DENVER — Nix the Vikings, Sean Payton. Bo’s good to go.

Did you see the touch? Bo Nix’s 21-yard wheel route to RJ Harvey against Green Bay Friday night was feathery enough to stuff a pillow.

Did you see the timing? Nix’s 35-yard toss to Jaylen Waddle against the Pack looked more like guys who’ve been playing pitch-and-catch together...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield’s appearance in Saturday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs wasn’t long enough to even be considered a cameo. It was a glimpse. A peek without peaking.

Eight plays. Four passes. Two completions. Zero points.

But the biggest reason for Mayfield’s short night was that the Bucs were missing ...Read more

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It would’ve been a heartbreaker for the Eagles, but alas, it’s the preseason.

The Eagles gave up a four-point lead in the final minute of their second game of the exhibition slate against the New England Patriots. Patriots quarterback Behren Morton completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nick DeGennaro over...Read more

CINCINNATI — Caleb Williams got a preseason tuneup Saturday night at Paycor Stadium.

Williams completed 2 of 5 passes for 28 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had the Chicago Bears offense moving into the red zone against Bengals backups before a penalty set the drive backward. The Bears wound up settling for a 45-yard field goal from ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The last time the Vikings played at U.S. Bank Stadium, beating the Packers in the regular-season finale to get to 9-8, J.J. McCarthy was their starting quarterback before leaving early with a hand injury.

He was back as the starter Saturday in the Vikings’ 13-3 preseason loss to the Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium. This time, ...Read more

MIAMI — On a muggy Saturday, Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley watched mostly backups struggle mightily in a 26-3 preseason loss to the Giants at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Dolphins, who sat quarterback Malik Willis and four veteran starting offensive linemen (among others), were outgained 390-102 and had the ball for only 19 minutes.

Hafley lamented ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rams coach Sean McVay changed the script in the battle to back up star quarterback Matthew Stafford.

After rookie Ty Simpson played nearly all of the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Stetson Bennett got more opportunities Saturday against the New Orleans Saints.

And Bennett took advantage.

Bennett played the ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Rookie defensive tackle Domonique Orange had a welcome-to-the-Vikings moment during Saturday’s 13-3 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Orange, listed 6-foot-2 and 322 pounds, dropped into coverage on second down.

You read that correctly.

One of the Vikings’ heaviest players dropped into coverage.

Ravens quarterback ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions' rookie defensive linemen were a force to be reckoned with in the team's 17-13 victory over the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on Saturday.

Second-round pick Derrick Moore had a pressure on the first snap of his preseason debut and strip-sacked Sam Hartman on the final play of the second quarter. Skyler Gill-...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings offense strained through the first day of joint practices with the Ravens on Wednesday.

Justin Jefferson looked incredulously at officials who didn’t flag physical coverage from cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, while QB Kyler Murray searched for space against a Ravens front that cinched the pocket and ...Read more

EAGAN, Minn. — Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is accused of family violence against the mother of his child and was arrested in June in Georgia, according to court records.

Bateman faces three charges from the alleged June 3 incident, including reckless conduct and first-degree criminal damage to property, according to court records. The...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak didn’t waste a word via videoconference detailing how rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza can best improve.

“Reps,” he said Friday — plainly and simply.

Kubiak’s review of Mendoza’s preseason showing Thursday in a 22-20 road win over the Houston Texans left him pleased with his ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is accused of family violence and was arrested in June in Georgia, according to online court records.

Bateman faces three charges from the alleged June 3 incident, including reckless conduct and first-degree criminal damage to property, according to court records. The battery-family violence ...Read more

MIAMI — Malik Willis had a smile plastered on his face as he walked off the field following his most difficult training camp practice with the Miami Dolphins.

The New York Giants’ talented defensive front had just sacked him and his fellow Dolphins quarterbacks more than half a dozen times during Thursday’s joint practice. Yet Willis was ...Read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time in his four-year NFL career, Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo appeared to be entering training camp this year without having to worry about earning a roster spot.

For once, he seemed assured of making the cut after the Seahawks gave him a two-year contract worth up $5.5 million with $4.5 million guaranteed in ...Read more

I have never understood why hating math is one of the few intellectual aversions people advertise so freely.

Nobody walks into a restaurant bragging about hating literacy. Mention algebra, though, and otherwise reasonable adults start describing seventh grade like a combat tour.

Maybe it’s the way math was taught: too much memorization, too ...Read more

HOUSTON — The preseason matchup Thursday night between the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans seemed to resemble their practice earlier this week.

A contender working a rebuilder.

Except for when it didn’t.

With their starters watching from the sideline, the Raiders overcame a 17-point halftime deficit — scoring 20 unanswered points ...Read more