Roster News & Rumors

LATROBE – It was a chippy day of practice on Thursday as we saw receiver Ben Skowronek get into it with linebackers Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen. Later in practice, it was running back Lew Nichols and D’Shawn Jamison in a scuffle on the ground who had to be separated. After all of the fighting and play on the field, it’s time for our daily look at who performed well and who had a rough go on an eventful seventh day of training camp practice.

Rodgers was operating on a different level today. What was most impressive were the layered throws over defenders in the middle of the field. Rodgers was peppering DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson with targets all practice long. The veteran was feeling himself today, and could be seen hitting some of his signature fist pump emotes after some throws.

We had not seen a lot from Sawyer up to this point, but he certainly put together a strong practice today. Sawyer had some wins on reps during run plays and seemed to be getting into the backfield at a solid rate today. He capped it off with what would have been a sack in a game situation in which Sawyer came screaming off the edge and had Mason Rudolph dead to rights. Sawyer seems like someone who will only get better with increased opportunities, and we saw some of that today.

It was a big day for the defensive line, and Harmon is a big reason for that. The Steelers’ run defense was significantly better when Harmon was healthy last season, and today was another glaring example of why. Harmon was wrecking the first-team offense when they were trying to run the ball today. Whether they ran to the inside or outside, the defensive lineman always seemed to be the first one there making contact. Harmon is a seriously gifted run defender who has a chance to become a household name this season.

It was not a day to remember for the Steelers’ third-round quarterback. The accuracy on short throws was very spotty, and the timing seemed to be off over the middle. Allar led the lone two-minute drill at the end of practice, and his only completion was called back for offensive pass interference. However, the blame can’t fall solely on his shoulders, as he hit Kaden Wetjen twice in the hands and he wasn’t able to bring it in. This type of practice is exactly what the Steelers knew they were getting into when selecting Allar. He is a work in progress that can make otherworldly throws and plays, but needs serious polishing on the simple stuff and mechanics.

Brisker is someone who I cannot wait to see play this season. He should form one of the better safety duos in the entire league with DeShon Elliott. However, this now marks the third practice in which Brisker has dropped what should have been an easy interception. As good as Rodgers was today, he got a bit wild throwing a cross-body post route to Roman Wilson, which was thrown well short. Brisker was the defender that should have had the interception, but it just bounced off his hands. Stuff like this happens, but it is worth noting that this is the third day in a row in which the safety has not been able to come down with an interception after being in prime position for one. It’s no reason to be overly concerned, in fact, you can look at it as a good thing that he is so often around the ball in favorable positions that by the time the season rolls around, fans can count on him for a splash play or two when the defense needs it.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

The Baltimore Ravens held a hot practice on Thursday, in every sense of the word.

Wednesday’s showers dialed up the humidity at The Castle, and the team’s third padded practice in four days dialed up the intensity. Motors were running hot, as were several players’ tempers. Tight end Mark Andrews and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson butted heads after one physical blocking encounter, and center Ethan Pocic and linebacker Reid Williford jawed at each other in an unexpected veteran/rookie encounter. Quarterback Lamar Jackson spiked his helmet in frustration after one rough sequence for the offense. And most notably, edge rusher Tavius Robinson and offensive linemen Carson Vinson and John Simpson got in a post-play scrap that was quickly snuffed out by the rest of the team.

Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said on Tuesday that he does not like to see fights at practice. None of today’s scuffles rose to that level, due in part to Minter’s careful management of his players. He brought the team in for an extended huddle after the Robinson-Vinson-Simpson fracas to ensure the tension did not persist.

But after practice, Minter said that he loved the competitive spirit and physicality of the period. In fact, it seemed to be by design.

“We wanted it to be a really physical day,” Minter explained. “We wanted it to be a long practice. We wanted them to kind of fight through some things — long drive drills, where it is intentionally an eight- or nine-play drive, regardless of the down and distance. You want to be able to do all that with a high, high level of physicality and also keep your wits about you.”

Indeed, Thursday was the Ravens’ longest practice of training camp, extending past the two-hour mark for the first time this summer. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive tackle C.J. Okoye both left the field early – no major concern for players that tip the scales at well over 300 pounds, but still a reflection of the day’s intensity. Minter even allowed live tackling to end practice with rookie running back Adam Randall getting all three of the offense’s touches in that period. The 6-foot-4, 232-pounder was brought down twice – once by a physical tackle from cornerback Marquise Robinson – and closed it out with a touchdown catch from Skyler Thompson.

Even the coaching staff got in on the action. The Ravens’ defensive backs took turns tackling various assistant coaches, who will probably be feeling it tomorrow morning despite multiple layers of protection.

The Ravens' defensive backs took turns tackling assistant coaches onto a padded mat. "Coaches will do anything to help the players get better," Jesse Minter said.

I really enjoyed watching this, I’m sure you will, too: pic.twitter.com/CyUKuNbVDS

“Coaches will do anything to make players better,” Minter said after practice. “We have a great group of coaches. All those guys are willing to do whatever it takes…Much appreciate to those guys for doing that.”

Full Quote:

“Honestly, there’s some similar mannerisms – don’t let me lose you – to Kelce, in terms of, feet are always close to the ground, he’s able to skate, he’s got a good, natural ability to work edges on people,” McVay said. “One of the things that I liked the most about him that really wasn’t on display last year, he obviously did a great job tracking some big balls down the field, but his run after the catch. He was catching a lot of checkdowns or chip-flats with (Dillon) Gabriel at Oregon and you could see, really, the RAC was one of the elite traits that we liked. That’s always an important factor for any of our skill players, and he’s no different.”

Sources:

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/08/06/rams-camp-terrance-ferguson-tight-end-sean-mcvay/91203309007/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU-QvTh-X7E (Video the article quoted. They talk about Ferguson a lot, but this specific quote starts at 10:21. You can hear more Ferguson talk starting at 3:27 and 8:21 respectively)

“A guy that can play inside and outside now for us, and his role is going to improve this season.“

That was Shane Steichen on Josh Downs, and it feels like one of the more important offensive developments of Colts training camp. Downs has already proven he can play in this league, and now the conversation is shifting from whether he belongs to how much more Indianapolis can put on his plate. That is where this season gets interesting, because Downs does not need to become a traditional No. 1 receiver to become one of the most important players in the Colts’ passing game.

The role was always likely to grow. Michael Pittman Jr. is gone, Alec Pierce has a different job as the vertical outside receiver, and Tyler Warren is a major piece at tight end, which leaves Downs in a spot where his weekly target share could climb quickly. He may not be the primary read on every concept, and he does not have to be used the same way Pierce is, but Downs is the type of receiver who can end up with the most targets in a lot of games simply because of how he wins. He separates quickly, works well underneath and intermediate, and gives the quarterback answers on the downs that usually decide drives.

That has been the most impressive part of Downs since he got to Indianapolis. Even with inconsistent quarterback play, he has found ways to be productive and reliable. The Colts have not exactly given him a stable offensive environment, yet his skill set has translated because separation travels. Quarterbacks trust receivers who get open on time, and Downs does that about as well as anyone on the roster. He is especially valuable on third down, where timing, leverage and route detail matter more than size or straight-line speed.

The outside part of Steichen’s quote is important too. Downs’ best work still comes from the slot, and that should remain the foundation of his role, but he is not limited to only being a slot receiver. If the Colts can move him outside in certain looks, use him in motion and make defenses declare how they want to match him, the offense becomes less predictable. That does not mean forcing him into a role that does not fit. It means expanding the menu so defenses cannot treat him like a static inside option.

He can become a 100-catch receiver and the idea is not ridiculous. That does not mean he has to turn into a superstar overnight, and it does not mean he needs to be force-fed empty targets. It means the opportunity is there if the Colts build the passing game correctly. Downs is the kind of player who can catch six balls in a game without it feeling like the offense was designed around him, because so much of his production can come naturally through option routes, quick-game concepts, third-down throws and answers against pressure.

For the Colts, that kind of player is extremely valuable. This offense still begins with Jonathan Taylor, and Warren may become the most dangerous matchup piece, but Downs can be the receiver who keeps the passing game on schedule. That role is not always flashy, yet it is often the difference between an offense that has to survive on explosives and one that can consistently move the chains.

Training camp buzz always needs to be handled carefully, because every summer has players who look ready for a leap and then settle back into what they were. Downs feels different because this is not random hype attached to an unknown player. This is the next logical step for someone who has already shown he can win in the NFL, now entering a season where the depth chart and coaching staff are pointing toward more responsibility.

The Colts do not need Downs to become something he is not. They need to lean into what he already does well and give him more chances to do it from different spots. If that happens, his expanded role could end up being one of the biggest reasons the passing game takes a needed step forward.

Thursday's practice at Patriots camp featured some fireworks between wide receiver A.J. Brown and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

Reporters at the workout said Gonzalez appeared to be talking trash to Brown after knocking a pass away from the wideout during a drill where they were matched up against one another. Brown engaged with the corner and wideout Kayshon Boutte stepped in to steer Brown away before things got any more heated.

After practice, Gonzalez said that he thinks situations like that will help both players prepare for the weekly battles they have ahead of them.

"It’s good on good,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a No. 1 receiver in this league going up against a No. 1 corner. That’s how it’s going to go. It’s football at the end of the day. There’s never no disrespect or anything. We’re just battling and getting each other better. He’s going to face corners like that, that are going to yap at him and going to try to get in his head, and I’m going to face receivers like that who are strong and come right back at me. It’s great work for the both of us.”

The Patriots have another week to go before their first game against another team, but they will get a chance to tangle with the Colts in a joint practice on Tuesday.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The New York Giants held a walk-through of roughly two hours and 15 minutes on Thursday, a light day of work after three consecutive padded practices.

There was really nothing noteworthy from the slow-paced practice, except that for some unexplained reason cornerback Nic Jones and wide receiver Xavier Gipson squared off at the end of practice. That happened out of my vantage point, but was seen by a couple of reporters stationed at the opposite end of the practice field.

No winners and losers today as there wasn’t enough happening. If there was a “loser,” it would have to be the fans who traveled to The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center for a practice during which nothing worth watching happened.

The only player held out of practice, as far as I could tell, was cornerback Dru Phillips. He was in attendance, but did not work after leaving practice early on Wednesday. Brian Burns, Malachi Fields, and Beau Brade all worked.

Malik Nabers even participated in team periods during the non-contact walk-through.

I have been asked a number of times if the Giants had a backup fullback. Well, now they do after signing undrafted rookie free agent fullback/defensive tackle Grant Finley. Patrick Ricard, the Giants fullback who has made six Pro Bowls in nine seasons, followed that path as a fullback/defensive tackle when he entered the NFL.

Maybe John Harbaugh thinks Finley can be next.

When the Los Angeles Rams opted to draft Ty Simpson, after months of speculation that the team would select receiver Makai Lemon, few questioned if the right choice would be Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain instead. However, with a strong training camp and high praise from former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden, Bain could have a much higher ceiling on defense than originally believed.

“If you like James Harrison, you’ll like this guy,” Gruden said of Bain. Harrison, a former Defensive Player of the Year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, would be quite an amazing player to have on the Rams’ defense right now.

Jon Gruden on Rueben Bain Jr.:

"If you like James Harrison, you'll like this guy." pic.twitter.com/D3xGHYEZC6

With some people saying that the Rams could have one of the best defenses of all-time after acquiring Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson in the offseason, and a potential return by Aaron Donald, imagine if L.A. general manager Les Snead had also stockpiled Bain in the draft.

It sure would have softened the blow of losing Jared Verse in the trade for Garrett.

Bain, who is getting praised in camp on a daily basis, had 9.5 sacks for a Miami team that reached the national championship game last year. He was once considered to be the best non-quarterback in the class, but fell for having “short arms”, among other things. However, the player who has 20.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for a loss in three college seasons might also be the frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Bucs practice ended 30 minutes ago, but Rueben Bain Jr. is still out here putting in extra work.

He’s still in full pads and his helmet, getting additional reps.

Hello, rookie 😳

Rueben Bain Jr. puts a nasty move on Luke Goedeke. pic.twitter.com/tHGPmfdQfq

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler commented on Wednesday that Bain has been “everything and more” at Bucs camp.

Fowler: Rueben Bain Jr. has been "everything [the Bucs] have wanted and more" during training camp. pic.twitter.com/h7rsr8unkd

Marcus Stroud commented on the Pat McAfee Show that Bain is making starting tackle Luke Geodeke look like a “revolving door” in camp.

"Rueben Bain is turning Luke Goedeke into a revolving door..

He looks and acts the part of a franchise changing edge rusher..

Josiah Trotter started a fight the other day with some big dudes and that's a guy you don't wanna mess with" ~ @NFLSTROUD #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/QUkmj9DXYo

Gruden called criticisms of Bain in the draft: “Arm length and stupidity”.

As in, you’re stupid if you think arm length matters.

Jon Gruden stopped me before I could finish my question about Rueben Bain Jr., excited to talk about him.

“People are all hung up on arm length and stupidity, to be honest with you.

Tremendous effort. That’s the one thing Simeon Rice and Sapp, those guys that played with their… pic.twitter.com/gWlCs6cm9Z

When the Rams chose Simpson, that’s when Sean McVay (a Gruden disciple) said that if there had been any prospects who could help the team this year, then L.A. would have drafted him. Since he and Snead didn’t feel that was the case, they took a backup (third-string right now) quarterback.

The move could pay dividends in the future.

However, Rueben Bain, who went two picks after Simpson, could pay out right now. The Rams may have the number one defense without him. And they better.

The Cincinnati Bengals know who their starting outside cornerbacks will be in 2026. After DJ Turner II’s breakout season in 2025, he is likely going to follow opponents’ primary receivers. After finding his home after moving around the defensive backfield, Dax Hill will start at the other boundary spot.

A camp battle many fans were excited to watch heading into training camp was slot corner. Newly signed veteran Ja’Sir Taylor is competing, but returning veteran Jaylen Davis has been taking the bulk of the first-team reps in the slot thus far.

Enter Josh Newton. The fifth-rounder from the 2024 NFL Draft saw significant action his rookie year, but on the boundary and in the slot. Newton figured to be in the mix for the slot corner battle, but it appears to be a two-man race between Taylor and Davis at this point. 

It doesn’t get any better for Newton on the perimeter, either. The second team reps have been going to D.J. Ivey and rookie Tacario Davis. Newton seems to be on the outside looking in, and if a recent report is accurate, Newton could be a surprise cut when the team trims the roster to 53 players.

The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. reported that Newton has fallen out of favor with the coaches, something we saw reduce his role in 2025.

“Josh Newton remains in the same doghouse that kept his snaps limited down the stretch last season,” Dehner wrote.

Newton played 525 snaps his rookie year in 2024 and saw that number slashed to just 275 last season. With the infusion of both young and veteran talent to the cornerback room, Newton could be on the outside looking in when camp closes.

Of course, it is very early in camp, and the team hasn’t even played a preseason game yet. There is plenty of time for Newton to turn things around. If other players falter, Newton could have an opportunity to take advantage, but as of now, Newton could be looking for a new home at the end of this month.

The Jacksonville Jaguars believe they have the luxury of rostering the best kicker, punter, and long snapper in the NFL.

“I’m very fortunate,” special teams coordinator and associate head coach Heath Farwell said Thursday after Day 7 of training camp. “There’s no question. Those guys are fantastic. They’re the best in the game at their positions.

“And then throw Parker Washington into that as well.”

“He’s a fantastic receiver,” Farwell allowed, “but he’s an elite returner. He’s a game changer. He’s feared across the league. He’s the best returner in the National Football League as far as I’m concerned.”

Indeed, part of Washington’s recent breakout season was being a return man on special teams. In 2024, he became the first NFL player to score an international special teams touchdown with a franchise-record 96-yard punt return. Last season, he was promoted to primary punter returner and became the first Jaguar to house multiple returns in a single season. He finished first in touchdowns, fifth in yards (341), and sixth in yards per return (13.6) among all NFL punt returners. Washington’s career average of 14.2 yards per punt return ranks first in franchise history and fourth among active NFL players (min. 20 returns).

For the first time in his young career, Washington is expecting a full-time workload on offense, but it sounds like he’ll continue to give the offense a boost as the punt returner. “He says that he wants to play, wants to be back there, help the team win,” Farwell said. “That’s the culture Coach Liam [Coen] brought in, and he’s part of it. He wants to win. And how is he going to help us? It’s part of being a punt returner.”

Washington also spoke after Thursday’s practice. When asked about return duties, he said, “I’m just open to the opportunity, whatever it is. Obviously, we’ll get some more receiver play, but as I said, I want to come out here and be my best self. If that happens to be on return, shoot. I feel like I’ve been studying that for a while now. Let’s see if we can make some more plays.”

Washington’s unique drive was instilled by his family at a young age. “One day going into middle school, I was like, ‘I’ve got to make my parents proud.’ Whatever I’m doing, I’m going to make sure I give my absolute best … I couldn’t tell you what clicked. Something just in me just was like, I want to do something different. I want to be special.”

It seems like Washington couldn’t have made his special teams coordinator any prouder — but now, the person he’s most looking to prove himself to is his quarterback.

“The trust [Trevor Lawrence is] having in me on some of these passes is really cool. I know a couple years ago, he probably wouldn’t throw some of the passes he’s throwing now to me, so it’s just really cool for him to have that trust in me and I’m going to continue to make sure that he has that, and I’m going to make those plays for him.”

When asked about his reaction to Zay Flowers’ record-breaking contract extension, Washington — entering the final year of his rookie deal — said, “My focus is just coming out here. I need to make plays for Trevor.”

Given the option to fair catch the ball, punt returners don’t see enough action to really stress about extra hits. Washington should continue to trot onto the field when the Jaguars force a fourth down. But the days of his game-changing, fear-inducing abilities being limited to special teams snaps only are far from over.

Get the ball out, 5-1 🥊@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/jLTyuwDFx2

Jags fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

It was a pretty unique day at Allen Park for Day 7 of Detroit Lions training camp. Not only was it one of the longer practices of training camp—just short of 2.5 hours—but with the humidity seemingly around 130% and the sun bearing down, there were a lot of absences or early exits from players. So much so that the Lions pushed an injury alert to media that several of those absences were cramping/heat related.

[Note: see the full injury report for Thursday here]

The Lions responded with heavy rotations and low pitch counts from a lot of their starting lineup. As a result, a bunch of reserves had big opportunities, and several ran with it.

Let’s break it all down in our Day 7 observations.

Luke Atlmyer shows good command as QB2

With Teddy Bridgewater sidelined, Luke Altmyer essentially got double his normal reps, quarterbacking the second and third-team offenses.

I continue to be impressed with his arm speed and accuracy. Twice on Thursday, he was able to fire the ball between two defensive backs in a zone, and I don’t think he’s thrown more than one or two interceptions all camp.

Beyond that, he’s also got way more poise than I would expect from an undrafted rookie. While sometimes his progressions are taking significant time, I’ve already seen improvement in that category. And when running a two-minute drill toward the end of practice, he showed impressive command—leading to a win* (more on that later) for the offense.

Running back reserves continue strong camp

With no Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, or Sione Vaki involved in team drill, Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small even shared first-team reps at running back. Saylors continues to impress with his speed and one-cut style of running. Meanwhile, I thought Small ran with impressive strength, particularly between the tackles during red zone drills. Admittedly, they both benefitted from strong run blocking today (though it was Tate Ratledge’s best day of camp).

Skyler Gill-Howard, Ahmed Hassanein make most of early reps

With very limited roles for Tyler Lacy and Mekhi Wingo on Thursday, Ahmed Hassanein and Skyler Gill-Howard both got some significant work with the first team.

It was yet another impressive day for Hassanein, as he continues to live up to the fan hype. With the twos, I had him down for two tackles for loss and two sacks. The second sack came during the final situational drill, where he stunted with Gill-Howard, then he completely okey-doked Mason Miller for a free run at Altmyer. Hassanein was a bit out of control, though, and actually bumped into the rookie quarterback—a no-no in camp. While most of his production came against the second team, he did get a big win during one-on-ones against Blake Miller, beating him with a speed move around the edge.

Gill-Howard was pretty disruptive in team drills, notching at least one pass breakup and sack, but it’s worth noting he did struggle during one-on-ons, going 0-for-3 in the three matchups I saw.

Devin White, Trevor Nowaske get call-up to first-teamers

Nowaske got a ton of first-team work with Barnes pretty severely limited on the day. It’s worth noting Barnes looked a little shook up during Tuesday’s practice and told media it was just a minor knee injury that he finished practice with. It was a quiet day for Nowaske, but he’ll certainly benefit from the first-team reps.

White, on the other hand, got a ton of work in replacing Malcolm Rodriguez as the WILL linebacker in three-linebacker sets, and made a few plays throughout the day. He tallied a beautiful pass breakup on Kye Robichaux during 7-on-7s, and played with good anticipation in the run game.

Nick Whiteside’s early camp gets rewarded

With no D.J. Reed on the day, Whiteside got a ton of work opposite Rock Ya-Sin with the first team defense. Detroit was in nickel for a large portion of the day, and I would say the majority of those first-team reps went to Ennis Rakestraw. Although Rakestraw did get some outside work in replacement of Whiteside, with Christian Izien sliding into first-team nickel, as well.

Whiteside’s day wasn’t as flashy as previous camp appearances. Isaac TeSlaa got the better of him in on-one-ones in both of their matchups, but the promotion still shows Detroit has appreciated the work he’s put in.

Officials were on hand for the first time in training camp, and they were busy on Thursday. As expected, the flags were flying during the WR/DB one-on-ones. Keith Abney was the guilty party on each of his first two reps (vs. Tom Kennedy and Tarik Black).

But the flags continued all day. The offense was guilty of a few false starts, one offsides, and at least two illegal formations. Meanwhile, the defense got tagged with an illegal contact, a defensive holding, and at least one offsides penalty during team drills.

It’s not all that uncommon for things to be this sloppy early in camp, but I’m guessing the coaching staff won’t be very happy with the high number of procedural mistakes.

I mentioned it earlier, but it’s worth breaking down TeSlaa’s day, particularly during one-on-ones. A few days after going 0-for-4 during these drills, he won both of his matchups on Thursday, both against Whiteside. On the first, he used his size to high-point a back-shoulder throw on the sidelines. The second, he cleanly won on a comeback route for a modest gain.

Now, I’d like to see him do those against the likes for Reed and Ya-Sin—two extremely physical cornerbacks who have given him a hard time to date—but it was still a nice confidence boost for the second-year receiver.

The Lions ran an interesting situational drill, but only used the second-team offense and defense to end practice.

The scenario: down 14-13, 3:32 left, 2 timeouts for both teams, starting on own 8-yard line

The second-team offense really struggled out of the gate. After Greg Dortch (6 yards) and Cedrick Wilson (5 yards) picked up short gains to move the chains, the offense completely stuttered. Two penalties (false start on Miles Frazier and illegal formation) set them back, and the aforementioned Hassanein sack ended the drive quickly.

But Detroit ended up just re-setting the ball with a fresh set of downs, and the offense quickly found life. A great turkey-hole shot to tight end Thomas Gordon plus a medium gain to Tom Kennedy quickly put them in field goal range, and Bates drilled a 41-yard field goal as time expired.

On Thursday, the Green Bay Packers had their final practice leading up to Friday’s Family Night practice at Lambeau Field. It was closed to the public, but the media were able to attend the practice. Want some good news? There was confirmation today that the Packers will be streaming Family Night on Packers.com for a second straight year, which means that even out-of-market fans will be able to get a look at the team with their own eyes before the preseason starts.

If you want an extended look at the starting offense and defense, this is probably going to be your best shot, considering how conservative the Packers have been with their starters in preseasons past. For perspective, starting running back Josh Jacobs got all of two snaps in the 2025 preseason.

Be sure to join us during the Family Night practice tomorrow, as we’ll have a watch thread where we’ll be discussing what’s going on the field.

Here’s what happened in practice today.

There have been no changes to the Packers’ reserve/injured lists, as running back Chris Brooks (hamstring) remains on the non-football injury list (he was hurt outside of the facility) and tight end Luke Musgrave (neck), defensive lineman Javon Hargrave (knee), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (Achilles), edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee) and long snapper Matt Orzech (calf) are still on the physically unable to perform list.

The Packers described Orzech’s and Hargrave’s injuries as short-term injuries in the past, and head coach Matt LaFleur stated today that he’s hoping that Brooks returns to the field “sooner rather than later,” a sign that it’s not a major injury. Musgrave’s neck appears to be the only major injury that Green Bay’s roster has suffered outside of the holdover recoveries from 2025 (Micah Parsons and Jordon Riley).

Running back Josh Jacobs (groin) and cornerback Carrington Valentine (hamstring) both missed practice on Thursday with what were described as short-term injuries. The only other DNP on Thursday was safety/slot defender Johnathan Baldwin, who is dealing with a knee issue. So far, we have no info on how serious Baldwin’s injury is. For what it’s worth, Baldwin was the team’s backup slot defender in camp thus far, despite the fact that the third-string role (behind Javon Bullard and cap casualty Nate Hobbs) was filled by Kitan Oladapo in 2025.

Love high for Golden on first play with the ones.

Starters:

Love
Lloyd
Dabney – Whyle
Golden – Watson
Morgan – Burton – Rhyan – Monk – Belton

Sorrell – Brooks – McClellan – Brinson – LVN
Zaire – Coop
Cisse – Nixon
Williams – X

With Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele still out of the lineup in team drills, the Packers have used injury replacement starters at left guard and right tackle throughout camp. Generally, those reps usually go to Jacob Monk (left guard) and Darian Kinnard (right tackle), but today there was a heavy dose of Anthony Belton (who usually plays right guard) at right tackle. That opened up another spot at guard on the line, which rookie Jager Burton stepped into. Donovan Jennings also got some reps at guard with the first-team offense today, too.

If you’re trying to keep tabs on a 53-man roster projection right now, I’d say that the sixth through ninth offensive linemen right now are likely Kinnard, Monk, Burton and Jennings, in some order. The Packers will likely keep 10 offensive linemen (and they roster 11 more times than they roster 9). That leaves one spot up for grabs, depending on how entrenched Jennings is right now.

John Williams having to move from snapping sign twos to immediately playing left tackle with threes is one of the more impressive things I’ve seen from an O-lineman on the reserve units

One option for the final offensive lineman on the 53-man roster is second-year draft pick John Williams, who missed his entire rookie season with a back injury. Right now, Williams is playing every position on the offensive line.

Here’s the thing: If that’s the Packers’ backup line, the only “true tackle” beyond the starters is Kinnard, as Monk, Burton, Jennings and Williams are primarily interior offensive linemen. That is likely one reason why Belton is getting some reps at tackle right now while Bako-Bewele is out. If the group ever faced two injuries at the tackle position (any combo of two of Jordan Morgan, Bako-Bewele and Kinnard), Belton is probably the next man up at the position.

No idea if he stays healthy, but MarShawn Lloyd is very, very fast.

MarShawn Lloyd just did a backflip after catching a TD wide open during 11-on-11.

There’s some momentum building for running back MarShawn Lloyd, who has dealt with a series of injuries going into Year 3 of his NFL career. Lloyd, who has only played 10 regular-season snaps after being taken in the third round, made several plays in camp today and got the majority of the snaps with the starting offense while Jacobs was sidelined. At the moment, Lloyd projects to be the Packers’ number two ball-carrier in 2026, only behind Jacobs.

Mama there goes that man. Anthony Campbell with a would be sack on Tyrod Taylor.

Defensive lineman Anthony Campbell continues to make plays. While Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt (practicing but not in team drills) have been sidelined, Campbell has been pushed into working with the second-team defense. He’s recorded several pass breakups in camp and has “sacked” quarterback Tyrod Taylor several times.

Keep an eye out for Campbell on Family Night and in the preseason, as he has a chance to push Nazir Stackhouse for the sixth (and likely last) roster spot on the defensive line. At the moment, Hargrave, Wyatt, rookie third-round pick Chris McClellan, second-year draft pick Warren Brinson and Karl Brooks are considered roster locks.

Javon Bullard took out Josh Whyle low on a swing pass. Adam Stenavich was *not* happy. After the period, Bullard came to the offense’s sideline and apologized to Whyle.

It was a little chippy today, as Bullard popped tight end Josh Whyle pretty good in practice. Green Bay is already very thin at the tight end position, so it’s understandable why the offense would be mad that Bullard didn’t protect his teammate. Still, Bullard apologized and didn’t let it escalate further. So far, no fights in camp.

Kick returners:

Melton
Moore
Sturdivant
Strong
Sheppard
Nixon

Savion is not with the returners and scanning the field multiple times I don’t currently see him out practicing. Will keep you posted.

General manager Brian Gutekunst had big praise for receiver/returner Skyy Moore on Thursday in his pre-practice press conference, stating that he “expects” Moore to help the team in 2026. Adjust your 53-man roster projections accordingly.

In practice today, the team worked on kick returns in their special teams period. The returners were receivers Bo Melton, J. Michael Sturdivant, Will Sheppard and Moore and running backs Pierre Strong Jr. and Jaden Nixon. Savion Williams was not involved in that period, as he was getting checked by the medical staff, but later returned to practice. Williams was the Packers’ preferred kick returner in the regular season last year, though Jacobs and cornerback Keisean Nixon handled those duties in the postseason.

For what it’s worth, Jacobs and Nixon generally worked on kickoff returns in camp, even if they didn’t do it in the regular season last year. Don’t expect the team to flip the switch and send those two out there in the 2026 postseason.

Chargers pass rusher Tuli Tuipulotu has had a slow ramp-up period to begin training camp. He has mainly partook in individual drills before working off to the side with trainers. It has been everyone’s guess on whether or not this was due to a physical ailment or if Tuli has not been comfortable with putting his body on the line just ahead of his presumed upcoming extension.

Those questions may not be put bed — at least somewhat — after Tuipulotu took the field with his teammates on Thursday in full pads. But Tuli didn’t just take the field, he has been a participant in every phase, including team drills where he made one of the first big splash plays of the day for the defense.

Per ESPN’s Kris Rhim, Tuli blew up a run by Omarion Hampton and was rewarded with massive cheers from the crowd in attendance.

Chargers are in full pads for the first time today and Tuli Tuipulotu is participating in team drills again. He just blew up an Omarion Hampton run that drew roars from the defense.

Tuipulotu is coming off a breakout season that saw him rack up 13 sacks and 20 tackles for loss, both of which topped his previous career highs of 8.5 and 11, respectively. Entering his fourth season, expectations remain high as the team’s top pass rusher who will now be joined by first-round pick Akheem Mesidor to create one heck of a trio with Khalil Mack.

Competition between the New England Patriots offense and defense is a common theme throughout training camp this week, especially between two of New England’s biggest stars: Christian Gonzalez and A.J. Brown.

During a two-on-two period with the defensive backs and wide receivers at Thursday’s practice, Maye lofted a pass to Brown in the red zone as his receiver ran a corner route. Gonzalez, in coverage, broke up the attempt and waved his hands in the air to celebrate his victory on the rep before pointing at a nearby camera.

Both players then spoke to each other as the position groups walked back to the sideline, which later escalated into a brief face-to-face confrontation. Fourth-year receiver Kayshon Boutte was among those who separated the two, pulling Brown away.

“I mean, it’s good on good,” Gonzalez said after practice of his matchup with Brown. “You know, he’s a number one receiver in this league, going up against a number one corner. I mean, that’s how it’s going to go. It’s football at the end of the day. There’s never any disrespect or anything. We’re just battling and getting each other better. 

“He’s going to face corners like that who are going to yap at him and going to try to get in his head. And I’m going to face receivers like that who are strong and come right back at me. So it’s great work for the both of us.”

The competition between Gonzalez and Brown has been a familiar sight this summer during team periods and positional one-on-ones as the teammates regularly exchange friendly banter.

Media members got a close look at the competitive spirit among this Patriots roster when Monday’s practice moved into the field bubble and player conversations echoed. It’s something head coach Mike Vrabel welcomes as long as the trash talk is “authentic” and players don’t lose focus of their assignments.

“I think the competitiveness has been great,” Vrabel said on Tuesday. “I want that. I think we need that. I think that’s part of building a team, but then also the line that we take [the players] to is being able to take care of each other. We’re not throwing punches. We’re not into that … But I’m all for the energy and the trash talk and the back and forth and being able to get back and then do your job.”

Gonzalez, despite “everybody” thinking he’s quiet on the field, says he does talk a little and acknowledges that his competition with Brown brings some of that trash talk out of him.

“Oh, for sure,” the cornerback said. “I mean, this competition is how you get better, how [Brown] can get better [and] how I can get better — the defense and team. It all comes together. [It’s] the dog days at camp … [We’re] about to start getting into [joint practices], and now we’re really into camp. So, I mean, of course tempers are going to flare. Everybody’s hot and wants to be the best.”

The 24-year-old added that he hasn’t been more talkative this summer; it just depends on the day of practice.

“In practice, it comes out a little more just because [you’re] getting a little more rest in a game,” Gonzalez said about whether he enjoys the trash talk or prefers to be quieter. “It’s moving a lot faster. The speed is faster. I’m a little more tired, winded in the game. But, I mean, there’s a little bit of both. 

“I like to figure out how to attack a receiver. Not every receiver you can talk to. Some receivers get more mad if you don’t say anything to them. So it’s a battle. You get used to going up against guys and trying to figure out how you can get an edge on them.”

Entering his fourth year in the league, Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.

Team owner Robert Kraft revealed to the media earlier this offseason that the franchise made an offer to the 2023 first-round pick that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and the highest-paid player in Patriots history.

Gonzalez repeatedly said Thursday that he wouldn’t get into the details of his contract. He’s said throughout the offseason that those conversations are between the team and his agents.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.'s return to the Giants didn't come with any guarantees that he'll land a spot on the 53-man roster, but he's doing his best to make the case for one at training camp.

Reporters at the team's practices this week made note of a strong pair of days for Beckham on Tuesday and Wednesday. That included snaps with the first team as Beckham tries to win a job in a group that also includes Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, third-round pick Malachi Fields, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios.

After the practice, Beckham said he "it's definitely challenging" being part of a deep group because it limits the chances he has to show why he believes "I can play at a high level." He also said that it helps that he's finding it easier to do that as he gets more time in the offense under his belt.

"I feel like I'm getting better. I feel like with repetition, with mistakes, unfortunately I'm one of those people who has to touch the stove to know that it's hot and to not touch it again, so I learn from a mistake and it's like, all right, that's something that I corrected," Beckham said, via a transcript from the team. "So, I definitely feel like I'm getting better. There's definitely been more opportunities. It's just a combination of both. But kind of just fizzle all that out and I'm just like — I'm just locked in the moment. I'm truly grateful for being where my feet are at and just trying to enjoy that each and every day and bring the best energy that I can."

Beckham does not play special teams and that will make it hard for him to secure a roster spot unless he's clearly shown that he can make an impact on offense. The last few days have shown signs of that and his quest to finish the job will continue to be a storyline for the rest of the month.

The Dallas Cowboys have now completed one week of training camp out in Oxnard. It hasn’t just been the California sun that has shined, but also several players and position groups are looking extremely sharp right out of the gate.

Dak Prescott is already looking in mid-season form as the 11-year veteran has been wheeling and dealing on a daily basis. Rookie safety Caleb Downs is everything that people said he was, and his versatility is going to bring a different element to what the Cowboys do defensively under Christian Parker. Also, Qunnien Williams and Kenny Clark are showing how disruptive they can be.

While all those things are great to see, they aren’t shockers by any means. However, there been several things that have stood out that most people didn’t see coming. Let’s take a look at three surprises so far at camp.

Javonte Williams is the undisputed RB1 in Dallas. Don’t tell him that though, because he’s been playing with his hair on fire. He looks explosive running between the tackles, and he’s even been featured in the screen game, which is something that head coach Brian Schottenheimer talked about before camp. With that said, he’s not alone.

Jaydon Blue didn’t have the rookie season he wanted in 2025, but he has put that in his rear view. He looks very confident in what he’s doing, and his speed has been on full display with several huge plays so far. Add Phil Mafah’s name to this as well. He worked on his explosiveness during the offseason, and positive results have come about already.

Williams had a very good season a year ago with over 1,200 yards, proving that he can be a bell-cow. Dallas needs for him to be fresh at the end of ball games, and the best way to do that is having other reliable options. Blue and Mafah are showing early that this group has the potential to cause a lot of headaches for opposing defenses.

Jaishawn Barham was picked in the third round by Dallas back in April, and there was buzz about what he could potentially bring to the Cowboys revamped defense. None if that mattered until he got camp, which is when he would really have to prove if he wanted early playing time. Not only is he showing that he’s going to be a big factor, but Barham looks like a guy who has already been in the league for years.

The former Michigan Wolverine has shined in individual drills and during team periods against the likes of All-Pro guard Tyler Smith and the aforementioned Blue. He brings linebacker and edge skills to the table, and Parker intends to take full advantage of that versatility in his philosophy. Needless to say, Barham is undoubtedly ahead of where people thought he’d be right now.

The Cowboys decided to trade defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers on March 11th. The day before that, they added Ogbonnia to the roster, who played in 41 games with 20 starts over his four years with the Los Angeles Chargers. He has some injury history, including missing eight games with an elbow issue last season. Ogbonnia also has a reputation for stopping the run, and its been no different in camp.

In the Cowboys base look, Ogbonnia has been on the field with Qunnien Williams and Kenny Clark, and the trio have been effective consistently. Stopping the run has been a huge issue for Dallas over the years, and Ogbonnia and his 6’4″, 320-pound frame can be a big difference maker. It wasn’t a flashy signing, but Ogbonnia could end up being an impact offseason addition in Dallas.

The New England Patriots were back in full pads on Thursday following a day of walkthrough work. With the tempo picking back up, the Patriots worked both full-field and red zone work.

Here’s what went down throughout the session on the humid fields behind Gillette Stadium.

Absent: WR Romeo Doubs, CB Carlton Davis III, TE Jack Westover, WR Cameron Dorner

Injured: DL Christian Barmore, CB Charles Woods

Limited: OT Will Campbell, OG Caedan Wallace

PUP/NFI: ED Harold Landry III, S Brenden Schooler

The Patriots attendance list largely remained the same on Thursday as Romeo Doubs and Carlton Davis again highlighted the absentees. New England saw depth offensive lineman Caedan Wallace return to the practice fields in a limited fashion.

On a hot, humid day, the defense did see Christian Barmore and Charles Woods depart with head athletic trainer Jim Whalen.

Defense ending strong: It was a strong day in general for the Patriots defense, but the unit put the cherry on top with three straight interceptions in two-minute situations to end the session.

With 1:20 on the clock from the 40-yard line, Drake Maye found a trio of completions — including a strong hands catch from A.J. Brown with Christian Gonzalez all over him — before a short pass to Kayshon Boutte saw Marcus Jones jump the route for the interception. Allowing Maye’s unit to then stay on the field, the quarterback’s next pass down the seam to Hunter Henry was intercepted by Kevin Byard.

As Tommy DeVito’s unit then took over, a similar result follow. Facing pressure on his first drop back, DeVito moved to his left before firing an interception to safety John Saunders Jr. The defensive sideline was rightfully rowdy while Mike Vrabel ended practice.

A.J. vs Gonzo: It’s been a highly competitive back-and-forth summer between cornerback Christian Gonzalez and wide receiver A.J. Brown. On Thursday, advantage Gonzalez.

After a downfield target to Brown with Gonzalez in coverage fell incomplete in full-team work, the duo matched up twice against each other in 2-on-2 goal line work. Gonzalez was on the winning side of both reps, which included a pass breakup in the corner of the end zone to end the drill that sparked back-and-forth trash talk — with the two almost needing to be separated as work transitioned to a new period.

Christian Gonzalez with a smile as he recalls some trash talk between him and A.J. Brown from today’s practice … where the two almost needed to be separated after one pass breakup in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/bQBeIOZTeg

Campbell limited: Starting left tackle Will Campbell did not participate in any competitive periods on Thursday as he again wore a Rob Gronkowski-like arm brace on his left arm that he debuted in Wednesday’s walkthrough.

Without their top left tackle, fellow second-year pro Marcus Bryant repped in his place with the top offense as first-round pick Caleb Lomu continued to train at right tackle with the second unit. That then elevated rookie Dametrious Crownover to backup left tackle.

Jacas’ ramping up: Rookie pass rusher Gabe Jacas worked in with the first-team defense on Thursday as he continues to ramp up following his offseason knee procedure. While Jacas’ size and power stand out, the rookie won multiple times with speed on Thursday while working against the second unit. That first came when he dipped around Lomu to register a pressure (and a likely holding penalty) before beating Crownover in two-minute to help force an interception.

Other notes: