MINNEAPOLIS — A group of NFL players from various teams huddled at the end of an exhausting workout for a final message. They had come to Minneapolis to train alongside Larry Fitzgerald Jr. It was the morning of July 3.

Good work, Fitzgerald told them. See everyone tomorrow morning.

“They’re like, ‘Wait a minute. That’s July Fourth,�...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers left practice early on Saturday with what coach Jesse Minter described as a quad contusion.

Minter said the star wideout is considered “day to day.”

Just over one hour into Saturday’s practice, during the 7-on-7 period, Flowers collided with safety Jaylinn Hawkins while trying to catch a ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and star defensive end Maxx Crosby did not participate in team drills Saturday, a day after an on-field skirmish late in practice.

Rookie first-round pick Fernando Mendoza got his first extensive action with the starting offense in Cousins’ absence.

“As you know, we didn’t...Read more

Welcome back to the NFL, where every veteran is “in the best shape of his life” and every rookie is ahead of schedule.

Optimism overflows in training camp, when hope and promise pass for hard currency.

Every offensive line has been rebuilt, the new offensive coordinator has simplified the playbook and the defensive coordinator is revealing...Read more

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — From the outside looking in, anyway, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has been conspicuous by his physical absence since July 26 in the wake of a family tragedy. In some ways, there is just no substitute for the real thing.

From the proving grounds of training camp at Missouri Western, the blaring and hypercritical...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Leave it to Kirk Cousins to confront Maxx Crosby toward the end Friday morning of Las Vegas Raiders practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.

As the Raiders tested their two-minute offense with Cousins quarterbacking their starting unit, the star defensive end hit his arm — triggering a testy confrontation. Cousins ...Read more

Haynes King is an NFL star.

That is, the Carolina Panthers undrafted rookie quarterback is an NFL star in early August after exactly one preseason game.

Sure, Thursday's Pro Football Hall of Fame game between the Panthers and Arizona Cardinals was nothing more than a meaningless exhibition in which few, if any, actual starters played.

But NFL...Read more

NEW YORK — Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are facing pushback in a federal lawsuit over the name of the Kansas City Chiefs stars’ restaurant.

The tight end, 36, and 30-year-old quarterback — who are pals as well as Super Bowl-winning teammates — are being challenged by 1587 Sneakers as they move to dismiss the shoe company’s New ...Read more

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are set to open their three-game preseason schedule a week from Saturday, when they host the Los Angeles Rams in a midafternoon game at Arrowhead Stadium.

In past years, it would be typical to see quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a series or two, but this particular offseason has been anything but ...Read more

SEATTLE — It's a 2020 Dodge Ram 2500, if you're wondering. And those aren't hydraulics he installed — it's an air-suspension system called air ride.

The cost to get it to where it is now versus when he bought it off the lot is upward of $70,000. For Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall? Worth every penny.

The first Hard Knocks" episode ...Read more

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Trey Smith is standing inside a white tent off the edge of the Chiefs’ practice field, thinking back to his first time here in St. Joseph, because he’s been asked to recall his rookie year.

But before he answers a question, he interrupts with a description.

“You’re taking me back,” he says, “to a nightmare.”

...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The next time you watch Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler on a passing down, whether it’s training camp, a preseason game or regular season game, study him very closely. Perhaps you’ll detect the same level of unselfish play that coach Jeff Hafley detected.

Hafley compared Sieler, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound eight-...Read more

DETROIT — Sonic just picked up a whole lot of rings.

The Detroit Lions and running back Jahmyr Gibbs on Thursday reached a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension, according to an Instagram post from his agent, Todd France, ending the hold in that's prevented Gibbs from seeing the practice field in camp.

The deal makes Gibbs, who just ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Of all the vast injuries to monitor at 49ers training camp, one very important recovery is being scrutinized each practice, albeit in the literal background.

That would be coach Kyle Shanahan’s apparently positive recovery from a concussion he sustained in his July 14 car crash.

“He’s been around,” backup ...Read more