Tag: NFL

After a challenging rookie season, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 draft blossomed in 2025, his first season spent playing under offensive mastermind, Bears head coach Ben Johnson. The results were magical: 3,942 passing yards, a 27-7 TD-INT ratio, an 11-6 record, an NFC North title, a Wild Card Weekend win over the rival Green Bay Packers and a highlight reel with enough thrills to fill a major motion picture.

The sudden turnaround transformed the Bears from a frequently frustrating club into the most promising franchise in the Windy City, with the source of optimism wearing No. 18.

It’s up to Williams to ensure 2025’s successes weren’t a fluke.

Williams carried an air of confidence into Thursday night’s preview event for both Madden 27 and College Football 27 — which EA Sports dubbed their first-ever “Opening Drive” — but despite his years spent in the spotlight at Oklahoma and USC, it’s clear the stardom is still relatively new to the quarterback.

It’s either that, or Williams understands the work is more important than the theatrics.

Take his response to a question regarding the feared “Madden curse,” a belief that a Madden cover athlete is destined for doom in the upcoming season, for example. Williams quickly pivoted away from the hype and back toward the field.

“No more of this Madden curse,” he said. “We’re going to go out and do all the things we need to do, stay healthy, do all the things we need to do study film and be prepared each week, and go out there and handle business.”

The business should be a bit easier, at least during the current portion of offseason activities. At this time one year ago, Williams was submerged in Johnson’s new scheme, absorbing as much of it as possible while preparing for his second NFL season that suddenly carried heightened expectations.

“I was learning so much and it felt like I was just drowning with all the information and things like that,” Williams explained.

Now, after a year spent together, Williams believes the Bears are properly positioned to grow.

“Where we’re at now is different than where we were at last year,” Williams said. “A lot of last year was trying to figure it out. A lot of last year was trying to trust teammates and coaches and all of that. I think at this point, we trust our coaches, they trust us. We’ve got a lot of returning guys, at least on the offensive side of the ball that we know the offense well enough to be able to go out and practice and have these good practices, and with the information that we’re gaining on these plays and on these different schemes that we have, it just heightens the awareness for the scheme and when we’re out there we have a better understanding of where we need to go and what we need to do.”

Denver Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper was arrested Thursday night in Colorado on domestic violence and criminal mischief charges, per Douglas County Sheriff’s Office jail records.

Cooper was taken into custody by the Parker Police Department at 11:16 p.m. local time and booked into the Douglas County jail at 2:38 a.m.

Cooper appeared in court Friday morning. His next scheduled court date is Monday at 10 a.m.

It is unclear what led to Cooper’s arrest.

The Broncos told The Associated Press they “are aware of the matter and are gathering more information.”

A seventh-round pick out of Ohio State in 2021, Cooper has developed into one of Denver’s top edge rushers. He’s started 65 of 81 regular-season games played, including 55 straight since 2022, totaling 63 QB hits, 31.5 sacks and an interception. Paired with Pro Bowler Nik Bonitto and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, Cooper headlines a Broncos defense that ranked in the top three in points and yards allowed last season. The linebacker finished with 16 QB hits and eight sacks, second only to Bonitto on the team.

Cooper, 28, signed a four-year, $54 million extension in Denver in 2024 and is under contract through the 2028 season.

Denver wrapped up its first week of voluntary organized team activities on Thursday. The Broncos reconvene for OTAs on June 9 and then mandatory minicamp on June 16.

Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million deal in 2024 following a prove-it campaign in 2023 when he led Tampa back into the playoffs and secured a postseason win in the year following Brady’s retirement. He followed that up with his best season in 2024, notching career highs in passing yards (4,500), passing touchdowns (41) and completion percentage (71.4) while continuing the club’s string of NFC South titles.

The Buccaneers’ streak of five straight playoff appearances ended in 2025 with a lowly 8-9 campaign. The team dealt with a number of key injuries along the season, but lost four their final five games to end it in a three-way tie atop the division, which was claimed by the Panthers despite losing to Tampa Bay in Week 18.

A disappointing season was soon followed up by a disconcerting exit for the Buccaneers. Mike Evans, the club’s all-time leading wide receiver, went to San Francisco via free agency for less money than what Tampa offered.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat it. It’s disappointing to not have him back,” Mayfield said of Evans leaving. “Just the caliber of player he is, he’s a Hall of Famer, deserved to be a Buc for life. Things happen, but luckily, him and I have a great relationship, we’ll still be friends for life, and I’ll be cheering him on except when we play them, if it comes down to it.”

While Mayfield recognizes the loss of his top target will have an impact, the veteran QB remains confident in a strong receiver corps that returns Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson. The Bucs also drafted third-rounder Ted Hurst, a 6-foot-3 wideout they hope can alleviate Evans’ absence as a big-bodied target.

“For Mike to leave, it allows Chris to step up — he’s always been an unbelievable leader — but for him to really take charge of that room,” Mayfield said. “With all the injuries we had, a lot of guys played last year. So to also have J-Mac, Chris, Emeka, really, really healthy right now, feeling good, to lead those guys and just to watch the steps that they’re taking from Year 1 to Year 2 when it comes to Mek and Tez, and watching them help Ted Hurst out as well… There’s a lot of weapons in that room. So when you lose a guy like that, you’ve got to have a lot of people to fill those shoes, not just one person, and we have that.”

Mayfield has yet to miss a start during his three-year tenure with the Buccaneers and has proven himself as a more than capable passer who can run a healthy offense that has shown flashes of dominance.

Seemingly, the Buccaneers and the 31-year-old found each other at the perfect time. Mayfield made his intentions clear of what he wants for his future in Tampa and maybe the Buccaneers will heed his deadline. If not, an intense negotiation is instead in their future with other teams able to contact a valuable free-agent QB.

Schottenheimer’s comments were clearly meant to challenge the 24-year-old Guyton; otherwise, the coach wouldn’t have needed to make a declaration at all. He’d just let the process play out. After two years of inconsistency, opening the potential for a switch is a warning to the former first-rounder.

Thomas, a 2024 seventh-rounder selected 204 picks after Guyton, started four games last season but struggled, leading the Cowboys to flip Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith out to tackle for the final four games. Dallas prefers to keep Smith at guard, which has led to competition at LT. However, if things go awry, Schotty could elect to revisit the issue. Instability on Dak Prescott‘s blindside is a recipe for disaster.

Guyton is simply taking a one-day-at-a-time approach.

“Same equation, come to work every day, try to get better, prepare myself for the next day,” Guyton said. “There’s competition everywhere on the team. It’s a football team and everybody wants to play. Friendly competition isn’t bad. It brings the best out of people.”

The Cowboys are hoping it brings out the best in their former first-round pick; otherwise, they could face issues in 2026.

The Vikings signed Murray to a one-year deal this offseason to push McCarthy for the starting gig. All indications are that the veteran signal-caller is ahead in the early stages. KOC added that McCarthy has handled the reworked quarterback room “really well.”

The coach doesn’t care if the players grow particularly close, only that they both have the same goal: to improve each day and help the club win.

“What actually matters is what I care about,” O’Connell said. “Did we take the right footwork on a play? Did we have our eyes in the right spot? Did we make a protection call against one of [defensive coordinator Brian Flores’] blitz looks? Did we do our jobs to manufacture the starting point and potential path to success for the offense? And there’s enough that goes into that that I don’t have a ton of space left over for who says what and how they say it.

“I mean, it’s all a reflection of how people handle competitive situations and we’re all going to handle them differently. What I care about is when they step between the white lines, that there’s growth and development and that it really is a competition.”

Eventually, one of the QBs will be named the Week 1 starter. For now, O’Connell will keep praising the entire room.

The Tennessee Titans added two former No. 17s this offseason, Wan’Dale Robinson, who sported the number in New York, and first-round pick Carnell Tate, who donned it at Ohio State. With All-Pro returner Chimere Dike already holding 17, there were questions about how things would sort out.

Neither newcomer swiped Dike’s number. Robinson wound up wearing No. 4, and Tate, No. 14.

In an interview with Kay Adams on FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams” show, Robinson said Thursday he never had his eye on No. 17, instead preferring No. 4 to honor his late friend, Rondale Moore, who died in February from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Robinson and Moore, both Kentucky natives, had been friends for years.

“I didn’t want it,” Robinson said of No. 17. “I was going in wanting a single digit, and then also my late friend, Rondale Moore, he wore No. 4. So that was kind of the reasoning behind me getting that number. Just kind of to honor him and the time that he was here. That’s where I was going in, I wanted No. 4. I don’t know about Carnell and exactly what went on with him and Chim. But, yeah, I was good with leaving 17 in the past.”

After the Detroit Lions broke up their “Sonic and Knuckles” franchise, the club is moving to a one-star show.

The Lions traded hammer David Montgomery this offseason, planning to let speedster Jahmyr Gibbs play the lead role.

“He’s going to be our bell cow now,” coach Dan Campbell said via MLive. “We’re going to hang our hat on him quite a bit. We’re going to do a lot of things we feel like he does well. I’ve mentioned this before, he can run everything that we’ve got. He can run every scheme that anybody’s ever run.”

In his first three seasons, Gibbs dispelled the notion that he’s merely a speed-option, Sonic running around the edge to gobble up coins. The back is an inside-outside nightmare, able to withstand the beating between the tackles while boasting the speed to beat defenses to the edges. His dual-threat ability and the fear his home-run talent instills in a defense make it hard to take him off the field.

Gibbs generated 3,580 rushing yards and 39 TDs in 675 carries over his first three seasons, including back-to-back 1,200-plus-yard campaigns.

The Lions began the transition last year, siphoning off would-be Montgomery carries in favor of Gibbs. The run-game struggles of 2025 compared to 2024 were more due to offensive line issues than the distribution of backfield duties. With Detroit poised to put more on Gibbs’ shoulders, Montgomery requested and received a trade to Houston, where he can get more touches.

Gibbs said not having Montgomery around and being the clear lead-back isn’t odd.

“It’s not weird anymore,” Gibbs said. “It was weird, like when we first got back. But now I’m pretty much used to it.”

He’ll get used to being on the field almost every snap. The Lions added Isiah Pacheco as a sub who can run angry, but his contract — 1-year, $1.81 million — underscores how little Detroit expects to use their backup.

Gibbs will see a huge number of touches, the overwhelming bulk of the carries and is the best receiving option out of the backfield. The Lions should give him the Christian McCaffrey treatment in 2026.

The 24-year-old is on the verge of a payday, one that could reset the running back market. However, Gibbs said he isn’t worried about reaching an extension ahead of the season.

“I’m worried about the team. I’m just tryna hoop right now,” he said. “I let my agent and (GM) Brad (Holmes) do all that — or whoever does it up there, I don’t know. But I just let him do that and I just be out here.”

After his first three years as a duo, Sonic is now the singular title character in Detroit.

The Tennessee Titans added two former No. 17s this offseason, Wan’Dale Robinson, who sported the number in New York, and first-round pick Carnell Tate, who donned it at Ohio State. With All-Pro returner Chimere Dike already holding 17, there were questions about how things would sort out.

Neither newcomer swiped Dike’s number. Robinson wound up wearing No. 4, and Tate, No. 14.

In an interview with Kay Adams on Fan Duel TV’s “Up & Adams” show, Robinson said he never had his eye on No. 17, instead preferring No. 4 to honor his late friend, Rondale Moore, who died in February from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Robinson and Moore, both Kentucky natives, had been friends for years.

“I didn’t want it,” Robinson said of No. 17. “I was going in wanting a single digit, and then also my late friend, Rondale Moore, he wore No. 4. So that was kind of the reasoning behind me getting that number. Just kind of to honor him and the time that he was here. That’s where I was going in, I wanted No. 4. I don’t know about Carnell and exactly what went on with him and Chim (Dike). But, yeah, I was good with leaving 17 in the past.”

Robinson and Moore, Louisville-area natives who once trained at a facility together, shared a long bond, including both being undersized receivers who propelled their careers to the NFL.

In four seasons donning No. 17 in New York, Robinson worked his way up the ladder, from injury-riddled rookie struggles to top target, and enjoyed his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2025. He moved to Tennessee, rejoining offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, to provide a playmaking slot weapon for Cam Ward. He’ll do so wearing No. 4 to honor his friend.

After missing the first six games of 2025 while rehabbing, Watson returned with smashing results, generating 611 yards and six TDs in 10 games. He earned a career-high 61.1 yards per game, splashing big plays, with his speed helping open up the offense. In 10 regular-season tilts, he generated 80-plus yards four times.

Last year’s extension provided a cushion for Watson to recover without the pressure of rushing back onto the field. When his return went well, Green Bay was comfortable securing him long-term. The 27-year-old has been a dynamic weapon when he’s been on the field over his four seasons. The key is keeping the speedster healthy.

Watson’s $27.62 million per year places him 15th among receivers, but below the $30-million plateau.

It marks the second receiver deal the Packers have handed out this offseason, after inking slot Jayden Reed to a three-year, $50.25 million extension. With Matthew Golden still entering Year 2 of his rookie deal, Green Bay now sports a WR trio that can grow together around Jordan Love.

Next up for a new deal in Green Bay: tight end Tucker Kraft.