real possibility. But, again, this is the first time that I've navigated through anything like this with a player. You start to realize there's a lot of guys that have been able to be in great situations, even though they've had to overcome some similar issues. 'So, the answer is we're hopeful and optimistic. But what I don't want to do is set expectations when there's a lot of things that could happen. But taking it a day at a time is what's going to be the right approach for all of us from a mental perspective and physically for Alaric.' Jackson signed a three-year, $57 million deal to stick with the Rams this offseason. After Jackson's blood clots were found, L.A. added veteran D.J. Humphries to a one-year deal. Jackson has started 35 games for the Rams over the last three seasons.
