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Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune/TNS

Vikings' young defenders need a better showing. Several rookies deliver against the Ravens.

Sports / Football /

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

Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS

Lions' rookie defensive linemen star in preseason win vs. Commanders

Sports / Football /

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

Mike Coppola/Getty Images North America/TNS

Justin Jefferson has another new Vikings QB. Can Kyler Murray help him chase history?

Sports / Football /

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

Stock watch: Which Carolina Panthers players excelled vs. Jaguars? Who struggled?

Sports / Football /

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Friday night was redemptive for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers’ first-string offense.

They needed it.

Six days after the Panthers were humbled by the Buffalo Bills — to the tune of no first downs through three series — the same Carolina offense marched into EverBank Stadium and delivered the kind of ...Read more

Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Ravens' Rashod Bateman arrested in Georgia for alleged family violence

Sports / Football /

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

Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak: Mendoza will improve through reps

Sports / Football /

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

Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Ravens' Rashod Bateman arrested in Georgia for alleged family violence

Sports / Football /

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

Scott Taetsch/Getty Images North America/TNS

Omar Kelly: Malik Willis is overlooked no more

Sports / Football /

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

Steph Chambers/Getty Images North America/TNS

Seahawks lose WR Jake Bobo to knee injury at joint practice with Titans

Sports / Football /

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

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Eddie Brown: Stop hating on math: 9 advanced metrics that can win your fantasy football league

Sports / Football /

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

Tim Warner/Getty Images North America/TNS

Fernando Mendoza interception, Aidan O'Connell-led Raiders comeback win stand out vs. Texans

Sports / Football /

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

Todd Kirkland/Getty Images North America/TNS

Broncos add veteran safety Taylor Rapp with LB Levelle Bailey waived after injury

Sports / Football /

DENVER — The Broncos lost a young linebacker and added a veteran safety on Thursday.

Denver waived inside linebacker Levelle Bailey with an injury designation, a source confirmed to The Denver Post, after he sustained a lower leg fracture last week against Atlanta in the Broncos’ preseason opener.

To take his place on the 90-man roster, ...Read more

Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS

Chiefs didn't just sign Kenneth Walker to run. They hope he reshapes the offense.

Sports / Football /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In his very first NFL coaching job, it’s fair to say Chiefs running backs coach DeMarco Murray has it easy — at least in one aspect.

At the start of the offseason, seeing that an improved run game was necessary, the front office was deliberate. The Chiefs acquired Kenneth Walker right as free agency began.

The 25-year-...Read more

Big Event Media/Getty Images North America/TNS

NFL committee recommends approval of Seahawks sale to Khosla family

Sports / Football /

SEATTLE — The sale of the Seattle Seahawks took a significant step toward ratification this week when the NFL’s finance and ownership policy committee unanimously recommended approval of the sale to a group led by the Khosla family.

An NFL spokesperson confirmed a report from Front Office Sports that the group met Wednesday and submitted ...Read more

Cowboys fined by the NFL. How did owner Jerry Jones respond?

Sports / Football /

The Dallas Cowboys were fined $500,000 by the NFL on Thursday for fights during joint practices with the New Orleans Saints earlier this week.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones responded to the fine by saying the Cowboys would appeal but understood why it was doled out.

“Yes, we will appeal, and that’s ... pretty stiff, but it does make the point ...Read more

Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown connect at Eagles-Patriots joint practices, quieting talk of rift

Sports / Football /

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Turning his head left and right to scan for onlookers on the sidelines, A.J. Brown ran across the Patriots practice field and only slowed down his trot as he finally approached Jalen Hurts.

The two men shared a high five, a hug and a brief conversation. Once considered close friends, the players looked like they couldn’t...Read more

Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post/TNS

Sean Keeler: Broncos' Bo Nix, Davis Webb won't back down from a training camp fight. Or from Packers.

Sports / Football /

DENVER — When the Broncos said Bo Nix was going to fight like heck to get back on the field, we didn’t realize they meant it literally.

“They have a lot in common,” venerated TCU coach Sonny Dykes, who mentored Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb a decade ago, told me by phone when I asked about Nix and his new play-caller. “And ...Read more

Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Brad Biggs: Coming off 'best season,' Montez Sweat says, 'Obviously I want more.' The Chicago Bears may need it.

Sports / Football /

CHICAGO — Every time Montez Sweat’s name comes up around Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears coach reinforces his opinion that last season was the veteran defensive end’s best to date.

For the Bears defense to make meaningful improvements in 2026, Sweat might have to take his game to another level in Year 8.

That’s the position the Bears ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

David Murphy: The Eagles defense has immense upside, though questions about Jonathan Greenard and Riq Woolen linger

Sports / Football /

PHILADELPHIA — The most notable thing about the latest round of Eagles’ press conferences was Vic Fangio’s cautious tone when asked about the two newcomers who will determine the ceiling of his defense.

The first instance concerned Jonathan Greenard, whom the Eagles handed a four-year, $98 million contract extension after losing Jaelan ...Read more

Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS

Vita Vea gets $30 million in new money, with Bucs through 2027

Sports / Football /

TAMPA, Fla. — Vita Vea got his big payday, and the Bucs got their big man locked up through the next two seasons.

The 31-year-old defensive tackle agreed to a deal that will pay him $30 million in new money. He was set to earn $18 million this season and received a $6 million increase for 2026, bringing the total to $24 million. He also will ...Read more