REPORT: COMMANDERS SIGN S JEREMY REAVES TO EXTENSION
The Washington Commanders signed special teams standout Jeremy Reaves to a one-year extension, NFL Network reported Wednesday.
The 28-year-old safety is entering his eighth season in the nation’s capital, a tenure highlighted by Pro Bowl and All-Pro first-team selections in 2022.
The extension keeps Reaves under contract with Washington through 2026, per the report.
Reaves has recorded 128 tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble in 64 games (11 starts).
Of the 321 snaps he played with the Commanders in 2024, all but four came on special teams.
–Field Level Media
BRONCOS ANNOUNCED SIGNING OF RB J.K. DOBBINS
The Denver Broncos officially announced the signing of free agent running back J.K. Dobbins on Wednesday.
Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports on Tuesday said it was a one-year deal worth $5.25 million.
Dobbins, 26, remains in the AFC West coming off his best season in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The oft-injured back rushed for a career-high 905 yards and tied a career high with nine rushing touchdowns in 13 games (11 starts) in his lone season with the Chargers.
In parts of four seasons spanning 37 games (21 starts), Dobbins has rushed for 2,252 yards and 21 TDs along with 59 receptions for 330 yards and one score with the Baltimore Ravens (2020, 2022-23) and Chargers.
“It’s another good football player that we’ve seen firsthand,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said Tuesday. “I’ve seen him for a while. The importance of that position group, we really like the group we’re working with, (but) it’s just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player who can help us win.”
Dobbins joins Denver’s running back depth chart that includes 2025 second-round draft pick RJ Harvey, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin.
The Broncos waived long snapper Zach Triner to open a roster spot for Dobbins. Triner, 34, has played in 84 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-24) and Miami Dolphins (2024).
JAGUARS WR BRIAN THOMAS JR. ‘FINE’ AFTER INJURY SCARE
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is “fine” after he absorbed a hard fall during practice at minicamp, head coach Liam Coen said Wednesday.
Thomas appeared to injure his shoulder following a collision with cornerback Tyson Campbell during team drills. Thomas exited the field with trainers before returning to the sideline, however he did not go back into practice.
“He’s fine. He absolutely could’ve gone back and played — just bruised it a little bit,” Coen said. “Said he had great range of motion, strength. He’s all good. No issues, just precautionary.
“(If) he didn’t come back out, he’d be really hurt. He was completely cleared to play.”
Thomas, 22, recorded 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts) in his rookie season last year. He was selected by the Jaguars with the 23rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
NEW CARDINALS EDGE RUSHER JOSH SWEAT WORKS TO BRING FRANCHISE SAME SUCCESS HE HAD IN PHILLY
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The most recent time edge rusher Josh Sweat was seen on an NFL field, he was making life miserable for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win in February.
Now he hopes to lead the Arizona Cardinals to that sort of success.
“All you got to do is approach every day with your max effort,” Sweat said on Wednesday during the second day of the team’s minicamp. “I promise you’ll see a result. That’s what made the difference for me.”
The 28-year-old Sweat signed a $76.4 million, four-year contract in March as the centerpiece of the Cardinals’ rebuild of the defensive front. General manager Monti Ossenfort also added free agent linemen Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell, and selected Walter Nolen III with the No. 16 overall pick out of Mississippi.
On top of that, Darius Robinson — a first-round pick last season from Missouri — hopes to make a big jump after an injury-filled rookie season. This year’s third-round pick Jordan Burch is also pushing for a role.
But it’s Sweat whom the Cardinals expect to lead the way.
“I embrace it,” Sweat said. ”At the end of the day, I’m trying to be the best teammate I can be and help out however I can.”
Third-year coach Jonathan Gannon is pleased that Sweat has embraced more leadership heading into his eighth NFL season. Arizona finished 8-9 last season, which was a four-win improvement over 2023.
Now the franchise is trying to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
“Guys pick his brain about certain things,” Gannon said. “He’ll help in that way, because he’s played a lot of ball. He’s been successful. I always say, ‘You want to know ball, talk to the players.’ He’s one of those guys you can talk to.”
Sweat’s resume speaks for itself.
He had 2 1/2 sacks of Mahomes in Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory over Kansas City in the Super Bowl. He added eight sacks during the regular season and has been a consistent pass rush threat with 39 sacks over the past five seasons, including at least six each year. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
“I know he can impact a game,” Gannon said. “That’s one of the reasons we signed him.”
Gannon is familiar with Sweat’s talent after spending two seasons with him in 2021 and 2022 as the Eagles defensive coordinator. The Eagles made the Super Bowl in Gannon’s final year before losing to the Chiefs, which was one of the big reasons he earned his first opportunity to be a head coach with the Cardinals.
Nick Rallis — Arizona’s defensive coordinator — was also with the Eagles during those two seasons as linebackers coach.
The hope is the familiar faces will help Sweat make a quick transition to a new franchise.
“From a standpoint of what his job description is — that’s not going to change much,” Gannon said. “Then it’s just tweaking his game. There’s some differences than what we did with him (in Philadelphia) to what we do now and he picked it up quick.”
Sweat agreed: “The scheme, you can play fast in it. Picking it up is easy. It’s not going to take me very long at all.”
TITANS EMBRACE CALLAHAN’S COMPETITION HOPING TO BOOST PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND WINS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Drop a ball, lose points. A red zone touchdown catch isn’t worth six but still nets points. Jump offside earns a deduction. Lose a wide receiver in coverage also hurts.
The Tennessee Titans don’t kick off coach Brian Callahan’s second season until Sept. 7 at Denver. With the Titans going 3-14 and losing the final six games, Callahan made some changes all designed to help Tennessee win more in 2025.
The biggest new offseason feature is an internal competition.
Callahan broke up the Titans into eight teams with a captain and assistant with rankings updated daily. Teams earn — or lose — points for what they do particularly on the field. For pro athletes, that’s all they needed to hear.
Outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones, an offseason free agent signee going into his seventh NFL season, said Wednesday that the Titans are “100%” bought into Callahan’s offseason competition. Jones said everything they do is a competition, keeping energy high.
“We need that competition,” Jones said. “We have a young football team. We need to keep that edge and that competitive (approach) throughout the whole entire offseason leading into the season.”
Tennessee lost six games in Callahan’s debut season by eight points or fewer. Combined with a roster stocked with 48 new players, this competition is designed to have the Titans hold each other accountable for mistakes including turnovers, penalties and mental errors that prove so costly in an NFL season.
Callahan knows this won’t show results that matter until September and October at the earliest. This is all part of his focus on doing everything possible for the Titans to be better.
“A lot of it was kind of through this offseason program that we developed and how do we best win football games? And how do I best put our team in position to do that? How do I coach that better? And how do I do a better job from a leadership perspective for our players and our staff?” Callahan said.
Jones is on a team captained by running back Tony Pollard who likes how Callahan also mixed up assignments in the locker room. No longer are position groups sitting together. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is next to rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
“You got to talk to different guys, get to know people throughout the locker room,” said Pollard, who now has cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and defensive lineman Keondre Coburn to the right. “So it’s just, it’s a great thing just connecting with the whole team.”
That talking isn’t done just inside the locker room. Part of the schedule includes time for each group to get to know each other better by discussing four H’s: history, heroes, hopes and heartbreaks.
“That’s just a great thing just learning backstories, what guys have been through and what they’ve had to overcome to be where they are now,” Pollard said.
Callahan hasn’t shared what the rewards will be for the winners. It doesn’t matter.
Linebacker Cody Barton, who signed a three-year deal in March, joked that he heard winners got a car and asked for that to be confirmed. A pat on the back also works.
Right guard Kevin Zeitler is another newcomer going into his 14th NFL season. He said every NFL team has its own approach to the offseason program with some business-like, others “super competitive and fiery” with others making it fun.
“Having an extra competition throughout the day to be more on your details. … it makes it more fun,” Zeitler said.
Treylon Burks working
Callahan said Treylon Burks, the Titans’ 18th pick overall in 2022 as part of the A.J. Brown trade, is doing more in his rehab from a partially torn ACL that limited him to five games and four catches last season. Burks is doing more than Callahan expected at the beginning of the offseason program.
Burks is doing more individual drills and routes. Callahan said the hope is Burks will be cleared by the start of training camp.
NOAH BROWN CARTED OFF FIELD AT COMMANDERS MINICAMP. JEREMY REAVES GETS EXTENDED, AP SOURCE SAYS
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown was carted off the field after getting injured during minicamp in Ashburn, Virginia, on Wednesday.
It was not immediately clear what happened to cause the injury or its extent. Reporters in attendance reported Brown walked off slowly after making a catch, threw his helmet in frustration when he reached the sideline and was carted up the hill to the practice facility.
Brown, who caught Jayden Daniels’ desperation pass against Chicago for one of the Commanders’ signature moments last season, missed the final four games of last season and their playoff run to the NFC championship game with a kidney injury. He re-signed on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million.
Washington also took care of some longer-term business Wednesday, signing safety and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves to a one-year extension through the 2026 NFL season, according to a person with knowledge of the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not announce the deal.
“Grateful for the journey, the fans, this team and organization,” Reaves posted on social media. “Much more in store!”
Reaves, now 28, was an All-Pro selection on special teams in 2022. He missed the majority of 2023 after getting sidelined by a torn ACL five games into that season.
49ERS AND BRYCE HUFF HOPE THE PASS RUSHER WILL BE A PERFECT FIT IN SAN FRANCISCO
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Bryce Huff went into the offseason expecting a trade after failing to produce in a new role in his one year in Philadelphia after signing a lucrative contract as a free agent.
Ending up in San Francisco seems to be a perfect fit.
After being a proverbial square peg in a round hole with the Eagles when he was used as a standup outside linebacker instead of a pass rusher off the edge, Huff has reunited with his former coach Robert Saleh in a scheme that caters to his strength of being able to get off the ball quickly and disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
“I learned a lot about myself throughout that experience,” Huff said Wednesday about his season with the Eagles. “It just didn’t work out at the end of the day. So you live and you learn. All I focus on is what I’m doing right now and that’s being a 49er and doing everything I can to help this team win.”
The Niners are counting on Huff to be able to do just that, believing that he can be the bookend speed rusher across from star Nick Bosa that the team has been seeking ever since a back injury sidelined Dee Ford after he helped the team reach the Super Bowl in 2019.
Ford had 6 1/2 sacks in 11 games that season when Saleh was defensive coordinator but played only seven games the next two seasons because of the injuries, leaving a void in the defense that the 49ers believe Huff can fill.
“He affects the quarterback,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “When you talk about just getting off the ball and how fast he does it. He will be our best get off the ball guy we’ve had since Dee Ford. So in terms of that, it’s good to beat tackles that way, but also widens tackles to help with the inside pass rush and things like that and he affects the quarterback.”
The Niners got Huff on the cheap a year after he signed a $51.1 million, three-year deal with Philadelphia. San Francisco traded a conditional fifth-round pick last month for Huff and are on the hook for only $7.95 million of salary this season.
Huff had his best success as a pro under Saleh with the New York Jets, He was initially as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and began to emerge as a key player after Saleh took over as head coach the following year and turned him from a linebacker into a defensive end.
Huff put on about 20 pounds of muscle and began to show flashes quickly before breaking through with a 10-sack season in 2023 that led to the big free-agent contract.
“Speed off the edge,” Saleh said of Huff’s biggest strength. “I think highly of him as a pass rusher. Thought he was very productive, obviously, with the Jets. He wins at such a high rate. A lot of times we look at pass rushers, we look as sacks and sacks are important. They end drives. It’s what ultimately gets these guys paid. But his disruption rate in getting the quarterback off the spot and the way he can do it now. … He wins so quickly so often that coordinators have to account for his presence on the field.”
Huff had 67 pressures on just 334 pass rush snaps in 2023 for the Jets, according to Pro Football Focus, as he became one of the most efficient pass rushers in the game.
The Niners were in need of another pass rusher after cutting Leonard Floyd early in the offseason. They drafted Mykel Williams 11th overall in April but had no other defensive end who had a season with at least five sacks in the NFL. Yetur Gross-Matos is the only other edge rusher on the roster with extensive experience. Gross-Matos had four sacks last season in his first year with San Francisco.
“He’s going to bring that speed demon off the edge, that’s going require a running back or a chip opposite of Nick,” left tackle Trent Williams said.
“I think he adds that the kind of that Dee Ford effect that they had in ’19 that took them to the Super Bowl. One of the reasons we had a really, really good defense for those couple years is having that guy who can actually make that quarterback step up by getting a good jump off the ball and being able to bend the edge.”
BENGALS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR SEEING QB JOE BURROW REACH THE NEXT LEVEL
CINCINNATI (AP) — While Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns last season, offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said that he sees a quarterback that’s looking even better than he did last year.
“I just see a guy that’s seen a lot of football, played a lot of football and has no fear whatsoever,” Pitcher said on Wednesday after the Bengals’ second day of minicamp. “Total comfort and confidence in himself and in his skill set. And if there’s a window, he’s gonna throw the ball.”
The highlight of Wednesday’s practice was a deep shot down the field over the middle to wide receiver Andrei Iosivas, who snared the catch between three defenders.
Throughout this spring’s workouts, organized team activities and minicamp, Burrow has been making aggressive throws into tight coverage.
At this point last year, he was still rehabbing a major wrist injury that required surgery. Burrow said that last year, he “wasn’t quite back” throwing the ball at the level he expected. He still had 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns.
“I went out and played as good as I have,” Burrow said. “I’m looking to take that next step. I’m happy with the progress that I’ve been making the last couple of weeks and getting better… I understand how to play the game more efficiently and more productively. Understanding what defenses are going to do to us and have all of the answers in your back pocket to try to combat that. I feel like I’m as prepared as ever. Anything anybody throws at me, I’ll have an answer for it. I’m excited to show that again.”
In previous years during OTAs and minicamps, Burrow was focused on helping new players in the offense figure out their roles. Last year, he spent a lot of time with Iosivas as he stepped into the starting lineup and with new tight end Mike Gesicki.
This year, the Bengals bring back all of the core pieces from 2024.
“We’re in a spot we haven’t been before,” Burrow said. “Guys coming off of the season healthy. Getting all of our guys back. It’s been weird this offseason not having to take care of a new guy we’re counting on and try to teach him what I’m looking at and want out of each play.”
Burrow was also happy not to be worrying about the future of his top two playmakers after Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins signed lucrative extensions in the offseason. Both receivers weren’t at the offseason workouts last year, but have been there throughout this year’s practices.
“Last year, they’re out there working on their own, not being here. But when you have those two guys, guys that bring energy, guys that make incredible plays day in and day out, and they’re going to grind just as hard as everybody else. That permeates throughout the team,” Burrow said.
Running back Chase Brown, Chase, Higgins, Iosivas and Gesicki all return to the same roles that they were in last year. Pitcher said that Burrow can really benefit from having so much continuity around him.
“One of the first things we talked about as a unit when we got together this spring is there are very few offenses in the league that have the experience and the time and the reps together that we have,” Pitcher said.
“Don’t apologize for that. Take advantage of that. Build on the foundation that currently exists. I think we’ve done that this spring. It makes you feel good, but you have to use it. If someone’s giving you a head start in the race, don’t go back and start with everybody else. Take the damn head start and use it. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
ACTION! JETS USING HELMET-MOUNTED CAMERAS TO HELP JUSTIN FIELDS AND THE OTHER QBS IMPROVE
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — There’s a new addition to the New York Jets ‘ huddles this offseason.
And it’s not just the quarterback.
The team is using video cameras attached to the top of the helmets of Justin Fields and fellow QBs Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook throughout organized team activities and the Jets’ three-day minicamp this week.
The purpose is to record every aspect of the play, from the quarterback getting the play, taking the snap, going through his reads and finishing.
Then, the players and coaches can closely review the footage — and make director’s cuts to the plays and the playbook.
“Yeah, it’s kind of cool,” Fields said Wednesday. “It’s my first time ever doing it, but it’s definitely cool just basically kind of hearing the play call again and kind of just going through, making sure you’re just doing everything within the process of the play. So yeah, I like the GoPro a lot.”
Using technology to measure progress is far from a new concept in the NFL, with several teams incorporating cameras, GPS systems and virtual reality in training, something the Jets did several years ago. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has used a helmet-mounted video camera and Minnesota also used them on its QBs last season.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn was with Detroit when the Lions used GoPros and he and his staff, including offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and quarterbacks coach Charles London, thought it might be useful with a new set of signal callers in New York.
“We said, let’s give it a shot in rookie minicamp and see what it looks like, and then we loved it and we just said, let’s just do it,” Engstrand said. “Everybody’s doing it the whole time and it’s been phenomenal for those guys. It gives direct feedback. Shoot, the O-line coach is in there watching the tape with his O-line, you know what I mean?
“Because you can hear everything — you can hear the calls. It’s been really beneficial for us.”
One of the knocks on Fields during his first four NFL seasons has been that he sometimes holds onto the football too long, leading to sacks and interceptions.
The GoPros can be used as a tool to help offset and improve that shortcoming while allowing Fields and the rest of the quarterbacks to understand what they’re seeing and hearing — and how it’s translating on the field.
“Instead of trying to guess, ‘Where did your eyes start?’ we’ll go back and watch it,” London said. “You can see where his eyes started and you can see how he went in his progression.”
It also helps the wide receivers, running backs, tight ends and offensive line get more familiar with the quarterback’s cadence while watching the recorded video and audio.
And everyone can hear every on-field comment, too, leading to some laughs.
“They only turn it on when you’re actually on the field,” Fields said before grinning. “But, I mean, some funny things have definitely been said and they’ve definitely been picked up, for sure.”
That might take some getting used to for some players, but Engstrand said all the quarterbacks were open to the idea.
“We didn’t have to convince them of anything because they look at it and they go, ‘This is a way for me to improve,’ and that’s what they’re all here to do,” Engstrand said. “They’re all here to find a way to get better and help contribute to the team and get us some more wins on the board. So, there was no convincing needed there.”
Fields, a first-round draft pick in Chicago in 2021 who spent last season in Pittsburgh, has previously spoken about using his past experiences to help improve on and off the field. He’s heading into this season as the Jets’ starting quarterback and plans to gather some of his offensive teammates for throwing sessions during the break before training camp next month.
“I kind of had a feeling when I got here guys were looking for a leader to step up on offense,” Fields said. “So, I was glad to receive that role and, of course, pushing the guys each and every day to be our best and play up to our standard.”
And Fields has been doing exactly that — and his work on the film has gotten rave reviews.
“The biggest takeaway I would say is that this guy is just a workaholic,” Engstrand said. “He comes in early, he’s here late and he’s trying to digest everything and download all the information and do things the right way. He’s trying to do things that we’re asking and I think he’s really put the next foot forward every day, just trying to stack days, and it’s been really good.”
