PHILADELPHIA — Five plays into the Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens, Willie Lampkin introduced Ravens defensive tackle Broderick Washington’s backside to the grass — and, in turn, re-introduced himself to the NFL.

Lampkin, 24, had been hidden in plain sight for the past year. The Eagles claimed him off ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The coaches were huddled around one of the tables at Johnny J’s in Medina, Ohio, a pub where a Cleveland Browns flag dangles above the bar.

They were there, the seven of them, to cheer on the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first preseason game on Aug. 13 — particularly Drew Allar, whom they coached years ago just a mile and a ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If you want to find an up and coming unit on the low-expectation Miami Dolphins, a group that’s outperforming since the start of training camp, look toward the trenches and focus your attention on the defensive tackles.

Among veteran Zach Sieler, youngsters Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers and Kenneth Grant, and relative ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Higher education is rooted in the mission to provide advanced learning, but let’s be honest: the ultimate objective in attending college is to get a job and make money as a professional.

That first job earning a salary after spending years eating toast for lunch and dinner as a broke college student feels like winning the ...Read more

DENVER — The Denver Broncos’ starting defense dodged a bullet.

Cornerback Riley Moss, who left Friday’s preseason loss to Green Bay on the second play of the night with an injury to his ribs, did not sustain a serious injury, head coach Sean Payton said Monday.

Moss didn’t practice on Monday and was relegated to light conditioning work...Read more

NEW YORK — Malik Nabers hit another important benchmark in his recovery from a major knee injury, losing the red non-contact jersey for Monday’s practice.

Wearing the regular white practice jersey, the New york Giants’ No. 1 wide receiver took part in a good amount of 7-on-7 reps and a handful of 11-on-11.

Nabers’ highlights included a...Read more

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks on Monday waived former Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson after signing the undrafted rookie last week. Hankerson, 22, intends to enter the transfer portal and return to the NCAA, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

The report comes on the heels of major developments related to Ole ...Read more

I have a simple request for the San Francisco 49ers:

Can you go 72 hours without being the weirdest team in professional sports?

Scratch that, I’ll take 48.

Just two days, and then you can get back to all the peculiarity that we’ve come accustomed to with your brand, one of the biggest and most important in the world of sports.

Because ...Read more

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested in a prostitution bust this weekend by police in East Palestine, Ohio, before pleading no contest to charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.

Prosecutors initially charged York with engaging in prostitution, according to court records, but the charge was later amended to ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — While the Pittsburgh Steelers still wonder and wait on cornerback Joey Porter Jr., they finally had one of the key members of their secondary return to practice for the first time since the start of training camp.

Jalen Ramsey, who has been on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after injuring his knee in minicamp, ...Read more

BOSTON — The New England Patriots are giving wide receiver Kayshon Boutte a fresh start with the Houston Texans.

The Patriots are trading Boutte to the Texans, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero first reported Monday.

A source confirmed the deal to the Boston Herald on Monday. The Patriots will receive safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Let’s not go overboard on Jalon Daniels. Two preseason games do not reflect reality.

On the other hand, get this guy a locker!

That’s what the Bucs should do this week. Find a happy medium when it comes to the breakout star of training camp.

Everybody is asking the same two questions, but they don’t need to be answered ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Normal human anatomy dictates that a ruptured Achilles tendon requires a year of quiet contemplation and monotonous rehabilitation, and perhaps as much as an 18-month timeline before you even think about looking like your old self on the field of play again.

George Kittle heard that timeline, laughed in its face, and ...Read more

MIAMI — Failure is bad enough. To fail and be mocked adds a special layer of hurt.

The Miami Dolphins’ NFL-worst 25-year streak of having not won a playoff game is a scarlet letter the franchise bears. Less quantifiable but just as true in broad perception is the team’s reputation for a lack of physicality — for being soft. In a violent...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — With 3 seconds left in the first half on Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker lined up for the seemingly preposterous: a 69-yard field-goal attempt.

Why not, but ... come on.

The far-fetched venture was from a yard farther than the NFL record set by Jacksonville’s Cam Little last season. And ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left practice Sunday afternoon at the team’s Henderson headquarters with an apparent right leg injury.

The second-year standout was helped off the indoor field and didn’t put pressure on his right leg. Raiders players and coaches kneeled and prayed in silence before resuming ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — George Kittle’s expedited comeback from an Achilles tear just passed a significant marker Sunday.

The 49ers activated Kittle off the Physically Unable to Perform list. Had he remained with that injury designation into the start of the season, then he would have been ineligible to play in at least the first four games. ...Read more

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