NFL TO ALLOW HEAD COACHES TO TAP STAFF MEMBER FOR CHALLENGES
Head coaches will no longer be the only people who can throw the red challenge flag during an NFL game.
The league on Monday published an update to the rulebook concerning who can initiate instant replay reviews, revealing that head coaches can now designate one specific member of their staff to do so on their behalf.
“The Head Coach or head coach’s pregame challenge designee can initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field of play before the next legal snap or kick,” Rule 15, Section 1, Article 1 of the 2026 NFL rulebook reads.
If a head coach designates a staff member to handle initiating challenges before the game, then that decision must last for the entirety of the game — rather than there being two people on staff who can toss the red flag.
According to reports, this update was not announced at the league’s annual meeting, but not all rulebook changes require a vote from the team owners.
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2026 NFL PREVIEW: CHICAGO BEARS
Changes ::
Offense: Ben Johnson returns for his second season in control of the Bears organization and looks to take the Bears offense to new heights.
Defense: Dennis Allen had an impressive opening season as the Bears defensive coordinator and returns for a second year.
Personnel Changes ::
Caleb Williams returns for his third season as the Bears starting QB after an exciting sophomore season in Ben Johnson’s system. A year of familiarity and growth should
The Bears, somewhat surprisingly, did not make any major moves in their backfield this offseason. Talented and versatile veteran RB D’Andre Swift returns to lead their backfield and second year RB Kyle Monangai should once again be involved on early downs and near the goal line.
The Bears traded veteran WR DJ Moore to the Bills in March, leaving the talented duo of Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III as their top perimeter options.
Undrafted second year receiver Jahdae Walker has solid chemistry and trust with Caleb Williams, which gives him an inside track to the third receiver role.
Chicago added WR/KR Kalif Raymond, who has familiarity with Johnson’s scheme from his time in Detroit, to improve their return game and give them receiving depth. They also drafted Zavion Thomas out of LSU in the third round. Thomas has blazing speed and a unique skill set similar to Raymond’s in terms of return ability and potential for schemed usage.
Colston Loveland was slow out of the gates in 2025 after recovering from shoulder surgery most of the offseason, but was absolutely dominant down the stretch and is in the conversation among top tight ends in the league.
Veteran TE Cole Kmet will still be involved, while rookie Sam Housh was selected in the third round and is likely to be involved at some point this season.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6)::
GB x2, DET x2, MIN x2
NFC South (4)::
@ ATL, @ CAR, vs. TB, vs. NO
AFC East (4)::
@ BUF, @ MIA, vs. NE, vs. NYJ
vs. PHI, vs. JAX, @ SEA
The Bears had an extremely impressive 2025 season in their first year under Ben Johnson as the benefits of disciplined coaching and strong game planning were on full display. One of the “critiques” for the Bears last season was that they were winning “in spite of” their passing game (actually a direct quote from Johnson at one point), rather than because of it. However, the argument can easily be made that this bodes well for their long-term outlook and potential to take another step in 2026. Chicago’s game plan after their Week 5 bye was to establish a strong running game, control the clock, and limit turnovers. They accomplished those things and their offensive line emerged as one of the stronger units in the league as the season progressed. The Bears further bolstered their offensive line personnel this offseason and with their scheme having a year to spread its roots, they are in position to have a very efficient running game as the backbone of their offense. In addition, their strong trio of tight ends along with their moves at wide receiver seem to indicate a likely shift towards heavier personnel in 2026.
A lot of their running game success in 2026 was dependent on volume and tempo, but this year they could see a spike in running game efficiency that would turbo charge their passing game. As QB Caleb Williams continues to grow under the tutelage of Johnson, we could truly see him take his game to new levels. The argument can be made that the Bears have the best trio of young receiving options in the game with wide receivers Rome Odunze (24 when the season kicks off) and Luther Burden III (22) alongside dynamic TE Colston Loveland (22). Williams has always had elite playmaking and scrambling ability, but is now learning to also play within structure, make pre-snap reads, and play with timing and anticipation. The marriage of his skill set and Johnson’s scheme could be a match made in heaven when you consider the likely efficient running game and dynamic weapons at his disposal. When an offense has a head coach who is so aggressive on fourth down like Johnson, while having so many different ways of creating positive yardage it will make getting off the field very difficult for opposing defenses.
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2026 NFL PREVIEW: DETROIT LIONS
Changes ::
Offense: The Lions struggled to replace departed offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in 2025 and made a mid-season change at play caller. This offseason they hired offensive coordinator Drew Petzing from the Cardinals to take over.
Defense: Kelvin Sheppard enters his second season as the Lions’ defensive coordinator. Detroit ranked in the bottom half of the league in total points and yards allowed, as well as takeaways.
Personnel Changes ::
Jared Goff remains the Lions’ quarterback, with veteran Teddy Bridgewater serving as his backup.
The Lions let RB David Montgomery leave via free agency, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs in the unquestioned feature role for the first time in his career. They signed Isiah Pacheco from the Chiefs to be the complement to Gibbs this season in what will likely be a similar, but less involved version of what Montgomery did.
Amon-Ra St. Brown had his third consecutive season as the overall WR3 in 2025 and Jameson Williams set career highs across the board in 2025. They are complemented by impressive second year WR Isaac TeSlaa and veteran free agent acquisition Greg Dortch.
Sam LaPorta remains the primary tight end for the Lions after an injury-plagued 2025 season. Detroit signed veteran TE Tyler Conklin to provide depth behind him alongside Brock Wright.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6):
GB x2, CHI x2, MIN x2
NFC South (4):
@ ATL, @ CAR, vs. TB, vs. NO
AFC East (4):
@ BUF, @ MIA, vs. NE, vs. Jets
@ ARI, vs. TEN, vs. Giants
The Lions have one of the softer on-paper schedules in the league thanks to the schedule pitting them against the NFC South and AFC East, along with being matched up with the Cardinals, Titans, and Giants (who were all among the five worst teams in the league in 2025). After a couple of seasons with brutal schedules, this is a welcome change for Detroit and gives them a clear path to bounce back from their disappointing 2025 campaign.
Detroit’s offense should be extremely concentrated this year, with Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams likely to command upwards of 70% of the team’s usage. Those three are explosive and talented, with skill sets that complement each other well. A concentrated and talented offense with a soft schedule is a match made in heaven. Gone are the days of Detroit spreading the ball around to eight different skill players with no one seeing excessive usage besides St. Brown—this is a team whose clock is ticking on their organizational window and will not be messing around with player usage. They know where their bread is buttered. The Lions defense was average to below average in most metrics last season and nothing drastically changed to signal a likely spike in performance, which means the likelihood of them being pulled into shootouts with the few stronger opponents on their schedule is relatively high. For their weaker opponents, we know the Lions are not afraid to pile on. There is a case to be made that Detroit could end the season with the overall RB1, two top-10 WRs, and a top-10 QB and TE. That’s an offense you want to invest in. Guys like Pacheco and TeSlaa also have massive contingent ceilings and are good enough to fill in and keep the offense afloat should they be called upon.
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2026 NFL PREVIEW: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Changes ::
Offense: Long time head coach Matt LaFleur returns to run a Packers offense that has ranked in the top half of the league every season he has been at the helm.
Defense: Green Bay lost defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to the Dolphins this offseason and he will be replaced by former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was also previously the defensive coordinator for the Eagles.
Personnel Changes ::
Jordan Love enters his fourth season as the starting quarterback for the Packers, but Green Bay lost talented backup Malik Willis to free agency. Mobile veteran QB Tyrod Taylor will be the primary backup for Love, who has missed multiple games in each of the last two seasons.
Josh Jacobs enters his age-28 season as the Packers primary running back and has touched the ball 250+ times in each of his seven seasons, proving to be very durable at a demanding position.
Marshawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks appear to be the primary candidates for backup work behind Jacobs after Emanuel Wilson left in free agency. Lloyd is a wildly explosive player whose career has been short-circuited by soft tissue injuries.
The Packers wide receiver room is likely to be more concentrated after the departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks.
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden should be the primary perimeter wide receivers, while Jayden Reed continues his role as the slot receiver. Explosive second year player Savion Williams is likely to be involved in some way as a gadget and change of place type player, as well as a returner.
Tight end Tucker Kraft was in the midst of an electric 2025 campaign when he tore his ACL in November. He is expected to return early in the season, but will likely be eased back into his role. Luke Musgrave is the other primary tight end Green Bay will utilize.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6)::
CHI x2, DET x2, MIN x2
NFC South (4)::
vs. ATL, vs. CAR, @ TB, @ NO
AFC East (4)::
vs. BUF, vs. MIA, @ NE, @ NYJ
vs. HOU, vs. DAL, @ LAR
The Packers have a lot of potential shootouts on their schedule, as well as several games against what project to be very weak defenses. This sets them up for an opportunity to be a top-10 team in points and yards. The tough part for the Packers in recent years has been the combination of how often they rotate receivers, spreading out their target distribution, and their run-based philosophy combined with a slow pace of play. Those two things could easily be tied together, however, and we could see an increased tempo if the Packers are not subbing as often. The primary players left are also the most explosive from last year’s group, as Christian Watson and Matthew Golden both have blazing speed and Jayden Reed is a dynamic threat when able to stay healthy. Combining that with the after catch ability of Tucker Kraft and you have an incredibly talented group of skill players who should compromise their base personnel.
As we see Josh Jacobs enter the latter part of his career and mediocre options behind him in the backfield, a logical shift towards a higher pass rate would make sense. We are also at the point in Jordan Love’s career where we often see coaches give more leash and responsibility to their QB. After the disappointing finish to last season, this seems like the perfect time for LaFleur to open things up a bit. Combining all of these factors together you have a situation that could provide a lot of value. The NFC North is once again stacked and the Packers defense is solid, but not dominant. We could see a simultaneous spike in production and condensing of their player usage that makes this a situation that is ripe for profit.
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2026 NFL PREVIEW: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Changes ::
Offense: Offensive-minded head coach Kevin O’Connell returns to the Vikings along with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips.
Defense: Brian Flores returns for his fourth season as the defensive coordinator for the Vikings, who continue to give opponents fits with their exotic schemes.
Personnel Changes ::
The Vikings brought in mobile veteran QB Kyler Murray on a veteran minimum contract, as he is still being paid massively by the Cardinals after they cut him. Murray will compete with disappointing former first round pick JJ McCarthy for the starting quarterback job.
Veterans Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason are once again in line to split backfield duties, with rookie Desmond Claiborne added to the mix on the third day of the draft.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are still the top two WRs for Minnesota and one of the top duos in the league. There are still trade rumors swirling around Addison, however. Minnesota let Jalen Nailor leave in free agency and signed productive veteran Jauan Jennings to a one-year contract in early May.
T.J. Hockenson is once again the primary tight end for Minnesota in 2026, with veteran Josh Oliver operating in a complementary role.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6)::
CHI x2, DET x2, GB x2
NFC South (4)::
vs. ATL, vs. CAR, @ TB, @ NO
AFC East (4)::
vs. BUF, vs. MIA, @ NE, @ NYJ
vs. WAS, vs. IND, @ SF
Minnesota’s offense was tanked in 2025 by ineptitude and inconsistency at the quarterback position. A solid and talented running game was given a tall task as defenses were able to shrink boxes and give very few running lanes. Likewise, the receivers were constantly frustrated and unable to perform at their usual high level that matches their talent due to a lack of rhythm and consistency. Simply put, the best passing games have aspects of timing and chemistry that are required to be successful against modern NFL defenses. As JJ McCarthy struggled massively to make reads and see the field or play with any semblance of timing, accuracy, or anticipation that became a huge problem. This also led to more drops for the receivers as they were constantly having to adjust to passes and, quite frankly, were often surprised when a pass was actually on target.
All of that said, the optimistic view on the Vikings is that they have basically nowhere to go but up in terms of quarterback play. McCarthy will be entering his second actual season and is still only 23 years old. He has tools that made him a highly touted prospect and now has a season under his belt to learn from. Never lacking for confidence, McCarthy is the type of player with a mindset that could potentially overcome his disastrous 2025 season. The Vikings now have “two shots on goal” at the position as well, with Kyler Murray looking to revitalize his career after falling out of favor in Arizona. Both players have mobility to extend plays and the ability to make tough throws. Murray has performed at a high level at times throughout his career and head coach Kevin O’Connell is easily the best offensive mind Murray has played with in his NFL career. Simply put, if either of McCarthy or Murray were to bounce back with a great season in 2026 it would not be an overly surprising development. They both have great physical tools, great weapons, and an elite coach.
From there, this is a team with a major opportunity to return to being a very strong offense or even reach new heights. The Vikings ranked sixth in yards per game and eighth in points per game in 2022. In 2023, they dealt with major injuries. In 2024, Sam Darnold led them to rank 12th in yards per game and ninth in points per game. This is consistently a top-10 offense when things don’t totally go off the rails as they did in 2023 and 2025. Returning to being a top-10 offense is squarely in play if they get the QB situation fixed. Their line is solid, their backfield is not elite but certainly above average, and their receiving options can flat out play. Justin Jefferson is still one of the best in the league and Jordan Addison has off the field issues, but his talent has never been in doubt. Now adding Jauan Jennings along with T.J. Hockenson as consistent underneath options makes this offense even more dynamic.
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MAHOMES, PARSONS AND TRIO OF 49ERS HIGHLIGHT THE NFL STARS RETURNING FROM INJURIES THIS SEASON
The list of players who finished the 2025 season injured was almost a who’s-who of some of the NFL’s biggest stars.
There was two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, who could only watch the end of a disappointing six-win season for Kansas City after going down with a torn ACL in Week 15.
Three-time All-Pro Micah Parsons was only a spectator in the postseason in his first season in Green Bay after suffering his own torn ACL in December, while the San Francisco 49ers were down three big stars of their own for the end of the playoffs with Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and George Kittle all going down with major injuries during the season.
Indianapolis had its promising season derailed when quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles in early December and the New York Giants missed 2024 rookie sensation Malik Nabers for most of the season after he went down with a knee injury in the fourth game of his second season.
Training camp for those stars has been about getting back up to full strength so they can get back on the field either for the start of the season or at least early on.
“It was always the goal to be able to practice when I got to training camp. We kind of hit that step,” Mahomes said at the start of camp. “Now, it’s about building and keep getting better and better, so when the regular season comes around, I can be available.”
Most of those other stars are aiming to be back for Week 1 but Parsons will have to wait a little longer. He is hoping to return in October and vows the pent-up energy from his time away will only make him better.
“People are worried about the knee. They should be worried about how I’m going to play when I get back,” Parsons said. “The anger, the frustration, the things that I’m going to have to let out because of how long it’s been since I played.”
Here’s a look at some of the biggest stars returning from injuries:
Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes
When Mahomes tore his ACL on Dec. 14 in a loss that eliminated the Chiefs from the playoffs, it was uncertain if he’d be able to make it back in time for Week 1. But he got back on the field for part of the offseason program and was fully cleared for the start of training camp. That was great news for the Chiefs, who managed just one touchdown in three games after Mahomes went down last season.
Now the key is what form will Mahomes be in when he takes the field in Week 1 against Denver. His production has dipped in recent seasons as the talent around him has dropped off. He has also been asked to run more with a career-high 422 yards rushing last season but might need to stay in the pocket more to protect his knee.
Green Bay edge rusher Micah Parsons
The Packers traded for Parsons before the start of last season to add the defensive superstar who could elevate them in the playoffs. That never happened as Parsons suffered the knee injury in early December after recording 12 1/2 sacks in 14 games.
Green Bay’s defense lacks difference-makers and will need a healthy Parsons to make a long playoff run. The team is being cautious in his return and plans to start him on the PUP list for the regular season. Parsons would have to miss at least four games but said he’d like to be back in time to face his former Cowboys teammates in Week 6.
San Francisco stars Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and George Kittle
The 49ers were one of the most injured teams in the league last season with Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, Warner breaking his ankle in Week 6 and Kittle rupturing his Achilles in a wild-card win at Philadelphia. That trio has seven career All-Pro honors and were a major reason why San Francisco has reached two Super Bowls under coach Kyle Shanahan.
Warner has been full-go since the start of camp and is ready to return for the opener. Bosa has only taken part in individual drills so far but also is expected back Week 1. Kittle remains on the physically unable to perform list and it’s uncertain whether he will return on Sept. 11 in Australia against the Rams or shortly after that.
New York Giants WR Malik Nabers
After recording 1,204 yards receiving as a rookie in 2024, the Giants had big hopes last season for Nabers only to see him suffer a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Nabers’ rehab had a few setbacks early but he was able to make it back on the field at the starting of training camp.
New York is relying heavily on Nabers this season to be Jaxson Dart’s No. 1 option.
“Every time he’s on the field, everybody knows where he’s at,” Dart said. “There’s an aura that he has on the field that is exhilarating. It makes me happy. It makes everybody happy just to see him out there.”
Indianapolis QB Daniel Jones
Jones had a breakthrough campaign in his first season with the Colts, completing a career-high 68.0% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdown passes and only eight INTs in 13 games before getting injured.
Indianapolis had one of the most dynamic offenses when Jones was healthy and rewarded him with a two-year deal worth $88 million in the offseason. The Colts are hoping his return will lead to more of the same. Jones managed to make it back on the field to practice on the first day of training camp less than eight months after getting hurt.
Jones has struggled to stay healthy over his career, missing time for injuries almost every season outside of 2022, when he started 16 games for the Giants.
Baltimore DT Nnamdi Madubuike
Madubuike missed most of last season with a neck injury and it was uncertain until this summer if he would ever return. But he came off the PUP list early in camp and appears on track to get back on the field this season for a Ravens defense that sorely missed him in 2025.
Madubuike made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and ‘24 with 19 1/2 sacks those two seasons as one of the game’s best interior pass rushers. He had two sacks in the first two games last season before getting shut down with the neck injury.
Baltimore’s defense fell off last season in his absence and is looking to get back in form in the first year under new coach Jesse Minter.
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AS LAREMY TUNSIL NEEDS SURGERY, THE COMMANDERS TURN TO BRANDON COLEMAN AT LEFT TACKLE
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders will be without their best offensive lineman for the foreseeable future.
Coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday that left tackle Laremy Tunsil needs surgery on his left triceps and will be sidelined indefinitely. Quinn said the team won’t know how long Tunsil’s absence will last until after the procedure is done.
“It’s always tough to talk about a player missing time, and especially a great player like LT,” Quinn said. “He is an absolutely fantastic teammate, and he’ll be missed. We certainly can’t wait to get him back.”
Tunsil was injured Saturday during an individual drill against pass rusher Odafe Oweh. Tunsil immediately took a knee after the play and was quickly ushered into the facility following a chat with the training staff.
Losing Tunsil is a significant blow for the Commanders after the franchise made him the highest-paid tackle in the NFL in March. Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, is one of the sport’s best pass protectors and a force in the run game.
“He is really on the top of his game right now,” Quinn said. “Both in the run and pass, this is an equally strong player, and so it’s a big deal.”
With Tunsil out, the Commanders pivoted to Brandon Coleman to fill the void. It’s a natural transition for Coleman, who started 12 games at left tackle as a rookie for Washington in 2024 and played well. He made three starts at left tackle last year.
“He’s played a lot of winning football at left tackle here, and we know that he’s ready for it,” Quinn said. “He’s put in an excellent offseason, and the team is very confident in him.”
It has been just one practice, but Coleman said returning to left tackle has been a smooth transition — “like riding a bike.” He’s excited to return to his natural position, where he feels he can showcase his athleticism and footwork.
“My feet are good,” Coleman said. “Being able to dance with those guys, I’m able to keep up. Now that I’m getting my hands under control in terms of knowing where to punch, knowing what I want to do, that stuff just helps me out even more.”
Coincidentally, Coleman — along with right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. — traveled to Alabama this summer to work out with Tunsil. Spending nearly a month training together, Coleman said the experience completely changed his training habits.
“He basically revamped my whole approach to how I treat camp and the season,” Coleman said. “There’s a lot of stuff that I took from him, from his nutritionist to his strength guy, working with a chef, just taking care of my body a lot better. My prep for practice is a lot different. Seeing how a guy like that prepares every day, how he treats his body, what he does in his off time and how he recovers, that’s the price of stuff that you can’t (get) anywhere.”
Shifting Coleman to tackle allows the Commanders to maintain continuity along the rest of the offensive line. Coleman and Chris Paul entered training camp in competition for the starting left guard spot. Now, they’re working alongside each other.
“We played together last year a little bit,” Coleman said. “We trained together last year. Close, always talking, always joking around. (He is) arguably one of the strongest humans I’ve ever met. It definitely helps you out, especially having that chemistry beforehand.”
The plan is to for the Commanders to give Coleman an extended look in Tunsil’s old spot, with veteran Andrew Wylie staying in his backup swing tackle role. Quinn consulted with general manager Adam Peters and said they don’t expect to explore help in free agency right now.
Washington hopes that Tunsil can return at some point this season. His teammates expect him to do everything he can in rehab to make that happen.
“It’s tough to see a guy who put all that work in go down like that,” tackle Trent Scott said. “But he’s a stud. I’m pretty sure he’s going to attack rehab and he’ll probably be back sooner (than later).”
In the interim, Coleman will do his best to fill Tunsil’s void — something Coleman knows himself is nearly impossible to replicate.
“There’s only one Laremy Tunsil in my opinion,” Coleman said. “The best tackle in the league.”
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REPORT: FALCONS SIGNING VETERAN DE CAMERON SAMPLE
The Atlanta Falcons are signing veteran defensive end Cameron Sample, CBS Sports reported on Monday.
A fourth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2021, Sample has seven sacks and 26 quarterback hits in 61 career games.
The move comes with Atlanta anticipating a lengthy suspension for edge rusher James Pearce Jr., according to The Athletic.
The Falcons also lost pass rusher Jalon Walker to a season-ending torn ACL last week in training camp.
Sample, 26, had two sacks, 17 tackles and one forced fumble in 14 games (two starts) with the Bengals last season.
Sample signed with the San Francisco 49ers in April but was released last week.
Pearce, 22, could be suspended “at least eight games” under the NFL’s personal conduct policy following his February arrest in a domestic dispute, The Athletic reported.
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PATRIOTS SIGN TE HUNTER HENRY TO 2-YEAR, $16M EXTENSION
The New England Patriots announced a contract extension with veteran tight end Hunter Henry on Monday.
Terms were not disclosed. ESPN reported it was a two-year, $16 million deal worth up to $20 million with incentives and includes a $4.2 million signing bonus and $14.5 million in guaranteed money.
“Hunt’s here to stay,” the Patriots posted on X along with a photo of Henry signing a contract.
Henry, 31, caught 60 passes for 768 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 starts last season. He added nine receptions for 112 yards and a score as New England reached Super Bowl LX.
Henry has hauled in at least 40 passes in each of his five seasons with the Patriots, the second-longest streak in club history by a tight end behind Ben Coates’ six-year run from 1993-98.
A second-round draft pick by the then-San Diego Chargers in 2016, Henry has 455 catches for 5,295 yards and 47 TDs in 136 career games (116 starts) with the Chargers (2016-20) and Pats.
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LIONS EXPECT RB ISIAH PACHECO (KNEE) TO BE READY FOR OPENER
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with a sprained MCL but is expected to be ready for Week 1, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Monday.
Pacheco, 27, missed his third consecutive practice session on Sunday. It was not immediately clear when he sustained the injury, or to which knee.
Also on Monday, Campbell announced center Cade Mays sustained a “significant” wrist injury and will be sidelined indefinitely.
“One of those freak things,” Campbell said of the injury to Mays, who signed a three-year, $25 million contract this offseason.
Pacheco, who signed a one-year, $1.81 million deal in March to back up Jahmyr Gibbs, played his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and won two Super Bowls.
“We feel pretty good about him being ready to go, especially when the season gets here,” Campbell told reporters at training camp.
Pacheco rushed for 462 yards and one touchdown and caught 19 passes for 101 yards and a score in 13 games (12 starts) last season for the Chiefs, who picked him in the seventh round (251st overall) in 2022.
Pacheco has accumulated 3,091 yards from scrimmage (2,537 rushing and 554 receiving) with 17 touchdowns in 51 games (42 starts). He has rushed for 547 yards and four touchdowns in 10 postseason starts, including victories in Super Bowls LVII and LVIII.
Mays, 27, made 14 appearances (12 starts) for the Carolina Panthers last season.
He has appeared in 52 games (27 starts) since being selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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COWBOYS AND DEFENSIVE STAR QUINNEN WILLIAMS AGREE ON $105.9 MILLION EXTENSION
The Dallas Cowboys and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams agreed Monday on a $105.9 million, three-year extension going into his first full season with the team.
The contract includes $101 million guaranteed and will be added to the two years on his existing deal. The $35.3 million annual average on the extension is second among defensive tackles to Jalen Carter of NFC East rival Philadelphia.
The lucrative extension could keep Williams with the Cowboys through 2030 after they traded for him during the 2025 season. Dallas gave up one of the two first-round picks acquired in the shocking trade that sent star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just a week before the opener last year.
Executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said at the opening of training camp the club was working with Williams’ agents on an extension. Just shy of two weeks later, an agreement was in place.
“It’s a big part of all the moving parts that went with our trade last year,” Jones said on the team’s website. “I think this kind of, at the end of the day, puts a bow on top in terms of knowing that we’re going to have Q here for the next five years long term.”
The addition of Williams from the New York Jets provided an initial boost to one of the NFL’s worst defenses a year ago. The Cowboys won their first three games after the trade before a 44-30 loss to Detroit that started a season-ending run of four losses in five games as Dallas missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Cowboys had one of the league’s best offenses while finishing 7-9-1 in coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season, and they spent the offseason overhauling the defense while believing Williams would be a centerpiece among the many changes.
Dallas hired defensive coordinator Christian Parker to replace Matt Eberflus, who was fired after one season when the Cowboys allowed the most points (511) with the fewest interceptions (six) in franchise history.
The Cowboys traded with Green Bay again to get pass rusher Rashan Gary, drafted safety Caleb Downs and defensive end Malachi Lawrence in the first round and added cornerback Cobie Durant and safeties P.J. Locke and Jalen Thompson in free agency.
Dallas also targeted linebacker, drafting Michigan pass rusher Jaishawn Barham with the belief he could play off the line of scrimmage and acquiring Dee Winters in a trade with San Francisco.
Williams is part of a returning group that includes fellow defensive tackle Kenny Clark — acquired in the Parsons deal — along with second-year defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel Jr. and safety Malik Hooker.
The 28-year-old Williams was the third overall pick by the Jets in 2019 and was an All-Pro three years later despite the Jets’ 7-10 finish. Williams has yet to play on a winning team, and the former Alabama standout was quick to remind everyone after the trade that he’s still waiting for his first NFL playoff game.
“You’re just happy about it for a guy like that,” defensive line coach Marcus Dixon said. “Like he’s been rewarded for his hard work, the way he approaches the game, how he is with his teammates, his love for the game, how he’s always trying to perfect his craft. But he wants to win, and he’ll tell you that.”
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DOLPHINS NEW HEAD COACH JEFF HAFLEY SEES VALUE IN MISTAKES AS HIS YOUNG TEAM PREPARES FOR PRESEASON
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Hafley wants to see the mistakes.
Of course the Miami Dolphins first-year head coach does not want his players missing assignments, lining up offsides or running the wrong routes on game days. But he has stressed to his young team the importance of pushing beyond their comfort zones during training camp, even if that means getting things wrong.
“Some guys get so comfortable, right?” Hafley said Monday. “And they’re so scared to make a mistake that they play things safe. How do you grow if you’re going to play things safe? That doesn’t make any sense to me because you’re comfortable or you don’t want to look bad? It’s not about looking bad.”
Hafley has taken that approach himself, testing out different snap counts for quarterbacks and living with pre-snap penalties if they come early on. Similarly, the former defensive coordinator wants players to test different techniques and learn what works for them. During a recent practice, that meant encouraging a cornerback to use his hands and length more during team drills.
“Like step out of your comfort zone. Don’t worry about the results,” Hafley said. “That’s what practice is for. That’s why I get mad in practice. I think bad coaching is when a guy gets beat and you just go up and you yell at him. No, ask him, ‘What did you do? What did you see? What did you try? Did it work? Let’s go back and watch it on film.’ If a guy’s not running to the ball or he’s (showing) lack of effort or physicality then yeah, yell at him. But this is where these guys get paralyzed in their minds, and I just don’t want that to happen.
“So when I see a long corner and I get a flashback, ‘You’re not using your length. Step and punch and try something different.’ I think that’s huge for everybody on our team, and it’s just how we need to coach these guys.”
That approach will be tested this week as the Dolphins prepare for Wednesday’s joint practice against Washington ahead of Friday’s preseason opener.
Hafley hasn’t said whether starters like quarterback Malik Willis or running back De’Von Achane will suit up, but the coach said Monday everyone on the team “needs to be ready to play.”
“You never know what to expect, but you kind of just go out there, and it’s like a regular practice. You just start,” said tackle Patrick Paul, whose brother, Chris, is an offensive lineman for the Commanders. “There’s no like pre-anything. It’s just from the jump you’re going. It’s going to bring the best out of a lot of people because you’re going against new competition. These aren’t your teammates. These are people you’re about to play, so you need to go out there and compete.”
Making Moves
The Dolphins agreed to acquire offensive tackle Caedan Wallace and a 2029 seventh-round pick from the New England Patriots on Monday in exchange for a 2028 sixth-rounder. That deal is pending a physical.
Wallace, a third-round pick out of Penn State by the Patriots in 2024, has played in 10 games with two starts over the past two seasons.
Also Monday, the Dolphins placed kicker Zane Gonzalez on injured reserve and signed cornerback Nick McCloud as they deal with injuries in their secondary.
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CHARGERS ADD OLB ANDRE CARTER TO TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
The Los Angeles Chargers signed outside linebacker Andre Carter on Monday while waiving wide receiver Mante’ Morrow to create a roster spot.
An undrafted free agent out of Army, Carter, 26, played 12 games as a rookie for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, recording two tackles. He played three games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, making one tackle.
Carter was waived by Las Vegas last August and spent time across the on the practice squads of the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins last season. He signed a futures contract with the Washington Commanders in January but was released on July 29.
Morrow, 24, was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free-agent rookie out of Upper Iowa University.
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NINERS SIGN OL DOUG KRAMER JR. TO 1-YEAR DEAL
The San Francisco 49ers signed offensive lineman Doug Kramer Jr. to a one-year deal on Monday and released offensive lineman Nick Zakelj to clear a spot on the roster.
Kramer, 28, has played all 18 of his career games (no starts) with the Chicago Bears, including 16 in 2024. He was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round in 2022 out of Illinois. Football news
Waived for the second time by the Bears last August, Kramer spent two weeks on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad before he was released in December.
Zakelj, 27, has spent his entire NFL career with San Francisco, which drafted him in the sixth round in 2022. He was selected 20 picks before Kramer came off the board.
Zakelj appeared in 29 games (two starts) over the last four seasons, with both of those starts and 17 of the games coming in the 2024 season. He signed a one-year extension with the team in February.
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COULD STEELERS KEEP 4 QBS? PRAISE FOR MASON RUDOLPH CROWDS PICTURE IN PITTSBURGH
It’s sounding more feasible by the day that the Pittsburgh Steelers could keep four quarterbacks when they set their initial 53-man roster later this month.
Following the selection of Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 draft and the return of Aaron Rodgers for one last hurrah, the Steelers boasted a crowded QB room that included veteran backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. The question all offseason has been whether the club would keep all four — an unusual move, but not unheard of.
Given recent glowing comments from Mike McCarthy about Rudolph, the belief that the quartet could all make the squad is growing.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am with him,” McCarthy said of Rudolph last week, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “The experience that he’s gained, I think, is incredibly valuable to us. But the footwork is different. [The] throws are better than I knew. Just like anything in the quarterback room, you really don’t know until you stand next to them or you’re out there on the field, really how each guy throws the ball.”
Couple McCarthy’s comments with general manager Omar Khan backing the possibility of keeping four, and it doesn’t sound like Rudolph is going anywhere. Veteran Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly took things a step further, writing over the weekend that “Rudolph isn’t getting released, cut, traded, or put on the practice squad. Full stop.” Alrighty then.
While Rudolph could net a draft pick in a trade with a club looking for a veteran backup, that would leave the Steelers with two QBs behind a 42-year-old who have never taken an NFL snap. Pittsburgh doesn’t want to risk its season spiraling if Rodgers has to miss time. Rudolph might not be an every-week starter, but he’s shown he can hold his own in spot action.
So, if Rudolph isn’t moved and Allar, the No. 76 overall pick back in April, isn’t going anywhere, then it comes down to whether Howard can show enough during the preseason to win a roster spot. The club showered Howard with praise early in the offseason, but that didn’t stop the Steelers from drafting Allar. The 24-year-old missed all of last season with a hand injury, including preseason action, but he likely wouldn’t make it through waivers if he flashes during the next three weeks.
Preseason action, starting with Thursday’s tilt against the Green Bay Packers, will go a long way in determining how the QB room is sorted out. The need to see the youngsters take reps is why it’s interesting that McCarthy is considering giving Rodgers significant reps in the first two preseason games.
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