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Winnipeg Free Press
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jaguars veteran DT Arik Armstead now has a back injury that's sidelining him in camp
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Arik Armstead has yet to play a down in Jacksonville's training camp, a lingering absence that has the Jaguars concerned about his availability for the season opener. The 31-year-old defensive tackle opened camp last month watching from the sideline in what coach Liam Coen equated to giving him 'a little bit of a veteran start.' Now, two weeks later and with Armstead still without a practice rep, Coen said he is dealing with a back injury that has him on the shelf indefinitely. Although Coen expressed optimism that Armstead could be ready for the team's opener against Carolina on Sept. 7, he added 'it's hard for me to say right now.' 'Ultimately, he'll probably know how to get himself ready to go, I would hope,' Coen said Tuesday. 'The key is just making sure that he's healthy and ready to go for the first game. Ultimately, it's a long season, as we know. 'Not to say that early (games) aren't obviously as important as late ones, but it is a long season, and we're really just trying to get him to be as healthy as possible.' Armstead signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with Jacksonville in 2024 that included $28 million guaranteed. It was an eye-popping deal for a 6-foot-7, 290-pound player on the wrong side of 30 who missed 13 games over his final two seasons in San Francisco. Making the signing even more of a head-scratcher, Armstead was brought in to be a backup behind starting edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker — a decision the team believes will be fixed with Armstead now playing inside. 'Just being out there more I'm going to be more productive,' Armstead said. 'They're not paying me as a situational player.' Although Armstead saw action in all 17 games last season, he finished with just two sacks. His lack of production prompted him to ask coaches in mid-October to move back to his more natural position as a tackle. They declined. But it was far from a lost year for Armstead. He received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given annually to one of 32 nominees to recognize their humanitarian efforts off the field. It was a career achievement that put Armstead in an exclusive club. But did it buy him any extra grace amid a new regime? Coen, first-year general manager James Gladstone and first-year executive vice president Tony Boselli already have dismantled most of what's widely considered the worst free-agent class in Jaguars history. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Last year's group included cornerback Ronald Darby (cut), receiver Gabe Davis (cut), returner Devin Duvernay (cut), center Mitch Morse (retired) and safety Darnell Savage (fighting to make the 53-man roster). Armstead's roster spot appears safe for now, especially since he has a guaranteed salary of $14 million this season. The Jaguars also liked what they saw from him during organized team activities and believe the position switch inside could get him closer to being the guy who had 33 1/2 sacks in nine years with the 49ers. 'I've got a good five years left in me,' Armstead said in the spring. 'I got a lot to prove, a lot to do, a lot to accomplish. I'm not stopping anytime soon. I still feel great. I know I can play at a high level. When that day comes where I feel like I can't play at a high level, I'll shut it down. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.' ___ AP NFL:
Hindustan Times
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Jaguars veteran DT Arik Armstead now has a back injury that's sidelining him in camp
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Arik Armstead has yet to play a down in Jacksonville's training camp, a lingering absence that has the Jaguars concerned about his availability for the season opener. HT Image The 31-year-old defensive tackle opened camp last month watching from the sideline in what coach Liam Coen equated to giving him 'a little bit of a veteran start.' Now, two weeks later and with Armstead still without a practice rep, Coen said he is dealing with a back injury that has him on the shelf indefinitely. Although Coen expressed optimism that Armstead could be ready for the team's opener against Carolina on Sept. 7, he added 'it's hard for me to say right now.' 'Ultimately, he'll probably know how to get himself ready to go, I would hope,' Coen said Tuesday. 'The key is just making sure that he's healthy and ready to go for the first game. Ultimately, it's a long season, as we know. 'Not to say that early (games) aren't obviously as important as late ones, but it is a long season, and we're really just trying to get him to be as healthy as possible.' Armstead signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with Jacksonville in 2024 that included $28 million guaranteed. It was an eye-popping deal for a 6-foot-7, 290-pound player on the wrong side of 30 who missed 13 games over his final two seasons in San Francisco. Making the signing even more of a head-scratcher, Armstead was brought in to be a backup behind starting edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker — a decision the team believes will be fixed with Armstead now playing inside. 'Just being out there more I'm going to be more productive," Armstead said. 'They're not paying me as a situational player.' Although Armstead saw action in all 17 games last season, he finished with just two sacks. His lack of production prompted him to ask coaches in mid-October to move back to his more natural position as a tackle. They declined. But it was far from a lost year for Armstead. He received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given annually to one of 32 nominees to recognize their humanitarian efforts off the field. It was a career achievement that put Armstead in an exclusive club. But did it buy him any extra grace amid a new regime? Coen, first-year general manager James Gladstone and first-year executive vice president Tony Boselli already have dismantled most of what's widely considered the worst free-agent class in Jaguars history. Last year's group included cornerback Ronald Darby (cut), receiver Gabe Davis (cut), returner Devin Duvernay (cut), center Mitch Morse (retired) and safety Darnell Savage (fighting to make the 53-man roster). Armstead's roster spot appears safe for now, especially since he has a guaranteed salary of $14 million this season. The Jaguars also liked what they saw from him during organized team activities and believe the position switch inside could get him closer to being the guy who had 33½ sacks in nine years with the 49ers. 'I've got a good five years left in me,' Armstead said in the spring. 'I got a lot to prove, a lot to do, a lot to accomplish. I'm not stopping anytime soon. I still feel great. I know I can play at a high level. When that day comes where I feel like I can't play at a high level, I'll shut it down. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.' ___ AP NFL:
USA Today
26-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
End of an era: Isaac Rochell retires as a Charger
Former defensive end Isaac Rochell retired as a Chargers, the team announced on Saturday. Rochell was selected in the seventh round (225th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft by the Chargers, where he spent his first four seasons of his professional career. The former Notre Dame product accumulated 74 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three passes defended and an interception. Rochell was also recognized for his off-field contributions, as he was nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2020. After his time with the Chargers, Rochell had stints with the Colts (2021) and the Browns (2022) before joining the Raiders.
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys' Jason Witten named to this top-5 list alongside Kelce, Kittle, Gronkowski
If NFL teams were loaned a crystal ball for draft weekend, and that crystal ball told them the prospect they were eying with their third-round pick was guaranteed to make a Pro Bowl at some point in their career, the card couldn't be turned in fast enough. But what if that crystal ball said that third-round pick would make a staggering 11 Pro Bowls? And also set franchise records for career catches, career receiving yards, and games played, land in the league's top five for all-time receptions, be a surefire Hall of Famer, and an eventual Ring of Honor member? Talk about return on investment. Jason Witten was chosen by Eric Edholm as one of the top-five draft values for his position over the last quarter-century, and it's impossible to argue otherwise. Chosen 69th overall out of Tennessee, Witten was the fifth tight end selected in 2003. (No sign on this list of Bennie Joppru or Teyo Johnson, both taken a round earlier that year.) And Witten made an immediate impact in Dallas, missing just one game as a rookie, and that was because of a broken jaw. It would, famously, be the only game he would ever miss due to injury over his 17 NFL seasons. Consistency was Witten's trademark. He rarely put up huge numbers, though he did turn in four 1,000-yard campaigns. His 2021 season was unusually prolific: he set a new mark for tight ends with 110 catches, including one game in which he hauled 18 passes- still an NFL tight end record- and he even collected the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. As Edholm notes, "Witten's brief retirement, a tough lone season with the Raiders, and a failed stint as a Monday Night Football broadcaster might have sullied his reputation unfairly in recent years." But, he concludes, "when you combine his receiving ability, blocking prowess, leadership, and unquestioned toughness, he stacks up as one of the finest ever to play his position." Witten is ranked the fourth-best tight end value on the list, just ahead of Jimmy Graham. Ahead of Witten are George Kittle, Rob Gronkowski, and Travis Kelce- every one of whom was drafted outside the first round. Edholm also did rankings for the rest of the offensive positions, but no other Cowboys were chosen. With a high draft slot bringing added expectations, it's not surprising that first-round superstar linemen like Zack Martin and Tyron Smith missed the cut in the value conversation. But even fourth-rounder Dak Prescott was left off the quarterbacks' list in favor of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Brock Purdy. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Fox Sports
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Cowboys' Dak Prescott: 'Legacy be damned; I want to win a championship'
Dak Prescott is entering his 10th season under center for the Dallas Cowboys and has tunnel vision on one goal. "I want to win a championship. The legacy, the things, whatever comes after I finish playing will take care of itself," Prescott said on Thursday at Cowboys minicamp, according to ESPN. "I want to win a championship. Be damned if it's just for my legacy, or if it's for this team, for my personal being, for my sanity. Yeah, the legacy will take care of itself. I have to stay where my feet are." Last season, Prescott totaled 1,978 passing yards, 11 passing yards, eight interceptions and a career-low 86.0 passer rating, while completing 64.7% of his passes; Prescott's 2024 campaign ended after eight games due to a hamstring injury. In all, Prescott ranked 43rd among quarterbacks with a 67.9 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Dallas went 3-5 in the games that Prescott started and went on to miss the playoffs at 7-10. The veteran quarterback is now entering the first season of a four-year, $240 million extension, with his $60 million average annual salary being first in NFL history. Prescott, a three-time Pro Bowler and the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner, is second in Cowboys history with 213 career touchdown passes and third with 31,437 passing yards. He's on pace to be first in both categories within the next two seasons, as Tony Romo is first in franchise history with both 34,183 passing yards and 248 touchdown passes. On the other hand, while the Cowboys are 76-46 in the regular season with Prescott under center, they're also 2-5 in the postseason. Furthermore, the franchise just moved on from head coach Mike McCarthy after five seasons, promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Prescott expressed that he has seen "a lot of good things" at minicamp this week and is "excited as hell" for next season. Prescott, who will be 32 at the start of the 2025 NFL season, has a new weapon to target on the outside, as Dallas acquired wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May. He also has a new face in the quarterback room, as the Cowboys lost Cooper Rush to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency and acquired second-year quarterback Joe Milton from the New England Patriots. Prescott and the Cowboys have a road bout against the NFC East-rival and defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 regular-season opener on Sept. 4. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
