Latest news with #training camp
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs Have 'True Battle' At 1 Position At Training Camp
Chiefs Have 'True Battle' At 1 Position At Training Camp originally appeared on Athlon Sports. For most of last season, and the majority of the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line and its inability to protect Patrick Mahomes have been a major storyline. General manager Brett Veach went about rectifying that, signing Jaylon Moore in free agency, while also drafting left tackle Josh Simmons in the first round. With Moore signing a two-year deal, the expectation is that he will begin training camp as the No. 1 option for Mahomes as his blindside protector, but don't discount Simmons, who is recovering well from his knee injury that ended his college season early last year. Right now, the starting position is up for grabs, and for ESPN, the left tackle spot is the biggest storyline to watch for Kansas City at training camp. "Poor left tackle play seemed like it was going to sink the Chiefs' offensive ship for months of the 2024 season, but nevertheless, that stubborn and incremental offense made it all the way to Super Bowl LIX before the bill finally came due," ESPN writes. "Both options come with risk -- Moore was only ever a spot starter with the 49ers, and Simmons is coming off a patella injury and still recovering from surgery. Simmons is expected to be full-go at training camp, which opens the job up to a true battle." In an ideal world, Moore and Simmons would battle, and then Simmons, who is clearly the projected long-term starter, would usurp the four-year backup. Of course, things in the NFL rarely go that smoothly, but the Chiefs will hope that the starting decision will be made for them, with either player proving with on-field production that they have elevated themselves above the other. With Mahomes sacked 47 times, including the playoffs, last season, easily the most of his career, the Chiefs can't let their best asset hit the turf that often. Which is why figuring out who the left tackle will be in 2025 is a rather critical question to answer. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Ravens' 10 biggest storylines entering training camp: When will Lamar Jackson get extended?
There's a kicking competition to work out and some contract situations to work on. Otherwise, the Baltimore Ravens will gather at the Under Armour Performance Center next week for the start of what they hope will be a productive and memorable six-plus-month grind without too many pressing questions. Advertisement The one overarching question surrounding the team: Can it find a way to play its best football in January and make a Super Bowl run? That won't be answered for many weeks. Until then, the Ravens will hope to stay as healthy as possible, take an already prolific offense to another level and incorporate some talented pieces on defense. That process will accelerate next Wednesday when Baltimore has its first full-squad practice of training camp. It's time to rank the team's 10 biggest storylines that will dominate discussions ahead of its Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills. When you have a Super Bowl-caliber roster and Pro Bowl performers at just about every other position, a shaky kicker situation will garner a lot of attention. When two rookies, a sixth-round pick and an undrafted free agent, are getting the first opportunity to replace Justin Tucker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, there's going to be a ton of scrutiny. The Ravens haven't had a summer kicking competition since 2012, when Tucker beat out the incumbent Billy Cundiff for the job. Until Tucker's struggles last season, the Ravens hadn't faced any kicker questions, omnipresent in other NFL cities, for over a decade. That and the fact that the Ravens don't have much roster intrigue elsewhere means the expected summer competition between sixth-round pick Tyler Loop and rookie free agent John Hoyland will be one of the most discussed daily stories in camp. Loop remains the favorite to win the job despite shaky performances during the organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. However, what matters is how he and Hoyland perform in training camp and preseason games. Plenty of eyes will be watching. With Jackson's salary-cap number rising to $74.5 million next year and the list of Baltimore 2026 unrestricted free agents featuring names such as Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Tyler Linderbaum, Odafe Oweh, Travis Jones, Kyle Van Noy and Patrick Ricard, next offseason could be quite arduous for general manager Eric DeCosta and the front office. Advertisement Most contract talks are tabled once the regular season begins, so DeCosta and Baltimore's chief negotiator, Nick Matteo, essentially have two months to check off a few important items from next offseason's meaty to-do list. A two-time MVP, Jackson represents the most significant piece of business. If the Ravens can't agree to a contract extension with the quarterback before the start of the new league year in March, his cap number, which rises by more than $30 million in 2026, would make it nearly impossible for Baltimore to keep the nucleus of its roster together. Jackson will have even more leverage in the contract talks with each passing month. Baltimore also figures to make a push to extend Likely, Linderbaum and safety Kyle Hamilton, who is under contract through 2026 but is only going to get more expensive as arguably the league's best safety. All the Ravens did offensively last year was lead the league in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), overall yards per game and rushing yards per game, and they finished third in points per game. Jackson didn't win his third MVP trophy, but he had arguably the best season of his career. Monken didn't get a head-coaching job, but he garnered multiple interviews for the second straight year. The Ravens return 10 of 11 offensive starters from last season and added to the prolific group this offseason by signing potential future Hall of Fame receiver DeAndre Hopkins and welcoming back now healthy running back Keaton Mitchell. Thus, expectations are incredibly high. Monken has spoken openly about giving Jackson more freedom and more say in the offense every season. He also knows there's a lot of talent around Jackson, and those players want a representative number of touches each week. Training camp will be crucial for roles to be solidified and for the team to work toward the offensive balance it covets. Advertisement The Ravens GM has built what many pundits consider one of the league's best and deepest rosters, but that doesn't mean there aren't areas that would still benefit from the addition of a veteran. Baltimore certainly could use a No. 3 safety to play behind Hamilton and Malaki Starks. The addition of an interior offensive and defensive lineman would solidify the Ravens in the trenches. DeCosta has had success adding to his roster late in the offseason, during training camp and even early in the regular season. He's acquired quality veterans such as Jadeveon Clowney, Van Noy, Justin Houston and Ronald Darby during that time frame. The Ravens don't have a lot of salary-cap space to work with, but they could benefit from veterans wanting to find work before September and willing to drop their asking prices to join a contender. Among the top available free agents are ex-Ravens pass rushers Za'Darius Smith, Matthew Judon and Clowney; guard Brandon Scherff; defensive tackle Linval Joseph; and safeties Justin Simmons and Julian Blackmon. After months of speculation that he'd either be traded or released, the veteran tight end is preparing for his eighth season in Baltimore. Andrews, who was assessed much of the outside blame for the team's playoff loss in Buffalo, has taken a business-as-usual approach as he enters the final year of his contract. He attended all of Baltimore's offseason workouts and, as usual, he was going all out on every play. The Ravens received trade interest in Andrews during the offseason, but no team matched Baltimore's asking price. Ravens decision-makers, and Baltimore's franchise quarterback, believe they are a better team with Andrews on the field. However, what happens this summer if a team loses its starting tight end to an injury and calls the Ravens with a legitimate offer for Andrews? And would Andrews welcome a move elsewhere if he concludes that Likely is in Baltimore's long-term plans and he isn't, and his acquiring team is willing to give him an extension? Due to his recent playoff struggles, Andrews has become a polarizing player among fans. Jackson will be the most scrutinized returning Ravens player this summer, but Andrews ranks just below him. Advertisement This question was far more prominent at this time last year because the Ravens lost both their starting guards and their right tackle and had three vacancies to fill. This offseason, starting left guard Patrick Mekari departed in free agency, as did one of their top reserves, Josh Jones. Yet, there hasn't been a whole lot of angst about how Baltimore will replace them. Mekari's likely replacement, Andrew Vorhees, was the team's Week 1 starter at left guard last season. The Ravens signed Joseph Noteboom, who started 35 games with the Los Angeles Rams in the previous six seasons, to fill Josh Jones' role. The Ravens certainly feel good about the return of left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Linderbaum at center, and right tackle Roger Rosengarten had a promising rookie season. They'd feel even better if they see improvement from Daniel Faalele at right guard and Vorhees at left guard. With rookie Emery Jones Jr. expected to be on the sideline for the start of camp because of a shoulder injury and guard Ben Cleveland potentially facing a league suspension to start following his offseason arrest and DUI charges, the Ravens just don't have a lot of enticing options if one of the projected starters is hurt or falters. It's an intriguing mix on paper. Orr, the second-year defensive coordinator, and Pagano, back as the team's secondary coach, will have the ability to line up veteran Jaire Alexander and 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins on the outside and use Marlon Humphrey in the slot. Chidobe Awuzie is an excellent depth piece, and T.J. Tampa is a young corner who team officials believe has starter potential. Behind them at safety are Hamilton and Starks, both of whom are versatile, intelligent and athletic. Top two and we're not two 🔥 — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 9, 2025 The options feel endless. Humphrey can play outside, in the slot or at safety. Awuzie can line up at corner or safety. Other corners, like Jalyn Armour-Davis and Tampa, could get more looks at safety in the preseason. Hamilton and Starks both can match up in the slot or on the outside. It's unlikely that Orr and Pagano show a whole lot in the preseason because most of the starters are unlikely to play, and Baltimore won't want to give its regular-season opponents an early scouting report. The Ravens certainly have the personnel to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing in terms of who is lining up where and when. The Ravens didn't sign Hopkins to be a No. 1 receiver, the role the 33-year-old has flourished in throughout his career. Baltimore added Hopkins to be a complementary piece to a passing game that features Zay Flowers, who had over 1,000 receiving yards last season; Rashod Bateman, who caught 11 total touchdown passes; Andrews, Jackson's longtime favorite target and the franchise leader in touchdown receptions; and Likely, who Baltimore believes has star potential. Advertisement Suppose Hopkins can provide leadership to a predominantly young wide receiver group, make some clutch plays periodically during the season and be a reliable red zone and third-down target. In that case, he'll prove to be a prudent addition. The run-first Ravens have had issues over the years incorporating veteran receivers, and Hopkins is coming off a season where he averaged a career-low 10.9 yards per reception. It will be interesting to see how the pairing works. Starks, the team's first-round pick, is expected to be a starter. While team officials understand there will be a learning curve, they anticipate that the former Georgia standout will meet the moment. However, there is some ambiguity about what the Ravens will get from their second-round pick in his rookie season. Yes, Green was widely considered one of the best pass rushers in the draft. He led the nation with 17 sacks in his final season at Marshall and then starred at the Senior Bowl. Still, the NFL is a big jump from the Sun Belt Conference. The Ravens also have a challenging defense to pick up, and they ask a lot from their outside linebackers. Green happens to play a position where the Ravens return two double-digit sack guys in Van Noy and Oweh, along with a third-year player in Tavius Robinson, whom the coaches love. Green will almost certainly play a lot in the preseason. If he appears to be up to the task, the Ravens will have even more ways to get after teams defensively. This might seem insignificant in many NFL cities, but not in Baltimore. The Ravens have had an undrafted rookie make their season-opening roster in 20 of the past 21 years. Team officials take great pride in finding and developing quality undrafted free agents and consider it a crucial part of roster building. Baltimore is set to take a 20-player undrafted rookie free-agent class into training camp. The group includes two wide receivers, four offensive linemen, five defensive backs and a kicker. The big question is whether the Ravens will have room for any of them. While injuries can always change things, there are few perceived open spots on the 53-man roster. Advertisement The undrafted rookies with the best shot to stick are probably Hoyland, inside linebacker Jay Higgins, who had a very productive final two seasons at Iowa, and Reuben Lowery, a cornerback out of Tennessee-Chattanooga who was around the ball a lot in offseason practices.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 wide receiver trade targets the Steelers could pursue before training camp
As July's training camp inches ever closer, the Steelers' pressing need for additional help at wide receiver cannot be ignored. While DK Metcalf is the unquestioned WR1 — and Calvin Austin III has been named WR2 — Pittsburgh could benefit from acquiring one of these four trade targets ahead of next month's camp: Advertisement Packers WR Romeo Doubs Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) runs after the catch against Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images Many analysts and insiders have speculated that the Packers are heavily considering trading Doubs — who is entering a contract year this season. The Green Bay wideout has accumulated at least 600 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons and could be a low-risk, high-reward trade target for the receiver-needy Steelers. Jets WR Allen Lazard New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (10) runs with the ball between Miami Dolphins cornerback Storm Duck (36) and Miami Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer (21), Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford. This feels like a layup — as Lazard has played with Aaron Rodgers every year he's been in the league — and the Steelers quarterback clearly knows how to get production out of his guy. While Lazard shot down trade rumors, that was before Rodgers' signing became official, and a reunion in the Steel City could come at a bargain. Advertisement Panthers WR Adam Thielen Nov 24, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) tries for a two point catch defended by Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images The Steelers have been down this road before, but hear me out: Thielen exceeded expectations last season at 34 years old. He accumulated 61.5 yards per game — his best since 2020, 12.8 yards per reception — his best since 2019, and a 77.4 catch percentage — the highest of his career. If 2025 truly is make-or-break for Pittsburgh, there's little to lose by kicking the tires on the veteran wideout. Commanders WR Terry McLaurin Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports McLaurin isn't happy with his current contract in Washington and has subsequently skipped OTAs and mandatory minicamp this offseason. This move would take a Hail Mary from Steelers GM Omar Khan, but McLaurin is one of the NFL's top receivers. Pittsburgh has been burned by the oh-so-similar Brandon Aiyuk trade negotiations, but McLaurin would be the perfect pairing alongside Metcalf. Advertisement For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers WR trade targets to watch ahead of training camp
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs' Xavier Worthy Opens Up On Offensive Scheme Change
Chiefs' Xavier Worthy Opens Up On Offensive Scheme Change originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kansas City Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy knows that as he enters Year 2, more is going to be expected of him in Andy Reid's offense. Advertisement After ending his rookie season in superb form (157 yards, two touchdowns in the Super Bowl loss), Worthy and the offense will look to hit the ground running at training camp with Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown now back in the fold. Having not been the explosive unit we had come to know under Patrick Mahomes in the last few seasons, it appears there is a desire to return to that style of offense. And when speaking on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, Worthy revealed a message that Reid told the group after an OTA practice. "Coach Reid told us during OTAs Phase 1, 'When you come back, get your hamstrings ready,' " Worthy said. "So, we kind of knew that we were going to be going a little deep during practice. We kind of got our bodies and our minds ready for what we're going to be doing in practice." Advertisement Chiefs wide receivers Skyy Moore (24), Xavier Worthy (1)© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Chiefs attempted to incorporate the deep ball into their offense last season, but with Rice going down for the year in Week 4 and Marquise Brown not being seen until Week 16, they lost two genuine weapons to injury. Now, with both back healthy, along with an improved Worthy, Mahomes has three weapons who can stretch the field, plus Travis Kelce and Noah Gray underneath. Granted, having the deep ball back is a good idea, but the offensive line has to protect good enough to allow the routes to develop, something it didn't do last season with Mahomes sacked 47 times (including playoffs) which was a career-high. Advertisement Now, the Chiefs will try again to get one of their best weapons up and running, and if the unit can get the deep ball working regularly, it opens up a lot for the offense. So, Xavier, get those hamstrings ready. Related: Chiefs' 'Margin For Error' In AFC West Gone In 2025 Related: Chiefs Urged To Sign Veteran Competition for Camp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Can Stefon Diggs be the No. 1 WR the Patriots desperately need?
Editor's note: This is the ninth story in a 10-part series looking at the most intriguing New England Patriots players ahead of training camp. Previously: Efton Chism, TreVeyon Henderson, Keion White, Kyle Williams, Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Will Campbell and Christian Gonzalez The Patriots' search for a No. 1 wide receiver took a bit longer than expected before they eventually signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year contract a couple of weeks after free agency began. Advertisement So far, his tenure has been … interesting. Diggs drew the scorn of his head coach and captured the attention of the league when he was seen distributing an unknown substance on a boat around the same time his teammates were beginning voluntary practices. But he also impressed the team at minicamp with mentorship of younger players and routes that suggested he might be ahead of schedule on his rehab from an ACL tear. In short, there is plenty to talk about when it comes to Diggs. So, what should the Patriots expect from him in 2025? What can he do for an offense that badly needs a jumpstart? And what if the Pats are wrong about his ability to return from a serious injury? Let's break that down in the second-to-last story of this series examining the most interesting Patriots players before camp. Diggs was a five-star recruit out of high school who decided to stay close to home after the passing of his father and played college football at Maryland. Two injuries (a broken leg and a lacerated kidney) there slowed his production and his NFL prognosis, causing him to slip to the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He proved to be a difference-maker for the Minnesota Vikings early, but he blossomed into a star after his postseason game-winning reception dubbed the Minneapolis Miracle. Starting in 2018, he posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in six straight seasons, mostly on the back of incredible route running. He doesn't have the size of a Mike Evans or the speed of a Tyreek Hill, but Diggs makes up for it with precision route running that, in his prime, might've been the best in the NFL. After the Vikings traded him to the Buffalo Bills early in 2020 (amid Diggs making his displeasure with the former franchise known), he put together his best year during his first season in Buffalo — 127 receptions for 1,535 yards and eight touchdowns. Advertisement However, following four years with the Bills, he wore thin his welcome and was traded to the Houston Texans, where he played eight games last season before suffering a torn ACL. Diggs doesn't just have familiarity with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme — it helped bring out the best seasons of his career. While in Minnesota, he was deployed in various roles, from working in the slot to being Minnesota's deep threat all while playing under five offensive coordinators in five years. But in Buffalo, Diggs thrived under then-OC Brian Daboll. And Daboll, of course, used a playbook largely developed with concepts from his time working under Josh McDaniels in New England. Now, Diggs re-enters that scheme with McDaniels back as Patriots' offensive coordinator. So, even if Diggs' practice reps are limited this summer, he shouldn't face a steep climb in mastering the playbook. 'These are the same routes I've been running,' Diggs said in June. We could take the easy way out and point to his past production. However, the biggest reason for hope so far has been a recovery that seems remarkably speedy. It's risky to put too much stock into June practices, but in non-contact drills, Diggs didn't look like someone who underwent knee surgery in early November. Plus, while speed may decline for receivers as they enter their 30s, precise route running should not drop off as quickly. Beyond that, the Patriots could use Diggs serving as a bit of an on-field coach, too. There's the familiarity with the offense, sure, but Diggs brings a track record of success to a pair of second-year receivers (Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker) who underwhelmed as rookies. They could, in an ideal world, benefit from observing the way Diggs runs routes. But most importantly, Diggs was still playing at a high level last season before the injury. He posted 496 yards in eight games, which put him on pace for a seventh straight 1,000-yard season. The concerns fall into three buckets. The first is age. A wide receiver's 30s aren't generally kind to him, and Diggs turns 32 in November. His prime is decidedly behind him now, and the question becomes how productive he can be in the aftermath. The second is his injury. Diggs always lacked explosiveness (only a 9-foot-7-inch broad jump and 35-inch vertical leap coming out of college), and an ACL tear won't help in that department. He looked to be ahead of schedule this spring, but it's still not ideal for a receiver in his 30s, who already lacked explosiveness, to try to come back from this injury and serve as a team's No. 1 option. Advertisement Finally, there's the elephant in the room. Before he was a full participant in practice, Diggs had already frustrated some within the organization by becoming a distraction when the video of him on the boat went viral. That can still become a distant memory if he plays well this season, but it wasn't exactly a dream start to his time in New England. Just how involved will Diggs be in August? He'll likely open camp by working on the side until he's cleared from injury. But will there come a point in late August when Diggs begins participating in full team drills? If so, is playing Week 1 really an option? It always seemed likeliest that Diggs would open the season on the physically unable to perform list (meaning he'd be out at least the first four games), but perhaps the optimism from his spring performances can translate to an increased role in camp and maybe even open the door for Diggs to open the season on the Week 1 roster.
