By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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One of the brighter spots on the Bears‘ roster was not at practice Friday.

Running back Jeremy Langford missed practice due to an ankle injury suffered during a walkthrough Thursday, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

An ankle sprain is mildly concerning for a running back, not because Langford suffered it during a walkthrough, but because it can become a nagging injury if not properly cared for, based on the severity. It’s about as early in camp as we can get, though, so there’s little reason to get all worked up on July 28.

Fortunately for Chicago, Jordan Howard also happens to be in the stable. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Ravens camp will begin without the team’s quarterback.

Joe Flacco will miss the first week of Baltimore’s camp and is preparing to miss three to six weeks with a disc issue in his back, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation.

Flacco becomes the latest casualty in an offseason that has seen plenty of personnel losses — cornerback Tavon Young, tight end Dennis Pitta, who has since been released, and tight end Darren Waller, who was lost to a season-long suspension — with this being the second in as many days. Running back Kenneth Dixon‘s season ended before it began on Tuesday when he was placed on injured reserve. A day later, the man handing him the ball has been sidelined. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Not surprisingly, Teddy Bridgewater is starting training camp on the sideline.

The quarterback has been placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list, the team announced Wednesday. The move was expected as veterans reported to Vikings camp Wednesday, and as Bridgewater remains on his long road to returning from a torn ACL and dislocated knee suffered during camp prior to the 2016 season. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Redskins aren’t taking any chances with Jordan Reed‘s health.

The team announced Wednesday that it placed the tight end on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that it’s a minor toe injury, per sources informed. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Andrew Hawkins earned his master’s degree from Columbia during the offseason, and signed with the defending champions a week later.

Now, he’s graduating from professional football.

Hawkins announced Tuesday via UNINTERRUPTED that he is retiring from the NFL after six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. Hawkins is ending his career before camp with the New England Patriots begins, citing his not feeling physically ready for training camp at 31 years old. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Marshawn Lynch‘s return home has been nothing but smiles, red cards and sunshine.

Add a ceremonial first pitch to that list.

Lynch stuck his hand deeper into the #TownBizness (their hashtag, not mine) on Sunday when he donned a No. 24 Oakland Athletics jersey with Lynch on the back, strolled to the mound at the Oakland Coliseum, looked in for a sign from acting catcher Rajai Davis, shook off the first two pitches, did some stirring hand motion thing and fired a pitch that neither bounced, nor hit the backstop. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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With the franchise tag deadline arriving Monday, it looks like Kirk Cousins is again going to be playing under the tag, with which both sides are OK.

The two sides reached this point before spring became summer, despite the tone of contract talks picking up in recent months, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported, according to a person informed of negotiations. Washington’s most recent offer in May failed to secure the quarterback long-term, and Cousins appears to have the rare privilege of being in the catbird seat in these discussions.

Cousins and Washington have long been engaged in long-term extension talks, with differences in money previously keeping the two sides apart. Washington upped the ante with its May offer, which topped a previous offer of an average of around $20 million per year, Pelissero reported. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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For the first time in more than a decade, the Raiders are a hot item in the offseason hype sale.

A 12-4 finish in 2016 coupled with a young core of talented players will do that. The support of some Hall of Fame alumni helps, too.

“They’re a very good football team,” Hall of Fame receiver Tim Brown said at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Golf Tournament in Truckee, California. “I think they proved last year that they are to be reckoned with. If not for the injury, who knows how last year turns out. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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In the latest edition of I’ve never felt better offseason declarations, we bring you Demaryius Thomas.

The Broncos receiver is 29 years old and has posted five straight 1,000-yard-plus seasons, so it’s easy to say he’s felt pretty darn good over the last half decade. But he admitted in April that he dealt with a hip problem in 2016, which he recently said has been alleviated and truly has him feeling at his peak. He also added in a little nugget about his football lifespan, which is interesting, because it’s not all that long. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jerry Jones received the invitation to football immortality back in February. His wife will be the one leading him there in August.

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys has selected his wife, Gene, as his presenter for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 5 in Canton, Ohio, the team announced in a news release Wednesday. The two celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2013 and have three children, all of whom work as executives in the Cowboys‘ organization. Continue reading →