FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite right ankle soreness that limited him in Thursday’s practice, according to coach Mike McCarthy.
“I don’t have any concern about him playing,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy would not say whether Prescott had an MRI on Thursday, but said, “we checked him out. We made sure everything was good.” McCarthy said Prescott will be a full participant over the next two days of work, leading into gameday.
On Thursday, Prescott said his surgically repaired ankle felt “uncomfortable” after wearing a different style of cleats for the first time this summer.
Prescott was on the field for a portion of practice that was open to the media before heading to the locker room. He said he did not twist the ankle in practice. He said he was breaking in a new pair of Jordan 11s after wearing Jordan 1s all summer during training camp. He wore the Jordan 11s for games last year, but he said he will switch back to the Jordan 1s.
“I promise you I’m great,” Prescott said Thursday. “Just being very, very precautious. Switched shoes today, probably wasn’t the best idea. We’re good to go. Promise that.”
Asked why Prescott did not change back into the more comfortable cleats and return to practice, McCarthy said, “high caution.”
“We do it with all the players. There’s always exams or things that go on. We react to everything. That’s just the nature of the game. So really, I know the importance of Dak and the quarterback position but it’s really standard procedure to go through that anytime a player has an issue.”
FRISCO, Texas — For Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, it’s gotta be the shoes.
Prescott was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice because of a new pair of cleats that made his surgically repaired right ankle feel “uncomfortable.”
“I promise you I’m great,” Prescott said. “Just being very, very precautious. Switched shoes today, probably wasn’t the best idea. We’re good to go. Promise that.”
The Cowboys have a lighter workout on Friday, “but come Saturday, yeah, we’ll be rolling,” he said. Dallas’ season kicks off Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.
Prescott was on the field Thursday for a portion of practice that was open to the media before heading to the locker room. He said he did not twist the ankle in practice; he was breaking in a new pair of Jordan 11s after wearing Jordan 1s all summer during training camp. He wore the Jordan 11s for games last season, but he said he will switch back to the Jordan 1s.
Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in the fifth game of the 2020 season but did not have an issue with it last year when he set the team record for touchdown passes (37) in a season. He missed one game last year because of a calf strain.
Prescott’s health going into last year’s season opener against the Buccaneers was a much bigger deal since he missed most of camp recovering from a right latissimus strain. He said this summer in camp that this is the best he has ever felt.
“That’s this league, and if you don’t report a hangnail, you’ll get suspended or they’ll get fined, excuse me,” Prescott said. “But, no, I feel great. I still feel the best that I’ve felt in a very, very long time. Not even comparable to where I was last year going into this game. Honestly, just excited and ready for Sunday to get here.”
Prescott initially downplayed the severity of the latissimus strain last year too.
“That was a baseball deal. I wasn’t sure,” Prescott said. “Those are not even comparable. Obviously, when I found out about the shoulder (he had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in February), I had to take back what I said. This isn’t even in, no, not even comparing.”
Two years removed from the ankle injury, Prescott is not going through the same rigorous pre-practice warm-up that he went through all of last season.
In last year’s opener vs. Tampa Bay, Prescott threw for 403 yards while completing 42 of 58 passes with three touchdowns and an interception in a 31-29 loss. He said this minor setback will not limit him Sunday.
“Not at all. It can’t,” Prescott said. “Not at all. Not a chance.”
Who stuck on the 53-man roster in a decision dictated by Tuesday’s NFL cutdown deadline?
Will Grier? Nope.
Cooper Rush? Nope.
Who is coming back on Wednesday? Both of the candidates to be the No. 2 QB behind Dak Prescott … via the practice squad.
There is logic here.
As with the waiving of kicker Brett Maher, the Cowboys believed they could cut these guys with the belief they won’t be leaving via waiver claims or otherwise.
That plan worked. Now both can keep competing … without Dallas having to commit a 53-man spot to one … until it’s time to play a game.
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Grier, who was working through a groin injury, demonstrated more mobility in the Friday preseason-closing win over the Seahawks.
Rush has on his resume that monumental win at Minnesota in 2021 while subbing for Prescott, and in that Seattle game got the start, and then a quick exit – suggesting that the coaches had seen enough positives.
Ben DiNucci, the fourth-stringer, by the way, is also released. (See our Cowboys Cutdown Tracker.)
Like most NFL teams, if the No. 1 QB goes down, that team is in trouble. So it is with Prescott, who is trying to overcome that “playoff hangover” and who has a level of talent and a command of the offense that cannot be matched by anyone who’s been on this roster.
The hope, then? That along with any congratulations for the No. 2 “winner” come a wish to never, ever see him play in 2022.
And for now? They can’t play in a game. Because while they are back here in the building, Rush and Grier are still not technically even on the roster.
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With the NFL regular season just around the corner — the first game of Week 1 kicks off Thursday, Sept. 8 — it’s time for our annual NFL Rank, a projection of the top 100 players in the 2022 season.
NFL Rank is a 1-100 ranking compiled by more than 50 ESPN experts, who are asked to rate how the best players will fare during the season. With any ranking, of course, there are going to be thoughts on the players who were left off the list and those who were ranked too low and too high.
We have enlisted a team of ESPN experts — Seth Walder, Matt Bowen, Matt Miller and Jordan Reid — to debate the rankings. They identified eight players who were snubbed, 10 players who were either overrated or underrated, and four rookies who have the potential to make the list in 2023.
Should Justin Tucker and Bobby Wagner have made the top 100? Who could have been left off the list entirely? Are Russell Wilson at No. 13 and Derrick Henry at No. 61 underrated or overrated? Who should have been in the top 10, but wasn’t? Could the first and second picks in the 2022 NFL draft make the list a year from now? We answer all these questions and more below.
Let’s start with Walder, who ranked the biggest snubs:
Jump to a section: Ranking biggest snubs Who’s overrated? | Rookies to watch
Which players were snubbed from the top 100?
Sports analytics guru Seth Walder ranks the eight players — starting with the biggest snub — he thinks were snubbed from appearing in the top 100. He then names eight players who should have been on the top 100 list instead.
The role of positional value in NFL Rank is not a settled matter. But let me use the ranks themselves to conclude that positional value clearly plays some role because there are 18 wide receivers and four off-ball linebackers in the top 100. However, there are just three quarterbacks in the top 10, which indicates that positional value is not everything.
Thus, while kicker is low on the positional importance scale, if there were one who clearly stood above his peers he ought to crack the top 100. I just described Tucker. Predicting kickers is basically random … unless it’s him. Over the past five seasons, Tucker led the NFL in field goal percentage over expectation at plus-17% (per NFL Next Gen Stats) and was over plus-12% in all five of those seasons.
He has been the No. 1 guard in pass block win rate in each of the past two seasons and was top 20 in run block win rate in each of those years, too. Regardless of position, it’s hard to exclude that level of excellence from the list.
In his two seasons in a mostly pass-rushing role, all Reddick has done is record back-to-back double-digit-sack seasons on two different teams and with a top-10 pass rush win rate at edge in both years. I’m completely sold that he should be on this list. He led all free agents in my sack projections back in March and currently sits seventh in my overall sack projections for 2022.
As for Smith, he ranked second in pass block win rate and third in run block win rate among guards. If those aren’t top-100 numbers, I don’t know what are.
In general I think we’re too slow to anoint young NFL players when they play at an extremely high level and too slow to bump down veterans when decline hits — please forget I said this when reading about the next player — particularly for those who weren’t highly drafted. But all Smith did in his first season in the NFL was play incredibly well.
Yes, Wagner is 32. And yes, his coverage numbers took a hit last season. But, he does have a long history of success in coverage and has maintained his ability in the run game. Wagner ranked sixth in run stop win rate in 2021, beating out then-teammate Jordyn Brooks. I bet we see one more great year out of Wagner.
This is a bit of personal preference here, but I continue to believe that Lockett has never been given credit for quite how exceptional he has been over the past few years. Last season, among wide receivers with at least 300 routes, Lockett ranked seventh in yards per route run — and everyone else in the top 12 made the list.
He’s also second in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016) in catch rate over expectation (plus-9%) among receivers with at least 1,000 routes run in that span, behind only Michael Thomas.
Over the past five seasons, Milano leads all linebackers with at least 500 coverage snaps in targeted EPA allowed at minus-55.5, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He also leads all linebackers in that span with a minus-11% completion percentage over expectation allowed. And he ranks third among linebackers in that span in yards per coverage snap allowed (0.6) and is first among players currently on teams.
I didn’t go into this list thinking Milano would be on it, but those coverage numbers are astonishing.
Williams tied for the league lead among safeties in yards per coverage snap allowed at 0.3 (min. 300 coverage snaps). A single season of nearest defender numbers for a safety might be a little shaky as evidence on its own for me, but the free agent market this offseason yielded him a contract worth $14 million APY — in the same range as players like Kevin Byard and Budda Baker who made the list — which reinforces Williams’ case.
Here’s who Walder would leave off the list:
Laremy Tunsil, OT, Houston Texans; Matt Ryan, QB, Indianapolis Colts; Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinnati Bengals; Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers; Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers; Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings; Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans; DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Who is overrated and underrated?
NFL analyst Matt Bowen picks 10 players he thinks are underrated or overrated on this year’s top 100 list. He then picks who he thinks should have been in the top 10, but wasn’t.
Overrated. I get the upside of Wilson playing in the Broncos’ new offensive scheme. There will be motion and misdirection, and it’ll be more pass-heavy. And there is real talent at the receiving spots in Denver. However, ranking Wilson ahead of Tom Brady and Joe Burrow gave me some pause here based on the tape I watched from last season.
Underrated. Maybe the 2021 foot injury dropped Henry down the ranks this year. When fully healthy, however, Henry can absolutely dictate the flow of the game. He plays like a freight train coming downhill on the tracks. And he will wear out opposing defenses as a volume runner — with big-play juice.
Overrated. Young has the physical profile and traits of an upper-tier edge player in the league. Based on the tape, however, the Commanders defensive end needs more refinement in his pass-rush technique. And Young is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season. With more game reps, Young has the skill set to develop into a top-50 player in this league, it just might take more time.
Underrated. Miller is a fourth-quarter closer who played his best football last season in the playoffs and on the Super Bowl stage. I still see Miller as a top-50 player in this league. He displays upper-tier pass-rushing skills with game-changing ability. What more could you ask for?
Overrated. When we project Waddle in Mike McDaniel’s offense — and focus on his electric catch and run traits — I understand why there is preseason hype for the former Alabama receiver. There will be schemed-up throws (to open voids) for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in this system. But I was a little surprised to see Waddle already ranked as a top-100 player — ahead of both Mike Williams and Tee Higgins. It seems premature.
Overrated. I like the system fit in Indianapolis for Ryan. He sees it fast from the pocket and can deliver the ball with location. He is a timing and rhythm thrower. But given his diminishing mobility and arm strength, I would look for a quarterback here with a higher ceiling as we project the back end of the top 100 — maybe San Francisco’s Trey Lance.
Overrated. Quinn’s 2021 numbers jump him to No. 90. He had 18.5 sacks, and we still see his explosive first step, plus the ability to flatten the rush path. But, we are projecting forward to this upcoming season. Quinn has never produced back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks in his career. I would’ve put Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon here over Quinn.
Underrated. It is shocking to see Simmons ranked this low given his difference-making traits at the defensive tackle position. He is a disruptive player who can win schemed one-on-ones in the Titans’ multiple fronts, or attack rush lanes off stunts and twists. He displays foot quickness, short-area speed and power. I see Simmons as an impact defender worthy of a higher rating.
Underrated. Bates’ postseason tape alone should have moved him much higher up in the ranks. He is a safety with multidimensional traits who can find the football and play as a tone-setter in the Cincinnati secondary.
Underrated. Based off his 2021 tape and where I project Campbell this season in the Green Bay defense, he should be ranked much higher. Campbell has every-down ability, with the second-level range and instincts to find the football. And I believe he can be one of the top stack linebackers in the league this year.
Who should be in the top 10?
After a breakout rookie season, which highlighted Parsons’ high-end physical tools and unique versatility at the position, I would bump the Cowboys linebacker into the top 10. It’s the open-field ability here and his great edge-rushing traits. He’s a three-down playmaker.
Which rookies could crack the top 100 in 2023?
NFL draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid give four rookies they think could crack the top 100 next year.
Hutchinson was one of the best defensive end prospects of the past decade when the Lions managed to steal him with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2022 draft. Hutchinson’s physical traits, mental toughness and relentless play style are all perfectly combined to make him a premier NFL pass-rusher.
Rarely do we see college defensive ends beating offensive tackles with speed while also possessing a long arm, exceptional lower-body power and a nonstop motor to clean up with multiple second-effort sacks. But that’s Hutchinson. He’ll be a favorite of the Detroit coaching staff and, in Aaron Glenn’s defense, he’ll be asked to pin his ears back and go get the quarterback.
Evaluating Stingley coming out of LSU took some creativity as he had played just 10 games over his final two seasons with the Tigers. But flashing back to his healthy season of 2019 quickly reminded scouts just how talented he is. Stingley routinely matched up with — and locked down — stars like Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) and Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals) in practice. If Stingley is healthy, and all signs point to that, he has the tools to easily crack the top 100 following his rookie season. With awesome instincts, physicality and the size-to-speed ratio to cover the best the NFL has to offer, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Stingley excel immediately in the Texans’ defense.
— Matt Miller
The 2022 draft was one of the more unpredictable drafts in recent memory, as Walker didn’t become the consensus No. 1 overall pick until about a week prior. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, his natural ability to generate pressure on the quarterback combined with his consistency as a run defender made him very appealing.
While he’ll continue to be labeled raw, he produces the type of flash plays that will make you sit up in your chair. An attention grabber at many times, I expect a lot of those moments throughout his rookie campaign. As he continues to figure out the position and how to fully operate his frame, Walker is going to be an issue for a lot of defensive coordinators. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if he enters the tail end of the top-100 list next season.
After battling throughout training camp, it seems as if Ekwonu has finally taken a firm hold of the top spot on the depth chart. The first offensive player drafted in the 2022 draft, the former NC State star steps into a situation in which he’s forced to play right away, which could lead to him becoming a star very quickly.
At 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, Ekwonu has fast feet, consistent balance and is already naturally gifted as a pass-protector. Those skills combined with his ability as a finisher could allow him to be a stalwart for the franchise moving forward.
FRISCO – And suddenly, a major decision in the offensive line is no longer a “choice.”
We do not pretend to know all the ins and outs of the Dallas Cowboys’ personnel-related decision-making. We may agree with the powers that be on a potential hole in the roster … but we may not share the intricacies in why we might see the answer differently than personnel boss Will McClay and the Cowboys see it.
Money? Injuries? Personal issues? An NFL team is obviously more privy to those details than most of us are.
Which brings us to the Cowboys’ offensive line issues – which late Wednesday reached a critical stage due to a serious injury.
Left tackle Tyron Smith hasn’t played a full season since 2015, and he won’t do do again in 2022 after sustaining a hamstring tear at practice here at The Star.
We are told there is a concern there that Smith will be “out for months.” So now it’s not just about too-young swing tackles late-round rookie Matt Waletzko (he’s got a shoulder injury) or second-year guy Josh Ball, who has not impressed, with another shot at it in Saturday’s preseason game at the Chargers.
Now it’s about who starts at left tackle. And about a swing tackle, too.
In our view – while also acknowledging the idea of kicking prized rookie Tyler Smith to tackle (or even shifting Zack Martin), Dallas needs to add TWO new tackles.
Isn’t it obvious that Eric Fisher – once the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, who played eight seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and was in the Pro Bowl as recently as 2020 – is an upgrade over Ball? And over Waletzko?
Fisher moved to the Indianapolis Colts for the 2021 season and was a full-time starter, good enough for the Colts to try to bring back before the two sides couldn’t agree on contract terms.
Entering last season, he was coming off a torn Achilles; notably, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently boasted about Dallas’ success with players in that circumstance.
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Is he too old? Fisher is 31, same age as Tyron and fellow future Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin.
Is he injured? Again, even after the Achilles, he started in 15 games for the Colts.
Is he expensive? Ah, there is the rub, though that matters much less to Dallas than it did a day ago.
Fisher was a $12 million APY guy in his final years with the Chiefs. Last season he took a reduction with a one-year, $8.4 million deal with the Colts. Presently, Pro Football Focus’ projection has him being worthy of a three-year, $16 million contract.
The Cowboys were already going to look at help; the search just intensified, and there will be other names in this conversation, like Daryl Williams and Jason Peters and Nate Solder and others. … like retired Rams star Andrew Whitworth, who on Thursday said he fielded a Cowboys call.
And yes, Dallas – knowing Tyron might miss the entire season – should gobble up two of them.
One to replace Ball.
One to replace Tyron.
Tyron – the protector of Dak Prescott’s blind side – has gone down. Dallas now needs an Eric Fisher-level player to plug in at left tackle to make sure the season doesn’t go down with him.
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DENVER – Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy had a “fight” plan. Surely, Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett had the exact same plan.
And right before Thursday’s joint practice between the two clubs here in Denver, McCarthy put the plan into words.
“That’s not toughness,” McCarthy said about “extracurricular” foolishness. “If you throw a punch in a game, you get ejected. And players who do it will be tossed from practice. … And no hitting the quarterback. … We are here for all the right reasons.”
Yeah … but nah.
As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
The Denver Broncos hosted the Cowboys on Thursday at their training camp facility in Centennial, Colorado, and of course, a scuffle ensued.
Actually, by our count from the sideline? Six scuffles ensued.
Here’s one …
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Here’s another …
Here is a play featuring Ezekiel Elliott that probably should have ignited a brawl. …
The Cowboys and Broncos both enter the 2022 season with lofty goals, and the idea of this session was to in some ways double the work benefits. But as one Dallas coach told CowboysSI.com after the Mile High dust settled, “If you have more fights than touchdowns, you start wasting your time.”
This is not to say that some things went unaccomplished; QB Dak Prescott was sharp, precise and mobile. CeeDee Lamb was a tough cover. It looked like Terence Steele and Kelvin Joseph has solid days. And Micah Parsons gave Denver QB Russell Wilson nightmares.
But as Dallas and Denver prepare to clash Saturday night in each team’s first preseason game, at Empower Field at Mile High.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance said Saturday that things are slowing down for him as he seeks to improve in his first training camp as a starter, but there are still uneven moments.
After a solid day Friday, Lance had a couple of miscues Saturday, but he still has shown a steady progression.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, and the entire offense, also struggled. The Browns continue to await the fate of Watson, who is currently facing a suspension of at least six games after being accused of sexual assault and other inappropriate conduct during massage sessions in civil lawsuits filed by 25 women. Jake Trotter also reported that Kareem Hunt will not particpate in team drills while he awaits an extension.
The New York Jets, meanwhile, hosted free agent tackle Duane Brown, per ESPN reporter Rich Cimini, as the team searches for quality depth. Brown turns 37 on Aug. 30, but he started every game for the Seattle Seahawks last season.
And while many Kansas City Chiefs fans are focusing on how the team is going to replace All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill, rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie is starting to establish himself as someone to watch.
The first-round pick turned in his best practice of camp on Saturday and has consistently been working with the starters.
Here’s what you need to know from camps across the league.
Jump to: News | Photos and videos What our reporters saw
What our NFL Nation reporters saw Saturday
San Francisco 49ers: Niners QB Trey Lance said after Saturday’s practice that he feels like things are slowing down for him, and he can tell because he believes he has shown improvement from day to day in practice. “Every rep I take, I think the game slows down,” Lance said. Lance had a solid day Friday, and Saturday came with some ups and downs. Lance nearly threw an interception to CB Emmanuel Moseley during team drills and later threw one that FS Jimmie Ward did catch and returned for a would-be pick-six. But Lance followed with a touchdown drive in the two-minute drill, completing 5 of 6 passes and capping it with a tough throw to receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III for the score. Lance has shown a steady progression as camp goes but also is facing a loaded defense, which he believes will help make him better as he continues his first training camp as an NFL starter. — Nick Wagoner
New York Jets: Looking for offensive tackle depth, the Jets hosted free agent Duane Brown on Saturday, a source told ESPN. Brown, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, was scheduled to attend the team’s annual Green & White scrimmage Saturday night at MetLife Stadium. Brown, who has 203 career starts at left tackle, would be a nice insurance policy as a backup swing tackle. He turns 37 on Aug. 30, but he started every game last season for the Seahawks. The current backups are Chuma Edoga and Conor McDermott, neither of whom is a lock to make the team. — Rich Cimini
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys’ defense threw a variety of looks at the offense on Saturday, including a number of snaps without one player having his hand on the ground. Dak Prescott was under pressure for a good portion of the practice from Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. But in the last portion of the session, the offense had some success with touchdown catches by Ezekiel Elliott (one-handed from Prescott) and Simi Fehoko (from Will Grier). Practice ended with Prescott finding rookie Jalen Tolbert uncovered in the end zone on a seam ball. The Cowboys are off on Sunday and will have two practices in Oxnard, California, before flying to Denver on Wednesday to practice against the Broncos. — Todd Archer
Philadelphia Eagles: Starting cornerbacks Darius Slay, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox have taken turns starring at practice this summer. Saturday was Slay’s day. During 7-on-7s, he stayed step-for-step with speed receiver Quez Watkins down the right sideline, then turned and leapt for a Jalen Hurts offering, securing the ball as he crashed to the ground for the interception. The first-team defense has had an excellent camp to date, with the corners leading the way. — Tim McManus
Carolina Panthers: While quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold were on display during Saturday’s major scrimmage, so was rookie left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Second-year player Brady Christensen opened at left tackle as he has all training camp, but Ekwonu got more reps there than usual in a session that was as game-like as the staff could make it. Bottom line: There’s still a reason Ekwonu is far from winning the position. “He’s got a long way to go,” coach Matt Rhule said for the second straight day. “He gave up a huge sack there at the end. I’m not super concerned with the run-blocking, it’s the pass protection he [needs to] continue to develop. He’s right where he’s supposed to be, but that’s not like a receiver where you can have three good plays and then a drop. A drop at left tackle means the quarterback gets hit.” — David Newton
Atlanta Falcons: The play of the day came from Feleipe Franks, who continues to turn in a very strong training camp. Franks looked like he was falling on an out route on a ball that did not seem to be well-thrown by quarterback Desmond Ridder. And yet, Franks somehow snagged the ball while on the ground. It was a heck of a play from the player making the conversion from quarterback to tight end. Every day, Franks seems to make a flash play or two, and he’s making strides as a blocker, too. Most of this work has been against the second team, but you can see the potential head coach Arthur Smith and the coaching staff see in him. — Michael Rothstein
Kansas City Chiefs: Rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs’ top draft pick, had perhaps his best practice of training camp. Among his highlights were two pass breakups in a two-minute drill with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. McDuffie said afterward he has been working on finishing plays. McDuffie has been consistently working with the starters, playing at various times both slot cornerback and on the outside. — Adam Teicher
Green Bay Packers: For the first week and a half of camp, all the attention the three rookies received went to fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs. That changed when the Packers took to Lambeau Field for their annual Family Night practice. It’s not that Doubs didn’t perform — he still made a nice catch on a deep ball during the one-on-one period — but seventh-rounder Samori Toure turned some heads for the first time. His best practice to date included a 54-yard touchdown catch from Jordan Love, which was the highlight of the practice, and a perfectly played fade for a contested touchdown from third-string quarterback Danny Etling. With second-round pick Christian Watson’s status for Week 1 uncertain because of his pre-camp knee surgery, the Packers might need Toure to be ready for the start of the season. — Rob Demovsky
Cleveland Browns: Running back Kareem Hunt has told the Browns he will not participate in team drills in training camp until he gets an extension, a league source confirmed to ESPN. Hunt is entering the final season of his deal. He signed a two-year, $12 million contract extension with the Browns in 2020, which included $8.5 million guaranteed. Hunt, the 2017 NFL rushing champ, is the No. 2 running back on the Cleveland roster, backing up Pro Bowl rusher Nick Chubb. CBS Sports first reported the news that Hunt was a hold-in, which means he’s attending practice but not participating.
Meanwhile, it was a rough day for the offense as the Browns continue to await the fate of QB Deshaun Watson, who is currently facing a suspension of at least six games after being accused of sexual assault and other inappropriate conduct during massage sessions in civil lawsuits filed by 25 women. On the first play of Saturday’s team session, Watson’s pass bounced off the chest of TE David Njoku and into the diving arms of CB Greg Newsome II for an interception. Drops and turnovers marred the offense’s performance for the rest of the afternoon. — Jake Trotter
Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens had a brief scare when tight end Mark Andrews got his foot stuck in the ground while trying to catch a low pass. Andrews bounced back up immediately, but coach John Harbaugh held him out of the rest of the drills for the day. “I had seen enough out of Mark,” Harbaugh said. Andrews told Harbaugh he was trying to practice his slide. “Well, it wasn’t one of your better slides,” Harbaugh replied. Andrews led all tight ends last season with 107 catches and 1,361 yards. He’s the only returning player on the Ravens who had more than 50 receptions last season. — Jamison Hensley
Los Angeles Chargers: Now nine practices in, the competition throughout training camp has gradually dialed up and it was apparent Saturday throughout the Chargers’ third practice wearing pads. Among the standouts continued to be quarterback Justin Herbert, who coaches and teammates say has noticeably taken the next step in his development. “He’s a lot more comfortable this year,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said about the third-year quarterback. “Probably experimenting a little bit out here with some throws, being a little more aggressive and testing the limits of things, but he’s good, he’s locked in.” Herbert’s connection with receiver Keenan Allen appears to be in midseason form, although Herbert did throw two interceptions Saturday, both on passes intended for newcomer tight end Gerald Everett. The Chargers will hold an intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday. — Lindsey Thiry
Denver Broncos: Injuries have forced the Broncos to adjust how things will get done at wide receiver in the near future. Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this week, and Tyrie Cleveland didn’t practice this week and could miss at least another month after suffering cartilage damage in his throat during a practice. It has pushed rookie Montrell Washington — a fifth-round pick this past April — into some work with the starters at times. And Washington has taken advantage of it with precise routes and a willingness to work in traffic that has quickly earned him trust from quarterback Russell Wilson. Washington is in line to be a first option as a returner as well. — Jeff Legwold
Minnesota Vikings: Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell spent a long time Saturday speaking about the uneven camp performance of center Garrett Bradbury. O’Connell said that Bradbury has been “really good in the run game” but that there have been some plays in pass protection where he has been isolated against players who have won the rep against him. Ultimately, O’Connell said that “it’s too early to make any kind of assessments” and that “I’m definitely not worried.” But Bradbury’s situation is pretty important. Former coach Mike Zimmer benched him briefly last season, and the Vikings’ new regime of O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah declined to pick up the fifth-year option on his contract. They signed a series of veteran guard/center backups, including Jesse Davis and Austin Schlottmann, but no one who would be expected to beat out Bradbury in camp. The tone of O’Connell’s comments suggests the Vikings are a long way from giving up on Bradbury, who was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2019 draft. They still hope that they can scheme to protect him from some of those isolation blocks, and they’ll count on Kirk Cousins to help get the team in better looks at the line of scrimmage. But there will be some occasions when the Vikings will count on Bradbury to make tough blocks in pass protection, and it remains an open question whether he is up to it. — Kevin Seifert
Top NFL news of the day
Bears OT Teven Jenkins returns to practice, denies clashing with coaches: Chicago Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins returned to training camp on Saturday after missing seven straight practices with an undisclosed injury. Jenkins, who is in a ramp-up period, participated only in individual drills. The second-year lineman would not disclose specifics of his injury, including whether he got hurt during the team’s first practice on July 27, whether he’s still dealing with back issues after undergoing surgery last offseason and what he’s currently recovering from, but estimated that he should be at 100 percent full health in “a couple of days.”
Panthers QB battle to remain open: The Carolina Panthers won’t make what coach Matt Rhule called a “major decision” on any position, particularly the battle between quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, until after the Aug. 19 preseason game at New England. Even then, Rhule might not declare a winner if one hasn’t clearly separated from the other after two joint practices in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and the game.
Thomas participates in 11-on-11 drills: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas took the next step in his return to football on Saturday. Thomas participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time since the end of the 2020 season, continuing a ramp-up process that has been ongoing since the offseason started. Thomas was only a spectator at OTAs in June, but he was able to practice on Day 1 of training camp and returned to 7-on-7 drills on Wednesday.
Giants rookie offensive lineman Marcus McKethan suffers season-ending knee injury: New York Giants rookie offensive lineman Marcus McKethan is expected to miss the 2022 season with a torn ACL in his right knee, the team confirmed Saturday. This was the fear after he was carted off the previous day during a scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. McKethan was placed on the reserve/injured list, ending his season.
Best NFL photos, videos from camp
𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗲 gets extra points for cuteness 🥹
Visit the #PuppyPound today at practice to adopt him to your team! 🐕@YorkCade | @SugardaleFoods pic.twitter.com/qi0vM9kP6B
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 6, 2022
Play isn’t over until @trent_mcduffie says it is. pic.twitter.com/mIPq2G88Vm
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 6, 2022
Ravens WR Devin Duvernay is back after missing the past five days with a thigh bruise. He’s listed as the starting WR alongside Rashod Bateman on the depth chart. pic.twitter.com/ae40imCbsD
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 6, 2022
AMEN!!!!!!
🙌 @closedprayer 🙌 pic.twitter.com/woq7KXlf1x
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 6, 2022
Light work 💪 @amonra_stbrown pic.twitter.com/BVAqQpLzwB
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 6, 2022
“got that on tape, too!”
you know it, @Wino 🎥😏 pic.twitter.com/hYK1FvMlsD
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 6, 2022
Sherm’s in the house 🏠 #SeahawksCamp x @boeing pic.twitter.com/k41itfEwFR
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 6, 2022
We agree, Mom needed to see that 👏
Full mic’d up » https://t.co/Tt316H8mb5 pic.twitter.com/9XDlIn8Emx
OXNARD, Calif. — With no guaranteed money on Ezekiel Elliott’s contract beyond 2022, many wonder if this is his last year with the Dallas Cowboys.
Elliott is not one of those wondering.
“I think it is a big season, but I think you can’t look too far down the road,” Elliott said. “I think if I focus on every day, if I focus on having a good day of camp, if I focus on taking it week by week, I think everything will handle itself. And I don’t think there’s really a reason to look that far down the road. I think if I handle my business every day, then I’ll be in a pretty good situation at the end of the season.”
Elliott’s $12.4 million base salary is fully guaranteed as part of the $90 million extension he signed in 2019. The Cowboys have an easier path financially to move on from him in 2023 because there is no more guaranteed money in his contract. He is set to make $10.9 million in 2023.
Elliott’s per-game rushing average has dropped each season, from 108.7 yards per game in 2016, his rookie year, to 58.9 in 2021.
A big reason for the drop last year was a partially torn posterior ligament in his right knee, which he suffered in the fourth game of the season. Elliott was on pace for more than 1,500 yards through the first five games last season with five touchdowns. He topped 69 yards just once in the final 12 games and finished with 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns on 237 carries.
For more than a month he wore a bulky brace on his knee for added protection as the injury limited his burst.
“It definitely was frustrating and definitely frustrating certain parts of the year, but it’s football,” Elliott said. “I think today might be the only day everyone’s going to be 100%. From here on out, everyone’s going to have a couple bumps and bruises and no one’s going to be 100, so just trying to do everything I can off the field to make sure I preserve my health and am ready for Sundays.”
Elliott never considered missing a game. He has missed just one game in his career due to injury.
“Top of the list on his redeeming qualities and there’s a lot of players you see around the league who if things aren’t just right, they’ll sit down. That’s not Zeke,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “He wants to be out there for his team, his teammates and I admire the hell out of that and what 21’s all about. One thing’s for sure: We’re going to get 21’s best effort, week in and week out. And he’s a great football player.”
Elliott admitted to some concern the knee was not healing fast enough after the season ended, but surgery was never an option.
“I was a little worried at the beginning of the season, like, ‘Dang, this thing still kind of feels a little iffy,'” Elliott said. “But I’ll say probably a month or two into the offseason, a month or two getting back into work, and I’ll say probably by the time OTAs hit, I was back 100.”
Elliott was able to work with his personal coach, Josh Hicks, before training camp.
“It’s tough being injured and kind of feeling yourself lose a step,” Elliott said. “So it definitely helped me get back to moving at the speed I was used to and bringing that confidence back to myself — back to my body, back to my mind that I could make those cuts.”
With Elliott and Tony Pollard, the Cowboys believe they have one of the best running back tandems in the NFL. Pollard had a career-high 719 yards on 130 carries last year. He also caught 39 passes for 337 yards, which has led some to call for a more equitable split in touches.
Pollard and Elliott could see more action on the field together this year as the Cowboys look to replace some of receiver Amari Cooper’s production in different ways. But Elliott will remain a key figure.
“Zeke Elliott is one of our rocks on this team,” McCarthy said. “He’s a keystone player. The communication, his ability to do all the extra little stuff and those are things I obviously get to look at and be a part of. The extra work he puts in pre-practice, post-practice, Tuesdays, I mean he’s in the quarterback meetings in the morning. The physical part of it — he overcame a lot to play and I think that speaks volumes about him and you need those type of individuals to win championships.”
DALLAS — For the second straight year, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has been fined for violating rules regarding offseason practices, according to owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
McCarthy was fined $100,000, and the Cowboys were docked an organized team activity for 2023 for holding practices that were deemed too physical by the NFL. The organization was not fined, unlike in 2021.
A year ago, McCarthy was fined $50,000 and the Cowboys fined $100,000 and had an OTA taken away this offseason for the same reason. Dallas was one of three teams to be fined in 2021 and have an OTA taken away for practice violations. San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was fined $50,000 and the organization was fined $100,000, while the Jacksonville Jaguars were fined $200,000 and former coach Urban Meyer was fined $100,000.
McCarthy cut the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp down from three practices to one this week, but that did not have to do with the penalty. The Cowboys held a team-building event at Topgolf on Wednesday, and the veterans were excused from work Thursday while the rookies met with coaches and had their final weight-lifting session.
“I think the biggest thing is you have a starting line and finish line and I just felt like we crossed the finish line, particularly with the veterans,” McCarthy said when asked why he cut the minicamp short. “And really today’s focus was just really spending final time with the rookies. I think they had their opportunity to get their final lift in for this week, spend a bunch of individual time with the coordinators and assistant coaches and really frankly focus on the five-week plan that’s in front of them. Everything we wanted to accomplish in the offseason was completed, and really the focus turns to their individual five-week plan.”
FRISCO, Texas — After skipping the final week of voluntary organized team activities, Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz has shown up for this week’s mandatory minicamp, sources confirmed.
Had Schultz skipped the minicamp, he would have been subject to fines totaling more than $95,000 over the three days.
Schultz, 25, informed the Cowboys he would not be at the OTAs with the hope of jump-starting negotiations on a long-term deal. The Cowboys placed the $10.9 million franchise tag on Schultz at the start of the offseason, and while talks have picked up recently, a deal is not considered close. If the sides are unable to reach an agreement by July 15, Schultz will have to play the season on the tag.
Over the past two seasons, Schultz has caught 141 passes, including 78 for 808 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He joined Jason Witten as the only tight end in franchise history with at least 75 catches, 800 yards and eight touchdowns in a season.
Since 2017, the Cowboys have used the franchise tag five times on three players (DeMarcus Lawrence, Dak Prescott, Schultz). Lawrence (2018) and Prescott (2020) played the first season on the franchise tag but were able to reach long-term agreements after the team used the tag on them a second time.
